p.172 #2 · Sony FE 200-600mm f/5.6-6.3 G Image Thread
Douglas Liu wrote:
Excellent set of images! Welcome!
Danpbphoto wrote:
Yes..WELCOME!!!! You are off to a great start here!!!
FredMiranda has some of the greatest photograhers in the world right here!!!
Dan
galenapass wrote:
Welcome. Nice set of photos. If you plan on uploading more shots on a consistent basis, consider paying a fee for the ability to upload directly to FM. It is a great way to support the site, and Fred's efforts here.
birdied wrote:
Welcome!!! Marvelous shots. Look forward to seeing more of your work
Birdie
Thank you all for warm welcome. As winter comes I am looking for new photo opportunities but the learning curve is quite steep. Less light, less time to photograph as it's only weekends now. When I finish work it is already dark.
p.172 #11 · Sony FE 200-600mm f/5.6-6.3 G Image Thread
AGeoJO wrote:
Thank you very much, Geoff! I am an admirer of your exquisite images.
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This is from August 2019 when the burrowing owl population was high. Zone-AF used here has that uncanny ability to get the head/eye in focus.
Yes, I find Zone AF (and Wide) on the A9 has that uncanny ability of ignoring wings except for really large birds close up. The faster the wing beat the better it is at ignoring the wing.
p.172 #12 · Sony FE 200-600mm f/5.6-6.3 G Image Thread
arbitrage wrote:
Yes, I find Zone AF (and Wide) on the A9 has that uncanny ability of ignoring wings except for really large birds close up. The faster the wing beat the better it is at ignoring the wing.
I am shooting my first air show at eye level from a rooftop of a hotel in Fort Lauderdale and fairly close to a large array o four nations finest aircraft. I spent $400 for a VIP ticket to this event and want to get as good of pics of the fly byes as I can on my first outing.
I am planning on taking my RRS tripod with Wimberly WH-200 and both my RIV and A9 with a 400 GM and ether a 100-400 or 200-600G.
Big question is whether to take the 100-400 or 200-600 as far as tracking and accurate focus and on which body.
I have read a lot of questionable stuff about how good the 200600G is with the a7rIV but am addicted to the resolution.
Can you give me some advice I know you are a renowned bird photographer but assume can give me some pointers on my questions.
p.172 #13 · Sony FE 200-600mm f/5.6-6.3 G Image Thread
I have shot about 50 airshows, using Canon, Nikon and now Sony. I never use a tripod or monopod. The jets can pass from your left to your right or vise versa within a second, or approach from your front or rear really fast. Tripods or monopods just impede the needed fast and free movement of the camera, IMO.
With regard to the camera and lenses choices, I went to only two airshows this year (normally 6-8 a year) because most of them were cancelled. I had my the 100-400+ 1.4TC on the A7R4 and the 200-600 on the A9. The reason is simple, I am still not fully confident the A7R4+200-600 would give me critically sharp pictures, even though there may be some improvements after the FW update. I shot three flyovers (not airshows) this year with the A7RIV+200-600 combo, the sharpness was just not there as I expected from a high resolution camera. It might have been operator error. So, for the two real airshows, I used the A7RIV+100-400+1.4 TC for formation, and the A9 +200-600 for the fast opposing crossing shots. The 20 FPS of the A9 give you a much higher probability of getting THAT precise moment of the two jets crossing like the pictures below. Also, if the weather condition is right, you may see vapor cones which usually only last a second or two, the A9's 20 FPS again will give you better shot of capturing these moments. For not so fast formation shots the A7R4's resolution is to die for. I don't have the 400mm GM, but I wouldn't take one for airshows if I had one, too heavy and lacks the versatility of the zoom lenses.
I am repeating myself but I really hope Sony will make a high resolution high speed body so I don't need to carry two bodies for airshows. I have a collection of airshow pictures on flickr, if you are interested, feel free to take a look.
p.172 #14 · Sony FE 200-600mm f/5.6-6.3 G Image Thread
Douglas Liu wrote:
I have shot about 50 airshows, using Canon, Nikon and now Sony. I never use a tripod or monopod. The jets can pass from your left to your right or vise versa within a second, or approach from your front or rear really fast. Tripods or monopods just impede the needed fast and free movement of the camera, IMO.
With regard to the camera and lenses choices, I went to only two airshows this year (normally 6-8 a year) because most of them were cancelled. I had my the 100-400+ 1.4TC on the A7R4 and the 200-600 on the A9. The reason is simple, I am still not fully confident the A7R4+200-600 would give me critically sharp pictures, even though there may be some improvements after the FW update. I shot three flyovers (not airshows) this year with the A7RIV+200-600 combo, the sharpness was just not there as I expected from a high resolution camera. It might have been operator error. So, for the two real airshows, I used the A7RIV+100-400+1.4 TC for formation, and the A9 +200-600 for the fast opposing crossing shots. The 20 FPS of the A9 give you a much higher probability of getting THAT precise moment of the two jets crossing like the pictures below. Also, if the weather condition is right, you may see vapor cones which usually only last a second or two, the A9's 20 FPS again will give you better shot of capturing these moments. For not so fast formation shots the A7R4's resolution is to die for. I don't have the 400mm GM, but I would take one for airshows if I had one, not too heavy and lacks the versatility of the zoom lenses.
I am repeating myself but I really hope Sony will make a high resolution high speed body so I don't need to carry two bodies for airshows. I have a collection of airshow pictures on flickr, if you are interested, feel free to take a look.
Thank you that was kind of what I thought too but can you help clarify what you mean by formation and why I even want to take two bodies and lenses? I realize I want to resolution of the RIV when I can but I think a lot of what I will be shooting are fast flying yes.
But maybe not can you give me an example not picture wise necessary but verbally when and what I want to shoot with the RIV and 100-400. Also why I would not want to use the 400GM. Is it because it would be too tight for some shots or just wear me out.
It you are using the 1.4 on the 100-400 or a 140 to 580 what percentage of shots is less than 400mm?
p.172 #15 · Sony FE 200-600mm f/5.6-6.3 G Image Thread
trstahly wrote:
Well, I just checked the lineup of the Ft Lauderdale show, the Blue Angels or the Thunderbirds is not in it, so the only formation shots you will get will be the heritage flight and the Geico team. I don't really know the % of shots in what FL in my pictures but you can see all the EXIF data in my flickr album. Airshows are broad day light events, particular in Florida, the f2.8 of the 400 GM is not needed, nor is its weight or lack of versatility. If I were you, and I could only take one camera and one lens, my choice would be the A9 +200-600, unless you are absolutely confident the A7R4+200-600 will work flawlessly. Do you want to take that chance if this is your first airshow and you probably won't go to the another one for a long time?
Or you can try A7R4+400 GM+1.4 TC, and A9+200-600.
p.172 #16 · Sony FE 200-600mm f/5.6-6.3 G Image Thread
Douglas Liu wrote:
Well, I just checked the lineup of the Ft Lauderdale show, the Blue Angels or the Thunderbirds is not in it, so the only formation shots you will get will be the heritage flight and the Geico team. I don't really know the % of shots in what FL in my pictures but you can see all the EXIF data in my flickr album. Airshows are broad day light events, particular in Florida, the f2.8 of the 400 GM is not needed, nor is its weight or lack of versatility. If I were you, and I could only take one camera and one lens, my choice would be the A9 +200-600, unless you are absolutely confident the A7R4+200-600 will work flawlessly. Do you want to take that chance if this is your first airshow and you probably won't go to the another one for a long time? ...Show more →
You have have convinced me I just thought the higher shutter speed with F2.8 or lower ISO since the planes should be in focus might be an advantage.
What setting on the AF for the 200-600 and what metering and focus and tracking do you recommend. I am going to take your advice I may have the 400GM or in the car but will probably bring the RIV for some of the ones where it may shine. Does that sound like a plan?
How many 128GB memory cards and charged batteries do you think I will need I am a complete novice at this but I can shoot 1500 to 2,000 shots birding and at motorsports events.
p.172 #17 · Sony FE 200-600mm f/5.6-6.3 G Image Thread
trstahly wrote:
You have have convinced me I just thought the higher shutter speed with F2.8 or lower ISO since the planes should be in focus might be an advantage.
What setting on the AF for the 200-600 and what metering and focus and tracking do you recommend. I am going to take your advice I may have the 400GM or in the car but will probably bring the RIV for some of the ones where it may shine. Does that sound like a plan?
How many 128GB memory cards and charged batteries do you think I will need I am a complete novice at this but I can shoot 1500 to 2,000 shots birding and at motorsports events. ...Show more →
I edited my last post, in addition to the A9+200-600 combo, you can try the A7R4+400 GM +1.4 TC, but I would not use the A7R4+200+600 combo if this were a rare event for me, just my opinion. For fighter jets 1/2000 second is plenty fast, for slower jets like the A-10 or the cargo planes, 1/1200 or 1/1600 is plenty fast. For prop. planes you would want to try 1/200-1/300 if you want to have the "blur" prop. motion, that requires some panning skill which I lack.
The AF for airshows is not that demanding as they are big and fly in pretty predictable path. You can try zone tracking or other real time tracking methods. One thing to remember, the smoke trails these plane generate may throw your camera's AF off, it may try to focus on the smoke trail instead of the plane itself.
I use spot metering linked to AF points but quite often it under exposed, you may use the exposure compensation to bring it up a bit.
I think you want at least a total of three batteries. Without the Blue Angels or the Thunder birds, I assume you would probably take under 1000 shots, so consider that in terms of memory card. I always have two cards in my cameras and set it to automatically switch to the second card when the first one is filled. When I was photographing bald eagles few days ago, for whatever reason the A9's memory cards were not set to auto switch, when I was manually switching the cards, 5 or 6 eagles came out of nowhere and were catching fish not far from me.
This is getting way of the topic of this thread, feel free to PM me with questions. I am no airshow guru, just someone who has been to many many shows. On July 4th this year, I got the chance to see the B-1 bomber flying for the first time, I knew I won't have another chance to see it flying for a long time, I was less than 100% confident about the A7R4+200-600 combo, I ended up using the 100-400 on the R4 and the 200-600 on the R3, I didn't have the A9 then.
p.172 #20 · Sony FE 200-600mm f/5.6-6.3 G Image Thread
Douglas Liu wrote:
I have shot about 50 airshows, using Canon, Nikon and now Sony. I never use a tripod or monopod. The jets can pass from your left to your right or vise versa within a second, or approach from your front or rear really fast. Tripods or monopods just impede the needed fast and free movement of the camera, IMO.
With regard to the camera and lenses choices, I went to only two airshows this year (normally 6-8 a year) because most of them were cancelled. I had my the 100-400+ 1.4TC on the A7R4 and the 200-600 on the A9. The reason is simple, I am still not fully confident the A7R4+200-600 would give me critically sharp pictures, even though there may be some improvements after the FW update. I shot three flyovers (not airshows) this year with the A7RIV+200-600 combo, the sharpness was just not there as I expected from a high resolution camera. It might have been operator error. So, for the two real airshows, I used the A7RIV+100-400+1.4 TC for formation, and the A9 +200-600 for the fast opposing crossing shots. The 20 FPS of the A9 give you a much higher probability of getting THAT precise moment of the two jets crossing like the pictures below. Also, if the weather condition is right, you may see vapor cones which usually only last a second or two, the A9's 20 FPS again will give you better shot of capturing these moments. For not so fast formation shots the A7R4's resolution is to die for. I don't have the 400mm GM, but I wouldn't take one for airshows if I had one, too heavy and lacks the versatility of the zoom lenses.
I am repeating myself but I really hope Sony will make a high resolution high speed body so I don't need to carry two bodies for airshows. I have a collection of airshow pictures on flickr, if you are interested, feel free to take a look.
Very nice Douglas , I had RIAT booked (UK) for this year but unfortunately it was cancelled. I'm hoping it'll be on next year , I was originally taking the D850 with 200-500 and 300mm f2.8. but now tempted to take the A9ii 200-600 instead. I've only photographed aircraft once and the Nikon was really sharp , hoping the A9ii 200-600 will be too .
