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Lens for Air Shows

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photodgm

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At the moment I use a D300 and a D80. My normal lens for an air show is a Tamron 200-500. I have got a few very nice shots using a Sigma 500mm, but really it is too long most of the time. Of course the Nikon 200-400 springs to mind but that is too expensive for me. Two possible options are the Sigma 120-300 with a 1.4TC (I already have a kenco 1.4TC so would hope to use that rather than having to buy a Sigma one) This would give a 168-420 f4 lens. OR the new Nikon 70-200 with the new 3rd generation Nikon 2.0TC giving a 140-400 f5.6 lens. Does any one have any experience of these combinations or comments about them? On balance I shoot planes with props more than jets

Thanks

David
--
It's all about light
 
Thanks for the link. I would like to know if I can expect to get images of similar or better IQ with my suggested combinations than I currently achieve.
Taken with Tamron 200-500



Taken with Sigma 500mm



David
--
It's all about light
 
photodgm said:
Thanks for the link. I would like to know if I can expect to get images of similar or better IQ with my suggested combinations than I currently achieve.
Taken with Tamron 200-500



Taken with Sigma 500mm



David
--
It's all about light
Click to expand...
nice shots, look like they are from Shuttleworth, i know someone who use the Sigma 500mm quite often so i would stick with that
--
http://illy.smugmug.com
every day's a curry day
 
I had no major problems with the TC-20eII with my 80-200 AF-s, 70-200vr, or 300 f2.8vr. The elusive TC-20eIII is improved I'm sure, but in a pinch the old TC-20eII worked fine when you knew it's strengths and weaknesses and shot accordingly. The TC-17eII is a constant winner though. The TC-20eII gave me a 600 f5.6 with VR handhold-able which allowed me to at least attempt photos that I would have had no way to try otherwise so if I get only 2 keepers out of every 10 I'm still ahead. On a tripod it was even better. Sharpness is overrated sometimes, especially when the alternative is no photo at all. Happy shooting.
 
How much more are you looking for? I don't know how much PP you did with the shots shown, but they look fine to me unless you have pounds burning a hole in your pocket.If that is the case send some my way. I have a greeat charity in mind.
--
ABA DABA
 
If it's sunny out (not cloudy) and the air show is on tarmac, forget using a high-end prime. IQ will be limited by thermal distortion:





This is an extreme example, it was much better shooting up at airplanes in flight, but the effect was very noticeable, even when the planes were close. Click on "Original" to see the original 1:1 image.

In these conditions, your Tammy 200-500 stopped down to F/8 or so should give you IQ just about as good as a Nikon 500 F/4 prime (again, due to the thermal distortion limiting the 500's IQ). This is why my primary airshow lens is a Sigma 150-500 OS.

OTOH, an air show like Fleet Week in San Francisco under overcast skies won't have this issue (it takes place over water). Not only does water not produce thermal distortions like concrete, but overcast conditions will also keep the atmosphere stable. Under these conditions, you can get better IQ than with the Tamron 200-500 with an expensive exotic.

Anytime I'm at an airshow in glaring sunlight over an airport runway I chuckle inside when I see some poor hapless person shooting with a big heavy prime. I'm getting nearly as good pictures (if not as good) due to the thermal distortion, and my arm won't hurt from the weight/heft after 4 hours of shooting. ;)
 
Yes they are from shows at Old Warden. I'm happy with the speed of focus, the f4.5, and the IQ of the Sigma 500mm, but it is just too long for the prop planes. I shoot at a maximum speed of 1/320s to get some prop blur, so I have to pan to stop motion blur from the plane. This only works when the plane crosses in front of me, at which point the 500mm cuts off the nose and tail and I get a nice shot of the pilot.
If a 400mm f4 existed I would probably go for that.

David
--
It's all about light
 
Renting is a good idea. I have looked into it, the problem is that to get the lenses I want I would have to book them 4 or 5 weeks in advance. I normally only decide to go to air shows at the last minute when I think there is a reasonable chance of good weather.

David
--
It's all about light
 
I'm happy with the IQ from the Sigma and mostly happy with that from the Tamron. The Sigma is often too long (see post above) and the Tamron is only good in good light (f6.3 at 500mm) the AF is a little slow especially in poor light.

David
--
It's all about light
 
hoof - The shows I go to are in the main over grass or water. The shots I have posted are the type I normally take - in flight filling the frame - but your point about atmospheric disturbance over long distances is well made - I also use a monopod, I couldn't hand hold even the Tamron for the length of an air show.

David
--
It's all about light
 
photodgm said:
Yes they are from shows at Old Warden. I'm happy with the speed of focus, the f4.5, and the IQ of the Sigma 500mm, but it is just too long for the prop planes. I shoot at a maximum speed of 1/320s to get some prop blur, so I have to pan to stop motion blur from the plane. This only works when the plane crosses in front of me, at which point the 500mm cuts off the nose and tail and I get a nice shot of the pilot.
If a 400mm f4 existed I would probably go for that.

David
--
It's all about light
Click to expand...
for Old warden i find the 300mm/f4 excellent and even with the 1.4x tele, the I.Q is still good, they do tend to fly really close there so you're right about 500mm being too long, but i must admit i do like the I.Q of the 500mm very very much.
--
http://illy.smugmug.com
every day's a curry day
 
photodgm said:
At the moment I use a D300 and a D80. My normal lens for an air show is a Tamron 200-500. I have got a few very nice shots using a Sigma 500mm, but really it is too long most of the time. Of course the Nikon 200-400 springs to mind but that is too expensive for me.
Click to expand...
How many air shows do you shoot a year? You may be better off renting a 200-400 for a few days a year if this is your main usage for a new lens.

Paul
http://www.PaulDRobertson.net
 
I know it's not a prop but this was taken at Farnborough in July with my D300s and 70-200VRII with TC17E-II and a Nikon Circular Polariser Filter on the lens



 
And this one was taken with the D300s and 70-200VRII + Polarising Filter without the TC17E-II



 
I did take a prop, here is the King Air at Farnborough again with D300s and 70--200VRII with Polarising Filter but no TC.



 
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