Lens - whats would be a good one for FLYING!

[Ree]

Hi all!!

Just got my D70S from Santa for Xmas (AKA MY Hubby: Chris). We are both private pilots. Can anyone suggest an good overall lens for our weekend trips away. Not looking to be able to get the details of leaves off passing trees from 5000ft, but able to get some of the details of the land! At the moment all I have is the standard lens kit which I got with the camera.

Please keep in mind that this is my 1st SLR, so I am a "BIG TIME" beginner!

REE

[NikonUser]

Looks like you were good last year to get a Chrissie present like that

When you say that you want to show some details of the land.... do you mean you want to be able to zoom in close to objects far away or take wide shots of the landscape in general? (ie do you want a longer lens than the kit lens' 70mm or a longer one than 70mm?)

Paul

[avkomp]

I am assuming that you will be shooting whilst airborne.

It seems to me that the kit lens would be a good starting point
18-70mm handling scenery etc.

but if you are talking of photographing stuff when on the ground, then again it would depend on what you wish to photograph.
Scenery would still be good with the 18-70 but if you are after animals/birds then some sort of tele zoom would be the go.
perhaps you could provide more details of intended subjects?

Steve

[leek]

Hi Maria,

For those wide shots you should have a 12-24 - I can recommend the Tokina as the best bang for buck option...
For other shots you may want to take a look at the Nikkor 24-120VR. It's not cheap, but has a good range and the VR will help to counterract some of the vibration in-flight.
If you can find one, the new 18-200VR could also be good...

Any longer lenses than that and you'll be struggling to get a sharp shot from a plane...

A Circular Polarising Filter is also almost essential to help minimise the reflections from the canopy...

I'm sure that Glamy and Thaddeus will chime in with their experiences of inflight photography...

[Ree]

NikonUser

I would like to zoom closer to things on the ground, for example last Christmas (2004 in mean) we flew around the outback over 15 days. I (then) had a Fuji P/S. I got some cool pics, but I think if the details of the pics could have been seen they would have been better. Like the shot of the Opal Mines from 4000ft in White Cliffs. (Can't work out how to upload a pic that I am talking about)

Ree[/quote]

[NikonUser]

I think the suggestions above would be a good start.

With the vibrations in a plane I'd definately be looking at getting a VR (vibration reduction) lens.

I don't actually own any VR lenses but I've only ever heard good things about them.

I've HEARD (again, I've never used this lens) that the 24-120 can be soft.

Then there is the MUCH ACCLAIMED (but very expensive) 70-200 f2.8 VR. This is probably one I'd consider.

Or the new 18-200 VR. Proabably a more cost effective option.

I'm sure there are others out there with much more experience than me that could help you more.

Paul

[fozzie]

Ree - welcome to the forum

For embedding of shots, follow the instructions contained within:

http://www.dslrusers.net/viewtopic.php?t=2789

[Ree]

Hi Leek,

I brought a Circular Polarising Filter last week for a day tripper down to Canberra for Australia Day and had a play around with it... WOW what a difference that made!!!!! I can 100% say that that will be one of my 'most used' items for the camera.

In-flight vibration is a BIG thing for me, as we normally take a dutchess (which is a small 4 seater twin) and they feel EVERY bump! Plus the fact that we don't normally climb that high (under 10,000ft) which also means more movement.

Thanks for the recom's I will have to have a lookie into the 24-120VR.

Birthday in a fews months (might be able to get abit more out of hubby )

Ree

[avkomp]

maybe you could offer someone the chance go come flying with you and of course to bring a suitable vr lens with them and perhaps you could get to try one for free

Steve

[Ree]

only took me an hr to work out but I got there in the END

OK this is the pic I was talking about!!!

Next time we fly over this way I was hoping to get more details.

The white mounts of dirt are opal mines

[Heath Bennett]

Wow Rae! They look like little alien campgrounds on the surface of Mars!

You are going to love the detail that your DSLR will get you though...

[Ree]

maybe you could offer someone the chance go come flying with you and of course to bring a suitable vr lens with them and perhaps you could get to try one for free

Steve

Something could be sorted for the right lens

[Ivanerrol]

Ken Rockwell has done a peice on aerial. There are some interesting pointers in it.

I have done some aerial survey photo works in the tropics. This was for location of prospecting sites and access. We had a Navaho with an inspection hole in the floor. A 24mm Lens would only get around 4 square kilometers at 19,000 feet. Taking shots through open windows was more rewarding. It took days to edit all the shots we took.

Ken Rockwells site http://www.kenrockwell.com/tech/aerial.htm

[Mal]

Ree I am sure that there would be a few Sydney forum members who have many a lens that they would let you try out as they joined you in a flight
Seriously there are many on this forum who would lend you a lens to let you try it. Keep an eye out for "mini meets" at Birddogs, one of the best places to try before you buy.

[Alpha_7]

Mal is right, I'd be more then happy to let you use any of my lens (Kit (duh) 70-300G and the 70-200 2.8D, if you can find someone with a few VR lens then you could do a direct comparison of what the VR gives you...

[Ree]

Ivanerrol wrote:
Ken Rockwells site http://www.kenrockwell.com/tech/aerial.htm

Thanks for the site have had a quick lookie and have saved it in my favs to read fully later.

An inspection whole - now we are talking. Would love to have a look in the Navaho! Sadly the 3 types of planes we use don't have an inspection whole, dam neither a open window!

Only bonus is when we are up in the Robin 2160 (aerobatic plane) at least Chris (hubby) hangs upside down for me for a short while (roughy 20seconds) so I can get a shot from the outside of the canopy (low wing full glass top canopy! Outstanding for the upside downer's )

[thaddeus]

The kit lens with CPL is not bad. I don't understand why you want a zoom - just fly lower!


Most of my shots with the kit lens are at the wider angle range in an attempt to give the shot more context. There is no way I'd want to muck around with a large lens like the 70-200 in a cockpit, particularly if the windows are high and you are trying to angle the lens to get a shot of the ground.

My latest purchase has been a 12-24 Tokina and I am just ordering a (quite expensive!) CPL for it. This has opened up a whole range of shots such as interiors and people shots.


My next lens will probably be a 17-200VR which will essentially replace the kit lens with VR plus add a bit of reach should I need it.

[Ree]

only prob with flying lower is that...it would take us for ever to get anywhere if we had to decend everytime I wanted to take a photo!

Then not only are we talking added flight time then there is the fuel for the decend and climb, and the fact the it's a dam hard time to Nav while in the lower flight levels (don't use a GPS, fly old school!)

Then there is the lower you go 9 times out of 10 it's bumpier! (mt waves etc etc)...

Sure sometimes its fun to play about at 500ft along the shore line but most places you can't get down that low (legally that is) and most times it isn't safe to boot!

Lens will be easier, faster, and cheaper (for flying that is not buying the lens)

[Matt. K]

I see no point in flying up high and then using a long lens to pull the earth back up. You might as well use a fisheye and a stepladder. Best lenses as most would agree are wide angle to normal.

[big pix]

len's I have used in the passed have been normal and wide angle....... I have used a fisheye but was after an effect to fit a brief...... easy out of a chopper with the door off........

[Ant]

Definitely get something that flys low and slow. I knew flying Cessnas would come in useful for something! Although, I have to admit, my best shots while flying were of other aircraft (in formation, while flying safety, never PIC)

Ant.