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Air Show Settings for D40 w/ Kit lens?

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VegasSil

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Getting ready to go out to the airshow this weekend. The first time with my D40 and I was wondering if any of you would be kind enough to give me some suggestions on settings.

My question is more in respect to taking images of the jets in the air. It's my first time at the air show with a dslr and I'm really excited to try it out.

Thank you for taking the time to respond. :)
 
I love going to airshows and I am going to the Stuart airshow on veteran's day in Stuart, Florida. As far as settings are concerned they depend a lot on the weather, whether you have clear sky or overcast. The weather factor is usually compensated by setting the exposure to -1/3, 0 or +1/3. Next you set your camera to "A" mode (aperture priority) and set the aperture to the lowerst number available. This will force the camera to shoot at the highest speed avialbale. Special case is propeller airplanes. Expert try to time them so the speed is between 1/150 and 1/400. This gives a nice blurry effect on the propellers. However being too slow may result in a blurry photo overall. here are some of my airshow galleries:

http://www.pbase.com/icholakov/airshow
http://www.pbase.com/icholakov/tico_airshow_2007
http://www.pbase.com/icholakov/wings_at_war
etc,etc,
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http://www.nikond300.org/forum
 
I haven't used a SLR to take airshow pictures. However, I have used bridge camera. I also assume you intended to take pictures of airplanes in flight. Couple of points that I found were:

It is difficult to auto focus in every shot. You might want to use Manual focus so the lens is in focus at the approximately the same distance.

It is difficult to find the target using the view finder when zoomed in. You might want something like red dot sight via a mount in the hot shoe.

Hope other forum members would chime in.
 
the kit lens has very limited reach. i don't know if you will be able to get any really good images of aircraft in the air. it might be good for the static ground displays.
 
I went to the Randolph AFB Air Show in San Antonio last weekend. You can see some of my pictures here:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/7131002@N05/

(I was shooting a Panny FZ18 and D40x.)

What are you calling the D40 kit lens? If you're talking about the 18-55 you're not going to get much more than a dark dot of anything flying in the air.

If you're talking the 18-135 (or even the 18-200) I doubt that'll be much help either.

For decent aerial shots you're going to need something on the order of, say, 400mm minimum.

Stuff on the ground won't be any problem of course.

fotophool

http://www.flickr.com/photos/7131002@N05/

PS: Here's two shots I took with the Panasonic FZ18. Nothing to write home about necessarily, but keep in mind that they're at 504mm.



 
Here are some of my shots with my Sigma 70-300 APO DG which I was happy with until I just saw what was shot with the longer lens above..







BTW... Take lots of memory cards, we shot over 600 pics the last show and ran out of cards. :-(
--

Shoot everything, Delete the bad ones!
 
It worked well enough for me. I have tried air shows with longer lenses and didn't results as good. The longer lenses were tougher to handle. But, if the original poster is referring to the 18-55, like others have said it will most likely be too short to be much good.









 
I'd have to check back, but I believe none of them were crops. I know the pan of the single jet was full frame for sure, and pretty sure the rest were also. I did crop some images taken that day, but just slightly. The first was at 18mm, the others at 200.
 
let me just say that those are some excellent examples. You all blew me away! Now, I can't wait to go. I love how the thunderbirds will fly by and while you're watching the first 5 the other one buzzes you. Gets me every time!

Thank you for the suggested settings. I'll try them out. and to answer one of the questions, i have the 18-55 lens, so yes, i know i'll be limited.

thanks again!!
 
You aren't, by any chance, going to Nellis? I'm headed out there from Los Angeles tomorrow and am going to go to the show on Saturday. Taking my lowly 28-75 and hope for the best.

Good luck and have fun.
 
yup, it's the nellis one. we go every year. They're expecting great weather too, so it should be nice. Not sure if you've gone before but you'll be parking at the raceway and taking chartered buses in. i think the bus fare is $5.00.

You have fun too.
 
I take my older son (6 years old) every year. This year the whole family is going, but I'm leaving my wife and small child to do their thing. Sunday is supposed to be breezy so I am going on Saturday. Enjoy!
 
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