Sydney as good as ever..

[Darren Howie]

After a long time between drinks i spent a few days testing my new 400 in Sydney over the last week or so.
Got some decent stuff along the foreshore at night and thought you guys may be interested to see what the new 400 can do.
Perfect airport for this lens...perfect.
Hanging out brought back some great memories of shooting around Sydney and many trips and airports later its still one of the best in the world.
Love it..
Hope you like....


http://www.vortexaviationphotography.com/Other/webposting/i-RkTJZr9/1/L/A3801280-L.jpg

http://www.vortexaviationphotography.com/Other/webposting/i-Q7m4Vfg/1/L/A33312802-L.jpg

http://www.vortexaviationphotography.com/Other/webposting/i-QDHnWKj/1/L/A38012802-L.jpg

http://www.vortexaviationphotography.com/Other/webposting/i-M5KdHN6/1/L/A74712802-L.jpg


http://www.vortexaviationphotography.com/Other/webposting/i-4tLRF5P/0/L/qfdugong-L.jpg

http://www.vortexaviationphotography.com/Other/webposting/i-5MnxRqM/0/L/qf767blurr-L.jpg

http://www.vortexaviationphotography.com/Other/webposting/i-2LRMQVZ/0/L/747blurr-L.jpg

http://www.vortexaviationphotography.com/Other/webposting/i-LwSjjB2/0/L/thai-L.jpg

Dazz

[A McLaughlin]

Nice! "400" what?

[Mark T]

Presumably 100-400 lens??

What ISO were you shooting at Darren?

Cheers
M

[Todd Hendry]

I love the picture of the QF 400 touching down with reversers and lights all on.
Todd.

[Mark T]

Thanks for the tip Chris. Can these lens be bought for under $10k in Australia?

Great photos Darren (very envious) :-)

[Jim M]

Darren,

Absolutely awesome shots mate. Thanks for sharing with us all.

Cheers
Jim

[Tony G]

Great shots, sharpest night shots I have seen in a while (better than my day shots:p).

The QF 747 has it's reverse thrusters on while the nose is still up. That cannot be proper procedures can it?:confused:

[Darren Howie]

Hi Guys
Thanks!!
Spot on Chris...
As for ISO most around the 1600 mark its no point going higher when the lens is RAZOR sharp at 2.8.
Like to see your slow stuff Chris!
Sorry i missed you Monday was actually doing work stuff for a few hours so didnt get to Brighton till around 4 just in time for Thai to depart in the sun..lol.
Only sun all day i think...oh other than the SQ Dugong!!
Got the lens for under 10 in Singapore...great having a big dollar overseas at the moment.
One thing i did learn is i need to spend more time in Sydney on days off!!

A few more if you like..

http://www.vortexaviationphotography.com/Other/webposting/i-rd8F9vL/0/L/737-L.jpg
http://www.vortexaviationphotography.com/Other/webposting/i-xXJXQJ7/0/L/777blurr-L.jpg
http://www.vortexaviationphotography.com/Other/webposting/i-vM6wDWT/0/L/7372-L.jpg

[Shayne G]

Very good shots there, Darren!

I've recently saw some of your old photos and it's very nice to see the return of a photographer from the good ol' days!

By the way, excellent shot of ''Yananyi Dreaming". I haven't seen any night shots of that bird until now!

[Darren Howie]

Hi Shane
Thanks for that..
It's pretty amazing how lucky we are with Sydney..airports like AMS are not what they used to be.
It's far easier to get various angles at Sydney now than Amsterdam I think after my most recent visit.
It's super having a great airport in your own back yard!

[Darren Howie]

Hi Chris
Thanks..
Took these with the 400 and the new Canon 2x..think you will see the new 400 is almost as good as the 800. The difference in the AF lock on time and id imagine tracking with hi speed targets but so far totally impressed for the IQ.

President Ave..
http://www.vortexaviationphotography.com/Civil-Aviation-Photography/Sydney-Kingsford-Smith/i-NxS3PJW/0/XL/747banker-XL.jpg
http://www.vortexaviationphotography.com/Civil-Aviation-Photography/Sydney-Kingsford-Smith/i-GHRX8N5/0/XL/dugongbanker-XL.jpg
http://www.vortexaviationphotography.com/Civil-Aviation-Photography/Sydney-Kingsford-Smith/i-VctNjQ3/0/XL/thaibank-XL.jpg

34R
http://www.vortexaviationphotography.com/Civil-Aviation-Photography/Sydney-Kingsford-Smith/i-d7jjsRT/0/L/737banker-L.jpg
http://www.vortexaviationphotography.com/Civil-Aviation-Photography/Sydney-Kingsford-Smith/i-MnFwvrH/0/XL/767banker-XL.jpg

[Sarah C]

Those photos are stunning Darren - love the banking OEF!

[Darren Howie]

Mmmm the D4 looks nice!! Like you i'm waiting for a 1Dx..lol.
Looking forward to seeing night stuff with it..one thing i will be keeping is a MK4 for the reach with the 1.3. Prob sell one and have one of each.
Thinking how clean the files will be at 1600 and 3200...whats brilliant with the 400 is the full stop of extra light..love it.
The 34R shots are from a park i found many years ago off Botany rd..they come quite close when about half way around the corner. Great turn for banking shots as the angle of bank is normally up near 30 degrees.
Thanks Sarah glad you like them!!
Love president avenue shots!!
A few more for those interested. Many of these are gettable with a 1.4 converter on a 100-400 given how flat the light is looking over Botany bay from sy the life saving club..

http://www.vortexaviationphotography.com/Recent-Uploads/Recent-Uploads/i-GPM2S8f/0/XL/virg330-XL.jpg

Love this one
http://www.vortexaviationphotography.com/Recent-Uploads/Recent-Uploads/i-7MfRPsL/1/XL/bigups-XL.jpg
http://www.vortexaviationphotography.com/Recent-Uploads/Recent-Uploads/i-gF3LVNb/0/L/etihadbank-L.jpg
http://www.vortexaviationphotography.com/Recent-Uploads/Recent-Uploads/i-cp3wRp3/0/L/ojpbank-L.jpg
http://www.vortexaviationphotography.com/Recent-Uploads/Recent-Uploads/i-g7DGR5c/0/L/777bank-L.jpg

If you shooting a 5Dmk2 and 100-400 all these shots are gettable as the files are so croppable..with a series 3 or good series 2 TC on a 7D or so i think you could get some really nice shots as well..

[Sarah C]

Love the sunset light against OJP!

[Martin Buzzell]

Any chance of getting originals of some of these? Would love to print some out and hang on the wall.

[Jaryd stock]

I know that spot Darren it's a great spot unfortunately I don't have the range as yet for those shots but I'll be there when I upgrade.
Great photos......

Just a thought I reckon along with each months unusual movements we should have a photo thread to go along with it where anyone can upload there favorite shots of the month....... Just a thought..

[Todd Hendry]

The QF 747 has it's reverse thrusters on while the nose is still up. That cannot be proper procedures can it?:confused:

Yep, it's normal procedure Tony.

Main gear touchdown, pull reverse then lower the nose gear onto the runway.

Awesome photo.

Todd.

[Tony G]

Thanks for the info Todd. I wasn't sure, I thought all wheels would have to be down first.

Awesome shots Darren, keep posting:D

[Darren Howie]

Hey Chris with your setup I don't really think it matters what the 1Dx is like!!
Once your committed to a brand it really doesn't matter what the others do...sure the D4 will be a kick butt machine.
What's interesting though is even with a previous gen camera we can both shoot in full dark night and get great results.
I think cameras and lenses have come a long way since I started with a Cosina CSM back in the early 80's!
Looking forward to the next few generations of cameras!

[Todd Hendry]

Thanks for the info Todd. I wasn't sure, I thought all wheels would have to be down first.


No problem, glad to help.

Any questions, fire them my way.

Todd.

[Alexander.L]

Darren can I ask you did you pay GST for the lens when bringing it to australia?

[James S.]

Nice shots Darren, that lens is working a treat. :)

[Jarrad Phillips]

Those photos looked great, keep on posting up those pictures!

[Darren Howie]

Hi Alex
Yea you do but as long as you have used the lens they depreciate it's value by between 25 and 40% depending on how generous they feel.
Luckily the Darwin Guys are very lenient..not sure how you would go in Sydney..

[A McLaughlin]

Chris

On prior visits I haven't found Singapore to be much cheaper than Australia. I'm there next week - is there a particular place I should be looking?

Cheers

[Darren Howie]

In Singers by far he cheapest is Alan photo.
They are at the funan center across the road from Cathay photo who have a great range but big prices. Some things ate still cheaper.
Also as a passenger you get 9% extra off for the local Vat.
Alan also have a branch at sim lim square just be careful of other vendors some are dodgy.
Good luck
One thing second hand gear is a steal there with for instance 1DsMk3's for 3500 singers which is under 3 grand Aussie.
Great buys to be had if you hunt around.
Also heck out the amazing photography bookshop on the ground level in he Funan center...just amazing and the best source of camera books I've seen..anywhere.

[A McLaughlin]

That's near City Hall right?

[Darren Howie]

The Funan center is on all the shopping guides easy to find at the west end of North Bridge Road. On foot it's ten minutes max from Raffles...

[Mark T]

This lens is AU$11279 at Digital Camera Warehouse in Canterbury. They usually have good prices. You could claim the GST back on departing the country, (although of course this is supposed to be paid back if you return).
I am never very sure if you have to pay full value if you come back a few months later as by then the lens is worth a lot less :-)

M