Air Show Advice: Hello Fellow Hogs. I will be heading out to the Ocean City Md. Air Show this weekend and was looking for so helpful pointers from anyone who may have experience...

tjkraemer1 Loc: Maryland

Hello Fellow Hogs.
I will be heading out to the Ocean City Md. Air Show this weekend and was looking for so helpful pointers from anyone who may have experience shooting this type of event. I will be taking my 7Dmk2 , 100-400mm zoom f4.5/5.6L USM II and 1.4X III Extender (if needed). Any/all input would be greatly appreciated.

CHG_CANON Loc: the Windy City

Put on the extender and leave it on. Put the AF mode in AI Servo. Select Zone AF and use the center cluster. Set the IS setting on the lens to setting 3. With the extender, your images will be sharper around f/11. For exposure, try for 1/1000 shutter for jets / non-prop planes. For planes with propellers, try for speeds 1/250 - 1/500, adjust your ISO to allow these aperture and shutter speed settings. With all these technical settings, still the hardest task will be panning with the planes and keeping them anywhere in the frame. It takes practice. Keep you camera away from the sand and sand away from the camera. While on the beach, have a blanket and / or bag you keep sand free and is the only place the camera is placed.

tjkraemer1 Loc: Maryland

Thanks for the info. I do a lot of BIF shots and found IS 2 works best for me. What does Setting 3 do differently? I will certainly take your advice and use setting 3 but was just wondering what the difference is. I agree that panning jets is a lot harder than BIF LOL. I'll do my best. Thanks again

CHG_CANON Loc: the Windy City

tjkraemer1 wrote:

Thanks for the info. I do a lot of BIF shots and found IS 2 works best for me. What does Setting 3 do differently? I will certainly take your advice and use setting 3 but was just wondering what the difference is. I agree that panning jets is a lot harder than BIF LOL. I'll do my best. Thanks again

Setting 3 kicks in IS only when the image is captured. I use it 100% when using the 100-400L II.

tjkraemer1 Loc: Maryland

Got it! Thanks again for the info and advice about keeping the sand away from the camera. Great minds must think alike - LOL- That's exactly what I do when I take my gear to the beach.

nimbushopper Loc: Tampa, FL

Just remember that when you shoot airplanes with propellers to keep the shutter speed 250 or less so you don't freeze the prop!

tjkraemer1 Loc: Maryland

Thanks for the advice. Will do.

tropicdiver Loc: Oklahoma, Texas and currently Florida

I shoot with both the same body and lens and would never use the extender. You should have plenty of reach without it and have plenty of crisp and in your face photos.

avman Loc: Normal IL

If you are able, shoot props at 1/125 or 1/160....you will avoid propsicles. Jets....shoot as fast as light will allow.....I like 1/2000 at a minimum.....shoot the lowest ISO possible, but again that depends upon the light....don't be afraid to adjust....the light will change as the day advances.....attempt to plan for the sun and how it will cross the sky....this will determine whether your aircraft shots are highlighted or backlit....a lot to think about, but it is fun....don't forget to enjoy the show, peek out from behind the viewfinder once in a while.....and if you saw it in the viewfinder, you missed it....Have Fun

Blurryeyed Loc: NC Mountains.

tropicdiver wrote:

I shoot with both the same body and lens and would never use the extender. You should have plenty of reach without it and have plenty of crisp and in your face photos.

The 1.4 III extender is pretty amazing on the 100-400, I use it on my MK IV with great success. Given that he is shooting with a crop camera you may be right that he might not need it for this outing, not using it will help to reduce motion blur in his images. The 7D Mk II with the 100-400 with the extender requires really good technique.

tjkraemer1 Loc: Maryland

Thank you all for the great advice. I also have the 70-200mm f/2.8L IS EF II USM. Do you think that and the extender would be long enough? That combo would give me more Focusing points as well.

CHG_CANON Loc: the Windy City

tjkraemer1 wrote:

Thank you all for the great advice. I also have the 70-200mm f/2.8L IS EF II USM. Do you think that and the extender would be long enough? That combo would give me more Focusing points as well.

Bring the extender and remove (or add) based on what you encounter. The 70-200 is a great lens. But if you have a longer lens, you should go with the longer lens.

tjkraemer1 Loc: Maryland

Thanks CHG. That's what I thought . The good news is that I have 2 days to figure out what works best. I plan on enjoying the show and hopefully get a couple keepers as well. Again, thanks for your respected advice.

Blurryeyed Loc: NC Mountains.

tjkraemer1 wrote:

Thanks CHG. That's what I thought . The good news is that I have 2 days to figure out what works best. I plan on enjoying the show and hopefully get a couple keepers as well. Again, thanks for your respected advice.

Under no circumstances should you leave the 100-400 at home, without the extender you will have full use of all of your focusing points. The image quality of the 70-200 II is not going to be better than the 100-400 II and you will have less range.

bull drink water Loc: pontiac mi.

you've gotten good advivce from the technical side. from the people side, they are rude. if there is reserved seating, pay the extra. in the general areas they will stand up even when they have brought chairs.