Here's a third party lens with a sticky aperture on a crop sensor Camera on an overcast day at 200mm and f3.5 (it's not PP'd only cropped a tad as it was a long way off for my 'little lens':P), it looks nearly as good to me.......................

......oh who am I kidding, just send me your lens.....NOW!!!!!! and the camera as well if you don't mind:)

You win Graham, I am well wound up:mad:

Great efforts everyone. Getting good shots at airshows isn't too hard, it's very hard.

This is how I spent the day, bearing in mind that as I was getting paid and was expected to produce the shots. I didn't have the luxury of messing up!!!

All of the shots I took were taken with the camera (1DsII) in manual mode. Light readings were taken with a Sekonic L758D and entered on the camera. This ensured that the camera was not fooled into turning everything 18% grey and silhouetting the aircraft against the sky.

Shutter speeds were chosen at around 1/250th sec or even less for prop aircraft and helicopters to ensure that the prop wasn't frozen. So a competent technique was needed to not get camera shake even as I hand held the 500mm all day. I just chose the fastest speed I could for jets, confident in the knowledge that the lenses I used are just as sharp wide open.

I didn't rely on a machine gun approach and hope that I got one. I only released the shutter when the shot was right. I did no chimping all day:thumbup:

I hope that gives a few tips for those that are interested.

You must have forearms like Pit Props Graham, handholding that monster!!!

If you take a light reading, does it matter that the aircraft could be a long way away and possibly in an area of different light? I have chatted to TV cameramen about light meters and generally they are clueless. I am staggered how sharp your lens looks even when wide, your crop still looks sooooo sharp. Wish you lived up here, I could volunteer to carry your bags for you:D

Oh all my slow shutter shots looked soft as I didn't track the objects very well and probably could have done with a panning IS too (I am a little feeble-ish).

Great snaps mate

I must admit to not employing the same techniques as Scuff describes although after I spoke to him I did bring the shutter speed down for the prop planes.

It's a good job I don't have to make a living from it but I am pleased with the pictures I took.

You must have forearms like Pit Props Graham, handholding that monster!!!

If you take a light reading, does it matter that the aircraft could be a long way away and possibly in an area of different light? I have chatted to TV cameramen about light meters and generally they are clueless. I am staggered how sharp your lens looks even when wide, your crop still looks sooooo sharp. Wish you lived up here, I could volunteer to carry your bags for you:D

Oh all my slow shutter shots looked soft as I didn't track the objects very well and probably could have done with a panning IS too (I am a little feeble-ish).

Nope skinny arms

I am used to holding a very heavy gun and scope very still for long periods in shooting comps - so as long as I rest the lens and camera between shots. It is fine !!!

Whilst I was there all day, the light consisted of Sun Out and Sun In. You would be amazed how consistent the light readings were. So I had 2 readings depending on what light the aircraft were in. A few quick clicks on the finger dial sorted it. My Hand held meter is calibrated to my camera - Not just Canon 1DsII's - but my specific camera, for each ISO and aperture:eek:

You pay a lot of money for the quality - but when the tacks are down, if the quality of your shots isn't there, you ain't gonna sell your images:(

You can carry my bags.... it only weighs 20Kgs, could be more depending what I am shooting!!!!

You can carry my bags.... it only weighs 20Kgs, could be more depending what I am shooting!!!!

You might be surprised at how fleet footed I can be whilst carrying a heavy bag of camera bits………

You might not be able to keep up…………….. or even see me again

Kewl pic Scuff... now did you get them head to head?

Actually Graham I was looking at my original jpeg (sorry I hadn’t used RAW) and think the compressed pictures look softer than I expected. I used Photochop and kept the file size somewhere near the maximum allowed by Photobucket and the forum but I still don’t think they look right. Any tips?

Actually Graham I was looking at my original jpeg (sorry I hadn’t used RAW) and think the compressed pictures look softer than I expected. I used Photochop and kept the file size somewhere near the maximum allowed by Photobucket and the forum but I still don’t think they look right. Any tips?

There is a lot you can do to improve images in CS3. I hope you do not mind, but I have carried out a quick and very dirty edit. The selection of the aircraft would be perfect with a little more time. The sky is from one of my Typhoon shots.

More importantly is that the aircraft has be given some 'levels' and sharpening work to make it stand out.

There is a lot you can do to improve images in CS3. I hope you do not mind, but I have carried out a quick and very dirty edit. The selection of the aircraft would be perfect with a little more time. The sky is from one of my Typhoon shots.

More importantly is that the aircraft has be given some 'levels' and sharpening work to make it stand out.

[ATTACH]23928[/ATTACH]

Hi Graham, I love that sky.

I didn’t do any fiddling with the image though as I was trying to be honest and show what the picture looked like straight out of the box. But I have to say your version looks much better. Please tell me that you did loads of processing to your earlier pictures and that they don’t look anything like as sharp as that straight out of the camera. Mind you, I guess my images will look sharper when I get my big prime

Hi Graham, I love that sky.

I didn’t do any fiddling with the image though as I was trying to be honest and show what the picture looked like straight out of the box. But I have to say your version looks much better. Please tell me that you did loads of processing to your earlier pictures and that they don’t look anything like as sharp as that straight out of the camera. Mind you, I guess my images will look sharper when I get my big prime

Hi Matey.......

You were confined by the crap weather conditions - not your fault, but as you see, you can make the image pop a little more. That is not cheating. (putting the sky in is)

I tried my best to get them right at the time of taking. Thats why I use a hand held incident meter and manual mode. The IdsII is known to need plenty of sharpening due to the heavy AA filter over the sensor. But they sharpen up wonderfully. So Hardly any processing was done - sorry

When you get your biggun - thats when you have to work really hard to get sharp shots !!!!!

Hi Matey.......

You were confined by the crap weather conditions - not your fault, but as you see, you can make the image pop a little more. That is not cheating. (putting the sky in is)

I tried my best to get them right at the time of taking. Thats why I use a hand held incident meter and manual mode. The IdsII is known to need plenty of sharpening due to the heavy AA filter over the sensor. But they sharpen up wonderfully. So Hardly any processing was done - sorry

When you get your biggun - thats when you have to work really hard to get sharp shots !!!!!

I think with the recent bad news about the economy I might put any more splashing out on hold for a while. This isn’t a problem with the Prime as you were going to give me yours when you could find it.