" You don't need 20 fps for planes. They aren't ... twisting, jumping, diving, or generally changing position rapidly."
First thing that came to mind were the crossing patterns opposing solo jets fly during military aerobatic team air shows. And then there is taking as many shots as you can during a formation hoping to get that one frame with them perfectly space in all dimensions.
" You don't need 20 fps for planes. They aren't ... twisting, jumping, diving, or generally changing position rapidly."
First thing that came to mind were the crossing patterns opposing solo jets fly during military aerobatic team air shows. And then there is taking as many shots as you can during a formation hoping to get that one frame with them perfectly space in all dimensions.
The higher frame rate, the higher probability you will have of getting THE shot.
Took this swallow picture this morning. I was using 20 FPS, I should have used 30 FPS, which might have gotten me the shot of the bug right in the swallow's mouth.. ISO 8000 and very heavily cropped. Topaz Denoise could only do so much.
The TB shots were from last year. Yes, a camera at 5 FPS could get these shots too if one is skilled and lucky but I am neither skilled nor always lucky, so higher FPS just increases my odds. Will see them in 4 days.
The next thing people will say is these shots could be had with manual focus lens.
Love that swallow shot. I have two swallows trying to nest on my porch and I am daily waving them away. I love watching them fly. They do try to intimidate me by flying right at me and missing me by a few feet. They appear to fly with reckless abandon through the porch missing the columns and me. Again, that is a great shot Douglas.
When shooting 1/80 SS or slower, from 1/2 a mile away with a 400mm lens, it is difficult for this old guy to keep that little autofocus square on the micro dot on an aircraft traveling >100 mph. More frames/second means I get a better chance of a photo that is in focus.
Douglas L wrote:
The higher frame rate, the higher probability you will have of getting THE shot.
Took this swallow picture this morning. I was using 20 FPS, I should have used 30 FPS, which might have gotten me the shot of the bug right in the swallow's mouth.. ISO 8000 and very heavily cropped. Topaz Denoise could only do so much.
The TB shots were from last year. Yes, a camera at 5 FPS could get these shots too if one is skilled and lucky but I am neither skilled nor always lucky, so higher FPS just increases my odds. Will see them in 4 days.
The next thing people will say is these shots could be had with manual focus lens....Show more →
Just fantastic compositions Douglas!!!! So well done! So sharp!!
Dan
If a photographer isn't in tune with his or her camera the chances of success in those more challenging situations is pretty unlikely, regardless of frame rate. That being said, there is no way one could intelligently argue that having today's incredible frame rates won't up your keeper rate. I can look through a series of shots and see exactly where I began to hone in on the subject and then lost it again toward the end of the pan, if you are shooting six fps vs double/triple that the sweet spot lasts much longer. There were so many times with the 800mm that I was going vertical and my back and arms were killing me, the frame rate of the 1DXII/III would bail me out every time. In the end, it doesn't really matter if you got what you were after with 3fps, or 20fps, you got what you were hoping for. You can polish your fingernails on your vest and claim that you nailed in in one shot, but who really cares? There's a big difference between "pray and spray" and having exceptional tools with unbelievable capabilities, and using them to your advantage. And, honestly, if pray and spray works in a certain situation so be it, in the end we are just after the shot.
JWilsonphoto wrote:
If a photographer isn't in tune with his or her camera the chances of success in those more challenging situations is pretty unlikely, regardless of frame rate. That being said, there is no way one could intelligently argue that having today's incredible frame rates won't up your keeper rate. I can look through a series of shots and see exactly where I began to hone in on the subject and then lost it again toward the end of the pan, if you are shooting six fps vs double/triple that the sweet spot lasts much longer. There were so many times with the 800mm that I was going vertical and my back and arms were killing me, the frame rate of the 1DXII/III would bail me out every time. In the end, it doesn't really matter if you got what you were after with 3fps, or 20fps, you got what you were hoping for. You can polish your fingernails on your vest and claim that you nailed in in one shot, but who really cares? There's a big difference between "pray and spray" and having exceptional tools with unbelievable capabilities, and using them to your advantage. And, honestly, if pray and spray works in a certain situation so be it, in the end we are just after the shot....Show more →
A while ago I was looking at some air show pictures I took on base back in the 1970's. Nikon F, no motor drive, 36 exposures, hand held Lunapro exposure meter, manual focus. Honestly, knowing what I have now, I was shocked that I had anything usable at all, but I did. You make do with what you have. Modern technology makes it so much easier but I think it forces you to up your game. It's no longer enough to get a picture. Now it has to be at seriously low shutter speeds on a prop plane to make that perfect prop disk to make me happy; great timing and framing on the jets; etc. The new gear just lets us push the limits further (or in my case, at least to try to)
Ray Swindle wrote:
Love that swallow shot. I have two swallows trying to nest on my porch and I am daily waving them away. I love watching them fly. They do try to intimidate me by flying right at me and missing me by a few feet. They appear to fly with reckless abandon through the porch missing the columns and me. Again, that is a great shot Douglas.
Thank you Ray! For me at least, the biggest challenge of shooting swallows in flight is first to find one in the view finder, then keep it in the view finder. They are so fast and unpredictable.
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JWilsonphoto wrote:
Nothing to add to your analysis Douglas, except ditto!
Thank you Jim! Like you said, the new toys do increase the keeper rate and gives me more to choose from and more to cull through!
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Littlefield wrote:
Thunderbirds at Shaw. Canon EOS R5 • Canon RF 100-500mm f/4-7.1L IS USM
Don
Great shots, Don!
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Ray Swindle wrote:
When shooting 1/80 SS or slower, from 1/2 a mile away with a 400mm lens, it is difficult for this old guy to keep that little autofocus square on the micro dot on an aircraft traveling >100 mph. More frames/second means I get a better chance of a photo that is in focus.
Terrific shot, Ray. I suck at panning so much, I haven't seen one shot of prop. planes that I like from all the airshows I have gone too.
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Danpbphoto wrote:
Just fantastic compositions Douglas!!!! So well done! So sharp!!
Dan
Thank you Dan! Not much composition to speak of, I cropped them to my liking in post. I am happy just getting both jets in the frame. With higher FPS, I know I will get some shots of the jets crossing as long as I can keep them in the frame. It's almost like cheating.
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RobMoser wrote:
A while ago I was looking at some air show pictures I took on base back in the 1970's. Nikon F, no motor drive, 36 exposures, hand held Lunapro exposure meter, manual focus. Honestly, knowing what I have now, I was shocked that I had anything usable at all, but I did. You make do with what you have. Modern technology makes it so much easier but I think it forces you to up your game. It's no longer enough to get a picture. Now it has to be at seriously low shutter speeds on a prop plane to make that perfect prop disk to make me happy; great timing and framing on the jets; etc. The new gear just lets us push the limits further (or in my case, at least to try to)
Prop disk gives me trouble, with slow shutter speed, I get more blurry planes instead of motion of the disk. . In typical airshow hours, the light is usually too bright for me to get to really low SS even at f16. There will be 3 war birds at the Dover show this weekend, I will practice more. It will be in the high 90's on Saturday at Dover!
You need a variable ND filter for your bright light air show images. You can rotate it to the density that suites you and roll your shutter speed down to 1/60th without worrying about going to F/32. I have invested in PolaPro variable ND filters for the R5/R5c.
. ISO 8000 and very heavily cropped. Topaz Denoise could only do so much.
