Some photos from Knockhill

[graeme]

Nice shootin' John. Do you use the IS for panning shots or just turn it off?

P.S. all the cool kids wear Canon.

My 70-200 doesn't have IS to switch on , but the 100-400 IS has a panning mode which I do use most of the time.

John

70-200 is so nice! I nearly went for it, but just bought the 100-400 instead. Not too impressed so far, but you can't argue with the flexibility.

Having both would be

[JohnStewart]

Great shots John - how do you get 'inside the fence' for shots? Me n Dave looked on with envy as you were trackside at McIntyres

As the event organiser I am covered by the £5M public liability insurance policy that the SIDC has in place. If you arrange your own insurance cover, then you can sign on as media for an event. For events like BTCC, Superbikes, and even regular motor racing you will also need to pre-arrange media access with the circuit and you'll need a letter from a magazine/newspaper editor or agency stating you are covering the event for them. I'm not sure about independent/freelance photographers though?

Hence I only get trackside access at the SIDC events, and for everything else I'm on the other side of the fence with everyone else. To be honest, photo access around the track at Knockhill is generally excellent anyway and there are only a couple of shots that you can't get from the "outside".

Following the incident with the photographer being hit by the Lambo a few weeks ago (http://forums.sidc.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=134188), Knockhill are likely to be even more stringent in the future.

John

[JohnStewart]

70-200 is so nice! I nearly went for it, but just bought the 100-400 instead. Not too impressed so far, but you can't argue with the flexibility.

Having both would be

I've just got the cheapest 70-200 F4L, which does give fantastic images and is reasonably light weight and good for panning. I would love to upgrade to the 2.8IS version, but can't justify it at the moment.

It took me a while to get used to the 100-400 and to find out how to get the best from it. In low light the focussing at longer focal lengths is slower due to it being f5.6, and the IS (older design) can take a few tenths to stabilise fully. What I tend to do is to pre-focus and pre-zoom to a point near where I want the shot to be taken, then pick up the car early with the camera in AI Servo mode and track the car until it's in the right place and press the button.

If I'm using longer focal lengths (and not panning), then I'll try to use a monopod where possible as it's a heavy lens.

[graeme]

Thanks for the tips John. Pretty much as I'd planned. I also shoot panning shots on continuous (as I'm sure most do) and the middle shots are, in theory, a bit sharper without any finger movement on the shutter release. Press a bit early, then keep tracking, then release late, then throw the first and last shots of the group away without even inspecting them. That's more habit than lab-tested advice though.

I haven't pointed the 100-400 at anything faster than a duck yet. Waddington airshow this weekend will be the real test of the zoom and focusing. Worryingly I think it'll be mostly hand-held... I anticipate sore muscles.

I'm sure the 70-200 f/4 is probably better value than the f/2.8 for motorsport anyway. I'd be tempted to pay the extra if I shot football or indoors, but at the track I can't see it getting used wide open very often. Evenings maybe...

[tut]

I got close to you John when I saw you, but not that close.



tut

[tut]

John

Do you pay extra for Instructors for your SIDC days, or are they included?

tut

[JohnStewart]

John

Do you pay extra for Instructors for your SIDC days, or are they included?

tut

Yes, we pay for them extra on top of the track hire. Think it is about £125+VAT for the 4 hours

[tut]

Worth it to have Maxine in your car.................

tut

[JohnStewart]

Thanks for the tips John. Pretty much as I'd planned. I also shoot panning shots on continuous (as I'm sure most do) and the middle shots are, in theory, a bit sharper without any finger movement on the shutter release. Press a bit early, then keep tracking, then release late, then throw the first and last shots of the group away without even inspecting them. That's more habit than lab-tested advice though.

I haven't pointed the 100-400 at anything faster than a duck yet. Waddington airshow this weekend will be the real test of the zoom and focusing. Worryingly I think it'll be mostly hand-held... I anticipate sore muscles.

I'm sure the 70-200 f/4 is probably better value than the f/2.8 for motorsport anyway. I'd be tempted to pay the extra if I shot football or indoors, but at the track I can't see it getting used wide open very often. Evenings maybe...

I just tend to take a single shot when panning, but do get a lot of poor ones which I just discard in camera and wait fo them to come round again . The 2.8 would be ideal for lower light conditions like we had on Saturday, and would allow me to use a lower ISO if used wide open. The good thing about the 2.8 is that you can use the 1.4x convertor with it to good effect, giving you an extended range without the need to lug a bigger lens with you.

The Sigma 120-300 2.8 is supposed to be a superb motorsport lens, but it's close to £2k new so well outside my price range!

[Rusty]

Worth it to have Maxine in your car.................

tut

You thinking of hiring instructors for TT2010?

[tut]

Will certainly look into it.

If they charge me then it would only be an extra £3 each onto the total price. I do not know yet what track hire will be next year, but hoping I can still cover it with close to tt 2007's and SIDC's £100.

tut

[Rusty]

I'd definitely use an instructor, as i'd really feel the benefit (earliest i'll get the car is january, so will try to get a track day before TT)

Thats not much of a price hike between having one and without one,

i'd be happy to pay an extra £3

[tut]

I know Paul has his own Instructors for LOT days that you pay for, but as it is a one off event with us both arranging it, and Maxine has a soft spot for me, I will have a word with Stuart Gray and see if we can strike a deal.

tut

[flat-planedCrank]

Nice shootin' John. Do you use the IS for panning shots or just turn it off?

P.S. all the cool kids wear Canon.

In addition to JohnStewart's points...

I find IS (mode-2) is pretty good for panning with - but it can take a fraction of a second to establish which axis the camera is moving in.

Also, you have to pan parallel (or perpendicular) to the orientation of the camera - eg. tilting the camera 30degrees then panning left-to-right will often confuse the IS - best to disable IS for that sort of shot.



Cheers.