Which lenses for an Air Show?

[Tibor Hrnko]

I only see a few shots, I don't have an account there. Maybe you could add your favorites to the thread? ....

Here they are:

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[MJR]

I like the 600PF and 100-400 on my Z9's for Air Shows. As already alluded to, light shouldn't be an issue as well as busy backgrounds. Also hand holding allows more freedom in catching the fast jets as they scream by.

 

[FastGlassGuy]

Here they are:
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Some really great shots. I especially like the Osprey, but they are all Wall Hangers. Ken

 

[Rick Kibbey]

I have shot Hundreds of Airshow shots. I love the Nikon Z100-400mm S lens. Zoom is flexible for what you need. Over 400 is too much lens. If you need cockpit shots. Add the TC 1.4.

 

[Roy]

I have been invited to attend Seafair, which involves both hydroplane boat races and an air show. I have a pit pass for the hydroplane boats and will also be able to photograph the air show from the deck of a home located just up the hill from the main event. I would probably use a tripod and gimbal on the deck but at the pits i would do everything handheld.

I am wondering which lenses would work well for this.

I am looking potentially at the following lenses:

800mm pf
400mm f4.5
70-200mmm f2.8
135mm f1.8 Plena
24-70mm f2.8
14-24mm f2.8.
1.4 and 2.0 teleconverters

I could also rent something if appropriate. The options could include a telephoto zoom or possibly a 400mm f2.8.

This is going to be shot mid day so low light performance is probably not going to be an issue.

the 400 and Plena will probably be the most useful.
the 24-70 will suit the stationary planes.
the 800 is a little long to keep track of fast moving planes...

 

[splatbass]

300mm has been a sweet spot for me. I used my 300PF last time exclusively and got great shots. A 100-400 is a great choice.

 

[FastGlassGuy]

Whatever works, but all of these shots are at 500mm and if I had a 600 mm lens I would have used it. It is easier to fill the frame with a longer lens (not to state the obvious but to state the obvious)

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[beano]

Here they are:
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Beautiful shots, thank you for sharing I was wondering how well the 100-400 would go wide open at 400mm, that first photos is just stunning. I’m hindsight, all of them are.

 

[FastGlassGuy]

Beautiful shots, thank you for sharing I was wondering how well the 100-400 would go wide open at 400mm, that first photos is just stunning. I’m hindsight, all of them are.

Thank you for your comments. I don't have the 100-400 so I can't say. When I took these shots last year I didn't have the 180-600 so I used the 200-500 with the FTZII on a Z8. This year I will use the 180-600.

 

[Tibor Hrnko]

Beautiful shots, thank you for sharing I was wondering how well the 100-400 would go wide open at 400mm, that first photos is just stunning. I’m hindsight, all of them are.

I was practically under the plane during the shot. At 400 mm it must be very close to get a full sensor picture. The F-35 was cropped to 5825x3883.

 

[Brian_S]

problem is this will be at seafair so there' will be no statics to worry about and the flightline will not be your typical close to the runway flightline, i would tend to give the 800 a shot

 

[EricKlees]

I have been invited to attend Seafair, which involves both hydroplane boat races and an air show. I have a pit pass for the hydroplane boats and will also be able to photograph the air show from the deck of a home located just up the hill from the main event. I would probably use a tripod and gimbal on the deck but at the pits i would do everything handheld.

I am wondering which lenses would work well for this.

I am looking potentially at the following lenses:

800mm pf
400mm f4.5
70-200mmm f2.8
135mm f1.8 Plena
24-70mm f2.8
14-24mm f2.8.
1.4 and 2.0 teleconverters

I could also rent something if appropriate. The options could include a telephoto zoom or possibly a 400mm f2.8.

This is going to be shot mid day so low light performance is probably not going to be an issue.

A friend of mine shoots predominately air shows. He does towards of about 19 shows a summer.

I believe he shots mostly his 800PF and his second Z9 has the 180-600mm, I think he also uses the 100-400mm (maybe sometime wider though) for media day when he there for their arrival and is on the tarmac.

He go to do many he know when what is coming, where they are coming and what maneuvers that will happen right in front so he's ready with the right camera at all times basically. He calls it what's coming all show long.

He's got a Facebook and IG page called RadarContact you can look him up

Hope this helps

Edit: this was his response to me a few min ago...

"Yes, so 100-400 for arrival day stuff.. Tamron 18-400 for pilots and static, looking to upgrade there. Not looking to update the 18-400mm"

 

[jimfromno]

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I saw the air show from Cleveland last year and I had front row seats, on the taxiway. And I shot a Z9 and a 500mm PF, and I would recommend, as you won't be as close, bringing all the lens you can. And forget about the tripod the planes are too fast, you'll be fine handholding. If you're bringing two cameras the 400 and 800 would be perfect.

 

[Gio]

I shoot at a fair number of airshows. For prop planes and helicopters, I generally shoot handheld at anywhere from 1/60 to 1/100 of a second to get a good prop blur. Shooting at this slow speed you will get a lot of blurred shots, but you should also get some keepers.

I used to use a D850 with a 200-500. Now I use a Z8 with the 180-600. I think that a 70-200 and a 180-600 or a 70-200 and 100-400 with a 600 prime should be useful. If you shoot with two lenses, then preferably you should have two bodies. The action can be fast, and it is much quicker to switch body/lens combos then to change lenses. I used the D850 and 200-500 for the Thunderbird shots. At the Pacific Airshow in 2023, I used the Z8, but I did not have the 180-600 yet, so I used the Z8 and FTZII with the 200-500.

If you can it’s best to try and pick up a fast-moving jet fairly far out and then track it coming in, once it is close enough so that it is larger in the frame, then fire away preferably at 20fps while panning with the jet. I would use a shutter speed of at least 1/2000/sec, but you can use 1/3200/sec or even 1/4000/sec. I usually shoot wide open at 5.6 or 6.3. I shoot at a fair number of airshows. Have fun!



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I just saw the Thunderbirds last week. I missed about 5 afterburner flybys. I love the vapor ring shot. You are right, Try tracking before the flight line. In the BNAS show, they usually came around a nearby hanger at Mach 10 ( figuratively ) and I just dropped my jaw. Not even one frame. Great shot. Now I have a physical image of that experience- not just the ones rattling in my brain- although vivid- I ( up til now) could not show. Impressive capture- that was an ear popping eyes bulging experience.

 

[SoCalRick]

Does anyone use a tripod (or monopod) when they shoot an air show?

I'm going to photograph at the San Diego / MCAS Miramar air show in September and was planning to bring my 600 F4 TC and my 100 - 400 f/4.5-5.6 on my Z8 & Z9. I'm not sure if they will even let me bring my tripod in, but I'm trying to find out the answer to this in advance.

I'm not entirely sure if it's a good idea to use the tripod, or if it's better to just shoot hand held. But then fatigue could definitely set in with the 600.

I do have a 500 PF that I could bring in place of the 600, if it's better to have a smaller/lighter lens, but I really would prefer the image quality and reach of the 600 TC.

 

[FastGlassGuy]

Does anyone use a tripod (or monopod) when they shoot an air show?

I'm going to photograph at the San Diego / MCAS Miramar air show in September and was planning to bring my 600 F4 TC and my 100 - 400 f/4.5-5.6 on my Z8 & Z9. I'm not sure if they will even let me bring my tripod in, but I'm trying to find out the answer to this in advance.

I'm not entirely sure if it's a good idea to use the tripod, or if it's better to just shoot hand held. But then fatigue could definitely set in with the 600.

I do have a 500 PF that I could bring in place of the 600, if it's better to have a smaller/lighter lens, but I really would prefer the image quality and reach of the 600 TC.

Rick: I will be going to the Miramar air show in September as well. I have not been there since 2019. At that time they did allow tripods/monopods. You can go the Miramar air show website, and they have a whole list of permitted/prohibited items. I don't use a tripod or monopod at airshows. I find them too confining. The planes are moving so fast and at different altitudes and angles, I just hand hold. I'll be shooting a Z8 with the 180-600, and I think I will bring my D850 with a 70-200. I get your concerns about hand holding the 600 F4. This might seem odd, but you could bring the tripod and use it as way to hold the 600 F4, while shooting the 100-400, and then grab the 600 off the tripod when you are ready to shoot the 600.

I don't know what your budget is, but if you can afford it, I highly recommend getting a ticket for the Semper Fi Chalet (it is $199.00). It includes breakfast and lunch and unlimited water, soda, coffee (I think beer and wine as well) and an official Air Show program, and it has its own Porta Potties. It also gives you access to the front of the flightline, pretty close to show center ( If you want to be right at show center you have to pay for the Devil Dog Chalet ($399.00). My wife and I did this in 2019, and it was great. Good luck and have a great time. Ken

 

[Tibor Hrnko]

Does anyone use a tripod (or monopod) when they shoot an air show?

Yes I do. There are two use cases for me:

• Slow and horizontally moving targets (e.g. copters)
• Resting the gear to relax my hands and fingers.

It depends on the specific place as well. When I am not at the airport crowd line there is more space and better possibility to use it.

 

[Flyboy]

If you can hold the camera steady, 1/250-1/400 sec will produce good propeller blur...If you are good and lucky, Low shutter speeds can produce full circle props and condensation from the tips, as were marvelously shown.
Helicopters look like insects pinned to a board much above 1/250.
Propeller planes are a combination of headaches between good prop blur and blurry photos...even with VR...and stopping all other motion...air, motor vibration, pilot input, etc..
Jets can be shot at 1/1000 and better, depending on light. No worries about shooting wide open at the distances required, the whole airplane will be in focus.
I take only two lenses to airshows...a wide angle zoom for the static displays and people, and my longest lens...70-3oo, enough water, a chair and the painkiller of choice. It makes the drive home much better! Oh...BTW... You will notice there IS an aircraft in the photo!

 

[Marcepan]

If you can hold the camera steady, 1/250-1/400 sec will produce good propeller blur...If you are good and lucky, Low shutter speeds can produce full circle props

Yes, it was lucky day only.
My hands usually shake.

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[Don_Logan]

Wotan1: any pics you can post from Seafair?

 

[Marcepan]

Does anyone use a tripod (or monopod) when they shoot an air show?
I'm not entirely sure if it's a good idea to use the tripod, or if it's better to just shoot hand held.

I can confirm fastguy's words.
A tripod on an air show is very limiting. In practice, it is very rarely used and only for machines that move at low angular speed.
Take into account that an airshow usually requires a lot of equipment, food for the whole day, clothes for changing weather, a chair to sit on, maybe a blanket.
A tripod is another thing that adds weight and bulk to your equipment.
So far I have visited about 100 airshow events. I may have taken a tripod for a few of them.
But it's best if you just check it in person.
I will write about exceptions in my free time.

 

[Marcepan]

but sometimes it can be very useful:

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[ButlerKid]

@wotan1 Waiting to hear what you decided to use and see some of your shots!

 

[Craig Yuill]

I attended the Abbotsford International Airshow on Sunday. I used both my Sigma 100-400mm lens and AF-P Nikkor 70-300mm lenses. I sometimes wanted a longer focal length that 400mm, but either lens worked fairly well for the majority of shots.

I definitely was glad to use zoom lenses. I found it helpful for many situations to be able to zoom from a long focal length to a shorter one, and vice versa.

 

[hef19898]

but sometimes it can be very useful:

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I hope you sold that one to Dassault!

Edit: Nope, not a Rafale, more a F-16, so that would be Lockheed-Martin, and not Dassault!