What camera do you use?

aussietrev

I use a Canon 400D and recently purchased the 100-400 L series IS telephoto (which is heavy but awesome!) and the 2X teleconverter which takes it out to 800mm. It is still sharp and clear at 800mm and the IS makes it still able to be handheld for many shots.

I hope to add the 24-105mm L series soon.

DeanHeald

I'd like to see some of those 800mm shots. They must be very dramatic. Which teleconverter are you using? Auto-focus still works with the 100-400mm L?

aussietrev

Hi Dean, I'm using the Canon EF 2x II converter. The 100-400 is an autofocus lens with the Ultrasonic motor. It is fast and accurate and very quite. I also do wildlife photography so the quite AF is great. The lens has Image stabiliser which still works with the teleconverter on but is manual focus only with the converter. If we get some decent weather this weekend I will be posting some new shots next week and will post details here if you want to check them out.

GuyPambrun

Presently I use a Canon 30D. My favorite lens is the Canon 100 - 400mm IS which I must say is a perfect one for aircraft in flight. The only thing negative I could say about it is it tends to suck in the dust due to it's push / pull zoom function. I also use a Canon 17 - 85mm IS lens for " on the ground " shots if and when the chance presents itself. That's rare though as I prefer to get 'em while they are in the air.

kernow

I am bucking the DSLR trend as of the time being and using a Panasonic Lumix FZ30. In addition I use an Olympus B-300 teleconverter which in 5MP mode gives me @900mm. Fortunately the Lumix OIS is very good so handholding isn't really a problem.

MichaelMartin

Has anyone got any experience with a "mirror lens"? I'm wondering if this could be a cheap fix as an alternative to a 500mm traditional lens. I'm just worried if there will be a blur or spotting due to the center point.

DougRobertson

I suspect my digital camera needs are somewhat different than most better photographers on this site. Shirt pocket-ability with optical finder is foremost with me with just the small point and shoot variety so always have camera with me at airports.

I wear prescription dark sunglasses and outdoors can't well see the digital camera LCD viewers. I don't want to lug around a camera bag with the accessories, lenses, flash, light meters, etc. I have all that with my film aperature-preferred macro SLR two body outfit from 1970s technology with wide angle and zoom telephoto extra lenses which just doesn't get use any more.

My "old" HP 607 pocket digital has taken 13,600+ photois without fail in 35 months (I also upload on a different non-aviation website) and has recently developed a round slight "dark" spot in lower center of frame seen in sky shots of flying aircraft. Yes, even pocket digital cameras with fixed lenses can get dust or dirt on the sensor.

I just started using my new Canon PowerShot A720 IS with image stabilization, 8.0 mega pixels and all-important for me optical finder. This camera received a Best Buy Compact rating from Consumer Reports magazine in their July 2008 issue. It has double the range of the HP 607, having equivalent 35 to 210 mm range. It can take a Canon teleconverter lens with additional 1.7X range. And yes, it easily fits my shirt pocket. My first airport use of it was on 16 July 2008 at SZP and CMA. So far, I am impressed with it! I'll take it to OSH this year with its rechargeable batteries and small charger. Have a room reservation with 120 V AC power, not a tent camp under the wing like many visitors.

Ztex

My film cameras are an Canon AE-1, EOS XT and an Olympus OM-4.

My Digi cams are a Panasonic DMC-FZ7 for the point and shoot stuff. It has a nice 12x Zoom and 6 mega pixles. Not real compact but it has a nice lens with a wide angle and good zoom.

I just recently stepped into the DSLR world...Canon XTi...it shoots better than I do...so far...I'm still learning.

r300f28

I shoot with a Canon EOS-1 D Mark II N. Use all Canon glass. My workhorse lens is the 24-70 mm f2.8L I will put on the 14mm f 2.8L when I want a complete different view. For the flying shots & action I use the 70-200 mm f2.8L mixed in with the 100-400 4.5-5.6 on rare occasions. I find the 100-400mm hard to use at times, especially with the trombone zoom system. Don't get me wrong, it's a great piece of glass, but it has it's moments.

RomanReiner

My workhorse is the Sony Alpha a200 and I am very satisfied of it. Like it very much ;) Usually I use a Sony 75-300mm Objective.

FloridaMetal

Doug,

I have that problem too with spots on my lenses. If you look at some of my sky shots you will notice several small dust spots in the upper left corner of my pictures. I have a Canon Digital Rebel SLR - made the mistake of changing lenses way too much at airshows getting dust on the sensor. At first you couldn't see the dust spots. I found out when several of my pictures I sent in to airliners.net were rejected - however then the spots weren't visible - the screener there admitted to using a filter to locate them - later they actually started showing up.

Prior to my Digital rebel I used various film cameras - mostly cheap and disposable. Then my mother gave me her Nikon camera with 200 mm telephoto that I used during the late 1980s -1990s - of course I wasn't nuts like I am now taking pictures of everything I saw - just the more unusual stuff that came into my local airport at that time which was DTW - how I kick myself these days - of all those long gone aircraft types like DC-8s, 727s L1011s etc and airlines such as Pan Am, Eastern, TWA that I just wish I could go back in time and take pictures of now with my current camera.

I got a cheap nikon point and click digital camera in early 2005, but the quality was terrible for anything unless it was on the ground up close in perfect weather. But as Doug said, it is very convenient -not having to carry around those camera bags- my shoulder was sore during NBAA, and also nice to have a small camera at airports - they don't gather attention from authorities like my 300mm lens does.

DougRobertson

Yeah, Daniel, it's true and thanks. Friend r300f28 uses my right shoulder as his tripod at times at SZP-don't laugh-it works and he gets beautiful photos with his Canon pro gear. I can be a pretty good portable statue for him. I also get to schlep his big, heavy Canon bag, too, on occasion. What are friends for?

FloridaMetal

Yeah, Daniel, it's true and thanks. Friend r300f28 uses my right shoulder as his tripod at times at SZP-don't laugh-it works and he gets beautiful photos with his Canon pro gear. I can be a pretty good portable statue for him. I also get to schlep his big, heavy Canon bag, too, on occasion. What are friends for?

Well at NBAA a couple weeks ago my Canon bag got pretty heavy along with carrying two bags full of goodies that I got while attending NBAA of magazines and other souveniers such as hats etc not to mention the Florida humidity - after a morning rain storm it was extremely hot and humid when the sun popped out - unusual humidity even in Florida for October

TimothyAanerud

I bought a Canon Digital Rebel XSi back in June. I've been very happy with it. I had two lens from my film Canon SLR's. I have an old 75-300mm works adequately.

My 35-105mm lens isn't very handy for aircraft photos on the XSi. The 35mm side is too long for aircraft on the ground, you have stand so far back to get a whole airplane in view, and the 105 just isn't long enough for aerial work.

When I was at Oshkosh this year, I wore my short pants with the extra large pockets. I'd switch between the 18-55mm and the 75-300 as needed. That way I didn't need to haul my camera bag. At the Canon booth at Oshkosh they would loan you a lens at no cost; but, you had to have "press credentials" to get an L series lens.

Canon has recently added a 18-200mm S series lens. I think that would be a pretty good all-around lens when you don't want to carry THE BAG.

Canon now has a ultrasonic sensor cleaning feature, Daniel you bought one rev too soon. For the stubborn dust particles, Canon has a software utility to help with removing them from the images. It requires taking a white shot for reference.

FloridaMetal

I am thinking of getting that 18-200 lens. I might not have to switch lenses so much. Some of my shots leading up to the NBAA was me standing in the approach for Runway 7 at Orlando Executive Airport - my 75-300 not getting good shots because I was in the approach so I could only get the whole plane in when it was way out or had already passed. If I used my 10-35 it would have been great for when they plane passed right over, but would have made the plane too small otherwise.

I wish they made a lens that went 15-300mm - that would be very convenient.

Ztex

I have found that it is nice to have two cameras at a show. I still use my Panasonic FZ-7?? with 12 x zoom for ramp photos and keep the 300mm zoom on my Canon XTi for longer shots. That way I don't have to change lenses all the time...

You gotta keep working the camera to get the shots...I have had my Canon XTi for 6 months or so now and I am getting better but there is still much to learn.

As far as prop blur goes, it's tough to get the right balance between color, exposure and timing.

I took this Spad shot at 1/60th second with the camera set for aperture priority...the sky washed out, but part of that is sun location. I was shooting into it a bit.

Really tough are helos..the rotor turns rather slowly but there is a bunch of movement to keep up with...I shot this one at 1/50th second on a hazy day...the sky is still a little washed but it stil came out nicely...panning fast to keep up! Woot!

FloridaMetal

I like that Mexican Huey

Yeah I wish I could afford two cameras to take to shows. I saw British guys doing that at Sun N Fun - taking the up close shots with one camera with regular lens as planes taxiied by, then using telephotos for departures.

ChrisHall

Hi everyone,

as I have now posted over 2000 photos on here, I suppose I should let you know what I am using

my first set of pics were shot with a Samsung Techwin compact

then I started using an Olympus FE-330 compact

for the last month I have used a Fuji Finepix S5700

and all three still confuse me with the features. one day when funds allow and I can find someone to teach me how to use on I might get a Canon DSLR

cheers

Chris

BillMallinson

Kia Ora from Aotearoa (greetings from New Zealand)

I am currently using a Canon EOS 30D with a Canon 28-300mm f3.5-5.6 L IS USM and also a Canon EOS 20D with a Canon EF 300mm f/4.0 L IS USM Lens . and coupled that with a Canon EF 1.4x II Extender .

I find that the 28-300 is very handy when close to the action, and if one does any photography at VVTS near the approaches, it is a good zoom is a must

saimon

I use the Olympus E510 with 4Gb CF and use the Zuiko ED 14-42 & Zuiko 70-300 lens.

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