Cameras & setups

[KingCorsair]

Hey everyone, aircraft photographer enthusiast and common or garden forum newbie here...

I was just wondering what cameras y'all use, lenses etc, and your preferred setups? Seen some awesome pictures while stalking the forums, some users state this kinda info, others don't...would be v interested to hear! Thanks in advance!

[Bobcode]

Hello KingCorsair, I have a Nikon D3200, usually use nikor 55-200mm lens. basic setup for me with jet aircraft is Shutter priority, speed 1/1000, AF-C, Dynamic mode, multiple shot shutter release, matrix metering. Got some pretty good shots of the Tornado's over Honington this week with this arrangement. Just acquired a Tamron lens, bit bigger have to see how that works out !
Pretty new to aircraft photography myself !

[TREBAX_RAVEN]

I use the nikon D7200 with the sigma 150-600mm sports, also about to invest in either the nikon 24-120 f4 or the sigma 24-105 f4.

[KingCorsair]

Sounds good, thanks! Personally I use the Canon M50, with the Canon EF 70-300 mm f/4-5.6 IS II USM lens, have to use a converter tho (Canon 6098B005 Mount Adapter EF-EOS M), bonus is that I get 480mm zoom due to cropping from the converter, but with no noticeable lack of quality. Tho definitely looking to get a 600mm in the future...a 5D too...but that's mostly wishful thinking! Meantime, I'm very happy with my kit. Once the airshow season starts rolling round, I'll be posting pictures..be cool to see your pics too.

[TREBAX_RAVEN]

Sounds good, thanks! Personally I use the Canon M50, with the Canon EF 70-300 mm f/4-5.6 IS II USM lens, have to use a converter tho (Canon 6098B005 Mount Adapter EF-EOS M), bonus is that I get 480mm zoom due to cropping from the converter, but with no noticeable lack of quality. Tho definitely looking to get a 600mm in the future...a 5D too...but that's mostly wishful thinking! Meantime, I'm very happy with my kit. Once the airshow season starts rolling round, I'll be posting pictures..be cool to see your pics too.

Sounds good, at the end of the day its not the camera that takes the photos its you. Unfortunately you cant buy experience it has to be earn't. Ive only had this set up for about a month so am still learning it.

[KingCorsair]

Sounds good, thanks! Personally I use the Canon M50, with the Canon EF 70-300 mm f/4-5.6 IS II USM lens, have to use a converter tho (Canon 6098B005 Mount Adapter EF-EOS M), bonus is that I get 480mm zoom due to cropping from the converter, but with no noticeable lack of quality. Tho definitely looking to get a 600mm in the future...a 5D too...but that's mostly wishful thinking! Meantime, I'm very happy with my kit. Once the airshow season starts rolling round, I'll be posting pictures..be cool to see your pics too.

Sounds good, at the end of the day its not the camera that takes the photos its you. Unfortunately you cant buy experience it has to be earn't. Ive only had this set up for about a month so am still learning it.

Yes exactly...it's all a bit futile anyway if you don't know which way to point it That's good, nothing replaces experience..gotta get your hours on your camera as you would on any plane ay

[busa01]

Hi KingCorsair, I recently upgraded to Canon 7D markII using Tamron 150-600 G2 , once i got my head around the functionality of the camera which is a lot to learn, for me anyway hahaha, its a great bit of kit love it especially for Mach Loop, and air shows etc

[R0B]

Nikon D750 paired with the Nikon 200-500 or the Tamron 70-200g2. Really happy with the hit rate of this setup and back button focusing is a must

[herc15]

d5300 with the sigma 150-600mm contemporary and the Nikon 70-300mm

[judgie1310]

Hey everyone, aircraft photographer enthusiast and common or garden forum newbie here...

I was just wondering what cameras y'all use, lenses etc, and your preferred setups? Seen some awesome pictures while stalking the forums, some users state this kinda info, others don't...would be v interested to hear! Thanks in advance!

My camera gear of choice is the Canon 7dm2 with the 100-400 Mk2 - if I need a little longer focal reach I put the 1.4x extender on and keep the centre auto focus point.

Setting depends I tend to shot AV and open wide for Taxi and static shots to get the depth of field (goes with my nature photography) but also shoot Shutter Priority and also Auto ISO when light is variable to get the image.
It is whatever works for you though and there is no right or wrong answer.

Enjoy

[NickRoe]

Hi, I recently converted to a mirrorless system. Olympus OMD-EM1. I use a 75-300, which with the Olympus sensor gives me equivalent of 150-600. This set up is great for me as it is light and easy to cart about. I also use a 40-150 and a standard 14-42. I love my results so far except when shooting prop blur! I get a weird bending effect and distortion of the prop if not just right with shutter speed!

[TREBAX_RAVEN]

Nikon D750 paired with the Nikon 200-500 or the Tamron 70-200g2. Really happy with the hit rate of this setup and back button focusing is a must

just a quick question, ive read it loads of times that back button focusing is really important but ive never really seen the importance of it, please could you explain why its a must. i really want to try using it to.

[oslo.barnes]

Nikon D5500 with NIkon 70-300

[prefontaine72]

Canon 7d mk2 with Canon 100-400L Mk1 Simples

Dougie

[Discodaz]

Like many here, I use a d7200 with my back up d3300 and like what seems to be every photographer on the planet,(lol) sigma 150-600 as my main lense. I also have a Tamron 70-300 and a kit 18-55 Nikor.
Recently upgraded from the d3300 as I went as far as I could with that cameras capabilities.i didn't want to go full pro body as I didn't feel I needed to.i don't sell my photos or make a living from photography soi opted for the d7200 and I'm mightily impressed with it..
Daz

[slogen51]

I would be interested if any other photographers use back button focusing for AVIATION photography? I don't.

For me personally most of my main subjects ( i.e. the plane) are in the center of the composition where the focus points are. Therefore I find focusing continually on the shutter release ( camera default) is easier than holding down a back button. I accept that if the plane is stationary then you might occasionally want to have the subject outside of the central focus area and recompose with out refocusing - not that I would do this as personally I like my planes in the middle of the shot.

I the aircraft is stationary I usually switch to 'focus once'. If the plane is moving I use continuous focus and/or release the shutter and hold it down again to refocus immediately prior to actually taking the shot ( I do this if I don't believe the continuous focus ability of my camera)

[daggerfan]

I use back button focusing all the time for aviation photography using my two Nikon D610s. Using it with continuous autofocus I get a better hit rate with moving subjects, plus it's a handy focus lock for static subjects if you want to re-compose the picture.

In fact, I have become so used to using back button focus that I also have it set up on my Panasonic Lumix FZ1000 bridge camera that I use for everyday and holiday snaps. Wouldn't be without it now!

[slogen51]

I might give it ago but it seems like another button to hold down for approaching or departing jets. I have a D610 and the back button is in a convenient spot for the thumb

[Discodaz]

I use bbf for everything I can't go back now
Daz

[jaybee]

I would be interested if any other photographers use back button focusing for AVIATION photography? I don't.

I use it a lot, and have added an F15SA.It is caught with the B-button pressed in, which is focusing all the time...just leaving the shutter button finger to choose when. Its
not easy at first to adopt this habit, but the increase in a bigger hit rate, will make you think about its use, more.JB

Eagle F15SA/ 1068/Lakenheath by jetphoto2, on Flickr