R5 on AirPower 2022

This year I've decided to visit AirPower airshow in Zeltweg Austria.

All taken with my R5 with RF 100-500, some with 1.4x converter.

As for parameters: all on electronic shutter, Tracking AF (all area) with subject set to "none", Av with Auto ISO (with manual modifications for some propeller photos)

The complete set of photos available on my webpage: https://pawel.online/airpower-2022/

Best regards, Pawel

Sweet shooting Pawel.  Nice variety!

R2

SigZero wrote:

This year I've decided to visit AirPower airshow in Zeltweg Austria.

All taken with my R5 with RF 100-500, some with 1.4x converter.

As for parameters: all on electronic shutter, Tracking AF (all area) with subject set to "none", Av with Auto ISO (with manual modifications for some propeller photos)

Thanks for sharing the photos (here and on your site) and your camera settings. I particularly liked the heat blur off the jet engines. I also liked how you didn't just crank up the 1/3000th and freeze everything on the jets.

I'm curious why you chose to use Av with Auto ISO. My go-to for air shows is Manual with Auto-ISO. I typically leave the RF100-500 at f11 and then adjust the shutter speed based on the motion blur I want to achieve (vs. the better hit rate at higher shutter speeds). I typically use an ND4 with prop planes to keep the ISO above 100 at slower shutter speeds.

What IS mode did you use on the RF100-500? I think I am settled on Mode 2 as being the best when shooting moving subjects.

I also like using the tracking with none or Vehicle. I have dual back button set up on my camera. One "trick" I have discovered when I first raise the lens to shoot if everything is out of focus and the AF won't lock on anything is to tap the "eye detect" (it "works" even in vehicle and "none" subject tracking). Invariably, the eye detect AF will find at least one plane and lock focus, and I can then switch to the normal AF tracking button.  The problem with using eye detect all the time is that it seems to lock on different things somewhat randomly, so I only use it if the focus it not locking at first.

The complete set of photos available on my webpage: https://pawel.online/airpower-2022/

Best regards, Pawel

Karl_Guttag wrote:

SigZero wrote:

This year I've decided to visit AirPower airshow in Zeltweg Austria.

All taken with my R5 with RF 100-500, some with 1.4x converter.

As for parameters: all on electronic shutter, Tracking AF (all area) with subject set to "none", Av with Auto ISO (with manual modifications for some propeller photos)

Thanks for sharing the photos (here and on your site) and your camera settings. I particularly liked the heat blur off the jet engines. I also liked how you didn't just crank up the 1/3000th and freeze everything on the jets.

I'm curious why you chose to use Av with Auto ISO. My go-to for air shows is Manual with Auto-ISO. I typically leave the RF100-500 at f11 and then adjust the shutter speed based on the motion blur I want to achieve (vs. the better hit rate at higher shutter speeds). I typically use an ND4 with prop planes to keep the ISO above 100 at slower shutter speeds.

This is my long-term habit, which (in my opinion) gives me the option to shoot at lowest possible ISO. With 20fps (this is really stupid with Canon that there is no way to set slower frame rate with ES on R5) I can sacrifice shoots with motion blur (I always get some non-blurred in series for each "scene").

But using M with fixed aperture and shutter speed for sure will be my option for next airshow (unfortunately that will be probably next year).

What IS mode did you use on the RF100-500? I think I am settled on Mode 2 as being the best when shooting moving subjects.

Exclusively IS mode 2. Mode 1 is (for obvious reasons) useless in any moving subject scenario and IS mode 3 is not comfortable with me - It is more difficult to track subject in frame with mode 3 comparing to mode 2.

Br, Pawel

Nice work

Joe Reynolds wrote:

Nice images

when you write, “Tracking AF (all area) with subject set to "none,” I assume you had the camera in face tracking mode????

Yep, but I think it is more object tracking that face tracking.

Br, Pawel

SigZero wrote:

Karl_Guttag wrote:

SigZero wrote:

This year I've decided to visit AirPower airshow in Zeltweg Austria.

All taken with my R5 with RF 100-500, some with 1.4x converter.

As for parameters: all on electronic shutter, Tracking AF (all area) with subject set to "none", Av with Auto ISO (with manual modifications for some propeller photos)

Thanks for sharing the photos (here and on your site) and your camera settings. I particularly liked the heat blur off the jet engines. I also liked how you didn't just crank up the 1/3000th and freeze everything on the jets.

I'm curious why you chose to use Av with Auto ISO. My go-to for air shows is Manual with Auto-ISO. I typically leave the RF100-500 at f11 and then adjust the shutter speed based on the motion blur I want to achieve (vs. the better hit rate at higher shutter speeds). I typically use an ND4 with prop planes to keep the ISO above 100 at slower shutter speeds.

This is my long-term habit, which (in my opinion) gives me the option to shoot at lowest possible ISO. With 20fps (this is really stupid with Canon that there is no way to set slower frame rate with ES on R5) I can sacrifice shoots with motion blur (I always get some non-blurred in series for each "scene").

It would also be nice if there were an optional audible click. It is very hard in the heat of the action to tell when the camera is taking a shot in ES mode and when it stops if the buffer is full. Certainly, at low shutter speeds, it is a numbers game where with experience, you guestimate your hit rate at a given shutter speed and shooting situation.

But using M with fixed aperture and shutter speed for sure will be my option for next airshow (unfortunately that will be probably next year).

Thinking about this makes me wonder whether I should shoot in Tv mode with Auto-ISO rather than M, at least sometimes. With aircraft shooting a single plane in motion, the shutter speed (for motion blur) is the primary variable with the RF100-500. The plane is far enough away that depth of focus is usually not an issue, and at least with prop planes at low shutter speeds, it will not call for below f8 anyway.

I typically shoot with an ND4 filter when shooting prop planes (and take the filter off for jets) which on a sunny day via the Sunny-16 rule puts the ISO 100 at a shutter speed of ~1/53th at f11. I like to shoot between 1/60th to 1/250th, so this keeps the ISO in a "comfortable" range (~ISO100 to ISO400) at f11. But then I had to stop down if I wanted to try something like 1/30th. If the planes are backlit against the sky, I will usually dial in ~+1ev. If clouds block the sun, then the ISO can creep up but generally to less than ISO1250, or I have to open up the aperture a bit or take off the ND filter.

If I used Tv (what I used for action shooting in the past but stopped doing with M and auto-ISO) with Auto-ISO, the f-number lower limit would vary with the zoom (I don't think there is a way on the R5 to limit it like you can with the Auto-ISO range or Shutter Speed in Av mode).  In TV with Auto-ISO, the ISO would stay as low as possible (but over ISO100) and vary the aperture.  Anyway, just something I am thinking about.

What IS mode did you use on the RF100-500? I think I am settled on Mode 2 as being the best when shooting moving subjects.

Exclusively IS mode 2. Mode 1 is (for obvious reasons) useless in any moving subject scenario and IS mode 3 is not comfortable with me - It is more difficult to track subject in frame with mode 3 comparing to mode 2.

That is the conclusion I have come to but wanted to check. I will change to Mode 1 if the plane is stationary.  I also find ES is better than EFC or Mechanical shutter for the EVF and for the focus tracking.

Br, Pawel

SigZero wrote:

Karl_Guttag wrote:

SigZero wrote:

This year I've decided to visit AirPower airshow in Zeltweg Austria.

All taken with my R5 with RF 100-500, some with 1.4x converter.

As for parameters: all on electronic shutter, Tracking AF (all area) with subject set to "none", Av with Auto ISO (with manual modifications for some propeller photos)

Thanks for sharing the photos (here and on your site) and your camera settings. I particularly liked the heat blur off the jet engines. I also liked how you didn't just crank up the 1/3000th and freeze everything on the jets.

I'm curious why you chose to use Av with Auto ISO. My go-to for air shows is Manual with Auto-ISO. I typically leave the RF100-500 at f11 and then adjust the shutter speed based on the motion blur I want to achieve (vs. the better hit rate at higher shutter speeds). I typically use an ND4 with prop planes to keep the ISO above 100 at slower shutter speeds.

This is my long-term habit, which (in my opinion) gives me the option to shoot at lowest possible ISO. With 20fps (this is really stupid with Canon that there is no way to set slower frame rate with ES on R5) I can sacrifice shoots with motion blur (I always get some non-blurred in series for each "scene").

But using M with fixed aperture and shutter speed for sure will be my option for next airshow (unfortunately that will be probably next year).

I shot in Av for years but adopted Fv which is a quasi M and use Auto ISO.

What IS mode did you use on the RF100-500? I think I am settled on Mode 2 as being the best when shooting moving subjects.

Exclusively IS mode 2. Mode 1 is (for obvious reasons) useless in any moving subject scenario and IS mode 3 is not comfortable with me - It is more difficult to track subject in frame with mode 3 comparing to mode 2.

Yes it bounces around without it. Canon claims IS interferes less with AF in mode 3 but everyone's shooting style is different.

Br, Pawel

SigZero wrote:

Joe Reynolds wrote:

Nice images

when you write, “Tracking AF (all area) with subject set to "none,” I assume you had the camera in face tracking mode????

Yep, but I think it is more object tracking that face tracking.

Br, Pawel

Interesting! May I ask which Firmware version you have on your R5?

I really don't want to reopen that old discussion (there were enough heated threads on that), but I recently upgraded from 1.4 to 1.6 and indeed noticed a considerable decrease in generic object tracking performance (only briefly tested on a water bottle on a table, a framed picture on a wall,..).

Since I don't need that kind of generic tracking for what I'm shooting, it doesn't matter to me personally, but I'm curious nonetheless.

And really fantastic pictures, thanks for sharing! 😊

Joe Reynolds wrote:

I have found “object tracking” totally unreliable with R5 when in what Canon calls face detection.

That may be true if in either Human or Animal mode, but I find it works well in either Vehicle or None for tracking planes and the like.

I also find that "eye detection" in  None or Vehicle modes (I have both available with dual back button focus) works to get the lens at least focused on something when I'm first raising the camera. I usually have the AF tracking based on the initial focus point, and that may totally miss, or you can't find anything when the lens is out of focus.

Since using Vehicle or None subject tracking (with help from "eye detection," or whatever the R5 does in Vehicle mode,  to get started sometime), I find the camera will lock focus almost every time.

You are obviously a very skilled photographer.

But, I only liked a lot the last two shots, because they conveyed motion. The others are just post cards. Frozen in space. Great focus!

Why don't you try video? Then you see the motion, the sounds, plus of course the colors. Planes are about motion, and the sounds are really impressive.

If you shoot in 8K 12bit RAW, which you can with the R5, you can also extract 32 megapixel stills if you want.

I have the same comments for BIF's - they just look like the stuffed birds I can see in dioramas in the local natural history museum, except in the museums they are 3D. I guess I can also go to an air and space museum and see planes hung in the air motionless. But, they are 3D at least.

But seriously, try video. You have the equipment and experience and access and skill, try something new with amazing potential.

BigBen08 wrote:

Karl_Guttag wrote:

SigZero wrote:

This year I've decided to visit AirPower airshow in Zeltweg Austria.

All taken with my R5 with RF 100-500, some with 1.4x converter.

As for parameters: all on electronic shutter, Tracking AF (all area) with subject set to "none", Av with Auto ISO (with manual modifications for some propeller photos)

I'm curious why you chose to use Av with Auto ISO. My go-to for air shows is Manual with Auto-ISO. I typically leave the RF100-500 at f11 and then adjust the shutter speed based on the motion blur I want to achieve (vs. the better hit rate at higher shutter speeds). I typically use an ND4 with prop planes to keep the ISO above 100 at slower shutter speeds.

I also have the RF 100-500mm. What density ND filter do you recommend. They are usually available in 0.6 to 1.5 density. When I shot propeller planes at slow shutter speeds (no ND filter used), it resulted in f number between f10 to f19.

One more thing to buy

I went through that a few weeks ago shooting model airplanes. Shots came out OK but it would have been nice to shoot with a wider aperture.

Thanks.

-- hide signature --

My best aviation photos: https://500px.com/kenfm2018

BigBen08 wrote:

Karl_Guttag wrote:

SigZero wrote:

This year I've decided to visit AirPower airshow in Zeltweg Austria.

All taken with my R5 with RF 100-500, some with 1.4x converter.

As for parameters: all on electronic shutter, Tracking AF (all area) with subject set to "none", Av with Auto ISO (with manual modifications for some propeller photos)

I'm curious why you chose to use Av with Auto ISO. My go-to for air shows is Manual with Auto-ISO. I typically leave the RF100-500 at f11 and then adjust the shutter speed based on the motion blur I want to achieve (vs. the better hit rate at higher shutter speeds). I typically use an ND4 with prop planes to keep the ISO above 100 at slower shutter speeds.

I also have the RF 100-500mm. What density ND filter do you recommend. They are usually available in 0.6 to 1.5 density. When I shot propeller planes at slow shutter speeds (no ND filter used), it resulted in f number between f10 to f19.

When I shot an air show recently I used a CPL to slow the props down.  Since I didn’t need more than a stop, it served a dual purpose.  😁

R2

BigBen08 wrote:

Karl_Guttag wrote:

SigZero wrote:

This year I've decided to visit AirPower airshow in Zeltweg Austria.

All taken with my R5 with RF 100-500, some with 1.4x converter.

As for parameters: all on electronic shutter, Tracking AF (all area) with subject set to "none", Av with Auto ISO (with manual modifications for some propeller photos)

I'm curious why you chose to use Av with Auto ISO. My go-to for air shows is Manual with Auto-ISO. I typically leave the RF100-500 at f11 and then adjust the shutter speed based on the motion blur I want to achieve (vs. the better hit rate at higher shutter speeds). I typically use an ND4 with prop planes to keep the ISO above 100 at slower shutter speeds.

I also have the RF 100-500mm. What density ND filter do you recommend. They are usually available in 0.6 to 1.5 density. When I shot propeller planes at slow shutter speeds (no ND filter used), it resulted in f number between f10 to f19.

One more thing to buy

Thanks.

I understand your confusion.

There are TWO ways, both preceded by ND, for specifying the light blocking of the filter. You are using the (more common with brand names) Optical Density method, which is base 10 logarithmic, whereas everything else in photography is binary logarithmic (as in stops = EVs).

I gave the filter factor number (more common with some newer photographic product companies and sometimes called NDX by older companies), which is simply the amount of light blocked linearly.  I like this way of specifying as if I put an ND4 filter on the camera, it changes the shutter speed or ISO by 4x or two stops.

It turns out that 0.6 by the OD method is equal to 2 stops or ND4 using the filter factor method. I find the For a complete table, scroll down in the link below:

https://www.bhphotovideo.com/explora/photography/hands-review/guide-neutral-density-filters.

I don't use variable ND filters as they can cause some issues with color and sun direction as they are based on polarization.  So I use a straight-up, simple (and less expensive) ND filter.  The ones I bought for the RF100-500 are:

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B08V1DPQ69

I don't recommend using the belt-loop case. the Loop is velcro, and it silently gave way, and the rest of the filters were lost.

Karl_Guttag wrote:

Joe Reynolds wrote:

I have found “object tracking” totally unreliable with R5 when in what Canon calls face detection.

That may be true if in either Human or Animal mode, but I find it works well in either Vehicle or None for tracking planes and the like.

I also find that "eye detection" in None or Vehicle modes (I have both available with dual back button focus) works to get the lens at least focused on something when I'm first raising the camera. I usually have the AF tracking based on the initial focus point, and that may totally miss, or you can't find anything when the lens is out of focus.

Since using Vehicle or None subject tracking (with help from "eye detection," or whatever the R5 does in Vehicle mode, to get started sometime), I find the camera will lock focus almost every time.

Mine experience is pretty similar.

For planes I'm using tracking with eye detection disabled, subject set to "none" and AF area set for whole frame. This way it is easy to "catch" the plane wherever it in the frame.

For trains I'm using exactly the same settings with the difference that I'm using initial AF point (the same as for other AF modes) to show AF what exactly to start tracking (the trains are much more predictable...)

Br, Pawel