DA_Photo

I’m planning on a doors off helicopter tour next week on Kauai. I understand that changing lenses is a bad idea and probably not even allowed in flight. I have a Fuji XT3 (crop sensor) and my lenses are 10-24 & 50-140. Any thoughts on which of these would be the better choice?

alx Loc: NJ

Based on my experience with helicopter flights over Kauai in my film days, if limited to one lens I would go with the 10-24. There are so many points where the sweeping vistas scream out for the wide angle. A longer lens would be far too limiting.

Make sure you go with plenty of memory! I used to go through a good 10+ rolls of film on a Kauai flight. Digital is so much more economical.

A polarizer is a definite plus in bringing out the rich greens and enhancing the colors of the water.

I miss my visits to Kauai.

ENJOY!

Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States

How bouncy is a helicopter flight?
Would a <long> zoom be difficult to use?

DA_Photo

Thank you. I think you are probably right

Dat Quach Loc: California

Interesting! I plan to do this tour next week too. Based on my experience with an airplane tour of Denali National Park in Alaska, I’d definitely use the 10-24 on a crop sensor camera. The 50-140 could be fine too but you will miss a lot of wide angle scenery. I attach couple of photos for illustration purposes, they were taken with a full frame camera and a fixed 28mm f/1.7.

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alx Loc: NJ

The bounciness is really dependent on the weather AND the relative thermal activity on the day and hour in question. You also need to consider the G-loads as the helicopter maneuvers. That's a factor even with shorter lenses - you are always working against the motion of the copter.

If you are very stable with that long lens on a hike, remember that it will get heavier as you try to hold it and fight it for an hour in the air. It's not the same thing.

Again, I think the nature of the views is better served by wide to normal. If you are looking for long lens shots, rent a car and explore the Waimea Canyon where you can take your time and set up your shots. You can capture mountain goats on the steep terrain. You will be lucky if you even see them from the air and it would be a small miracle to put them on the card.

bigguytf

On my last doors off on Kauai I used a 24-105 and it was really a good choice.

E.L.. Shapiro Loc: Ottawa, Ontario Canada

I have done quite a bit of aerial photography from helicopters, gunships, and fixed-wing aircraft with the doors off. Tips:

1. Hannes yourself securely. Use a strong and proper length of camera strap that will not tangle or restrict your movements.

2. If space and seating facilities allow, swivel inboard to do any lens changes- away from the door.

3. I used to keep a strapped down small cases on the floor to accommodate lenses. The gyroscopic force will usually prevent things from rolling out of the aircraft.

4. To avoid blur for vibration or turbulence, keep the camera and your body of the airframe-buffer some of the vibration with your body and clothing.

5. Keep your gear out of the slipstream- keep it all inside the aircraft while shooting where it would be pulled out of your hands or affected by the downdraft.

6. If possible, keep in intercome contact with the pilot. He or she may be able to hover for certain shots.

7. Without special gyroscopic mounts or special support gear, normal and wide-angle lense are more practical.

8. Stay safe!!! Your pilot will not fly in inclement or dangerous weather conditions.

Attached is a link to an informative site that explains the relationship between focal length and altitude.

https://www.nrcan.gc.ca/earth-sciences/geomatics/satellite-imagery-and-air-photos/national-air-photo-library/about-aerial-photography/concepts-aerial-photography/9687

DA_Photo

Thank you for the tips!

LFingar Loc: Claverack, NY

I did two doors-off tours of Oahu a few years back. I used a 24-105 on a full frame Canon 6D. I actually would have preferred to have my 70-200, which I had left home. If you like wide vistas the 10-24 should work for you, but, if you think you would rather be able to get tighter shots the 50-140 would be my choice. On Oahu there are a number of places, such as Pearl Harbor, where tighter shots are desireable. Kauai may be a different story.
As far as what you can carry on the helicopter: Your camera with your neck strap around your neck. Nothing else except an ID card in your pocket, if you wish. Everything else stays behind, including glasses, etc. They should have lockers for you to use for your personal items. They want no risk of anything getting loose and being sucked into an engine or striking a rotor blade.
The rotor wash will buffet you and your camera, but, not enough to interfere with your shooting. You just have to make a bit more effort to remain stable. Your body will absorb the vibration just fine. Today's turbine 3, 4, and 5 bladed choppers don't rattle your teeth like the old piston engine ones did, or, even like the two bladed Huey. Just use a reasonably high shutter speed and you should have no problem.
Enjoy!

billnikon Loc: Pennsylvania/Ohio/Florida/Maui/Oregon/Vermont

Use the 10-24 and please tell me you will be tightly strapped in. Personally I would never do what you are attempting. Hats off to you. OH, by the way, your shutter speed should be at least 1/2000 sec. or much higher if you can, that sucker is going to be vibrating like an egg beater. Get it, egg beater, nick name for helicopter. HA HA.

wishaw

Did you check with the tour company. Some doors off only allow phones

Juy Loc: Delaware

Don't know about KauI, but did doors off in Sedonna Az. They have you secure items, take off your lens shade , keep inside . They did allow me to extend out of the craft with proir notice. Big concern is no loose items that could come out and strike tail rotor.
I used a 18-105 kit lens. Which worked very well for 95% of shots. Wide to mid is what you want. Very little need for tight shots. These pilots are excellent and most very accommodating. Enjoy

jbk224 Loc: Long Island, NY

I did the Kauai open door with Jack Harter Helicopter Tours in 2018. I would suggest using your 50-140 lens. It will give you the flexibility to adjust. You will definitely want to come in closer to many areas and not be limited to the wide angle.
Next...one lens only. Forget about changing. You have dual slots-use the largest cards you have. Set up for overflow, not back up. Bring extras. You will be given a seat location based on the other passengers and weight distribution. No choice if the copter is full. You will be strapped in so you will have limited movement. And, be prepared to have your rear screen articulated so you can hold the camera--down, below your eye and below the rotors. You may have issues holding the camera up to your eye due to your harness. If you wear glasses, make sure to have them 'tied' around your neck. I wore my BR strap, very loose, to have a second backup connection for my camera..after my wrist strap. It was as though the BR wasn't there, but it gave me peace of mind.
Many people, here at UHH, told me not to get overly involved with the camera and just enjoy the trip. They are right!
The pilot will make passes in both directions for many areas-- everyone will have a direct view. Enjoy the experience first--document it second. You will remember this forever.

billt1970 Loc: Gambrills, Maryland

And here is yet another opinion, though from a veteran of 15 trips to Kauai with at least a half-dozen helicopter and airplane tours of the "Garden Isle."

I had the luxury of two bodies, so I had wide angle and zoom options always available. Both cameras were strapped around my body so I was never in fear of losing anything. If I could only take one lens, it would be the wide angle zoom. Understand though that at the 10mm setting you are likely to capture some rotor blades at the top of the images. When at the widest zoom setting just remember to tilt it slightly down so as to exclude the rotors. They can easily be edited out of your images, but it's even better if you don't capture them in the first place.

The only other recommendation is to keep the shutter speed at least at 1/1000sec to ensure sharp images with no motion blur. That recommendation comes from my son, a former Blackhawk helicopter pilot who is also an exceptional photographer. My personal experience bears out the success of following that recommendation.

Enjoy the "Garden Isle." It is a magical place. I can't wait to get back there later this year.

Best Regards,

Bill Taylor
Gambrills, MD