Sony DSC HX9V/Canon S95 and Motorsport Photos?

[bernie_eccle]

Long time no post in this section. I presently have a Nikon D70 combined with a Nikkor 70-300mm 1:4.5-5.6G lens. Whilst it's getting a wee bit long in the tooth it is fine for the odd occasion I use it.

I am heading to Florida next week and will be taking in the Indycar St Petes Grand Prix. I have been to a few Indycar races in the past few years and normally lug the Nikon with me. However I am normally there for the full weekend but this year I am only going on race day.

I fancy buying a compact when I am out there as it may encourage me to use it more in general. I just wondered if a Sony HX9V or Canon S95 would be able to handle reasonable panning car shots etc? I would think that the majority of my shots are more likely to be in the paddock area. I seem to recall from previous visits to street circuits (including St Petes) that actual track shots are very difficult to capture because of the catch fencing.

I am not trying to decide on whether to buy a camera or not as I have made my mind up, just whether to lug the D70 to Florida and back.

I would welcome any thoughts or experiences with these compacts would be welcome. Additionally if you have a preference for either compact or alternates.

Thanks

Stewart

[RobDickinson]

I've managed a couple of panning shots with my s95.


Woosh by robjdickinson, on Flickr


Giant in the woods by robjdickinson, on Flickr


But the autofocus isnt great for it, its relatively slow (focus and shooting speeds/shutter delay) and it doesnt zoom far so you will have to be close.

Paddock shots will be great, not convinced you will do well with cars on track.

[AMD87]

Have the HX9V which the only time i've used it to take pictures is at gigs which you can view in my flickr. It does have a manual setting but not as manual as you might be used to with the nikon and autofocus is abit slow but anything is slow after your used to L series lenses.

Only really bought it to use it as an incar camera for motorsport

[RobDickinson]

Oh S95 you can manual focus, its iffy but you get an on screen distance scale and tbh DOF is huge anyhow.

Manual focus in manual mode though is near impossible because of dual use of controls.

[bernie_eccle]

Thanks chaps. That was kind of what I was thinking - that auto focus might be slow to react. Just checked some of my pictures from my last trip and there were very few of on track action worth keeping. As you will all know it can be a pain lugging around big lens all day.

I must admit the 1080p video of the Sony appeals to me for in car also. I had been thinking about a GoPro but not convinced I would use it that much so the Sony seems like a pretty good compromise.

[AMD87]

bernie_eccle said:

I must admit the 1080p video of the Sony appeals to me for in car also. I had been thinking about a GoPro but not convinced I would use it that much so the Sony seems like a pretty good compromise.

The Sensor won't like it! you get the "jello" effect with the HX9V

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dmsQZAkVhZg&hd=...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TIcDiqxysRI&hd=...

which is why for incar i prefer the Sony H70,can even cope with a carrera cup car and a disagreement with a tire wall.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rnd50bOvANs&hd=...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y4uBpzDwujY&hd=...

[bernie_eccle]

AMD87 said:

The Sensor won't like it! you get the "jello" effect with the HX9V

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dmsQZAkVhZg&hd=...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TIcDiqxysRI&hd=...

which is why for incar i prefer the Sony H70,can even cope with a carrera cup car and a disagreement with a tire wall.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rnd50bOvANs&hd=...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y4uBpzDwujY&hd=...

Mmm... shame about the jello effect as other than that the quality is pretty good. Wonder what causes that then? I am not even sure how I would strap it in my car as I don't have a harness bar. A wee while since I have done a track day (seem to recall getting in the way of the Bruces taxis on the last one ;-)) so not overly concerned about out and out in car performance.

Always seems to some kind of compromise with a compact. Still at or around 200 they are fantastic pieces of kit.

[RobDickinson]

bernie_eccle said:

Wonder what causes that then?

Each line of the picture is read sequentially from the sensor, rather than the whole thing in one go..

And in the time it takes to read line 10 when it gets to line 11 the subject has moved.

[AMD87]

bernie_eccle said:

seem to recall getting in the way of the Bruces taxis on the last one ;-)

Everyone got in the way of the evo 7 thats sold now,fleet consists of 2 pedestrian evo x's and 3 mini cooper cup race cars .

[bernie_eccle]

RobDickinson said:

Each line of the picture is read sequentially from the sensor, rather than the whole thing in one go..

And in the time it takes to read line 10 when it gets to line 11 the subject has moved.

Ah, thanks. So likely to always be an issue if travelling at any kind of reasonable speed.

AMD87 said:

Everyone got in the way of the evo 7 thats sold now,fleet consists of 2 pedestrian evo x's and 3 mini cooper cup race cars .

I did see 3 x minis at KH yesterday during the SIDC day and wondered where the Bruces taxis were. I wasn't on track, just trying to take some snaps.

[AMD87]

You might have seen the Sports and Saloons Evo out in the test session in the afternoon?


And Emma's Mini


The Other 2 minis are still in the building phase the red one will be out at the start of the season the black one not till later in the year


And the evo x only arrived the other day


Where about's are you based?

[bernie_eccle]

I didn't hang around for the afternoon but did see a lot of cars being trailered in as I left.

I am across in Cupar. I have done a few track days, first in my S1 elise 135 Sport and then in my 190bhp exige. I now have a 260bhp exige but don't really have the bottle for track days any more but still like to take a trip across to see what is happening. I always fancied a trip round in one of your evos as they were just so quick. I literally seemed to have to move over every 3rd or 4th lap - mind you I am Captain Slow

[bernie_eccle]

So I ending up buying a Canon S100 when I was out there. No surprise, it isn't great for panning shots. Shutter lag is disappointing. I thought it might have improved since my last Digital Ixus.

I have made some fuller comments HERE - Any Canon S100 Users?

[RobDickinson]

So exactly like I described?

[bernie_eccle]

RobDickinson said:

So exactly like I described?

Rob, in fairness, I haven't tried any incar stuff and will reserve judgement on the video front until high have a Class10 card. Also found out that my suction mount is broken so need a new one. I did notice that when panning there is a slight stutter/flicker but have probably shot less than 2 mins in total.