What lense?

"john smith" wrote in message
...
john smith wrote:
I just purchased an Olympus E-510 DSLR.
What lense are most of you using for airshow photography?
Fixed focus or zoom?
Handheld or tripod mounted?

Maple1 wrote:
Depends what you can find for that body
About 400mm is best but not fixed
I use the Sigma Bigma 50-500 and my Canon 75-300 for most shots
But I have CAnon bodies

I purchased the two-lens kit. The lenses included are a 28-84 mm
auto-focus equivalent and an 80-300 mm auto-focus equivalent. They will
have a 140-600 mm auto-focus equivalent available in October.
I am awaiting the delivery of an adaptor that will allow me to use my
existing OM lenses. This will require use of manual setting and focusing
of the E-510.
One of the lenses I have is a 500 mm fixed f8 parabolic mirror. This
will become either a 750 mm or a 1000 mm equivalent lens on the E-510.
I am not yet certain what the conversion factor is for the 4/3 sensor.
Am I correct in believing that everything will be focused at infinity
during an airshow?

I gave serious consideration to a Canon because of the low noise at 800
ISO and above. The ability to use my existing lenses and improvements in
the E-510 over the E-500. became the deciding factors.

I'm not sure how fast the auto-focus is on the Olympus, but I've had a
couple guys that shoot a lot of airshows recommend setting it to manual
since the distances you're shooting at will be out at your infinity range
anyway. I haven't shot any since I heard this so I can't relate any
experiences on it. Has anyone else ever done this?
Rob

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Scubabix wrote:
"john smith" wrote in message
...
john smith wrote:
I just purchased an Olympus E-510 DSLR.
What lense are most of you using for airshow photography?
Fixed focus or zoom?
Handheld or tripod mounted?
Maple1 wrote:
Depends what you can find for that body
About 400mm is best but not fixed
I use the Sigma Bigma 50-500 and my Canon 75-300 for most shots
But I have CAnon bodies
I purchased the two-lens kit. The lenses included are a 28-84 mm
auto-focus equivalent and an 80-300 mm auto-focus equivalent. They will
have a 140-600 mm auto-focus equivalent available in October.
I am awaiting the delivery of an adaptor that will allow me to use my
existing OM lenses. This will require use of manual setting and focusing
of the E-510.
One of the lenses I have is a 500 mm fixed f8 parabolic mirror. This
will become either a 750 mm or a 1000 mm equivalent lens on the E-510.
I am not yet certain what the conversion factor is for the 4/3 sensor.
Am I correct in believing that everything will be focused at infinity
during an airshow?

I gave serious consideration to a Canon because of the low noise at 800
ISO and above. The ability to use my existing lenses and improvements in
the E-510 over the E-500. became the deciding factors.

I'm not sure how fast the auto-focus is on the Olympus, but I've had a
couple guys that shoot a lot of airshows recommend setting it to manual
since the distances you're shooting at will be out at your infinity range
anyway. I haven't shot any since I heard this so I can't relate any
experiences on it. Has anyone else ever done this?
Rob


I would second the manual set to to infinity. I
recently had an opportunity to shoot a shuttle
launch and got only three decent pics because the
autofocus was hunting. Had I left it manual
infinity, I am certain I would have had a good
many more pics. I

--
Lynn in StLou
REMOVETHIS anti-spam measure to reply

Thanks for all the advice.
I am new to this digital autofocus stuff and have not shot airshows with
film for over 15 years. (I am going to have to scan and post some of my
old work.)

Does anyone use the "burst/sequential" mode when they shoot?

Sure, sometimes unintentionally. You get a series of shots at different
angles, and sometimes one comes out sharper than the others. It doesn't cost
anything, so, why not? Just keep and extra battery and photo card with your
camera. especially good for something like the Blue Angels or Thunderbirds.
Ron

"john smith" wrote in message
...
Thanks for all the advice.
I am new to this digital autofocus stuff and have not shot airshows with
film for over 15 years. (I am going to have to scan and post some of my
old work.)

Does anyone use the "burst/sequential" mode when they shoot?

I have tried shooting some aircraft in the landing approach from my back
deck and find the infinity focus is much further than the planes. I am using
a Canon xti with a 70-300 IS USM lens. Single spot AF seems to work best for
me.

"Lynn in StLou" wrote in message
t...
Scubabix wrote:
"john smith" wrote in message
...
john smith wrote:
I just purchased an Olympus E-510 DSLR.
What lense are most of you using for airshow photography?
Fixed focus or zoom?
Handheld or tripod mounted?
Maple1 wrote:
Depends what you can find for that body
About 400mm is best but not fixed
I use the Sigma Bigma 50-500 and my Canon 75-300 for most shots
But I have CAnon bodies
I purchased the two-lens kit. The lenses included are a 28-84 mm
auto-focus equivalent and an 80-300 mm auto-focus equivalent. They will
have a 140-600 mm auto-focus equivalent available in October.
I am awaiting the delivery of an adaptor that will allow me to use my
existing OM lenses. This will require use of manual setting and focusing
of the E-510.
One of the lenses I have is a 500 mm fixed f8 parabolic mirror. This
will become either a 750 mm or a 1000 mm equivalent lens on the E-510.
I am not yet certain what the conversion factor is for the 4/3 sensor.
Am I correct in believing that everything will be focused at infinity
during an airshow?

I gave serious consideration to a Canon because of the low noise at 800
ISO and above. The ability to use my existing lenses and improvements in
the E-510 over the E-500. became the deciding factors.

I'm not sure how fast the auto-focus is on the Olympus, but I've had a
couple guys that shoot a lot of airshows recommend setting it to manual
since the distances you're shooting at will be out at your infinity range
anyway. I haven't shot any since I heard this so I can't relate any
experiences on it. Has anyone else ever done this?
Rob


I would second the manual set to to infinity. I recently had an
opportunity to shoot a shuttle launch and got only three decent pics
because the autofocus was hunting. Had I left it manual infinity, I am
certain I would have had a good many more pics. I

--
Lynn in StLou
REMOVETHIS anti-spam measure to reply