What filters for shooting motorsport.

[Rednut05]

Hey,

I'm going to the Welsh Rally in December (1st 2nd 3rd).
I am fairly new to photography and I was wondering if the use of filters would help to reduce glare from the windows etc...

What filters do you lot use when you are shooting motorsport?

I have a Canon 20D.

David.

[_dobbo_]

A circular polariser will help to remove reflections from bodywork and glass, but at the expense of a couple of stops of light. Can be expensive though depending on your filter size!

[GetCarter]

I'm no car photographer (obviously) but I'd save your money and take the light!

If it's dull (never rains in Wales in winter) you'll need all the light your lens can get.

Steve

edited to add... a UV will stop stones chipping the lens if you intend to get that close.

Edited by GetCarter on Wednesday 1st November 16:49

[monkeyhanger]

Forget the filters. As stated above they'll lose you a couple of stops and given it will be Wales in early winter you'll need as much light as you can get. They won't help the AF either.

What lenses have you got? I use my 70-200 f2.8 a lot for this sort of thing although a Canon 85mm f1.8 is tempting.

Use your legs to get rid of reflections. If you pick the right spot you'll be ok.

Bright Sunlight.



Dull & a bit overcast...



Out in the woods..

Edited by monkeyhanger on Wednesday 1st November 17:01

[Rednut05]

Lens wise I have...

Bar the 100mm Canon Macro which isn't here or there....umm...Sigma 70-300 APO DG and Canon 17-85 IS Lenes are the ones i'll be taking.

So forget the filters, just get the right positioning so gare isn't a problem.

Never been to rally before, so this being a popular one I don't have any clue on how close i'll be able to get and all that jazz.

Can't say I know Wales all that well either.

So UV to protect lens and maybe not even that. I haven't got round to buying any filters to protect the lenes although I know I should.

[s500]

Apart from selecting the right camera kit, make sure you have the right clothing, can be very wet, very cold and to get some of the best shots may require quite a trek through forest type terrain.

[Gemm]

ND filter (or polariser can also do the job) can come in handy when you want to shoot wide open to blur the background yet keep slow enough shutter speed to capture the movement. But it may not be necessary for f5.6 lens in winter. It all depends on the light level.

[graham@reading]

I wouldnt bother with a polariser - by the time you've rotated it to the right point to eliminate the reflections, the car's gone

[Rednut05]

Cheers for the views guys n girl. Keep them coming. Looks like I'll be saving the money so far to rebuild the front end of my car.