Best lens and focal length for an air show?

Jaysmark

Senior Member
I'm looking to rent a lens for an air show and was just looking for recommendations as to a good lens to use. I have a D750 and have never shot an air show. I'm looking at the Nikon 70-200mm f/2.8G ED VR II AF-S and am open to a more experienced opinions. Thanks so much.
 

J-see

Senior Member
I'm having the Tamron 70-200 f/2.8 and when comparing numbers, she does slightly better than the Nikon, especially wide open and costs a whole lot less. And on top you got a decent warranty.

I'm only shooting her a couple of days but directly noticed it's a very fast lens to focus which makes it a joy but if 200mm is long enough for airshows I couldn't say. I know for birding she's too short.

Oh, just read you said renting. ;)

Then it matters less. They're fast to focus and mine is very sharp on my D750 (even at 100%) but you need a whole lot of subject to fill the frame. It'll depend how close you can shoot. Last time I was on an airshow I was wearing short pants.
 
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Rob Bye

Senior Member
A 70-200mm is nowhere near long enough for airshows. On an FX body, I would say 400mm at a minimum. It's not like the good old days, when the aircraft would fly right over your head... Today's safety standards keep the aircraft well away from the audience.
 

jay_dean

Senior Member
The 70-200 is okay for take offs and landings, but really you'll want more reach than 200mm for display shots. Think on there's all sorts of health and safety regulation now, so the aircraft have to display at some distance from the crowds. Most of my photos are at all sorts of focal lengths, but most of the airborne shots are at the long end of the Siggy 50-500mm i had, then the Nikon 80-400mm.
The Tammy/Siggy 150-600mm might be a good idea, though could possibly be a little long at the short end if you want whole aircraft shots when they're rolling on the runway at your 12 o'clock, especially if they're the larger ones. You might have to be a little more creative and shoot the front end of the aircraft only in this case.
The shot below is at 85mm
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The one below was taken at 400mm, and i think it's cropped (can't remember now)
964.jpg
The Siggy 50-500mm was a great lens for airshows in respect that it's great all rounder, and if i were only using one lens, it'd still be a contender.
 

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jay_dean

Senior Member
If you're standing on the crowded crowd line, a monopod isn't really usable. The space you need to utilise it just isn't available.
 

carguy

Senior Member
If you're standing on the crowded crowd line, a monopod isn't really usable. The space you need to utilise it just isn't available.

It doesn't take up that much space, especially when you are shooting upward.
If it is an issue, just move somewhere else. At an airshow, it isn't like shooting a concert where you should try to be as close as possible :)
 

jay_dean

Senior Member
Well, dunno about the airshows elsewhere, but you're pretty much shoulder to shoulder on the crowdline here. In the many airshows i've attended, I've never seen anyone use one at the front, due to the space issue. There's a few with ultra long lenses and tripods further back, but not at the front. I think if anyone did use one, taking that extra space, it'd be severely frowned upon. Its just not sporting, it's just not British!:D
 

Horoscope Fish

Senior Member
Well, dunno about the airshows elsewhere, but you're pretty much shoulder to shoulder on the crowdline here. In the many airshows i've attended, I've never seen anyone use one at the front, due to the space issue. There's a few with ultra long lenses and tripods further back, but not at the front. I think if anyone did use one, taking that extra space, it'd be severely frowned upon. Its just not sporting, it's just not British!
We're talking MONO-pods... Not tripods. If I have room to stand, I pretty much have room for a monopod. One of the best things about them, actually... They have practically no footprint.
 

jay_dean

Senior Member
If you're shooting a take off with a large lens, hand held, from brakes off to rotation thru 180 degrees, only the upper body really moves. With a monopod you have to rotate and follow the camera through 180 degrees, turning your body in the process. Its only natural you'll use more natural space
 

carguy

Senior Member
We're talking MONO-pods... Not tripods. If I have room to stand, I pretty much have room for a monopod. One of the best things about them, actually... They have practically no footprint.
Exactly.


Well, dunno about the airshows elsewhere, but you're pretty much shoulder to shoulder on the crowdline here. In the many airshows i've attended, I've never seen anyone use one at the front, due to the space issue. There's a few with ultra long lenses and tripods further back, but not at the front. I think if anyone did use one, taking that extra space, it'd be severely frowned upon. Its just not sporting, it's just not British!:D

For taking images of aircraft flying overhead, why bother standing shoulder to shoulder? move someplace else and look up :)

For take off and landing, I can see having an un-obstructred view, but for aircraft in flight, just move :)
 

Horoscope Fish

Senior Member
If you're shooting a take off with a large lens, hand held, from brakes off to rotation thru 180 degrees, only the upper body really moves. With a monopod you have to rotate and follow the camera through 180 degrees, turning your body in the process. Its only natural you'll use more natural space
I guess I'm just not following ("natural space"?). I've used monopods in all kinds of tight, crowded situations and it's never been a problem.
....
 

Eyelight

Senior Member
If you're shooting a take off with a large lens, hand held, from brakes off to rotation thru 180 degrees, only the upper body really moves. With a monopod you have to rotate and follow the camera through 180 degrees, turning your body in the process. Its only natural you'll use more natural space

I guess I'm just not following ("natural space"?). I've used monopods in all kinds of tight, crowded situations and it's never been a problem.
....

Me follow. He's saying if you plant the monopod for steadiness, in order to pan the aircraft, your body will need to pivot around the pod.

ETA: For some this may not be an issue, butt I'd wipe several people out.
 

Jaysmark

Senior Member
Thanks guys. I'm actually in the VIP section. I wish I knew what the hell that actually meant but the website is sketchy at best. I will try and go longer than 200.
 

Whiskeyman

Senior Member
I understand your remark about the difference between you and us, as far as airshows go.

You'll need another lens for static shots, and it'll need to be wider than a 70... I'd look at 20mm to 24mm. Get there early for good light and less crowds.

Moose Peterson does a lot of aircraft work. Look at his website (Moose Peterson's Website - Where the world of photography is explored and shared! ) and other sites for examples of his photo gear for aviation.

For a long lens, I'd want at least 500mm, if not 600. You can get there several ways, either with a lens that long, or with a teleconverter, but you're going to lose some IQ with the converter.

As far as panning, the best shots I've seen of air shows involve shots away from directly in front of the camera, with one exception, and that's of multiple aircraft meeting at show-center from different directions. Either way, IMO, it's more important to get away from the crowd IOT give yourself room to operate. With the right gear, it won't matter if you step a bit back and get away from the center.

WM
 
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