Winton Superbikes (Not dial-up friendly!)

[waspo]

Hi all,
Well, despite the weather Sunday I made it to Winton in good time to take a few bike pix.
The track had some really good vantage points and it was easy to setup shots. Just wish I had a super dooper lens for the job, but the Sigma did OK for the majority. I did have a lot of dud shots though and I'll probably try things a little different next time.
Here are just a few picks of the bunch! Comments/Critique welcome.
Cheers, Jase.

[BBJ]

Jase, bloody great mate even better since 2 of those bikes are sort locals for meand will see them saturday as i have a photo for 1 of them to pick up , that is the orange KTM with Duke on it that is a friend John Collins from Warnambool as well as Ashley Roe on the Red Honda who is waiting for a new KTM to arrive. The pics look good now tell me how much USM did you use or did they just develop that ring around 1 of the wheels as i have had this problem and sometime straight from the camera.

[redline]

a couple nice sharp ones,
i would dump the few that are not very well in focus or blurry. there really not bother in keeping them when you can get more on the next lap, hehe.
well done.

[waspo]

Thanks guys,
John, I'm not sure what you mean about the ring around the wheel. I only sharpened slightly. Some of the bikes have a pinstripe on the inside of the rim or are you seeing something I'm not.
Redline, you're right about the blurry pic's. Those one's are heavily cropped and PPed. Probably not worth keeping, but just gives me an idea of how they would look if I had an ideal lens.
I really need alot of practice and will endeavor to get to as many race meets as I can.
But, all in all I had a blast and can't wait to do it again!

[BBJ]

I think on #2 pic jase,sometimes it looks like a white ring or over sharpened, i sometimes get it or i notice 1 wheel will have it and other wont. But could be my monitor.

[waspo]

Yeah John, that pic's been heavily cropped and sharpened. It's not a good one. Also I used shadows/highlights because of the bad light after the rain. It could be a combination of harsh light reflecting off the water on the tyre combo with heavy PP.

[redline]

so was it alright with getting infield for shots?
i think the motorcycle group is a friendly bunch

[waspo]

Redline, I didn't try as I had a friend with me and the track isn't too bad to get around. I did notice a few guys jump the fence, but I'm not into that. I could see a use for a ladder at a few spots, so I may consider taking a foldup one next time.
I just need to get used to panning and AF-C. I found alot of my shots were blurry and can't work out if it was me or if I had the speed too low compared to the focal lenght. It's probably just me though. 1/400, f/8, 270-300mm was mostly used, but I will try different settings next time.
Any advice is most welcome. I just need to get an idea what will work best.
Cheers, Jase.

[waspo]

Damn, I just checked out some images at Winton by a Pro. Really inspirational stuff! http://www.mcnews.com.au/motorcycleraci ... n_2005.htm

[Jamie]

Some great shots there Jase, really good!

There is a BMW Car Club of Victoria sprint day just up the road from you (Sandown) on Saturday that you could always go and check out and use to sharpen your skills. Ill be there some time in the arvo to watch a friend compete and to get some photos of course. Kicks off at 10am and racing at 1pm.

Jamie

[waspo]

Hey Jamie,
That sounds like a great Idea! If you want, we could meet up there. I'll have to see if I'm working Sat, but will PM you closer to the day.

[Jeff]

.Great shots Jase,thanks for sharing with us.What Sigma lens did you use I am considering 70-200.
Jeff

[alex2k]

great shot, however i think you will be shot the the biker more in front of or 3/4.

[waspo]

Jeff, I used the 70-300mm APO. I think generally, the Sigma 70-200 f/2.8 is the way to go. Also coupled with a 2x convertor will give some great images. Have you seen 'marli' images on DPreview? I think thats what he's using. Bloody sharp!!
EDIT: Sorry, marli's using the Nikon 80-200mm. + 2x
Alex, me don't understand. Do you mean I'm focusing 3/4 front end of the rider?
I think I'll try manual focus next time and sharpen up my panning technique. Also, may need to bump ISO up from 200-400 on overcast days. Just remembered.

[Jeff]

Thanks Jase,just have to find the funds.
Jeff

[petal666]

Damn, I just checked out some images at Winton by a Pro. Really inspirational stuff! http://www.mcnews.com.au/motorcycleraci ... n_2005.htm

A lot of the photos on that site are nothing special, there are some good one but also some pretty crap. Additionally they are mostly cropped to no standard sizes because of poor composition.

[waspo]

They have great lenses too! I think I'm going to have to save for a 70-200mm VR and 1.7x tele.

[BBJ]

Hey Jase, yeh a mate of mine who now shoots with Canon has a i think it is a 400 f2.8 big sucker and lots of bucks. Nice to have but yeh he cover tenis and a lot of sports and for a lot of magazines and stuff. He also has to have a day job, but anyhow i have 2 weekends of bikes coming up with a club ride day this Saturday and a club from Adelaide has asked me to provide my sevices again for there 2 day hire of the track following weekend.

[waspo]

Hi Johnny, yeah I don't know what lens to get! So far it's a toss between a nikkor 80-200 f/2.8, Sigma 70-200 f/2.8 or should I just save a bit more for a 70-200 VR + Tele? I'd really like to get nice, close pic's of the bikes in the corners without having to surverly crop the crap out of them!
I know it's got alot to do with how close you can get to the riders and that's not always possible.

It's great you're able to get work and make use of you talent. I'm sure you'll get alot of nice shots!
Can't wait for the MotoGP in Oct! Hopefully I'll have a descent lens by then. ..Oh, and I've improved on my photography abilities as well, of course.

[BBJ]

Yes jase i cant wait as well just not sure what lens i will take as yet but will see what happens down the track. I think your shots are great and turned out ok for what you are using and lens choice is always hard. I have the Sigma and is ok, it doesnt have VR but was over a $1,000 cheaper.

[waspo]

Yeah John, I don't want to sound like I'm making excusses for bad technique and blame it on the lens. As a first time use on motorsports, I think I did OK, but I guess it's all a big learning curve and I can definitely learn from my mistakes. I'll be trying a few things differently with the lens and camera settings next time and hopefully they'll come out alot better.
You can get some great shots at Phillip Island depending if you can get the access. You can get in nice and close at Turn 1,5,6,10,11,12 and front straight. I'd be taking both your 80-400 and 70-200.
Will you be entering any of the grandstands? Turn 2 and 6 look good.

[alex2k]

Damn, I just checked out some images at Winton by a Pro. Really inspirational stuff! http://www.mcnews.com.au/motorcycleraci ... n_2005.htm

A lot of the photos on that site are nothing special, there are some good one but also some pretty crap. Additionally they are mostly cropped to no standard sizes because of poor composition.

What is the problem with the crop 3/2 ? there is few nice shots on the url.

waspo, look my website, most of my picture was taking with the D70 + 70-200vr and TC17 and other with the 300mm F/2.8 + TC17.

[petal666]

What is the problem with the crop 3/2 ? there is few nice shots on the url.

Some are almost (but not quite) square, some are 3 times as wide as they are high. They have just been randomly cropped, not to any particular ratio.

[BBJ]

Jase not sure as yet, just getting general admission for now and work it out later, depends on what the rest of the tribe are doing. But will look into closer.

[waspo]

I can see what you mean about the crop petal666, but as far as image quality goes they're bloody nice! I guess lens has a lot to do with it.

Alex, thanks for posting your website. Some really nice images you have there and certainly gives me an idea how the lens performs. I also like the way you've set your website up!

petal666, you've got some excellent spors images on your website too. Very nice!

[alex2k]

What is the problem with the crop 3/2 ? there is few nice shots on the url.

Some are almost (but not quite) square, some are 3 times as wide as they are high. They have just been randomly cropped, not to any particular ratio.

i haven't seen for the ratio , but they pictures are very sharp, it is really a professionnal ?

[BBJ]

1 lens i have been interested in is the Sigma 120-300 f2.8 and still am depending on if i happen to end up with the Nikon 300mmf2.8. It is a great lens and a good price. Hard decisions to make i guess it depends on how much bucks you can afford, i would love the D2x but well i see Canon 1ds mkII for around 5k or so and i like the pics from the 20D. fellow i know in adelaide has 1 so might have a play when i see him next and see if i can compare focusing. Lots of possibilities. LOL

[alex2k]

bbj, buy an nikon 300mm F/2.8 AFS II if you can, the vr version is good, but with an monopod there is no problem for the stabilisation, and take the TC17, you will be at 500mm !

I am waiting for the D2x for next year, or maybe an D200 when the specs are officials.
Buy a good lens and after the D2 !

[BBJ]

Alex, a friend of mine has the Nikon lens its an ED version so i am hoping i will get it at good price.

[waspo]

Sounds like a winning combo there Alex!

[alex2k]

Good choice bbj :p
here my 300mm with the TC17



And here the 70-200, i think i will buy a another D70 for the race, one for paddock and other for the motos !

[waspo]

You guys make me sick!!

[petal666]

My 120-300 with 1.4x

[waspo]

Petal, what head is that? I noticed alot of the pros use them for quick articulation.

[petal666]

Markins M10 in red, it's faster than black.

[BBJ]

Alex nice pics of that lens, the one my mate has is an older version but he changed to Canon so yeh see what happens. I tell you what i was just looking at the Canon EOS 1D MKII 8.2mp 8.5 fps for $5.500 cheaper than the D2x. price for this and a say 70-200 sigma or even 120-300 near same price as d2x body. Hell i am not bias here Nikon or Canon and well it something to look at. I was gonna get 20D before d70 but yeh why not have the best of both worlds.LOL Well i think the D70 is good but i think it's focusing could be better and well would like to maybe try a few others to compare with.

Petal, that is the 20D and how do you find the focusing/

[petal666]

That was my 10D but I've got the 20D now. Focus with the 120-300 is fine. I lend out the lens and TC to a mate every now and then when he goes out to the track to take photographs of motorbikes which he sells. He has no complaints about it.

[BBJ]

Ok yeh well thats ok then, where did you get the 120-300 from?
I am waiting off on this other lens and well if no go will maybe go ahead with my order on the 120-300 with hksuplies from poon.

[petal666]

I bought the one and only one I have seen 2nd hand on ebay. It is handy to see sample photos before buying Sigma lenses as the 100-300f4 I bought new was crap. It was very soft and even after being sent back to Sigma it still wasn't too my liking so I got rid of it.

[alex2k]

BBj, i had tested the canon 1D mark2 with 400mm F/2.8 and TC14, the focusing is good but not perfect, some shots are very sharp, and other very blur ^^, this is the site of my friend : http://olivierpolak.free.fr/

The focusing of the D70 is good at 1/640, but for best result with the D70, i prefere the manual focusing for lower speed, i have never test the D2x.

[waspo]

Bloody Hell!! Your friend has some great shots there!

[alex2k]

Its call : the french touch

its joke , he had good idea on there shot, look the basketball series !

[BBJ]

I'm with Jase, not bad at all and nice gear as well.

[waspo]

Its call : the french touch

its joke , he had good idea on there shot, look the basketball series !

Very, how do you say 'Cooool'

Hey, do you guys know if Canon saturate their Blues and Greens. I notice it alot in the bike photos of your friends 10D and 1D. Looks vibrant and total different colorization to Nikon.

[PiroStitch]

Jase, great pics Looks like you're getting the technique quite well. It's hard nailing a moving object tack sharp, but seems you managed to do it well. Keep it up

[waspo]

Thanks Wayne, but when I get as good as you I'll be really happy!!

[PiroStitch]

Don't compare yourself to me mate Different sports, different advantages. I can get right up close to the riders while still being safe and different environment too

[Aussie Dave]

Hi Jase
well done....it certainly looks like you're getting more comfortable with the Sigma lens. I can imagine you'd sell your left arm about now for a 70-200VR + teleconverter

As for bumping the ISO from 200 to 400...that is always an option, however you could also try a monopod for more stability, which would let you drop aperture/shutter a little to gain that extra exposure the ISO bump would give you (or on really overcast days, you could do them all). Whatever works, hey

Keep up the good work & good to see you out there taking pics  PS..the yellow Pirelli bike is my favourite

[waspo]

Thanks Dave. I did indeed take the monopod, but found it more of a hinderance than anything else. The Sigma lens isn't too heavy and I guess I figured the shutterspeed would take care of my Sony technique...WRONG!
I went through my sharpish shots to see what settings I used and was surprised to find that they were around 1/250 f/9 @ roughly between 210-270mm focal. My blurry shots seamed to sit at 1/400 f/5.6 300mm which has me baffled. Perhaps I'm losing too much DOF on them.
I'll work on my panning and try the monopod a bit more next time.
I would love to get the 70-200mm VR and tele, but we'll see what god thinks about all that.
Cheers, Jase.