Hi Mike,

Great photos as always! Really enjoyable and such a nice range of shots.

Can you tell me a little about your camera setup? Lens, shutter settings and such? I find it very challenging to photograph moving aircraft with any consistency... Any tips from the master?

Thanks,

Franny

Franny,
It is all about the equipment. I use a Nikon D70 with Nikon 70-300mm f/2.8 glass lens. For every one or two shots I get that are on the money, there are four before and after that are out of frame or out of focus.

The 3D planes are the easiest to shoot as you can allow them to setup and choose the position and light before shuttering. The jets and fast movers are the challenge. I find that I set my shutter speed as high as I can get and follow the plane down the runway with continuous shutter.

On the jets, it is near impossible for the AF to catch up in time to get clean shots. What I do in that instance is switch to manual focus and go ahead and focus on a distance that I think the plane will pass over (mid runway for example). At this setting you have two chances for a shot which are entering the frame and exiting the frame.

I took 2800+ photos at SEFF and deleted around 600 that were off shots and casualties of capturing the subject in flight.

If I had to do it over again, I would probably go with the D100 or now the D200. A much heavier investment, but I am finding that I need the upgrade.

Hope you don't mind if I chime in here. On fast moving objects, I find it helps to pan with the camera like shooting a shotgun. You need to follow through on the shot and not stop panning when you push the shutter button.

Hmmm... Thanks Mike. I have an Olympus E-Volt 330 with a f/2.8 50-200mm (effective 100-400mm) lens. The "real-view" is really neat, but it is just "Po-sumer" grade. It does do some nice things though...

So, I'm guessing you shoot in shutter priority? For a bright sunny day, are you at 1/500 or so? Do you use a polarizing filter? Oh, also, do you find the faster SD cards make a big difference?

Why do you need the upgrade? Don't mean to get off the topic too far...

Thanks!!

Franny

Thanks Tom. The guy at the camera store said the same thing. Being smooth enough seems really hard... I think I introduce a lot of the blurr due to camera movement. Just practice I guess...

f

That's a really good ratio Mike. You should be happy with that. You had a lot of really nice pictures.

Franny,
Yep, Shutter Priority and 1/500th. I tried going higher and found myself constantly underexposed.

Grasshopper caught the word I was looking for and that is panning.

I am finding myself trying to avoid stopping the subject completely and using a lower shutter speed. I like the feeling of movement on the fast ones. I am not quite there yet though and need to practice more.

I will say that I am still quite the amature when it comes to photography. I took the classes in college, but didnt pick it back up again until around 2 years ago. I still have a lot to learn/relearn.

I like the looks of motion also. Especially if you can have a nice blurred background whizzing by with a sharply focused plane. I think you're right Mike that using too fast of a shutter speed also freezes the prop making it look unrealistic in the air.

Well, thanks again Mike for all your work! Your photos brighten my day!

Franny

I am glad you like them :ws:

Franny,

Dont get me wrong that I love my D70 and it definately makes up where I fall short. But a few things (I want more) than need.
Ability to use a vertical grip with vertical release and AA batteries.

D100 can go to ISO 6,400 and ISO 3,200 very easily in the PUSH+1 and PUSH+2 modes. D70 stops at ISO 1,600.

D100 has a switch, like almost every other Nikon, for selecting AF-C (continuous AF) or AF-S (single AF) modes. D70 requires a menu operation.

D100 has a 5 FPS continuous where as I get about 3 FPS on the D70.

Larger Viewing window and preview/menu screen.

Plus a few more pro settings.

Randy,

I saw a picture of both of your sons together. I'm not sure which thread or web site though. It was my first SEFF too. Hopefully next year I can be there as a pilot. Thanks for the advice on Extremeflight planes. The YAK is on the board as I type, waiting on a few odds and ends. Can't wait to get her in the air.

Rick

Found the link http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showt...=676556&page=2

Hey Rick,
Thanks for the pics link. Hope to see your maiden report on the Yak. I'd be interested to see how you like it. I still may get myself one. I'm hoping to fly at SEFF next year as well. Maybe I'll see you there. Take care

Was that Quique flying the Bipe? . . what actually happened there???

Hey Jeff,
Yep that was QQ flying the production version of his Python. Horizon came over the loudspeakers about 2 hours after the crash and gave an explanation. The entire verbage escapes me, but the jist of it was that they were using the new JR 8711 servos (one per surface). The plane was originally tested in cooler weather and with the 90 degree temp we had, the regulator overheated and causing a lose of power. The Spektrum RX rebooted because of the lose in power. It was a shame.

Hi Mike and Jeff,

There has been a lot of discussion about the Spektrum RXs re-booting due to brown-outs. I just purchased a DX7 and have been following the comments. I guess they are really sensitive to voltage drops. That 2.4GHz system is wonderous, but is pretty sensitive to it's power setup. It wouldn't hurt Spektrum/Horizon to make mention of the requirements...

Franny

Keith Sparks OV-1 Mohawk
 

Hi, does Keith have a website and does he sell a kit of the OV-1 Mohawk.

Thanks,
Mike :tc:

Mike,
I dont think so, but could be wrong. If I recall, it was scratchbuilt.

Here is the build thread on his OV-10 over at rcg, go pm him and ask him!

http://www.rcgroups.com/forums/showthread.php?t=375467

I am here too!

Keith does have a web site - but the plane is on MAN you need to get plans from them - and then contact Keith for the plastics parts!

http://home.att.net/~parkflyerplasti...ome.html-.html

Mike

I want to thank everyone for responding. Thanks again.

Happy Flying.

Hey! That's me(Black guitar) and Lazy Bee pickin and grinnin on post #16! Did not know anybody got pics! :cool:

We were just to your left by a canopy or two. We pitted up with Atlantahobby (Cliff) and Precision Aerobatics (Shaun and Daniel)

I don't think we actually met but I'd remember you if I saw you again.I remember you guys talking about all the food we were cooking! Did y'all get some LCB? If not, you gotta get some next year!!! I'm horrible at putting faces with names. And with most ppl having screen names, it's just that much worse. LOL