Few questions about shooting the shuttle launch

[Jake2k]

Jessica and I are going to the next shuttle launch and I've never shot anything like this before so I'm looking for tips and advice. I don't know where we will be viewing it from but ill try and find out in the next couple of days. Also do you think it would be worth the money to rent a super telephoto lens for a week? Thanks

[Brian]

The last I checked the recommend lens for a launch was 800mm. They are pretty expensive even to rent ($281+ lensrentals.com) for four days.

[Michael.]

Use the search function! We've discussed this a number of times. Just sayin...

Basically it's like shooting straight into the Sun. Low iso, small aperture, fast shutter.

At the very least, get a 70-300 and throw a TC on it.

[The Hedgehog]

Use the search function! We've discussed this a number of times. Just sayin...

Basically it's like shooting straight into the Sun. Low iso, small aperture, fast shutter.

At the very least, get a 70-300 and throw a TC on it.

Not to derail this topic, but what TC should I look for, for the 70-300 vr? Also I know it kills the f-stop correct?

[.:Chris:.]

Nikon TC's are supposed to be pretty good, but they're $$$. I think Kenco is the next step down from the Nikons. IMO it's not worth it, they're too expensive for something that is going to be relatively impossible to hold steady without a tripod.

For example a 2xTC@300mm = 600mm. 70-300 is f/5.6 at 300mm and you lose two stops with the 2x, so you're 600mm at f/11 in the best case scenario. What good is that? (Also just FYI the 70-300mm isn't listed on the compatibility list.)

[The Hedgehog]

Nikon TC's are supposed to be pretty good, but they're $$$. I think Kenco is the next step down from the Nikons. IMO it's not worth it, they're too expensive for something that is going to be relatively impossible to hold steady without a tripod.

For example a 2xTC@300mm = 600mm. 70-300 is f/5.6 at 300mm and you lose two stops with the 2x, so you're 600mm at f/11 in the best case scenario. What good is that? (Also just FYI the 70-300mm isn't listed on the compatibility list.)

Yeah......Bleh. LOL I'm just going to go be a baller and buy the 600mm f/4....







I keed I keed.

[Jake2k]

It supposed to be a daytime launch, sometime around 12, so I should have more then enough light to shoot at f/11 or so. I was thinking about something like the 80-400 f/4.5-5.6 or would it not be worth the 52 bucks to rent it since it's not an 800?

[.:Chris:.]

The 80-400 is decent, I rented it once. It's not spectacular, but it is well suited to something like this. Don't underestimate the weight, it's heavy! I don't know who came up with 800mm, but is that on a DX sensor or FX? If FX, then 400mm on a DX sensor should be acceptable.

Keep in mind that you start to get haze when you shoot long distances (ie when you count in miles) so even though you've got a super long lens you're going to start losing quality (specifically, contrast)... and don't go thinking that a UV filter is going to help. (See the section about 4/5 of the way down the page about have/UV filters.)

[TampasOriginalSoarer]

Also make sure you buy a ticket or you will be very far !!!

[Michael.]

Yeah it's daytime. Who cares about the f/stop.

The 80-400 is good. If you get the Visitor Center pass, then you can shoot from right under the mock-up shuttle. I've always only had my 70-300. Definitely would like to get to the Causeway or something a bit closer, but make due with where ya can get. Causeway tix are ALWAYS sold out almost instantly.

[.:Chris:.]

Daylight or not I think it's going to be difficult to get the shot handheld at 600mm f/11.

[btuner]

yeah, plus with the 2x on there it probably won't even autofocus... I know it won't on a 55-200 with my 2x

[Jake2k]

I'm a complete newb to this stuff and didn't know you had to buy tickets haha, where do you buy them at?