tjkraemer1 Loc: Maryland

I agree. I have the pleasure of being able to view the show from a hotel balcony on the Boardwalk just right of "center stage". I will also have family members sitting on the beach just outside the paid viewing area. I'll be able to shoot from the balcony on Saturday and the beach on Sunday. Should be a great weekend to test my skills or lack there of.

bulldawg Loc: San Antonio, TX

Try to make sure the sun is behind you if possible. Last airshow I shot, the sun was in my face, casting shadows on the planes as they came by--hard to fix in LR & PS... Was the place set up by organizers so couldn't move to better location.

bpulv Loc: Buena Park, CA

When I was an Air Force photographer in the 60's, I shot many aerials including a few Thunderbird air shows. I used my Nikon F Photomic with a 135mm prime lens and it did the job beautifully. The Thunderbirds use(d) six planes and most of their maneuvers involved six, four or two airplanes (coming at each other head on). All the important action was between 1,000 and 50-feet centered over the main runway. The take away is that you do not need 400mm to shoot multiple aerial targets.

In one case, I positioned myself in the middle of the runway and photographed them as they came out of a cloud of smoke about 500-yards from me and passed 50-feet over my head at as I dropped and spread eagle on the runway. At 250MPH, they come at you literally in the blink of an eye. I was admonished later by one of the T-bird pilots that if I had not laid down, I could have been sucked into their engine intakes.

As to single planes at an air show, you could probably get by shooting RAW with a 70-200mm f/2.8 with VR on a full frame body. Assuming that the camera is 25mp or better, you could crop to the equivalent of 400mm without loosing appreciable quality using lower ISO then your f4.5/f5.6. In addition, the wider field of view will allow you to acquire your target faster.

imagemeister Loc: mid east Florida

The 100-400 only on crop frame will be FINE and crop if needed - unless you are positioned at GREAT distance and only as a last resort would I use the extender. I HIGHLY recommend using a bodypod to shoot from - or at least monopod - not to shoot from, but just to rest the camera on when not active. The 100-400 and 7DII will get very heavy !

- http://www.uglyhedgehog.com/t-269999-1.html

..

dmc Loc: Montgomery, AL

And don't forget to post some of your images from the airshow.

Architect1776 Loc: In my mind

Take a wide angle zoom for static displays. Otherwise you seem perfectly equipped.

bpulv Loc: Buena Park, CA

I am assuming that you are addressing me. Next time, please click on "Reply" so that everyone will no who the comment is directed to.

I cannot post the pictures because, as with all the photos I took at official functions, the Air Force owns the pictures and the photos were filed per procedure. They may or may not exist today depending on Air Force retention policy and, even if they do, it would be a very daunting task to file under the Freedom of Information Act and, even if I did, they might not be located. Remember we are talking about 50+ years ago.

tjkraemer1 Loc: Maryland

Thanks for all the input. I will post some photos from the air show when i get back next week. Happy Fathers day to all you dads. Have a great weekend!

avman Loc: Normal IL

They also step in front of persons in wheelchairs, to get a better look....

williejoha

With that lens plus a 1.4 extender, you better practice panning a LOT. Good luck.
WJH

Silverman Loc: Michigan

Wow, as a 2 year old Photography Rookie, with very limited experience, this descriptive advice, makes my head spin. But, the little I have learned, I would suggest "Back Button Focus", "Auto ISO, and a High "Shutter Speed", although I will fully accept any correction in my thinking, always hoping to improve in my Photography education. Hoping you have a very successful Photo-shooting day at the Air Show.

planepics Loc: St. Louis burbs, but originally Chicago burbs

I have lots of personal experience with frozen props! Last year at Oshkosh I shot B-29s right after a B-1 or B2 and forgot to shift SS, but I still got one of my favorite pics - Doc and Fifi flying in formation...the only 2 airworthy copies of the heavy WWII bomber. I'll be there again this year so maybe I'll have a chance to redeem myself. Various airshow pics are on my FB page.

dmc Loc: Montgomery, AL

That's exactly what I did. I clicked "Reply" and made a comment to the OP. If I had been replying to your comment I would have clicked "Reply Quote"
and responded to your comment (as I did here).

Sorry for the confusion.

planepics Loc: St. Louis burbs, but originally Chicago burbs

I've never tried BBF...just pressed the shutter 1/2 way down.

bpulv Loc: Buena Park, CA

It is more important that regardless of whether he uses the shutter release or BBF that he use Canon's equivalent of Nikon's AF-C (Auto-Focus Continuous) mode because of the high speed of the subjects. That will allow the camera to maintain focus as the distance to the subject changes. He should read about how that function works in his camera's manual and then ask UUH members questions if he has any.