DSLR w/2 lenses or bridge? (Page 2): When I was a photographer in the Air Force, I found that taking multiple lenses and switching them was burdensome and often ackward in an airplane.

bpulv Loc: Buena Park, CA

planepics wrote:

I'm going to be on a B-17 ride on Sunday 7/29 in t... (show quote)

When I was a photographer in the Air Force, I found that taking multiple lenses and switching them was burdensome and often ackward in an airplane. I would take one camera and one lens regardless of which lens you choose or two cameras with two different lens focal length ranges.

xt2 Loc: British Columbia, Canada

planepics wrote:

I'm going to be on a B-17 ride on Sunday 7/29 in t... (show quote)

Surely you already know which camera will "work" for you. If not practise with each until you do... For me, it would be the Sony for this trip.

riderxlx Loc: DFW area Texas

OMG !!!!!!!!!!!! I am soooooooooooooooooooo envious.
this is truly a ride of the lifetime.
You will not need to long lens in the plane. Just one camera and one lens, I agree with the other post that the 100mm is the longest you would need. 50 would be perfect.
you want to get shots inside the plane, this is flying history.
love airshows and I too am a pilot.
I am not adding anything not already said but had to say I am glad you taking this ride.

insman1132 Loc: Southwest Florida

Take the camera you are the most comfortable with.

Have a GREAT ride!

riderxlx Loc: DFW area Texas

Ditto that for me again bro,
he now has me encouraged saving for the next airshow here in Texas so I can ride in this piece of flying history.

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

riderxlx wrote:

OMG !!!!!!!!!!!! I am soooooooooooooooooooo envious.
this is truly a ride of the lifetime.
You will not need to long lens in the plane. Just one camera and one lens, I agree with the other post that the 100mm is the longest you would need. 50 would be perfect.
you want to get shots inside the plane, this is flying history.
love airshows and I too am a pilot.
I am not adding anything not already said but had to say I am glad you taking this ride.

I used to be a pilot (medical and $$$), but my brother owns a 182 and will be arriving at the show with C2O. A ride of a lifetime would be an hour in a P-51, but as I don't have $3K in my back pocket, a B-17 will have to do :)

riderxlx Loc: DFW area Texas

I agree, yes I have been to Oshkosh, in 1975 with two SLRs to lug around, the B17 is still a ride of a lifetime..You will be glad you did.
Enjoy the experience.

therwol Loc: USA

planepics wrote:

I'm going to be on a B-17 ride on Sunday 7/29 in t... (show quote)

Whatever camera you take, consider shooting some video. That's what my son did on his B17 ride, and it's definitely more "real" than still photos. Those old planes are actually frequent visitors to where I live. (Near Sacramento, CA.)

TonyBot

I agree with the majority of the posters: one camera (your favorite), and one lens (wide zoom to medium tele). Too much hassle changing the lenses in flight and holding onto two cameras as well, especially while you're changing seating positions. I've seen a little different version of the problem while hiking - people will say "I'm gonna be up high and far away - I'll bring the 70-200 (or something like it)", and miss s-o-o-o many shots. It's one thing if you can set that telezoom on a tripod and stitch together a great shot, but its kinda hard to do that on a moving plane.

Enjoy the ride!

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

OK...Sony with the 17-50 in the plane, but I'll have both cameras and most lenses throughout the week for the other 99% of the pics - and I'll try to remember to take some video. Not much use taking my 105 macro.

TonyBot

planepics wrote:

OK...Sony with the 17-50 in the plane, but I'll have both cameras and most lenses throughout the week for the other 99% of the pics - and I'll try to remember to take some video. Not much use taking my 105 macro.

Y'know, I would carry the macro if it isn't going to burden your load too much. 105, if you can get the distance between you and your subject (hard at that show) gives a great perspective, plus you just might want to take some really really detailed shots of some of the birds. The macro is truly great for creating abstracts.

wrobart

planepics wrote:

I'm going to be on a B-17 ride on Sunday 7/29 in t... (show quote)

My primary camera is a now a "bridge" so I'm biased in that direction. That said a B-17 is first and foremost a military aircraft, it's old, was not built for the comfort of the crew, and certainly not built for the comfort of passengers. If you'll be circulating thru the different cabin/cockpit areas you may need two hands to hold on leaving you camera vulnerable to bumps and bruises. Not a place for long lenses and heavy equipment. Taking pictures of the countryside from the air is a "sport" for very clear skies without any haze. In July those conditions are rare at low altitude. I'd stick with the bridge.

Harvey Loc: Pioneer, CA

Read most of the posts - here is my 2 cents -I traveled a lot by air in my early retirement and never flew without my camera handy for those fantastic window seat photos - started in 1996 with a SLR and a couple lens - moved to a Panasonic FZ 7 and up thru a canon SX40 - ( I used the SX40 at the Sacramento Mather Air Base show with great success) those were fantastic for close ups 18mm and the super Zooms from 30,000 ft - the IS and simple adjustment along with a compact camera made my trips quite enjoyable - my #1 assessery is an elastic camera/binocular harness that keeps my camera tight on my chest and quite handy. I gave my last Panasonic to a daughter who is a flight attendant on Alaskan Air for her travel photos.
Harvey in Sunny CA.

therwol Loc: USA

Harvey wrote:

Read most of the posts - here is my 2 cents -I tra... (show quote)

It was pretty cloudy this morning in Sac. My son took a ride on the Liberty Belle at Mather right before it burned up flying somewhere else. It seems like planes like this come around here at least once or twice a year, but usually to McClellan. I can tell when they're in town when I hear the rumble of their engines over our house. The don't sound like modern planes. Hard to explain unless you've been under one of them. And by the way, when my son (then in his 20s) took his ride, they had to help some really old people onto the plane, possibly even WWII vets. I can't imagine that any of them moved around inside of the plane once they were settled.

ChuckMc Loc: Prescott, AZ

Your subject is the plane which will be close up opportunities. That tells you all you need to know. Enjoy the ride and keep your photo gear simple!
Chuck