Oly 5050 land use

[DiverG]

Ok I've got a question for you experts. I'm thinking about attending an airshow this weekend, and would like to attempt to get some good pictures of aircraft in flight. Would especially love to get some good photos of the F-16, and Harrier jet demos.

Is it possible to get great/good pictures of fast moving aircraft with this camera? As far as my camera setup, all I have is the stock camera. If so can you give me some hints as far as what settings to use?

I'm a novice at this so any help would be appreciated.

Thanks

 

[Dee]

I doubt it. Using a fast shutter speed will capture the action but at that distance you'd need a good telescopic lens to even tell what that speck in the sky is.

 

[DiverG]

Actually, if I remember right there are a few times when they fly very low and close to the ground.

Another possible good shot is when they do the Heritage flight. This is when an F-16 and a P-47(WWII era plane) fly in close formation to each other, and in such a way as to give good photo oppurtunities.

Oh well give me your suggestions anyway. If it doesn't work for the flight demos, There will still be the static displays to shoot.

 

[justleesa]

Remember the lag time. If you hold the button down half way it'll reduce that lag time for ya.
Aloha,
Lisa

 

[DiverG]

Remember the lag time. If you hold the button down half way it'll reduce that lag time for ya.
Aloha,
Lisa

Yeah by the time the camera snaps the picture the F-16 may be a few miles away.

 

[Dee]

Can you tell I haven't been to many air shows!

If it's a sunny day, I'd use a 1/250 -1/500 or 1/1000 shutter speed with a 2.6 aperture. Or use S mode and see what aperture the camera uses. Be careful nopt to shoot into the sun! On second thought, a partially blurred image of one of those low fly-bys would be cool!

 

[Kim]

Ok I've got a question for you experts. I'm thinking about attending an airshow this weekend, and would like to attempt to get some good pictures of aircraft in flight. Would especially love to get some good photos of the F-16, and Harrier jet demos.

Is it possible to get great/good pictures of fast moving aircraft with this camera? As far as my camera setup, all I have is the stock camera. If so can you give me some hints as far as what settings to use?

I'm a novice at this so any help would be appreciated.

Thanks

As far as the setting goes there is a preset for sports (I think it looks like a person running - but I don't have my camera here to check) This will give a fast shutter speed. It's not much use though if the camera isn't already focused - that's what causes the time lag. As justleesa said - point the camera at something quite far away and press the shutter halfway to let it focus. As this can be difficult (might have to hold it like that for a while waiting for the shot) I think I'd suggest setting up a My Mode setting - there is a good article on a fixed focus setup here:
http://www.wrotniak.net/photo/c5050/c5050-leica.html just follow the instructions setting a manual focus to infinity - I should think that should do it. Make sure your shutter speed is 1/1000 and let the camera select aperture. There are detailed instructions for using the My Mode settings in the full manual (not the small one!)
I hope you get some good shots!!

 

[fins]

I would avoid enabling the digital zoom on your 5050 (as tempting as it may be for the airshow). If you do the pictures will lose their crisp edges and become very grainy especially against the gray sky which seem to be the norm at airshows (all the exhaust from the planes etc.)

It's probably best to get their early and get a front row seat as close to the center of the flight line as possible.

I love airshows, and have a deep seated desire to be catapulted off the deck of an aircraft carrier with or without and F-14 Tomcat strapped to my butt

Have a great time.

 

[DiverG]

I love airshows, and have a deep seated desire to be catapulted off the deck of an aircraft carrier with or without and F-14 Tomcat strapped to my butt

Have a great time.

Well I've been catapulted off an aircraft carrier twice, but not in an F-14. Both times on a COD plane. Never got to do a tail hook though.

 

[fins]

Well I've been catapulted off an aircraft carrier twice, but not in an F-14. Both times on a COD plane. Never got to do a tail hook though.

I am seriously jealous !!!! That has to be a major rush