tips needed

[bobbylondonuk]

I might be able to attend a redbull X fighter show this weekend and a Red arrows show next month. What tips would the more experienced shooters here suggest to get the best shots in these situations. Settings, locations, shot techniques etc...

Kit is a 400d with standard 18-55 and a sigma 70-300 APO with a circ. polariser filter.

Thanks
Bobby

[LukeBird]

Unfortunately camera settings are very weather dependent!
I was at RIAT a few weeks back and had to constantly change settings to get decent shots as the weather went from heavy rain and very overcast to bright sunshine in a few minutes throughout the day.
It's worth picking just one or two of the AF points as otherwise the AF will get tricked by the sky and not the aircraft you're trying to shoot.
Take lots of shots though, quite a few are likely to be crappy if you're tracking a fast moving object!

[jon-]

The camera will meter wrong when shooting up into a bright sky at a small object, so adjust the exposure compensation accordingly or you'll just end up with lots of little silhouettes.

[Quick silver]

jon- said:

The camera will meter wrong when shooting up into a bright sky at a small object, so adjust the exposure compensation accordingly or you'll just end up with lots of little silhouettes.

Spot metering was always at the top of my list of settings when photographing motorsports, I'm presuming the same would apply here?

[jon-]

Quick silver said:

jon- said:

The camera will meter wrong when shooting up into a bright sky at a small object, so adjust the exposure compensation accordingly or you'll just end up with lots of little silhouettes.

Spot metering was always at the top of my list of settings when photographing motorsports, I'm presuming the same would apply here?

The 400d doesn't have true spot metering, only partial metering (~9% of viewfinder) and centre weighted average metering, neither of which I've found to work too well when pointing at the sky.

As always, YMMV.

[bobbylondonuk]

ok...so ive got
1. AI AF on centre spot with centre weighted metering.
2. exposure adjustment on the move to keep the plane exposed.


any tips on locations to scout and shooting techniques?

[baz7175]

bobbylondonuk said:

ok...so ive got
1. AI AF on centre spot with centre weighted metering.
2. exposure adjustment on the move to keep the plane exposed.


any tips on locations to scout and shooting techniques?

Live near an airport? Perfect practice for shooting stuff in the sky if you do

[Simpo Two]

For planes with propellors or rotors, consider whether you want them to be frozen or motion-blurred (and use shutter speed to suit).

[plg101]

If you have some spare cash, head to one of the Canon pro centres and hire a 100-400IS for the weekend..

No idea on London centres, price guide at http://www.lensesforhire.co.uk/