Some advice please?

[x5x3]

I have been trying to shoot some electric R/C cars, they are 1/10th scale and move pretty quick (about 40mph).

I wanted to get some full frame pictures in mid-air (these are off-road cars and the courses tend to have a lot of jumps).

I have been playing with different camera settings but it is very hit and miss (i.e. only 1 in 20 or so shots are in focus and in frame).

Now clearly this is a relatively difficult shot to take and I am far from an expert, but I would have hoped for better results than I have got so far.

Shots were taken with a 40D and a 7D with 24-105L, I won't say which settings I have tried so far - I am interested in people's thoughts and opinions.

Thanks in advance!

[rasputin]

Hard to offer much without seeing examples.

If the blur is definitely an issue of focus, rather than motion blur... I would probably pre-focus on the jump rather than wait for the car to get there. And use a smaller aperture if shutter speed can be sacrificed at all.

If you're not getting it in frame, zoom out and crop in (a bit). Or keep practicing

[jimmy156]

x5x3 said:

I
I have been playing with different camera settings but it is very hit and miss (i.e. only 1 in 20 or so shots are in focus and in frame).

Changing settings wont help you get it in frame, if you want panned shots with the background nice and blurred you'll want to use AI servo Auto-focus, shutter priority with shuter speed of about 1/125th, and follow the car firing of shots in high-speed burst mode, but make sure your focal lenth is set so that you will fill the frame nicely when the car is going over the jump. (i'm not meaning to sound like it would be easy, just explaining how i would try it).

Other option if you want to freeze all the action is to do as the poster above me suggested and pre focus on the jump and hold down the shutter with a fast shutter speed, maybe over 1/500th, on high speed burst as the car goes over the jump.

i expect its just a matter of keeping at it to be honest, its sounds like a very tricky thing to photograph!

Edited by jimmy156 on Saturday 24th April 19:43

[x5x3]

interesting replies so far - thanks,

if I do a bit of maths here, then 40 mph = 40 (mph) * 5280 (feet per hour) / 60 (minutes per hour) / 60 (seconds per hour) = (about) 60 feet per second

therefore, even with the 7d shooting 8 shots per second, there is still only a 1 in 7 chance of getting the car in frame - what chance does the AF have of locking on?

I am guessing this is actually worse as I am trying to get the car full frame?

Maybe - I am asking the wrong question - perhaps it should be - someone calls you up, they need a RC car action shot - how would you approach it?

[andy-xr]

Fake it

[Simpo Two]

x5x3 said:

I wanted to get some full frame pictures in mid-air

From what you've said so far, at that speed I'd say it's impossible by normal means - lower the speed so you can get the shot and it won't jump.

Trap focus is one possibility - GetCarter has a Zigview which might do it but whether it's fast enough I don't know.

ANother way is to make a small stand from which the car can be hung over the track - two threads so it doesn't spin - then take the photo at your leisure and shop the threads out afterwards. If you want motion blur then (although I don't normally approve of articifical Photoshop blur) in this case it might be the only way.

Edited by Simpo Two on Sunday 25th April 09:41

[strudel]

x5x3 said:

what chance does the AF have of locking on?

I think you're asking the camera too much here, prefocusing and high speed burst ought to net you a shot at some point! Plus you can rest it in some way so you could get a sharper picture.

[Crafty_]

jimmy156 said:

Changing settings wont help you get it in frame, if you want panned shots with the background nice and blurred you'll want to use AI servo Auto-focus, shutter priority with shuter speed of about 1/125th, and follow the car firing of shots in high-speed burst mode, but make sure your focal lenth is set so that you will fill the frame nicely when the car is going over the jump. (i'm not meaning to sound like it would be easy, just explaining how i would try it).

this. Select the centre focus point too, that way its predictable exactly what the camera will focus on. keep the car in the centre of the picture (i.e. under the focus point), press the shutter halfway down and hold it there, you'll hear the AF constantly chattering as it keeps the car in focus.

[x5x3]

some good ideas here - I don't really like the idea of faking it though, although that probably is the easiest way of getting a perfect shot!

I have to say I haven't tried setting it to single focus point yet, definitely worth a try, and the best results so far seem to be when I track the car into the jump with the camera ready for high speed burst and just hope one of them is in the frame,

Of course the change of angle of the car makes it trickier to track and means it would be difficult to support.

Fortunately I have plenty of willing volunteers to keep jumping the cars so I guess I will have to just keep trying, from what people have said it seems like my hit rate is ok.

Does anyone think it would be worth trying a faster lens (I haven't tried this as I don't have one, but may be able to borrow one)?

[Simpo Two]

I assumed you wanted a head-on view, but if a side view is OK then you could pan just like the real thing.

Burst mode is not always the answer. Sometimes it's more accurate to take one shot at just the right time. If the camera to subject distance is fixed then you can prefocus and turn off AF, which is one less parameter to worry about so it's just a question of timing.

[Fordo]

Slight thread hi-jack:

reading about r/c cars reminded me of this video:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BDSzABFCb7Q

first time i saw it, I didnt realise they were r/c cars for the first 20 secs - 'blimey thats crazy chassis flex..... those are massive leaves... oh , i see....doh'