But do NOT skimp on the CPOL, get the best you can afford. It's a one-time buy. I have the B+W MRC CPOL and it's really nice. I believe the kaesemann filters are even better... Anyway, my vote is a top notch filter like the one I got or a Hoya Super HMC.
Same thinking here... get just one, and get a good one. I have a 77mm B+W MRC and then I have step-up rings so my smaller-diameter lenses (e.g. the 105VR 52mm) can use the same 77mm CPL. Carry a filter case with you, so you can take it off and put it away if you find that you want to remove it.
Everyone seems to have the right basic plan for that event.
I would take one zoom usually the 70-200mm attached to one body, and one wide angle. I also always have a fast prime such as my 85mm for those isolation and tight headshot snipes of interesting people in the crowd.
The reason I recommend two separate bodies is to cut down on the chance of dust getting into your main camera body when you change from telephoto to wide lenses. That is, if you can afford it....that would be my kit choice.
Edited by MrAdventure on Jun 16, 2008 at 08:18 PM GMT
I've read in several places (but cannot confirm) that digital is much less sensitive to UV than film, so the only really important reason to use a UV filter is to protect the front lens element from physical damage. I'd also rather be cleaning and rubbing a $70 filter than a $5,000 lens every day... when, not if, I eventually scratch one, it'll be easier to replace. But that's the old "to-UV-or-not-to-UV" debate, which is not what you asked about!
MrAdventure wrote:
The reason I recommend two separate bodies is to cut down on the chance of dust getting into your main camera body when you change from telephoto to wide lenses. That is, if you can afford it....that would be my kit choice.
If you can afford it or borrow it, and if you care enough about the "if" factor, the two-body approach offers another benefit: reducing the likelihood of missing shots while changing lenses, or from having the wrong lens mounted for the shooting opportunity that presents itself. For example, I hated having a long lens mounted and not being able to shoot the portrait of a beaming, waving pilot taxiing by in a beautiful airplane just 30 feet away...
For all-day airshows (or major things like Oshkosh), I carry two bodies: the 200-400 f/4 VR on one D300 with grip, and the 70-200/2.8 VR on another D300 without the grip. The 1.4x comes along for the 200-400, and the 1.7x for the 70-200, in case I need the reach. Finally, I carry memory cards, batteries, water bottle (!), and the rest of my stuff on the ThinkTank Speedbelt. Also on the belt are the 17-55 and an empty pouch for the 70-200 so I can swap those out as I walk around the statics or do people stuff. I'm not an "ultrawide" guy, for some reason.
Setting yourself up for the ifs is one thing. But above all, make sure that you have sunscreen, water, money (for more water, and food, and water, and Gatorade, and water...), and a hat that covers the back of your neck if possible. Amazing just how much sun gets on you at an airshow.
If you care about this kind of stuff, I really urge you to go check out the "Mustangs Air-to-Air" thread over in the Still Life forum. We're already almost to page 90, and this is our second thread after a server SNAFU killed the first. Some amazing talent and knowledge over there, and they're all great about sharing and teaching.
