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Jul 19, 2021 07:51:49   #
Bill May
 
My 16 y/o is heading to the airshow in a week. He shoots a Canon EOS 3, with a Tamron 18-400 lens (new to him). We are looking for suggestions as to how to position himself and what to look for in order to get quality shots. He is pretty proficient with the camera and taking fire truck and fire scene pics. This is first foray into aviation photography. Thanks in advance, you know how kids respond to outside suggestions as opposed to "old man" thoughts.

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Jul 19, 2021 08:34:03   #
imagemeister Loc: mid east Florida
 
Bill May wrote:
My 16 y/o is heading to the airshow in a week. He shoots a Canon EOS 3, with a Tamron 18-400 lens (new to him). We are looking for suggestions as to how to position himself and what to look for in order to get quality shots. He is pretty proficient with the camera and taking fire truck and fire scene pics. This is first foray into aviation photography. Thanks in advance, you know how kids respond to outside suggestions as opposed to "old man" thoughts.


Interesting , .... the EOS 3 is a film camera and the Tamron is a crop frame lens ! ? ......

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Jul 19, 2021 08:37:43   #
Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States
 
imagemeister wrote:
Interesting , .... the EOS 3 is a film camera and the Tamron is a crop frame lens ! ? ......

That has something to do with the question?

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Jul 19, 2021 08:38:00   #
nospambob Loc: Edmond, Oklahoma
 
Two.
Spend more than one day.
And slow the shutter speed for flying prop jobs, so that you'll see prop "blur" instead of stopped props.

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Jul 19, 2021 08:40:42   #
BebuLamar
 
Longshadow wrote:
That has something to do with the question?


Would that combo even work? I think before answering the question one should verify that the combo would work. I believe Canon EOS film (which is full frame) won't work with EF-S lens.

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Jul 19, 2021 08:42:18   #
imagemeister Loc: mid east Florida
 
Longshadow wrote:
That has something to do with the question?


Yes, how does that work ? ...it has EVERYTHING to do with the question

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Jul 19, 2021 08:53:43   #
Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States
 
Oh, going on the premise that NO pictures have been taken yet with that combo. And that combo may not work.
Seems reasonable to question the validity of the combo instead of suggesting where to be and any shooting methods, with whatever is being used. Just make sure the equipment is properly aligned before supplying suggestions.

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Jul 19, 2021 09:19:32   #
CHG_CANON Loc: the Windy City
 
The 18-400 zoom is a digital DX-style lens, so lets assume an "EOS 3" is some form of a Digital Rebel of the EOS T3 variety.

I'm not going to Oshkosh this year, but went for two years running for the entire 7-day week before last year's cancellation.

A few general tips for easy(er) ways to get great airshow results are:

1. Shoot in Shutter Priority with the EC set to +0.7. Put the camera in AUTO-ISO. Use Evaluative Metering.

2. For prop planes, adjust the speed between 1/200sec and 1/320sec. Use the slower speeds for slower planes like T6 Texans (WWII) and the faster speed for high-performance planes like the Extra 300L. For all jets, adjust to 1/1000sec initially. When the modern USAF fighters do their high-speed passes, bump up to 1/1600 sec. The hardest thing to remember is to adjust your shutterspeed every time the plane types change back n forth. The example below is 1/320sec, one could just default this speed for all prop planes. Use 1/100sec for helicopters.

3. Set the AF drive to AI Servo.

4. Set the burst mode to High-Speed Continuous.

Track the flying plane with the shutter half-pressed to engage the AI Servo and press the shutter full as the plane reaches the closest point of approach, let the camera rip 3 to 5 frames at a time (1 or 2 seconds) as you smoothly pan with the plane as it passes through the closest point. Skip the 'from behind' shots.

For position, the earlier you get to your desired spot the better. People will start 'holding' spots on the flight line as early as the gates open at 9am using empty lawn chairs. I don't shoot from a chair, so I've been to the flight line to physically hold my spot for as early as 12pm for the 2pm show start. The 12pm 'hold' is to get a spot more toward the center, there is always open space at either far-ends of the runway where all the flying occurs.

The grounds have tons of planes for ground shots, so many it's overwhelming. The Warbirds area is amazing. If someone was there for just one day, get there when the gates open and tour through all the warbirds (WWII) and then plan to get a good place for the airshow. Have plenty of back-up batteries and cards.

Here's a fresh image from Oshkosh in July 2019 at 420mm on a full-frame camera. Your son's 400mm lens on a Rebel can capture the same framing at 1/320 sec if positioned on the flightline.

Yak-110 by Paul Sager, on Flickr

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Jul 19, 2021 09:22:11   #
Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States
 
CHG_CANON wrote:
The 18-400 zoom is a digital DX-style lens, so lets assume an "EOS 3" is some form of a Digital Rebel of the EOS T3 variety.
...
...


Deductive reasoning at work, Kudos!

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Jul 19, 2021 09:38:03   #
Bill May
 
Sorry I was misinformed. He tells me it is a digital T4.

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Jul 19, 2021 09:40:13   #
Bill May
 
Sorry I was misinformed. It is a digital T4. His mother purchased the lens from a reputable local dealer (Milford Camera) I have not seen it but know the store by reputation.

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Jul 19, 2021 09:45:03   #
Bill May
 
Thank you Paul. He is going for the whole week and has been there once before 2019. Last time he made some interesting contacts. Can he get away without using a tripod?

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Jul 19, 2021 09:47:15   #
CHG_CANON Loc: the Windy City
 
Bill May wrote:
Thank you Paul. He is going for the whole week and has been there once before 2019. Last time he made some interesting contacts. Can he get away without using a tripod?


Yes. I don't know / remember that I used a tripod at any point for either year. The 18-400 is VC enabled, Tamron for Image Stabilized. Leave it on always, it helps stabilize the view finder while tracking / panning, regardless of shutterspeed.

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Jul 19, 2021 09:51:36   #
Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States
 
imagemeister wrote:
Yes, how does that work ? ...it has EVERYTHING to do with the question

So now that you don't have to worry about the equipment, you can provide some useful information.

Reply
Jul 19, 2021 10:14:00   #
CaptKK Loc: Edmond OK
 
CHG_CANON wrote:
The 18-400 zoom is a digital DX-style lens, so lets assume an "EOS 3" is some form of a Digital Rebel of the EOS T3 variety.

I'm not going to Oshkosh this year, but went for two years running for the entire 7-day week before last year's cancellation.

A few general tips for easy(er) ways to get great airshow results are:

1. Shoot in Shutter Priority with the EC set to +0.7. Put the camera in AUTO-ISO. Use Evaluative Metering.

2. For prop planes, adjust the speed between 1/200sec and 1/320sec. Use the slower speeds for slower planes like T6 Texans (WWII) and the faster speed for high-performance planes like the Extra 300L. For all jets, adjust to 1/1000sec initially. When the modern USAF fighters do their high-speed passes, bump up to 1/1600 sec. The hardest thing to remember is to adjust your shutterspeed every time the plane types change back n forth. The example below is 1/320sec, one could just default this speed for all prop planes. Use 1/100sec for helicopters.

3. Set the AF drive to AI Servo.

4. Set the burst mode to High-Speed Continuous.

Track the flying plane with the shutter half-pressed to engage the AI Servo and press the shutter full as the plane reaches the closest point of approach, let the camera rip 3 to 5 frames at a time (1 or 2 seconds) as you smoothly pan with the plane as it passes through the closest point. Skip the 'from behind' shots.

For position, the earlier you get to your desired spot the better. People will start 'holding' spots on the flight line as early as the gates open at 9am using empty lawn chairs. I don't shoot from a chair, so I've been to the flight line to physically hold my spot for as early as 12pm for the 2pm show start. The 12pm 'hold' is to get a spot more toward the center, there is always open space at either far-ends of the runway where all the flying occurs.

The grounds have tons of planes for ground shots, so many it's overwhelming. The Warbirds area is amazing. If someone was there for just one day, get there when the gates open and tour through all the warbirds (WWII) and then plan to get a good place for the airshow. Have plenty of back-up batteries and cards.

Here's a fresh image from Oshkosh in July 2019 at 420mm on a full-frame camera. Your son's 400mm lens on a Rebel can capture the same framing at 1/320 sec if positioned on the flightline.

Yak-110 by Paul Sager, on Flickr
The 18-400 zoom is a digital DX-style lens, so let... (show quote)


Apologies for going off topic but in regards to the pic you posted, is that a single plane or 2 planes?

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