Another car photography question...

[Jim Fox]

I prefer taking pictures of the details rather than the whole car. Was out last night at a local drive-in that a car museum does every Wednesday. This was only my second time doing this. The first time was at a local small town festival that has a huge car show and I was walking around with my Canon 30D and my Canon 85/1.8 shooting freehand, no tripod.

Lastnight I was shooting with my Tamron 17-50 on a Tripod since it was getting later in the evening. I was shooting at ISO 100 at around f/7.1 with a remote trigger, but I don't like the outcomes. Some were composition and others just didn't seem sharp enough.

What kinda lens would you advise for this type of shooting?

I have: Canon 70-200/2.8 IS, Sigma 70-200/2.8 EX DG Macro, Canon 85/1.8 and Tamron 17-50/2.8.

Does a macro lens work better for this?

PS: I sent my Sigma and 30D in this spring for service after taking a soccer ball to the lens and I thought it was a bit soft. Still wondering if it's me or the camera.

[Jim Fox]

PS: I can post some shots later today if people are curious..........not really happy with the comps though.

[OsmosisStudios]

For the most part I'd reccomend a wide-angle lens, as this helps you really exaggerate bodylines and so on. If youre more concerned with detail work, then your original plan of the 85mm is likely best.

You may have not gotten some soft images on a tripod if it wasnt steady enough and ended up moving just a bit. Why on earth were you shooting at f/7.1?

[Dave Burnham]

I use an 18 - 70mm zoom for single car shots, varying the focal length to crop out spectators or going wide for low down 'worm's eye' views. If I want to shoot details on the cars such as reflections or badges etc I use a 90mm F2.8 macro lens. At some point I wish to buy an 8 or 10mm wide angle for this as well.

With regard to the Canon camera and Sigma lens combination, I know that some of the contributors on magazines I have worked on have complained of the same thing with the 30D. I may be wrong but I believe there was some sort of compatibility problem between the two. I am not 100% certain as I use Sony/Minolta gear!