Warbird Information Exchange

Does anyone have info on using image stabilized equipment for WB photography? I guess I know the basic concept, but would like to hear the experience of someone who bought up from standard gear. I currently shoot a Pentax *istDS (6.2MP) with a 170-500 telephoto. Backwards compatibility with at least some of this would be a plus. First dumb question is; can you freeze the plane's outline better without freezing the prop?

Thanks in advance

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Chris

Hi Chris, I`m guessing you mean shooting moving aircraft at air shows. Pentax state plainly in their manuals if you are panning a moving target SR should be turned off. As to not freezing props you need to use a fairly slow shutter speed - about 125th - which makes freezing the aeroplane much more difficult, but what the heck if it was easy it would take all the fun out of it. Just practice panning - lots.
Simmo

I use an *ist and I've been comfortable shooting around 1/350th with the telephoto and still getting a decent prop blur. (The more lens you have, the more vulnerable you are to shake.) A lot depends on the aircraft itself: if he's at full throttle, you'll get a better blur than if he is taxiing at low RPM's. It helps to look for those moments.

Make sure you aren't falling victim to focus blur. When a telephoto is zoomed out, the aperture is normally pretty wide open to grab some light, and your depth of field narrows considerably, making good focus a little more critical.

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What is red, furry and on your six?

PM sent.

The Pentax K10D manual does not say that it can't be used when panning, it just mentions that it may not work if you make the shutter speed too low when panning. I have been using this camera with SR and auto focus on for panning shots of aircraft and birds, using a 400mm (600mm equivalent) F5.6 lens at 1/350th and F8 ISO 200 and a 100-300mm (150-450mm equivalent) F4set at 300mm at 1/250th and F8 ISO 200 for two years and have had no issues and some very sharp images with reasonable depth of field, but I then I have had a lot of panning practice (and many that have been poor!)

In short, I do think that it is worthwhile and I don't regret upgrading from an *Ist D- and the latest models are supposed to have much superior higher ISO performance which would help up the F stop

OK - thanks for the info. I have been shooting at 1/350th for a couple of years and I get a bit of panning practice myself. Will have to check out the prices to upgrade

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Chris