Silverstone for F1 GP: which body?

Manxmaid

Manxmaid

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Andrea
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I'm off to Silverstone for the full weekend's racing and trying to decide what gear to take. I've been a couple times when my bro was kart racing, but not for about ten years; I assume from various comments about the distances from the track that I'd be better off taking my D300 instead of D700?

Lens wise, I've the 70-200mm and a 1.4x, and a (woefully under-used) Sigma 120-300mm. Any thoughts on whether to take one over the other or lug both along?

Any advice will be gratefully received.
 
Depends what type of shots you are after.... if you want the "shiny whole car filling the frame" type shot, probably the D300.

On the other hand, from the public side of the fence a single car high shutter speed pan (or probably 500 of them all the same!) isn't really terribly exciting and you won't be turning in the sort of shots you see in the mags because you aren't low and head on with a long lens.

I'd take the D700 and even think about not using the TC and getting some wide and/or slow shots to make things a little more interesting.

On the other hand, after paying that much for a ticket, I'd not want to be staring at it through a viewfinder at all!
 
Yes I realise there will be lots of limits on what I'll be able to get and I toyed with the idea of not taking a camera at all, but I don't know if we'll ever go again and I know if I didn't take one I'd regret it!

I've ended up thinking along the same lines as you - I will take the D300 and a long lens and see what I can do in terms of the cars, but I'll also take a shorter one and try to capture some of the atmosphere. In the main, I'll be aiming to enjoy the experience and not get too hung up on the images this time. Thanks for the good advice.
 
Can't you take both?
 
Well, I could but don't really fancy carrying both on what looks like being a hot weekend and a family event rather than a specific photo outing. I'm still getting used to the D700 too so probably happier going with a body I know well :)
 
Just take the D700 and get some "this was us at the F1" shots...

Wide atmosphere shots are actually something the signed on media don't often get because its too far to walk and probably tell you more about the event than their tight race shots.

Doesn't mean you can't be creative and look for lines and shapes etc...

How about this from Assen MotoGP:

ass_tt_ak_20100626_3052.jpg


To me, that sums up my weekend there far more than the tight bike shots I took loads of...
 
Thanks again for the advice. I ended up taking the 70-200mm and 120-300mm for racing shots and the 17-55mm for 'atmosphere' shots, and enjoyed a good mix of shooting, watching and socialising. I thought the view from the new Becketts stands was great and got some good racing shots there over the fence, enjoyed watching qualifying from Copse although didn't take photos as the fence was too intrusive, and loved the atmosphere in Luffield A on race day and on the track once the racing was over.

Only just got back home and have a lot of images to sort through and nowhere to upload them at present, but will hopefully share a few this week. That said, the huge amount of cameras there this weekend mean there must be a load floating around on here already - I'm off to have a look!
 
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