I've only gotten as far as the bipes so far, and I have to comment: I've never seen such incredible pictures of airplanes, full-size or model, in flight! I'm absolutely stunned! And I haven't even finished... I may be moved to comment more, who knows?
But my congratulations and respect to the photographer!
Aaron, please see this message I posted earlier, when I went to see the Red Bull Air Race in Monument Valley. It shows a quick breakdown of focal lengths I used that day, when I had a 70-200 + 1.7TC.
Monument Valley had a very small crowd, maybe 5,000 people I guess, due to the very remote location, and I was at the very front line right at the barrier. I would expect the airplanes to be further away from you in San Diego, both because of the crowd size and the location. So my guess, for whatever it's worth, is that you will have some use for medium lenses but that most of your shots will be at 300mm plus.
However, using telephoto lenses at focal lengths substantially longer than you're used to using takes a significant learning curve, some changes in technique, and time to get used to them. I understand that you don't own a 400/2.8... but do you have any experience using one? If not, then I suggest an occasion like the RBAR where you want to do your best work is not the place to be learning it.
I would suggest the 100-400 as the best available compromise.
Thanks! It is looking more and more like it will be the 100-400. It is quite a versatile range the more I think about it. I know the IQ will not be up to the level of the big primes, but it should be plenty good enough for now.
You are right about the IQ of the 100-400 - but I'll bet you'll be surprised at how good it really is! Plus its very light weight and that helps a lot too!
You can't go wrong with the 100-400. It's goofy (operations) but disregard the pixel peeping - it's a great tool for zoos, airshows, wildlife and everything in between. It's also amazing at the racetrack - something your avatar suggests might be another benefit. If I had to pick only one lens for what I like (the things mentioned above), it would be the 100-400, not my 500. (sacrilege, I know!)
Thanks for the advice all. I will be renting the 100-400 and will be going to the Red Bull Air Races next weekend - with media credentials! (although the credentials probably won't help me get any better shooting locations) I will definitely post plenty of photos.
I will also be shooting some car racing in October and am thinking that I could rent a 300 2.8 and a 100-400 and would be covered nicely on the telephoto side of things.
That's all good advice. The 100-400 is a great all around tool. The autofocus capture is a bit slow, and the push/pull design is a bit clumsy, but it's a very sharp lens. If I could choose but one, it would be that one.
Flew a three ship missing man formation today in the T-6, but don't have any shots to tantalize you with. I shot the whole thing on HDV. Practicing up for GML where I'll be shooting plenty of both.
Wow I'm so impressed with the work Ive seen on these 224 pages. I have an opo. to shoot the Battle of Britain Ceremonial Fly by in Ottawa on Sunday. I shoot mostly weddings and portraits, so I was hoping for some advice. They will be flying in low, and the sun will be behind me and it's supposed to be a nice sunny day, it wil be around 10 to 11 am in the morning.
This is going to be very special for me and my family. I lost an Uncle in WW2 in a Lancaster, tail gunner. I had another Uncle who was Fighter Pilot. My Dad was a Navigation Instructor during the war. The BEST part I understand that they will be flying a Lanc, Hurricane and even an Anson....all three of the aircraft that my family flew.
So please any advice you could give me would be appreciated.
I'm using a Canon Mk2 with a 100-400, and I have a polarizer if need be.
Thanks in advance!
John
I just booked my hotel for the GML Mustang show in Columbus late September. If there are any plans for people to get together, speak up.
A story related to this thread…
This past week I flew (commercial) to Fargo, ND for work. My hotel was a block from the Fargo Air Museum. I didn’t know about it until I drove right ny. They’ve got a Japanese Zero, F4 Corsair, and P-51 there, among others. I wanted to look around, but the museum is only open 9-5 and I got out of work much past 5 pm. But Thursday, I was done around 8 pm and there was a little bit of sunlight left. So I walked over just to look in the window. And the place happened to be open. They were showing a movie. I poked my head inside the museum and found the woman who was in charge. I asked her if I could just look at the planes, while everyone else was watching the movie. She was quite kind and let me take my time. I had the whole place to myself (ignoring the 100 people watching a movie in the corner). After gawking at the planes for a while, I was going to leave and she asked me if I wanted to go outside to see the Mustang. Of course. So I had a while to stare at that up close. I was chatting with her more, later, and she told me about that Mustang crash mentioned earlier in this thread. Both pilots and both planes were from the Fargo Air Museum. She knew them quite well. They already had a photo/plaque up for the pilot who died. Sad. But I had a wonderful bonus time at the museum that I didn’t expect at all.
Spent the day yesterday at the North Georgia Air Show in Rome with a couple guys from the Atlanta /Miranda photo group.
Shot everything except the statics with the 300 2.8 hand held. I ain't popeye thats for sure! Mostly got sunburned. As I get them ready - I'll post two or three here and direct everyone to my smugmug site for the rest. http://jonberryphoto.smugmug.com/gallery/3487573
It was good fun and helps to look forward to GML. C&C is welcome!
Fantastic shots everyone. I haven't been on FM for a while and I wondered if this thread was still going. I'm glad it is. Best aviation photos I know of. Here's a few of my R/C shots. Hope you guys don't mind.
It's kinda weird to see the strong OOF backgrounds because the subjects are much much closer to the lens. The more-than-expected background blur hints at the small scale of the aircraft.
But I had a wonderful bonus time at the museum that I didn’t expect at all. 
Mostly got sunburned. As I get them ready - I'll post two or three here and direct everyone to my smugmug site for the rest. 
