Which lens for Goodwood FOS

[ManFromDelmonte]

Hello,

I'm off the Festival of Speed this year and would like to take my camera (Nikon D5100) and ideally one lens. I have a choice of:

Nikkor 70-300mm VR F4.5-5.6
Nikkor 35mm F1.8G
Nikkor 10-24mm F3.5-5.6

I also have the kit 18-55 VR somewhere

What would any recommend?

[mike80]

What do you mainly want to take pictures of?

[ManFromDelmonte]

Haha, that is a very good question.

Having not been I am not sure, but it will be all sorts I imagine, which makes me think I'll probably take the wide and the tele and then chuck the 35mm in as well because it's small. I probably shouldn't have bothered starting this thread...

[mizx]

You certainly need the tele and one wide-ish angle lens. Telephoto for watching the hill, 35mm for wandering around.

The 10-24 too would be nice albeit unnecessary extra weight for perhaps a few interesting very wide angle shots, though you could take it instead of the 35mm and use it mostly at 24mm for the cars, if you like the look of wider than natural shots of this sort of thing (I do).

I've not been since I've owned my m43 camera, but I find my 14mm (28 equiv.) ideal for car events. 50mm equivalent isn't wide enough.

[ManFromDelmonte]

mizx said:

You certainly need the tele and one wide-ish angle lens. Telephoto for watching the hill, 35mm for wandering around.

The 10-24 too would be nice albeit unnecessary extra weight for perhaps a few interesting very wide angle shots, though you could take it instead of the 35mm and use it mostly at 24mm for the cars, if you like the look of wider than natural shots of this sort of thing (I do).

I've not been since I've owned my m43 camera, but I find my 14mm (28 equiv.) ideal for car events. 50mm equivalent isn't wide enough.

That's interesting, thanks. The only reason I would bring the 35 is because it was small, I'd imagine using the 10-24 at the longer end mostly (36mm equiv).

[Digitalize]

You've got a strange set of focal lengths. I'd ideally be looking at getting an 18-100+ lens.

Having been for a few years, and taking hundreds of photos each time, I'd keep photos to a minimum and just enjoy yourself.

[mizx]

ManFromDelmonte said:

That's interesting, thanks. The only reason I would bring the 35 is because it was small, I'd imagine using the 10-24 at the longer end mostly (36mm equiv).

Sorry, I kept thinking in 2.0 crop subconsciously though I knew it wasn't.

Digitalize said:

You've got a strange set of focal lengths. I'd ideally be looking at getting an 18-100+ lens.

Having been for a few years, and taking hundreds of photos each time, I'd keep photos to a minimum and just enjoy yourself.

Probably best way to do it really if the OP is considering another lens. I forgot to charge my batteries last time at FOS and took about 3 (P&S at the time) which didn't really make all that much difference. I'd still want to take quite a few but I should probably get a 14-150 for this sort of thing; my Panasonic 14,25 particularly and 45-175 are great but having to change is a pain sometimes.

[ecsrobin]

I normally go over a few days so take images on 2 days then enjoy Sunday. This year I'm only doing 1 day so will take the camera as my friends will have theirs. I use my 10-24 due to having to get so close to the cars due to crowds and my 100-300 for going up the Hill.

[9.3]

I'd take the 70-300 and the 18-55. You're going to do a lot of walking and if it's hot, it keeps the weight down.

Personally I now take my 55-300 for the long stuff, and in my pocket I keep a Panasonic TZ30 which is perfect for quick wide angle snaps. Saves fiddling around changing lenses.

[9.3]

I'd take the 70-300 and the 18-55. You're going to do a lot of walking and if it's hot, it keeps the weight down.

Personally I now take my 55-300 for the long stuff, and in my pocket I keep a Panasonic TZ30 which is perfect for quick wide angle snaps. Saves fiddling around changing lenses.

[adamInca]

To give you an idea of what you'll get I have a 70-300 and an 18-55 for that camera and this is what I got at FOS last year:

70-300mm
https://www.flickr.com/photos/adamliptrot/14547326...
You can get pretty close to the track - this was outside the house. You could get away with a shorter length but you'll be glad of having the 300 - and don't forget about the air displays!

18-55mm
https://www.flickr.com/photos/adamliptrot/14359431...
https://www.flickr.com/photos/adamliptrot/14545157...
https://www.flickr.com/photos/adamliptrot/14359495...
These were in the rally stage, the kit lens gives you a good range while not being too close in - they move pretty quick in the forest!

Bear in mind that the 18-55 is not so good for crowded areas where ideally you'd have a wide-angle or a separate compact camera.

[tonyb1968]

You will need 2 lenses really unless you take 2 cameras, the 70-300 is an FX lens so on a DX is equivelent of a 105-450mm.
Its not a bad lens but then again it does have some serious pitfalls, its not a fast lens and struggles on dull backgrounds or low light situations so be warned!

[ManFromDelmonte]

Thanks for the advice.

I'm almost leaning towards not taking my camera at all now. I find I only really enjoy (and succeed at) taking pictures when I'm on my own (which I won't be). I went to New York earlier this year and took some appalling pictures as I was always in a rush not to hold anyone up (and it was -10 which didn't help). When I review my images I nearly always have 3 or 4 of each shot and they are normally in order - crap, bit better, almost, got it. If I'm with other people I tend to only get one or two goes at each shot which means I end up with a lot of 'crap' and 'bit better' shots.

Thanks again though, if I do take a camera I'll probably be looking at the 70-300 and the 10-24. I'm not too worried about weight.

[Craikeybaby]

The rally stage is good for photography, you'll want your telephoto lens for that.

[Digitalize]

No, no you won't. Telephoto, especially on a crop sensor. You're pretty much always stood right next to the course.

[Lynchie999]

Digitalize said:

No, no you won't. Telephoto, especially on a crop sensor. You're pretty much always stood right next to the course.

this, you won't need a tele too often at FOS, even on the hill tbh... (depends what sort of shots you are going for) if you just want side on pans, you probably won't need the tele lens...

[Craikeybaby]

Looking at my exit data I have got a few shots at 40mm, but most others are longer, my favourite is at 160mm. But as above, it depends on what sort of photo you want to take.

[mybrainhurts]

ManFromDelmonte said:

Haha, that is a very good question.

Having not been I am not sure, but it will be all sorts I imagine, which makes me think I'll probably take the wide and the tele and then chuck the 35mm in as well because it's small. I probably shouldn't have bothered starting this thread...

You sound like that bloke who went to photograph Blaster Bates...thirty miles there, thirty miles back, st himself and left his lens cap on...

[droopsnoot]

Digitalize said:

I'd ideally be looking at getting an 18-100+ lens.

I'd agree with that - I recently bought a used Sigma 18-200 precisely because I can't be bothered carrying a load of lenses with me, so if I go to take track shots* I want the telephoto (I think mine's a 70-300 as well) but that's too long to use in the paddock on the way back to the car. It's pretty much replaced the standard 18-55 kit lens as it's more flexible and not significantly bigger or heavier.

(* At CPOP - I've never been to Goodwood)

[Digitalize]

The quality of photos produced by a lens of such wide focal range will of course not be as good, but still more than enough for most. Probably have a relatively narrow minimum aperture too.

But for single lens flexibility you can't beat it.