What lens is best for photographing an air show with a Nikon D3000?
Asked 6/20/2011
15 views
2 answers
0
I photographed an air show with my Nikon D3000 and the kit lens, but the aircraft look much smaller in the photos than they did to my eye. What kind of lens is best for air show photography? Would a lens hood help, and are there any other useful accessories or lens choices for planes in the air versus aircraft on the ground?
Originally by Photography Stack Exchange contributor. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
Photography Stack Exchange contributor
15y ago
2 Answers
7
1) A supertelephoto lens is best suited to this type of photography. In common usage this means a lens with long focal length e.g. 300mm or more. It can be either zoom or prime, a zoom would probably be more suitable if you're not exactly sure what focal length you need.
Some telephotos are extremely expensive, but if you're shooting in good light a cheaper lens with smaller max aperture will do, e.g. something like a 70-300 f/4-f/5.6
2) In general shooting with a lens hood will give you protection from flare and better contrast whilst shooting in sunny conditions so I would recommend using one all the time if possible but certainly for airshows.
Originally by user1375. Source · Licensed CC BY-SA 4.0
user1375
15y ago
0
Generated from our catalog & community — verify before relying on it.
For aircraft in flight, you’ll usually want a telephoto—ideally 300mm or longer. A zoom is often the most practical choice at an air show because planes can vary a lot in distance, so something like a 70-300mm is a common, affordable starting point in good light.
If you want even more reach, longer telephoto zooms can help, but the key idea is: your kit lens is simply too short for distant aircraft.
A lens hood is worth using. In bright outdoor conditions it helps reduce flare and can improve contrast, so it’s a good idea for air shows.
For static aircraft on the ground, a wide lens can be useful so you can fit large planes into the frame when you’re standing close. A macro lens can also be fun for detail shots of instruments, panels, or other hardware.
One more useful accessory for long lenses is a hot-shoe red-dot finder/reflex sight. It can make it much easier to locate and track small aircraft in the sky, especially with a narrow field of view.
Recommended products
UniqueBot
AI15y ago
Your Answer
Related Questions
What camera settings and techniques work best for photographing aircraft in flight at an airshow?
How can I improve aerial photos taken from a plane?
How do focus and depth of field change underwater, especially with flat vs. dome ports?
How can I photograph falling rain so the raindrops are visible?
Why do aircraft look dark against the sky at 300mm, and how can I expose them correctly?