F1GP Tips

[kipper]

Well I'm off to Qualifying Day of the F1GP tomorrow. Please could somebody give me some quick tips on what settings should be aimed at using ie. camera modes, shutter speeds etc. Would really appreciate it. Thanks.

[Nnnnsic]

You're probably best shooting in normal to fine jpeg mode and holding the shutter down as long as you can. Shutter speed? Over 60, I would imagine... either Aperture Priority or Shutter Priority would be fine.

[birddog114]

You're probably best shooting in normal to fine jpeg mode and holding the shutter down as long as you can. Shutter speed? Over 60, I would imagine... either Aperture Priority or Shutter Priority would be fine.

and AF-C

[sheepie]

..and an awful lot of CF cards!

Lucky people - would love to be down there. Pity I couldn't get next week's trip down there for work to be this week - I'd have stayed the weekend!

Have fun all, and mind those upstart security people. "No Sir - this isn't a 400mm lens. No, it can't zoom in to show the pimple on the flag girls nose!"

[birddog114]

IMHO, if I go down there, I don't want to see the race,
I just want to try to get close to the PJ/ Media stand and see what they're doing? I love to see they shoot and their gears

[Nnnnsic]

From the stands the last time I was there (with my F60 and the 70-300mm), I was shooting pictures of the photo-journo's gear.

[birddog114]

From the stands the last time I was there (with my F60 and the 70-300mm), I was shooting pictures of the photo-journo's gear.

That what I love to do!

[kipper]

Hahah I think I'll have a few shots like that.

Ok, single af, dynamic af or closest. I'm thinking single af?

[kipper]

I'm guessing for the first few shots I should spot meter the cars and expose to that and keep those settings until something happens ie. clouds come over.

[kipper]

Probably going to leave the 50 F1.4 at home and the SB-800. Can't see a need for them.

[MCWB]

I'm guessing for the first few shots I should spot meter the cars and expose to that and keep those settings until something happens ie. clouds come over.

I tend to use spot meter, manual focus (use auto to get close), full manual or shutter priority mode. I don't tend to use continuous shooting for open wheelers because they move so far in 1/3 s; just line it up and get it right. You'll want over 1/500 s for V8s, 1/1000 s for F1 (except if you're panning). If you bugger the shot up, no matter, just delete it, you'll get about 20 goes at it every minute and a half.

I'd absolutely kill for PJ media access, the holes in the fence have the best shots! I'm pretty sure there's no general admission area where you can get above the fence line, so you're doomed to having fences in front. Get close to the fence and use shallow DOF to your advantage.

[gstark]

so you're doomed to having fences in front. Get close to the fence and use shallow DOF to your advantage.

In fact, because you'll be using long lenses, the fence will simply vanish due to the magic of DoF.

But you'll be best off using manual focussing, prefocus on a point at the circuit and shoot as the cars come through that point.

Exposure too should, as a rule, be manually set. Use your histogram, and set exposure off, say, a concrete barrier, which will be pretty close to the colour of a grey card. As long as the conditions remain constant, so too should your exposure. If you use auto exposure, you will find it compensating for the different colors of the cars, etc, whioch is not what you need.

[kipper]

Ok leaving the following equipment behind. All filters, don't think I need the circpol for the kit lense, don't even have one for my 70-200VR (who needs one eh). Leaving also the 50mm 1.4 and my sb-800. Anyone here see why I should take those?

Can't see myself taking any indoor shots so I won't need the 50mm 1.4, might require some fill light but I think the inbuilt should suffice.

[birddog114]

don't even have one for my 70-200VR (who needs one eh).

You're missing something! trust me!

[kipper]

Hehehe.

Speaking of which....anybody know the URL to the F1GP document stating about focal lengths?

I tried to search for grandprix.com.au on here and I was hit with 100000 posts.

[brembo]

Click the link to the pdf "Conditions of Entry" towards the bottom of this page -> http://cars.grandprix.com.au/tickets/general_admission

5. Patrons must not, without the prior written consent of AGPC, bring any of the following items into the Event:
(p) any photographic, video or audio recording equipment AGPC deems unacceptable for the purposes of Condition 14 below, which may include (without limitation) audio recorders, camera tripods, monopods or lenses with a total focal strength of greater than 200mm and digital video equipment.

and

14. Without limiting any action available to AGPC pursuant to the Act or any amendment thereof, it is a condition of entry to the Event that: (a) a person cannot make or reproduce or use any film or other form of moving picture, still pictures, photographs or any sound recording or any of them (Footage) of the Event or any part of it for profit, gain, public advertisement, display or for any other purpose except for the private enjoyment of the person making the Footage, without the consent of AGPC, FOM and / or FOA; and
(b) if a person makes or reproduces or uses such Footage of the Event or any part of it with or without the consent of AGPC, that person must on request by AGPC assign, in writing, all copyright and all intellectual property in the Footage to either AGPC, FOM and / or FOA or their assignees as directed by AGPC.

[MHD]

you could try using trap focusing

have the shutter go of when a car comes into focus.

[gstark]

Hehehe.

Speaking of which....anybody know the URL to the F1GP document stating about focal lengths?

I tried to search for grandprix.com.au on here and I was hit with 100000 posts.

Check our F1 threads. I quoted the relevant section in one of them, and someone else posted a reference to the Oz GP site's T&C in another thread.