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newbie question: ok how slow do you need shutter speed to blur rotar blades on helichoppers?and is this constant? or do some crafts have different rotation speeds?

Based on the speed, I'd use something between 25 and 100. I'd imagine anything else higher would be too fast, although at the Formula 1, I was getting them singular (without the blur) at around 300-500 so it might be around 10-45.

redline,
Some tips you can find in the following link:

http://www.richard-seaman.com/Photograp ... index.html

thanks Birddog
interesting Nnnnsic how far were you from the craft at 300-500? less than 20 meters?

Very useful and informative link Birddog. One more question if you will. Where is the best place (taking into accout I must stay behind the fences) to shoot at the RAAF base at Richmond. I am doing some work out there soon and this link has encouraged me to have a go at getting some shots.

Mal wrote:Very useful and informative link Birddog. One more question if you will. Where is the best place (taking into accout I must stay behind the fences) to shoot at the RAAF base at Richmond. I am doing some work out there soon and this link has encouraged me to have a go at getting some shots.

Mal,
Do you know the shop they sell burgers and snack along the road of Richmond AFB, one of the Rest Area, I think. but then there's a distnace and you can only see the Herc. from 35 or 37 Squadron.
But then you need to have a good long or zoom lens to play.
Sometime you'll spot the C-17A from The USAF doing courier run too.

Yes I know that spot Birddog. Sometimes when we are at the University Campus they fly directly over us as they practice their touch downs, landings and take offs. I was hoping there might be a good spot a little closer. Oh well time to start saving for that bigger lens

In my humble opinion, 1/250th of second is as fast you can shoot and still get blade blurr, on the other hand 1/250th is about as slow as you can shoot with the recommended 300mm focal length. So it would be a good starting point. If you have VR or a Tripod then you may get away with slower. All in all just experiment.

Great link thats Birddog.

Here's a few examples.

70mm @ 1/640, F8 (D70+70-300G)


70mm @ 1/50, F32 (D70+70-300G)


70mm @ 1/325, F7.4 (CP5700)


70mm @ 1/400, F7.4 (CP5700)
No matter how slow the shutter was for this shot, the Iriqious would never have had blurred rotors (Iriqious courtesy of RNZAF)

Redline

I know this is a dark photo - hasn't gone through PS yet (since I've only done the basic course today) but here's a shot of a chopper taken in Wellington, NZ a while ago and it definately has the blurred blades you asked about

It was shot with a 70 focal length at 1/200th, fstop 7.1

By the way, it was shot at sunset when it was nearly dark (if you wanted to know that).