imagemeister Loc: mid east Florida

On less than perfect lenses I keep the CIZ to 1.7X or less. But you do need to maximize/optimize your image quality - like starting with low ISO !

The best case scenario will be hand holding - so a smaller/lighter lens works better in this respect. A bodypod is second best but can accommodate a heavier lens. IMO, monopods and tripods can be used - by SOME people - but I do NOT recommend !
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Howard5252 Loc: New York / Florida (now)

There are now two pages of suggestions, here's mine ... Rent the lens.

JCam Loc: MD Eastern Shore

It somewhat depends on the type of planes and their distance from you. I use a 70 -300 mm at local shows with reasonably good results for older (slower) planes, but jets are generally too high and difficult to pan at their speed. I'm using a Canon 60D crop sensor camera.

Mongo Loc: Western New York

I have gone to Oshkosh for decades. I typically use a 50 mm lens for about 80% of the pictures I take. These are usually of ground displays and people. For Air Show stills a 70 to 300 on a DX camera is fine. A longer lens can make it difficult to target and stabilize the subject. Depending upon your hand you could use a tripod. That makes it even more awkward to do action shots of the airshow using a long lens.

Shooting at Oshkosh makes one appreciate fast lenses. Also there is a lot to be said about carrying more than one camera, and switching between cameras as your need for a telephoto versus a normal angle camera happens.

If there is a particular airshow act that you want to capture, try to watch the airshow the day before Oh, so that you can plan your shots. Where you are on the field can make a big difference, and well show Center it's often favored, there could be advantages of being off axis.

Finally, an example of using a 50 mm lens. I have a SR-71 i shot while the chute was deploying. I was opposite the Cloud 9 hanger. The aircraft and chute are nearly full frame. If I was using a 70-300 i would have lost the shot.

Nigel7 Loc: Worcestershire. UK.

I would advise the 150-600. I have got good results with my EOS 70D and Canon 70-300L IS but have just purchased the Tamron 150-600 G2 for this year's Air Tattoo at Fairford. This is said to be the best airshow in the world and I attend most years but I've seen other's photos with a 150-600 and the extra reach makes a huge difference.
You may have gathered that I'm from the UK.
Whatever you decide I hope you get some great photos.

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

I was looking at some of my pics on the computer from Oshkosh and noticed that the lengths are all over the place...some 150s fill the screen and some 300s are specks of dust. Just googled the tammy 150-600 g2 and saw that it weights 70.9 oz (almost 4 1/2 lbs). Sounds heavy for a week of 4 hr airshows, usually handholding. I think I'll check out a local camera shop and see if they have one I can swing around for a while and see if it's worth the potential aches and pains. I could use CIZ on the a77 and see how it works on the short end. Here's one I took SOOC from last year just for reference.

1/1600 sec. f/4.5 140mm (210 eq ff)

(Download)

mikegreenwald Loc: Illinois

If I'm in the front seat flying, I use a goPro, if I'm in back a wide angel & FF is best.

Pistnbroke Loc: UK

Buy a lens on ebay and sell it after or trade it to MPB...……...or just get one on 14 day trial

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

MPB?

Pistnbroke Loc: UK

MPB uk and US purchaser of used gear