Im New Here :D Looking To Start Aviation Photography

Joshua Bowden · #1 24th April 2009, 05:09 AM

Hey guys,

Im new to the forums and im looking to start Aviation Photography as a hobby,

Im getting some gear soon so im all set, I have been into photography for a while but never owned an SLR,

One of my next door neighbours is a member of the forum and loves planes aswell, so that works out well,

So here is my gear that im going to get:

1 x Canon EOS 40D Digital SLR
1 x Canon EF 70-200mm f/4L USM
1 x Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 II Lens
1 x SanDisk Ultra II 4GB CF Card
1 x Sanyo Eneloops + Charger
1 x Pelican 1454 With Dividers
1 x Velbon CX-Mini Ball Tripod
1 x Velbon UP-400 Monopod
1 x Canon 430EXII Flash
1 x Canon 75-300mm

Obviously the 430EX II Flash and the 50 f/1.8 won't be for this type of photography,

So im getting the 70-200 f/4L I would love to get the f/2.8 IS version but that's a bit out of my budget,

So my question is, will the 200mm be far enough from the 'Beach' At YSSY?

I can't use a X2 TC (Teleconverter) Because the 40D is a Crop Body, and it only works on the Pro Bodys (1DMKIII, 5DII) and not the 40D,

Luckly I won't be shooting at night, so I probably won't need to use a tripod or monopod, and the f/4 would suck in Lowlight Situations,

Also, what software for PP do you guys use? I have Photoshop Elements 7, Photoshop Extended CS4, and Lightroom,

So im pretty much all set right?

What else do I need as an good 'Kit', Also, the front element of the 70-200mm Does not rotate, so it is sutable for a Polarising filter,

So would you reccomend a P filter? Or should I just fix it up in Photoshop later?

I Plan to shoot in RAW becuase of the ability in Post Processing,

Btw, im only 14

Joshh

Andrew McLaughlin · #2 24th April 2009, 07:08 AM

Andrew, Please refrain from quoting the whole previous post in your post, it is not necessary, thank you - mod

Nice kit to kick off with.

Instead of the 2x why not get the 1.4x. I use a 40D, 70-200 f2.8L and a 1.4x and can get in pretty close on most aircraft from the beach except those flaring right down at the 34L threshold.

Good luck.

Nigel C · #3 24th April 2009, 08:23 AM

Don't worry about the polarising filter, but use a UV filter to start with. Polarisers come in handy if you do shots through glass and don't want any reflection, or if you're dealing with a lot of glare (like after rain or when you're out at sea on a boat).

Joshua Bowden · #4 24th April 2009, 08:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Andrew McLaughlin

Nice kit to kick off with.

Instead of the 2x why not get the 1.4x. I use a 40D, 70-200 f2.8L and a 1.4x and can get in pretty close on most aircraft from the beach except those flaring right down at the 34L threshold.

Good luck.

Does your 1.4TC work on your 40D?

I read somewhere they only work on the 5DII and the 1DIII,

Apparently its manual focus only on any other body,

If the 1.4 works then I think I will get that for sure

Joshh

Joshua Bowden · #5 24th April 2009, 08:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nigel C

Don't worry about the polarising filter, but use a UV filter to start with. Polarisers come in handy if you do shots through glass and don't want any reflection, or if you're dealing with a lot of glare (like after rain or when you're out at sea on a boat).

Yeah, I am getting U.V filters for all my lenses, Im pretty sure I would rather have the filter break rather then the front element if it got a knock,

Plus, a 62MM Polarizing filter aint cheap either

Andrew McLaughlin · #6 24th April 2009, 09:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Joshua Bowden

Does your 1.4TC work on your 40D?

I read somewhere they only work on the 5DII and the 1DIII,

Apparently its manual focus only on any other body,

If the 1.4 works then I think I will get that for sure

Joshh

Yep, the 1.4 works fine - check out my JetPhotos link - the majority of pics taken on there, especially at the beach, have been with the 1.4. No problems with autofocus as well.

David M · #7 24th April 2009, 01:39 PM

Quote:

Does your 1.4TC work on your 40D?

I read somewhere they only work on the 5DII and the 1DIII,

Apparently its manual focus only on any other body,

If the 1.4 works then I think I will get that for sure

I discovered by means of a post somewhere, that if you cover over the first three pins on the converter with a small piece of sticky tape, the autofocus should work on nearly every camera body. I tried it and Presto!

David.M.

Mick F · #8 24th April 2009, 04:09 PM

I have used a 2X teleconverter with a Canon 70-200 F2.8 with a Canon EOS 40D and had no problems at all.

The autofocus worked fine.

How on earth are you affording all that?

Mick

Nigel C · #9 24th April 2009, 04:35 PM

He's can't, but mum and dad can

Joshua Bowden · #10 24th April 2009, 09:38 PM

Nah, I have been saving for a long time

I have a job, well sorta three, I have a propper job at the local corner shop, packing shelves, cleaning ect,

And I also wash cars (I know, I know

) But I earn some cash from that,

And lastly, I do Web/Graphics design, I make quite a bit from that, here is my latest:

Http://zoble.info/Clients/Backup/Buzz/flash

If its slow, its becuase my server sucks,

So yeah, I guess I do pretty good for a 14 year old

Haha and my dad hates cameras for some reason, so no money from him