Warning - All the gear, no idea! F1 photography help

megakid

megakid

megakid

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Perhaps the title is a little harsh as I have had some fun with my father's 450D and a friend's 1D but after much research, I have just purchased a Canon 7D with the 17-55mm f/2.8 EF-S lens. Loving it so far - sorry no examples yet but working on it!

I am booked to go to the Melbourne F1 GP in March and suddenly thought I might be able to take some semi-decent shots from my seat (on the start-finish straight, approx. in-line with the 3rd row of the grid). However, I don't think my lens will cut the distances we're talking about and I am considering hiring a zoom lens for the week approaching the GP (to have a play, practice and get the basics sorted) and for the GP itself.

Firstly, is this a plausible plan? Will a week playtime be enough to grasp a lens' capabilities enough to have the confidence of taking some reasonable shots on the grid?
Secondly, which lens? These are my choices: https://www.rentalens.com.au/groups.php?collection_id=&group_id=15&supergroup_id=4

Any recommendations would be highly appreciated.

EDIT: Photos = http://bit.ly/d4fbQv
 
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I'm not sure how close to the track you get at Melbourne, but if it's anything like Silverstone, you probably want as much length as you can get. In some places at Silverstone, 300mm isn't enough on a crop camera.

Looking quickly through the pics I took at the F1 test a couple of years ago, the shots on the start/finish straight were mostly taken around 200mm and that had the car almost filling the frame.

Of the lenses you listed, I'd probably be tempted to go with the 100-400 IS (though I've never used one) for maximum flexibility and a chance to pick out some detail shots of the cars on the grid.
 
+1 for 100-400 IS - if you haven't been there before you must plan flexibly. This lens allows you to do that.... and it's also a great lens.

I know you can use it with the x1.4 teleconverter and retain autofocus on 1D series camera.... does anyone know if this is also true for the 7D, seeing as the autofocus systems are similar?? If you can confirm the autofocus works with one, get a x1.4 TC too!
 
better check what size of lens you are allowed (might be in the ticket conditions).
F1 like football, American football etc. can be restrictive.
 
+ for 100-400, although be mindful that at Melbourne you probably won't need the same length as you would at Silverstone, as it's a street circuit and therefore a little more compact. But there will almost certainly be occasions when you can use 400mm. The other option would be the 70-200, but I think this will be too short.

Btw, lucky git going to Melbourne GP! :D
 
I'd also go with the 100-400 IS as mentioned above for the flexibility it offers. Do you have a grip for your 7D? I need the grip to help take the weight of zoom lenses to make it easier to keep the camera steady when panning.

Enjoy the GP - extremely jealous here! You've got to post the pics up when you return now! :)
 
peterattheboro said:
Motorsport in general you could take a 600mm if you had one :p

Obviously you wouldn't be allowed that in the grandstands though.
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OK, I've had a look & as I thought in general entry conditions
"any photographic, video or audio recording equipment AGPC deems unacceptable for the purposes of condition 16 below, which may include (without limitation) audio recorders, camera tripods, monopods or lenses with a total focal strength of greater than 300mm and digital video equipment"
http://www.grandprix.com.au/site/_content/document/00000724-source.pdf

Of course if the security staff don't know cameras you might be able to get a 100-400 past them when not extended.
 
Thanks for the comments. Especially about the ticket conditions, I guessed I wouldn't be able to get a ridiculous lens in there as they'll be people all around but I didn't realise it was in the ticket conditions.

This 100-400 lens will give me approx 160mm-640mm on my 7D 1.6x crop sensor so that seems a bit on the long side does it not? I am sat in row W so not exactly front row but maybe the slightly smaller 70-200mm f/2.8L will be better? Faster and will give me effectively 112mm-320mm. Or the other choice is the 28-300mm f/3.5-5.6L which will give me an even wider focal length (but perhaps too heavy - 1.6kg!)? I'm not dismissing the 100-400 lens because it's obviously very capable but given BUFF's find of 300mm+ lenses being deemed unacceptable it might be sensible to get something slightly smaller?
 
Sigma 120-300
Sigma 100-300
Canon 300mm f4

I think you will want something longer than a 70-200, even with the crop factor it's still too short for almost every International F1 spec circuit!
 
Righto, definitely going for a lens at least capable of 300mm. The 100-400mm lens looks fairly compact when not extended so I might take that.

I notice they don't allow monopods too so I might have to hit the gym to be able hold it for a couple of hours!
 
I'd grab a 70-200 f/2.8 with a 1.4 tc, yeah it might be a bit short but will give you the flexibility you need whilst not potentially getting in trouble for taking a huge lens. You're also less likely to annoy everyone around you swinging a massive lens about:D
 
Ok I'm back... In the end I rented a 70-200 f2.8 II and a 1.4 TC. Worked very well, a little short but the photos will probably tell a better story...

Here's the reasonably good ones, no post-production, crops or edits yet.

http://bit.ly/d4fbQv

Comments etc welcome!

EDIT: Now cropped.
 
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The_Abyss said:
It looks like it was very difficult to get a decent position to take any shots from. I watched the race, and was taken at how few vantage points there seemed to be which weren't completely caged off.
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There were practically none - unless you had an FIA press photographer pass which means you can go into the special "at risk" zones with a 30cm high slot in the fence where you can rest your lens.

Even the places where the marshals stand are unusable due to 3-4+ marshals being in the way.
 
There are some great shots there. Such a shame that the caging was in the way for some of them, but even so.... really nice that you managed to get some shots on the podium too, nothing like a British win :D
 
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