From the window

[Calfo]

Hi all

Coming back from France last october, I spotted an Air Canada aircraft just behind us a bit higher, and as we kept on going, it slowly passed us. I took out my Camera to get a picture of it, but I could NOT focus it. It was the window that was in the way.

I was wondering what is the trick in getting a clear image out of an aircraft window.

I know its possible because I have seen some, I just need to get them focused.


Thanks Douglas

This is it:

[Greg Wilson]

Manual focus for starters.

[lmw]

Yep, just set your lens to infinity.

[YYZPICS]

That would of turned out nice!, also try to hold you lens as close to the window to avoid the glare.

[Calfo]

I tried it all:
Auto focus, Manual Focus, Far from the window and close to the window

First, I had it on auto-focus, but it did not work. Them I tried manual-focus, from the closest focus, to infinity, but it still did not work. It just did not want to focus. It was like if my lens had a focusing problem, but it worked in the aircraft and on the wing.

Arn't there any other tricks?


Thanks, Douglas

[LX-A343]

Nothing else! If auto focus fails, manual focus is the only solution.

[RingwaySam]

Hmm they look kinda the same as my shots when my 75-300IS was broke. I had the chance to shoot a Lufthansa A346 air-to-air but my lens was playing up and it came out pretty bad.

I would suggest taking it to a local camera shot and seeing if they'll have a look at it, specially if AF isn't working!

[AJ]

It is a curse, trust me.

One of the major difficulties is getting a double image as you are shooting through two panes. This is worsened when shooting at a slant angle! I have hundreds of blurry air-to-air shots for every one that's come out ok.

[haliday]

If you shoot with Manual Focus, you should focus to infinity

[CPH Aviation]

Taking pictures through the windows in the passengercabin is very difficult if not close to impossible if a big zoom is needed. You are shooting through 3 layers of glass (often very dirty) and the more you need to point the lense up or down the worse it gets. Most of the realy good photos of air-to-air are shot through the cockpit windows, like AJ said that can also be a pain. In most cases the result will come out like the photo shown above nomatter what you do

Soren