Air show question: I'll be going to an air show Sunday, where among other things, the Blue Angels will be flying. I'll take my Tamron 150-600. The question is, should I lug around a...

dlmorris Loc: Loma Linda, Ca

I'll be going to an air show Sunday, where among other things, the Blue Angels will be flying. I'll take my Tamron 150-600. The question is, should I lug around a tripod and gemble head, or would it be better to just try for hand held?

SonnyE Loc: Communist California, USA

That's a tough call.
Having shot from crowd conditions, I really love having my monopod.
Tripods can be subject to clods tripping over them.

But...
If you show up with pro looking equipment, you might get put in a Pro Camera area if they have something like that. (Thinking a press box or the like)
And wouldn't that be sweet?

GPS Phil Loc: Dayton Ohio

dlmorris wrote:

I'll be going to an air show Sunday, where among other things, the Blue Angels will be flying. I'll take my Tamron 150-600. The question is, should I lug around a tripod and gemble head, or would it be better to just try for hand held?

Over the years, I have stopped using a tri-pod to shoot aircraft, especially at any kind of air show. A pain in the butt, and usually you are panning. Even static displays will usually have good light, making the tri-pod unnecessary. Just my thoughts and my experience, but I'm 74, and prefer to go as light as possible. Good luck!

Phil

CHOLLY Loc: THE FLORIDA PANHANDLE!

Yep; leave the tripod at home unless you have a good gimbal head....

amehta Loc: Boston

dlmorris wrote:

I'll be going to an air show Sunday, where among other things, the Blue Angels will be flying. I'll take my Tamron 150-600. The question is, should I lug around a tripod and gemble head, or would it be better to just try for hand held?

I would take some support, either the tripod or a monopod. The air show can last for about 5-6 hours, that's a long time to hold a long, heavy lens.

nakkh Loc: San Mateo, Ca

Handheld will give you more range of motion & if it's crowded, people will not appreciate your taking up real estate for your tripod.

BHC Loc: Strawberry Valley, JF, USA

nakkh wrote:

Handheld will give you more range of motion & if it's crowded, people will not appreciate your taking up real estate for your tripod.

For someone sitting back with a 600mm lens, a tripod won't take up much needed real estate. But nakkh is right; you'll need as much range of motion and flexibility as possible for aerobatics. But a tripod with a gimbal may be useful is stabilizing fly-bys and semi-static events (STOL, VTOL, hovering craft, skydiving, bomb runs, etc.). But don't let GPS Phil fool you. Those old bi-planes can be a terror to follow, with ot without a tripod. At my next air show, I'm mounting an AimPoint on top of my camera and zeroing it at 300 yards to follow those little speedsters!

mdorn Loc: Portland, OR

dlmorris wrote:

I'll be going to an air show Sunday, where among other things, the Blue Angels will be flying. I'll take my Tamron 150-600. The question is, should I lug around a tripod and gemble head, or would it be better to just try for hand held?

Handheld and a monopod.

GPS Phil Loc: Dayton Ohio

Mogul wrote:

For someone sitting back with a 600mm lens, a trip... (show quote)

It is quite a learning experience, I learn something every time I go out. In the five or six years I've been shooting aircraft, I have tried just about everything. I don't think there is a right or wrong, depends on what type of aircraft, how close can you get, and a whole list of things. You are quite correct Mogul, it is harder than it looks. I have the bad pictures to prove it. :lol:

Phil

mdorn Loc: Portland, OR

GPS Phil wrote:

It is quite a learning experience, I learn something every time I go out. In the five or six years I've been shooting aircraft, I have tried just about everything. I don't think there is a right or wrong, depends on what type of aircraft, how close can you get, and a whole list of things. You are quite correct Mogul, it is harder than it looks. I have the bad pictures to prove it. :lol:

Phil

All my shots are perfect! :)

GPS Phil Loc: Dayton Ohio

mdorn wrote:

All my shots are perfect! :)

We have to talk, I am in need of a good teacher :lol:

dlmorris Loc: Loma Linda, Ca

Just getting time to read over the replies. I'm tending to agree, that a tripod probably isn't the best for something as dynamic as an air show, plus trying to set it up in a crowd, plus carrying it around.... But someone mentioned an aim point Finder.... That's a great suggestion! I have a small reflex finder already. Just need to remember to take it. Especially if I try to take any videos!

Guillermo

I shot the Blue Angels with Nikon 7100 and 300mm telephoto.

Tripod would have limited my need to move around.

SonnyE Loc: Communist California, USA

mdorn wrote:

All my shots are perfect! :)

All of mine are too.
The rest I delete. :twisted:

peteto Loc: Las Vegas

dlmorris wrote:

I'll be going to an air show Sunday, where among other things, the Blue Angels will be flying. I'll take my Tamron 150-600. The question is, should I lug around a tripod and gemble head, or would it be better to just try for hand held?

I have shot air shows and for me, I have always hand held my cameras even in the pits. I can't imagine how you could possibly use a tripod or a monopod to photograph a moving plane or jet with any success especially with a crowd. Out of all the photographers I see at these shows, I rarely see any of them using either to take their shots.

Pete