Lens for Airshow

[EricKlees]

A friend that does 19 air shows every summer uses 2 Z9's. One with the 800f6.3 PF and the other with the 180-600. He shots the 800PF the majority of the time.

In fact i think he's already done at least 4 shows already this year on the East Coast. The dude is an animal with air shows

It's all he needs and on media day with close access i think he uses the Z 100-400

 

[splatbass]

Last year I used a 300mm PF and it was perfect. We were close to the runway and more than 300mm would have been too much.

 

[Midway]

I've only shot one airshow and brought the 180-400 TC. I would have to check the exif but I don't think I needed to engage the TC. It could have been the lens was so new to me I didn't have muscle memory flipping the switch yet. I did have the luxury of ideal positioning on the deck of a coast guard ship out on the log boom, positioned optimally for the show. Check the images for what focal length each shot was at. I may try again this summer and will bring a 600 I may or may not need to use.

https://pbase.com/georger/seafair_2022_blue_angels&page=all

 

[RHPVideo]

I hink the 100-400mm would be an ideal lens for the blue Angels. The lst air show I did here in Houston I used a 300mm f4 prime on one camera and a 70-200mm on second body. I was in a "photo Pit" location so the major events were close to where I was sitting. A zoom offers you lots of flexibility. If I go to the air show in 2024 I will use my 100-400mm.

I'm doing the Wings Over Houston Show this year. I just bought the Nikon 200-500mm do go with my D850 in hopes i'll get some great shots. Last show I caught, I had a D90 and I believe, the 70-200. I may have had my D700 by then but I don't really remember. Anyway, I'm really looking forward to trying the 200-500. I may go dual body with my D700 and either use the 70-200 or just a standard or wide prime like the 35mm or 24mm. I haven't decided yet.

 

[RHPVideo]

I'll echo all of the "rent a body and bring both" folks. When I shoot Fleetweek here in San Francisco, I put my 600TC (CORRECTION: Actually it was my 800PF this year, not the 600TC, and previous years it was also the 800, but the older 800f5.6) on a tripod with gimbal and I have the 180-600 on another body on a strap around my neck. I use the 600 (correction 800) when I want to get tight shots, and swing up the 180-600 when I want wider and/or flexible shots. Here are a few shots from 2023 Fleetweek. However I'm so far behind on processing my photos I haven't even started working on the Blue Angels shots. This one is of AceMaker in a T-33. I processed these first because the pilot has seen my photos in the past and specifically asked me if I got any shots. I really liked the distorted view of Alcatraz in the canopy in Photo1 so I did an upscale of it, which is Photo2.

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Damn Nice Shots man!!

 

[RHPVideo]

I've only shot one airshow and brought the 180-400 TC. I would have to check the exif but I don't think I needed to engage the TC. It could have been the lens was so new to me I didn't have muscle memory flipping the switch yet. I did have the luxury of ideal positioning on the deck of a coast guard ship out on the log boom, positioned optimally for the show. Check the images for what focal length each shot was at. I may try again this summer and will bring a 600 I may or may not need to use.

https://pbase.com/georger/seafair_2022_blue_angels&page=all

What do you mean by "Engage the TC"? isn't the mere fact that it is mounted make in "Engaged"? Am I missing something? I just bought my first TC's, the TC-20E II, and the TC-14E II. I should mention it's Nikon.

 

[Cameron T]

What do you mean by "Engage the TC"? isn't the mere fact that it is mounted make in "Engaged"? Am I missing something? I just bought my first TC's, the TC-20E II, and the TC-14E II. I should mention it's Nikon.

The 180-400 has a built in tc you can flip on or leave off. So do a few other lenses.

 

[RHPVideo]

The 180-400 has a built in tc you can flip on or leave off. So do a few other lenses.

Ohhh ok. I did not know that. Thanks for the info.

 

[Midway]

What do you mean by "Engage the TC"? isn't the mere fact that it is mounted make in "Engaged"? Am I missing something? I just bought my first TC's, the TC-20E II, and the TC-14E II. I should mention it's Nikon.