Airliner Shooting tips with 100-400L

[muddcat]

Well I got my 100-400L and upgraded my 300D to a 30D last week and I'm ready to take some pictures. I plan to go up the road to Charlotte-Douglas Int. Airport this weekend and take some shots(they have a great viewing area parallel to the runway) I need some tips on what settings would be best. It will most likely be sunny mid day. Should I use AV or TV mode?, IS on or off?, Center point AF or All points? Any tips would be greatly appreciated.

[Tanner_J]

Now I don't mean to be a jackass, but you just laid down $3000 in gear, and don't know how to use it?

But anyways, I would use AV, IS off if it's bright and the shutters not below 100. I would use AI Servo so it tracks with I guess your center point selected.

[muddcat]

Now I don't mean to be a jackass, but you just laid down $3000 in gear, and don't know how to use it?

But anyways, I would use AV, IS off if it's bright and the shutters not below 100. I would use AI Servo so it tracks with I guess your center point selected.

Your right I should just stick with a $100 point and shoot, forget trying to buy good equipment and learn something new. What was I thinking Tanner??

[2C67]

I have the same set up, use AV mode at around F8.0 which should give you a shutter speed of around 1/350th in good conditions. If the light starts to go I would stop down a couple of stops to maintain a decent shutter speed. The IS does not add much when you are shooting approach shots, if you are going in close or shooting ramp movements you may need the IS.


Matt

[Cosmo]

Now I don't mean to be a jackass, but you just laid down $3000 in gear, and don't know how to use it?

But anyways, I would use AV, IS off if it's bright and the shutters not below 100. I would use AI Servo so it tracks with I guess your center point selected.

sorry ... was the 1st thing i though of to

Its not the equipment that improves the pics .... here comes the flack

[B7772ADL]

Lol, yeah sounds like some of the pics i've seen in the queue at various times. I remember a batch distinctly...dark, blurry, soft, noisy with dust spots. I thought it had to be low end kit until I looked at the photog's remarks...taken with a Canon 1dmk2 and 70-200 f2.8LIS...i've never laughed so hard .

Anyway, I see you are a 300d user, so as long as you were getting good results out of that then there shouldn't be too much of a step over to the 100-400. Try and keep the shutter speed up when shooting at length as even the IS can't completely prevent camera shake. Don't expect wonders from the lens between 300-400mm unless you are one of these people who got a so called perfect copy (apparently they do exist out there somewhere).
I too used mine at F8 which gave me around 1/500th in good sunny weather, usually shooting 1/3rd under too cos my 20d blows whites easily as i'm a lazy jpg shooter and not a hard core raw enthusiast. I shoot one shot as my ai servo on the 20d isn't the most accurate and looses me a fair few frames, with all focus points selected.

[Cosmo]

"apparently they do exist out there somewhere"


Yup James , 1 or 2 around

also like James says .... the body shouldnt really be any different to be honest .

the basics still count throughout pretty much .

cheers

[Leftseat86]

Oh these threads do make for a good laugh.