Advice needed: How to track fast moving objects + telephoto lens?

[HarryShin]

Hi:

Question: I’d to get advice on how to track fast moving objects when using a telephoto lens.

Background Info:

a: What I’m trying to shoot / track are jets at an air show.

B: I use the Olympus EM1 II (15 FPS), 40-150mm 2.8 with teleconverter (basically shooting 400mm equivalent full frame focal length).



C: I have no problems tracking a group of planes (ie Blue Angels) doing a formation flight, but it’s difficult to impossible tracking the demo aircraft (ex: F-22, F-35) flying solo and especially when they do a high speed pass.

D: To somewhat deal with this situation, I recently started experimenting with the Olympus Eye Dot (I think that’s what it’s called) and it actually works better than me looking through the viewfinder. The problem is that it’s only an approximation and it has zero value in re: what’s the optimal focal length at any given situation.

E: I’m going to assume ( but I’m not sure) that an optical viewfinder may be better than the EVF, however that still doesn’t deal with the difficulty of just trackin’g a fast moving object when using extreme telephoto.



F: I’d really like to get specific input solutions in that I’m probably going to get even a longer focal length lens; for some of the venues, even the above lens is still too short. I can only image the incremental difficultly of getting a decent shot a longer focal lengths.

Associated question: For those familiar with the EM1 II system, what specific settings should I use fo the C-AF or should I even bother with C-AF? Because of the... unreliability of the focusing system for me (I’m sure it might be user error), I’ve been just been estimating focus distance and shooting manual / f8 etc... (it’s an air show and the planes fly in the general area / distance); it works most of the time, but it’s not accurate and I would like to do it as accurately as possible.

Thanks in advance for any help, Harry

 

[gucio33]

Hi:

Question: I’d to get advice on how to track fast moving objects when using a telephoto lens.

Background Info:

a: What I’m trying to shoot / track are jets at an air show.

B: I use the Olympus EM1 II (15 FPS), 40-150mm 2.8 with teleconverter (basically shooting 400mm equivalent full frame focal length).

C: I have no problems tracking a group of planes (ie Blue Angels) doing a formation flight, but it’s difficult to impossible tracking the demo aircraft (ex: F-22, F-35) flying solo and especially when they do a high speed pass.

Yeah. Well, I find the Blue Angels Sneak Pass most difficult to photograph, mostly because the solo plane is really close. Here is my latest attempt at the Sneak Pass:

https://flic.kr/p/28MSs1C

That is probably the fourth shot in a sequence; I was still able to follow. But, here is the next frame:

https://flic.kr/p/2btABcS

It seems easier to nail the high-speed pass of the other filght demo teams, mostly because they are not that close; here is the VFA-106 TAC Demo:

https://flic.kr/p/Phwy3d

Both passes are at high sub-sonic speeds; the latter is higher and farther away, thus easier to follow.

D: To somewhat deal with this situation, I recently started experimenting with the Olympus Eye Dot (I think that’s what it’s called) and it actually works better than me looking through the viewfinder. The problem is that it’s only an approximation and it has zero value in re: what’s the optimal focal length at any given situation.
E: I’m going to assume ( but I’m not sure) that an optical viewfinder may be better than the EVF, however that still doesn’t deal with the difficulty of just trackin’g a fast moving object when using extreme telephoto.

Hate to say it, but it may be your equipment making it harder. Haven't used the ML cameras much, but with you needing Eye Dot, and all that talk about the blackout, the this, and that of EVF; well, you seem to be confirming the "issue". You likely have no problem acquiring focus initially, when the plane is far away, no?

With the OVF, tracking those passes is mainly about training yourself to speed up at the right moment - much more than you intuitively think you should, based on what you see in the viewfinder. I mean with the speed of some 700mph at airshow distances... you can do the arithmetic

F: I’d really like to get specific input solutions in that I’m probably going to get even a longer focal length lens; for some of the venues, even the above lens is still too short. I can only image the incremental difficultly of getting a decent shot a longer focal lengths.
Associated question: For those familiar with the EM1 II system, what specific settings should I use fo the C-AF or should I even bother with C-AF? Because of the... unreliability of the focusing system for me (I’m sure it might be user error), I’ve been just been estimating focus distance and shooting manual / f8 etc... (it’s an air show and the planes fly in the general area / distance); it works most of the time, but it’s not accurate and I would like to do it as accurately as possible.

Thanks in advance for any help, Harry

Well, from what you describe, it could be the rare case when the issue is the camera, more than the photographer ;-)

 

[labrie]

I use red dot sight (not the Oly one, just generic Chinese - it has a thin frame that helps to see environment). It really helps with tracking, and for framing... I just keep LCD on and glance from time to time. Of course, I have to frame somewhat loosely, to avoid clipping and leave space for composition.

Luckily, the frame of my RDS and the central circle roughly fit the field of vision for 400mm and 1200mm focal length (max for my two compacts), when held on strained neckstrap, so it helps.

Search for Hatstand's post about using RDS -- here and on UKAR forums -- for a solid advice.

 

[HarryShin]

Thanks for the thoughts. Excellent solo shot of the Blue Angel; awesome

Harry

 

[HarryShin]

Thanks for info; I wish the Olympus red dot had a generic framing line but it gave me an idea to at least get a feel for what 400mm might cover in the red dot

Thanks, Harry

 

[gcrimmins]

I haven't used an EM-1 II for jets, but I have used it for sports, and the C-AF worked fine. Be sure the image review after each shot is turned off, otherwise the camera will be showing you a 1/2-second review of each image, making it very difficult to track a moving subject. Make sure the frame rate is set to L rather than H, because C-AF doesn't work in H.

 

[wasserball]

If possible, I would choose an angle such that the plane is not flying directly across you (perpendicular to your camera aim). Such an angle makes the picture boring anyway. Using a smaller focal length lens would help reduce out of focus. Crop post processing to get the details.

 

[K-Dub]

I don't know your technique, but I find keeping both eyes open when using the EVF helps track planes.

 

[gucio33]

If possible, I would choose an angle such that the plane is not flying directly across you (perpendicular to your camera aim). Such an angle makes the picture boring anyway.

The purpose of tracking the fast pass is to try and photograph the vapor cone. It (the vapor cone) looks really well when the plane is directly in front of you.

To get all those other angles - no need to bother with 'a fast moving object' ;-)

 

[gucio33]

Thanks for the thoughts. Excellent solo shot of the Blue Angel; awesome

Thanks!