Taking Pictures of aircraft on approach (Help)

[Michael Thomas]

Hi there,

I was wondering if anyone could give me some tips and advice on how to capture sharp unblurry shots of aircraft on approach. I spot at London Gatwick where the aircraft come very close to my head when landing on runway 08R.

Does anyone have any tips they could lend to me on how to capture the whole aircraft on my LCD screen on my camera and also how to make the shot as unblurry as possible.

Please excuse me as I'm a complete newbie.

Thanks in advance,

Michael

[gusty987]

To avoid camera shake, unless you have IS, a general rule-of-thumb is to shoot at a shutter speed greater than your lens length, i.e. if your shooting at 300mm, it may be hard to get sharp results at less than 1/300 sec.

If you are shooting the length of the aircraft and you want it to be in focus down the length of the fuselage, you'll have to use a high f/ number (smaller aperture) for the higher depth-of-field.

Also, make sure your using AI servo for autofocus in order to track a moving subject.

What equip. are you using?

[jid]

Tip 1
Don't try and get too close.

Tip 2
Use the viewfinder not the lcd screen and practice practice practice!

Jid

[Cosmo]

Tip 2
Use the viewfinder not the lcd screen and practice practice practice!

Jid

Thats the key !

Also if you are new at this .. then i personally would advise you to avoid any type of IS (dont shout)... get used to using a steady hand 1st ....

And at LGW if you go a little further back into any of the fields or where the old "mound" was situated youll get more side on


regards

[Michael Thomas]

To avoid camera shake, unless you have IS, a general rule-of-thumb is to shoot at a shutter speed greater than your lens length, i.e. if your shooting at 300mm, it may be hard to get sharp results at less than 1/300 sec.

If you are shooting the length of the aircraft and you want it to be in focus down the length of the fuselage, you'll have to use a high f/ number (smaller aperture) for the higher depth-of-field.

Also, make sure your using AI servo for autofocus in order to track a moving subject.

What equip. are you using?

Thanks for the feedback guys.

I'm using a Kodak Easyshare Z740 with a 10X Optical Zoom. I have no addtional lenses or anything like a tripod etc..

When you mention 'to shoot at a shutter speed greater than your lens length' is this to do with PASM modes? I have these modes and was wondering what settings I should fiddle with to get the shots just right.

Thanks

[gusty987]

Thanks for the feedback guys.

I'm using a Kodak Easyshare Z740 with a 10X Optical Zoom. I have no addtional lenses or anything like a tripod etc..

When you mention 'to shoot at a shutter speed greater than your lens length' is this to do with PASM modes? I have these modes and was wondering what settings I should fiddle with to get the shots just right.

Thanks

Since your using a point-and-shoot I'm not sure how to apply the shutter speed rule, but, as for modes, many people shoot in either A or S, setting aperture or speed and letting the cam pick the other value for you. Whatever you do, avoid using AUTO mode.

[Cosmo]

Just had a quick look at the camera online , looks a good spec to me , nice zoom etc !

So .... if you shoot " Shutter priority mode (S)—you choose shutter speed, the camera sets aperture " aim for anything perhaps 1/500-1/600 in sunlight and decrease it slighley when dull or you even also have the option to raise the iso to anything upto 800 but still around 200 for duller days and reduce the shutter speed as i mentioned.

Its very easy to get to grips with the camera's features , the main issues is how and when to put them into place .... if you use the search these forums ill sure youll be able to peice a few things together ...

good luck & all the best

[kukkudrill]

Since your using a point-and-shoot I'm not sure how to apply the shutter speed rule

If the x10 zoom equates to 380mm in traditional SLR terms, that's the figure you should use.

you even also have the option to raise the iso to anything upto 800 but still around 200 for duller days

Compact cameras are prone to noise so I'd stick to the lowest ISO if at all possible.

[brianw999]

Point and shoots also have a rather irritating lag between pressing the shutter and taking the picture. This was certainly true of my old Kodak DX6490 (similar spec to yours , but older.)

The key to moving shots is to continue your pan throughout the shot. Do this for at least 2 seconds after pressing the shutter button, following through with the pan movement smoothly. The viewfinder goes black as the picture is taken so I used to look thru the viewfinder with my right eye and over the camera with my left. It takes a little practice but having both eyes open helps to maintain the panning rate. One up side to this kind of practice is that you will find DSLR moving/panning photography comes easier later on when you invariably upgrade your equipment.

[philh]

Dont try and get the perfect fit of aircraft in the viewfinder because you will cut half of it off every time when you are starting out. Leave plenty of space around the aircraft at first and then a few trips down the line you will find your timing will have improved significantly so you can try and get more of the aircraft in the viewfinder.
I think, however, you will struggle to get a perfect fitting shot with a point and shoot due to the lag inherent in these cameras, whatever your standard and experience! Half a second doesnt sound long but an aircraft will have moved out of your viewfinder by then so you will have to get good at guestimates of an aircrafts position!

This being the case, I would def suggest leaving a fair bit of space around the aircraft and then cropping the pic at home as needs be.

Main thing is to enjoy it though, so best of luck and keep at it!

[kukkudrill]

Point and shoots also have a rather irritating lag between pressing the shutter and taking the picture.

What I used to do was to half-press the shutter button a moment before I actually meant to take the photo. The camera's response when taking the photo is then virtually instantaneous. The time-lag between focusing and shooting should not make a difference to the picture since compacts have wide depth of field tolerances.

[BA747-436]

What I used to do was to half-press the shutter button a moment before I actually meant to take the photo. The camera's response when taking the photo is then virtually instantaneous. The time-lag between focusing and shooting should not make a difference to the picture since compacts have wide depth of field tolerances.

This principle works fine if your standing a fair distance away, but if your reasonably close to the subject which is moving at a good rate at an angle to you, it dam near ruins your shot. Just be carefull when applying this is all ill say.

[Crunk415balla]

I've gotten some decent shots with my 600-1000mm lens of aircraft on approach. I always use a tripod with it, and I have given it literally hours of practice. Still haven't prefected it.

[CcrlR]

What I used to do was to half-press the shutter button a moment before I actually meant to take the photo. The camera's response when taking the photo is then virtually instantaneous. The time-lag between focusing and shooting should not make a difference to the picture since compacts have wide depth of field tolerances.

(this is for the SLR guys or anyone thinking of getting one)
This is what I usually do. I give myself time to do this and sometimes take shots of other planes to see how I do. I keep the camera on Autofocus to sccomplish this. This is on a switch on the lens if you have a SLR. I always have a big area round and focus on the plane in the center. Just try it without pushing down fully on the button. I think of it as trying to get something in the crosshairs of a scope while the subject is moving.

[Justin_AUS_Spotter]

Very interesting topic I use a camera similar to that but a little nicer a Kodak P850 still a point and shoot camera none the less some of the disadvantages to these types of cameras glare right at you but when you learn to work with your camera you can get good shots as many have said using Apeture (A) priority or Shutter (S) priority and puting in the right settings can shell out wayy better pictures than Auto to be honest I usually use Auto but I really shouldn't use it as much as I have.

-Justin