Couple of Pics from the Racing at North Weald this Past Weekend

EDGE · May 11, 2009, 02:40:31 PM

was a great day out, even if i couldnt race the fox body... i got there at 9.15 and all 200 spaces were already filled. There were people queuing outside the gates at 7.30 apparently!!!

Got a few more pics that I'll edit and post asap

HardRockCamaro · May 11, 2009, 03:00:49 PM

Nice effort on the van and the Willys dude.

I know you've already seem 'em but here's a couple of mine from the day:

Gator · May 11, 2009, 03:30:01 PM

well done lads great pics very punchy images

those panning shots aint easy

ianjpage · May 12, 2009, 03:38:43 AM

very cool pics

Andy · May 12, 2009, 03:49:15 AM

Can you guys post the exif data? I want panning shots like that but struggle like hell to get them that sharp. I have a charity bike event to shoot on Sunday and one of the requests is some moving action. I'm hoping to get some like that.

HardRockCamaro · May 12, 2009, 04:24:17 AM

They're at 200mm and shutter priority or even full manual mode.

If the cars are moving fast I start off at 1/80th of a second and then try and go down to 1/60th.

For slower moving cars, I go down to 1/30th, even as low as 1/15th.

It's all practice Plus for every good one there are 10 that don't work out...

I use continuous shooting mode but find that the camera kicks a bit to much at 5fps so I slowed it down to 3FPS which helped a bit.

Fieldy · May 12, 2009, 04:32:49 AM

Quoting: HardRockCamaro

They're at 200mm and shutter priority or even full manual mode.

If the cars are moving fast I start off at 1/80th of a second and then try and go down to 1/60th.

For slower moving cars, I go down to 1/30th, even as low as 1/15th.

It's all practice Plus for every good one there are 10 that don't work out...

I use continuous shooting mode but find that the camera kicks a bit to much at 5fps so I slowed it down to 3FPS which helped a bit.

uh?

HardRockCamaro · May 12, 2009, 04:36:43 AM

And to think you were selling Sony SLR's to people without knowing what any of this stuff means...

Big Mouse · May 12, 2009, 04:57:49 AM

Quoting: HardRockCamaro

And to think you were selling Sony SLR's to people without knowing what any of this stuff means...

Owned I think

Big Mouse · May 12, 2009, 04:58:34 AM

HRC, what camera are you using these days?

EDGE · May 12, 2009, 05:08:09 AM

Quoting: HardRockCamaro

They're at 200mm and shutter priority or even full manual mode.

If the cars are moving fast I start off at 1/80th of a second and then try and go down to 1/60th.

For slower moving cars, I go down to 1/30th, even as low as 1/15th.

It's all practice Plus for every good one there are 10 that don't work out...

I use continuous shooting mode but find that the camera kicks a bit to much at 5fps so I slowed it down to 3FPS which helped a bit.

Pretty much what he said matey, is set to shutter priority and i was usually between 150 and 200mm. Shutter speeds were 1/30th mostly, the longer the shutter speed, the more blur BUT the more likely it is that you'll stuff up the car!

Ray, Andy is using a Nikon D200 and I'm using a D300. Both pretty much the same camera except for the screen on the back which is far better on the D300. THe D200 however will drop to ISO 100 whereas the 300 will only go down to 200, then you're in to Lo 1 2 and 3. All work perfectly though. THe benefit is, the D200 tops out at a useable ISO of 800 (realistically, depending on what you're shooting) whereas in the same conditions you can use 1600 or even ISO 2000 on the D300, far better for low light.

I've got a few more pics that I'm going to edit tonight and see what they come out like.

HardRockCamaro · May 12, 2009, 06:38:41 AM

Yeah I'm still on the Nikon D200 as Edge says, he has the replacement for that, the D300.

There are a few worthwhile benefits to the D300, as he says the screen is amazing whereas the D200 screen is very dull and low res. Plus the high ISO images are way cleaner on the D300.

I can' justify the extra £500 it would cost to go from the 200 to the 300 though.

If you're looking at a new camera Ray I'd suggest the D90 which does most of what the D300 does (screen, high ISO etc) but is just built like a normal camera instead of a semi-pro model. It shoots slower at 4.5fps instead of 6-8 fps. But it costs about £300 - £400 less.

What you're paying for with the D300 is the weathersealing and general build (the shutter is rated to 150,000 actuations vs 100,000 for the D90), plus the ability to meter using older Nikon AIS lenses (the D90 can't) and the higher FPS shooting. And re the meter, it's the high end 1005 segment one in the D200/300 instead of the consumer level 420 segment one in the D90. That's it. Oh and you also get more buttons to directly access certain settings instead of having to wade through menus or hold down button combinations. The D200/300 are semi pro models, stradling the line between high end consumer and low end pro.

If you don't need those features and build, there's no point in paying them. Spend less on the camera and get better lenses with the money saved.

The D90 is the hot ticket for high end amateur.
I'd probably consider one myself as a replacement for the D200 truth be told as it would be the sensible buy (but I do love the better build of the pro models)...

EDIT: I use the 18-200mm VR lens like Edge. There are better lenses for every specific purpose (including motorsport shots like these) but it's a great do everything lens and I wouldn't be without it. Plus those specific use lenses tend to cost loads of wedge...

Andy · May 12, 2009, 07:43:34 AM

Cheers guys for the info! From what i've been shooting at the Pod, I don't think I've really ever gone lower than 1/100th (can't remember the exact figure) but I struggle a hell of a lot with camera blur. I run in Tv (Canon speak for shutter priority) and try and under expose most shots simply so I have the chance to post work them and bring up the colours.

Its a dark art panning and I think one of my major down falls is getting the height at the Pod. You may have seen me if you're ever there as I balance on top of a two step stall. Helps clear the crowd from start to finish. Also allows plenty of time for panning, unfortunately its not the most stable of structures and from what opinions I got of my last photos may actually be hindering my ability to keep the horizon level, which has been something which gripes me.

Excuses I know, but hopefully with time I will get better.

Again cheers for the info

F Body · May 12, 2009, 07:50:30 AM

Quoting: Gator

well done lads great pics very punchy images

Having tried "action" shots I know they are hard to get that good

Big Mouse · May 12, 2009, 09:10:23 AM

I'm still banging on with my trusty Canon 400D; bought a new lens for it about 4 months ago (that still hasn't yet made its way out of the box) for motor racing events

http://www.jessops.com/online.store/categories/products/Canon/EF%2070-300mm%20f4-5.6%20IS%20USM-30795/Show.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow\">http://www.jessops.com/online.store/categories/products/Canon/EF%2070-300mm%20f4-5.6%20IS%20USM-30795/Show.html

and one of these for shows and also photo inventories for work

http://www.jessops.com/online.store/categories/Accessories/Camera%20Accessories/Lenses/products/Sigma/10-20mm%20f4-5.6%20EX%20DC%20HSM%20(Canon%20AF)-20268/Show.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow\">http://www.jessops.com/online.store/categories/Accessories/Camera%20Accessories/Lenses/products/Sigma/10-20mm%20f4-5.6%20EX%20DC%20HSM%20(Canon%20AF)-20268/Show.html

again, hardly used since purchased. Must make more time this year and start getting out there. Next time you or edge are at a meet with the camera let me know and if its ok with you I'll tag along

My daughter in law bought my stepson a D90 at christmas to replace his old and quite knackered D60. He had a go at me for not telling him she had got him such a Gucci present when he'd only bought her a handbag!

I had a play with it at the xmas dinner table, great bit of kit but having spent nearly 800 squids on new canon lenses couldn't bring myself to change over to a nikon

HardRockCamaro · May 12, 2009, 09:39:52 AM

No, you buy into the system and stick with it.

I have the same Sigma lens, it's pretty good.

If you're doing interior shots I'd suggest using a flash gun that you can bounce off the ceiling so you can spread the light around.

I've toyed with the idea of offering estate agents in my area some sort of photography service to make their sales/rentals look more enticing. Some of them look so awful it doesn't make you even want to go and look at the place...

EDGE · May 12, 2009, 10:30:05 AM

once you've bouht in to a brand you're pretty much stuck, unless you're willing to take a big financial hit. nce you have an expensive lens, flash gun etc, its very costly to change to a different system...

Ive only got a few lenses and the flash gun, grip, batteries etc. I could change to another brand but it would be very costly...

feel free to tag along... not sure how much you'll find out apart from the shortest possible distance between burgervans

Fieldy · May 12, 2009, 11:46:04 AM

Quoting: HardRockCamaro

And to think you were selling Sony SLR's to people without knowing what any of this stuff means...

I never actually sell in the SLR section

Fieldy · May 12, 2009, 11:49:38 AM

Quoting: EDGE

feel free to tag along... not sure how much you'll find out apart from the shortest possible distance between burgervans

Now I've caught back up with the conversation

Big Mouse · May 12, 2009, 12:06:57 PM

I've got the Canon Speedlite 430 with bounce and diffusion capability but its a sod to get the settings just right in a small room with the sigma lens - I guess its time to read the manual

Gator · May 12, 2009, 12:31:34 PM

Quoting: Fieldy

Quoting: HardRockCamaro
And to think you were selling Sony SLR's to people without knowing what any of this stuff means...

I never actually sell in the SLR section

all cameras have shutter speeds and aperture settings even the compacts

shocking

you are a rogue trader

Andy · May 12, 2009, 01:29:57 PM

Quoting: Big Mouse

I've got the Canon Speedlite 430 with bounce and diffusion capability but its a sod to get the settings just right in a small room with the sigma lens - I guess its time to read the manual

I got the 580EXII Speedlite, fantastic bit of kit. Bought a chinese knock off of the Gary Fong Diffuser which i find brilliant for interior and party shoots.

Sigma lenses I have found the offer the best value for money out there. Ok, they're not Canon with built in IS etc but for the same money as a basic 200mm I got a 20-70mm f2.8 and a 70-300mm f4.5 together.

The 400D is what I use and is a great bit of kit for the amatuer dabbling in photography of all sorts. Looking at either purchasing a second 400/450 body or going up a notch to a 20D or something similar as I'm finding lens changing outside to be a risky business, particularly Santa Pod.

EDGE · May 12, 2009, 01:36:15 PM

Quoting: Andy

Bought a chinese knock off of the Gary Fong Diffuser which i find brilliant for interior and party shoots.

Gator · May 12, 2009, 01:47:31 PM

i never use flash cant be arsed to do the maths

HardRockCamaro · May 12, 2009, 01:47:44 PM

I've got a genuine Fong Whaletail. The build is no better than the knockoffs.
Complete ripoff for the money but it does work as advertised although there are alternatives...

I've only got the 1 Sigma lens, the same 10-20mm. Its ok.
The build is not as good as good as the Nikkors, and the lens flare it gets is worth than the wide angle Nikkor as well. It's also a "slower" lens.
But then it does cost half as much...

You do get what you pay for though and the Nikkor (or Canon) is where it's at and the second hand values of Nikkor lenses proves that.

But...

The Sigma's are plenty good enough for amateur use and in my case, money wise it was a Sigma ultra-wide, or no ultra-wide at all...

I did get it s/hand for £225 and at that price I'm very happy with it.