Lens Rental for Airshow

[tekn0lust]

I have taken my 50D and 70-200 to a local airshow for the last two years. It's a big show, Thunderbirds and Blue Angels headlining. I've gotten great shots but even with the 1.6 crop and a 1.4 telex I haven't had that reach I really want. So this year I've decided in addition to my 50D with the 70-200 to take a 5D MkII and either a 100-400 or a 600 prime. Show is at the end of October so I have some time to plan.

I know the 600 is a monster, gonna need to consider support options.

Can anyone help with pros or cons to the 100-400 or the 600?
Any practical experience with either at an airshow?

Thx!
--S
Fort Worth Alliance Air Show 2009 - a set on Flickr

[OsmosisStudios]

50D + 1.4 + 70-200 = 448

So if you found that WAY too short, even 600 on a 5D is gonna be too short.

[sk66]

Assuming decent light, I'd probably take the zoom.
I do a bit of bird photography which is similar, perhaps a bit harder, and I use a 300-800mm frequently. Having the ability to acquire the subject at a wider zoom and zoom in can be a huge benefit for fast moving subjects.
I don't know about the choice of a FF body though...with the 200 on a crop body with 1.4x you are at 450mm; makes the 100-400 on a FF almost pointless. Put it on a crop body and you'll get 150-600mm.
Probably using your 70-200 on the FF body for detail shots and the zoom on your crop body would be best.

The 600 will be faster, but it will probably also be softer at wide open..not much good if you don't NEED the extra speed. It is also heavier (big tripod with Gimbal head?) and harder to use well. It will be more inconvenient to move around with and harder to acquire your subject.

That said, I typically use my 300-800 f/5.6 with a gunstock and monopod which is relatively portable and quick in action. I'm unable to zoom at the same time though so I have to be good with the acquisition.. I miss shots sometimes simply because I can't get on target in time with anything over 500mm...at 500mm it's not bad (I use a FF body).

[Swisstony10]

At air shows over here (in the UK) I generally spot the Canon 100-400 L-series more than any other white lens. I had a play with one, and the push-pull zoom makes total sense for things like 'planes shooting past. It also has an IS mode designed to work when you pan, which is a big advantage for that kind of thing.

The 600 prime is, as you say, a monster. In addition to needing some kind of gimbal or cradle support on a tripod, there's a definite knack to acquiring a fast-moving subject when you can't zoom out at all, and if you're renting, it's unlikely that you'd have the time and opportunity to get enough practice.

[inkista]

Just my opinion, but I'm with everyone else--just rent the 100-400L, first and stick with a crop body if you really want more reach. If it's still not enough for you, then think about a 500mm or 600mm for next year. You may not really be aware of how huge that 600 is in real life. Here's something to give you an idea of how big a job you're setting yourself up for (needing a gimbal Wimberly head), if you've never shot with a Great White before. The lens that's being used in this demo is the 500mm, btw. The 600L is bigger.



Given that you're renting, and have a very limited amount of time to get used to the equipment before the show, I think maybe the 600mm is biting off more than you can chew.

Given that you're used to a 70-200, the 100-400 is much closer in size, and will handle similarly. It's already going to be more weight/bulk than you're used to--with a smaller max. aperture and requiring a faster shutter speed and better handholding technique. It's going to be a stretch for you to get used to that, as it is (I had a huge adjustment to make when I moved from using my 75-300 III to my EF 400mm f/5.6L USM). And 400mm is going to probably give you more reach than you're anticipating. Your field of view is going to be only 3° wide. You're going to have to learn to shoot with both eyes open to scan moving objects in the sky.

[jdepould]

I shot a rallycross with the Nikon 500/4 last summer, and it was monsterous. The 600 will be even bigger and more ungainly. And this is coming from someone who doesn't think much about carrying around a 400/2.8.

Ironically, my full frame body was down, so all I had was the crop, and it was really hard to shoot. I'd be on a rooftop 75 yards away, but still too close.