Hi

I am doing a couple hours of hell-spotting at LAX next week, and have a question. What lens should I take up? I am weight restricted so only want to carry one. We will be 1000-1500ft AGL. My options are my 70-200 or my 300 prime, both on a D700.

Thoughts?

Brian

Quoting briboy (Thread starter): I am doing a couple hours of hell-spotting at LAX next week, and have a question. What lens should I take up? I am weight restricted so only want to carry one. We will be 1000-1500ft AGL. My options are my 70-200 or my 300 prime, both on a D700.

I would run a couple of miles, lose 3 pounds and take both.

Why are you weight restricted? I went with three guys LAX heli spotting and I had two cameras each with a different lens, and another guy had a similar set up with the third having one camera.

The 70-200 won't do much but get you overviews, I needed 300-400 on my full frame D3s to get tighter one aircraft shots.

[Edited 2012-10-04 11:13:36]

[Edited 2012-10-04 11:14:13]

Quoting alevik (Reply 2): The 70-200 won't do much but get you overviews, I needed 300-400 on my full frame D3s to get tighter one aircraft shots.

I am going by myself, and am limited to 240lbs all in for the R22 I will be renting. Thanks for the note on the 300-400. I will take my prime and 1.4 teleconverter.

Quoting briboy (Reply 3): I am going by myself, and am limited to 240lbs all in for the R22 I will be renting. Thanks for the note on the 300-400. I will take my prime and 1.4 teleconverter.

Post them here. I wanna know how much heli spotting is at LAX too.

Quoting PHX787 (Reply 4): I wanna know how much heli spotting is at LAX too.

Look up Star Helicopters on their site and navigate to the plane spotting tours page, and all the info you desire will appear.

Quoting briboy (Thread starter): I am doing a couple hours of hell-spotting at LAX next week,

How did it go?

Hopefully the OP got out. I went yesterday and the conditions were absolutely perfect late in the day.

This is one from yesterday's flight:
http://www.airliners.net/addphotos/b...27.53779v-sfkoct1420123s1_8995.jpg

If you go, definitely use Star Helicopters and ask for Vince as your pilot. Vince has the timing down so that when you see an aircraft on long final, he times it to have you at the touchdown zone on time - not an easy feat with tail winds pushing you and limited flight zone adjacent the runways.

Quoting alevik (Reply 7):

how much did cost you for the ride

Thanks

The R44 (three seater) is $480/hour, the R22 (one seater - besides pilot) is less but not sure exact number.

Quoting alevik (Reply 9):

Thanks

Really thinking of doing this in the next few months, cheers for the tips on Star Helis!

Any benefits to the R22 over the R44 and vice versa?

Chris

Besides price, the R44 is a more stable platform if there is any wind blowing. With only one person (besides the pilot) the R44 will climb faster than the R22. The LAX heli spotting areas are 500 feet altitude on the north and south sides, to transition you have to climb to 1500 feet to cross the runways, the extra climb rate helps minimize wasted time.

Otherwise, the room in the front set beside the pilot is similar so there is no advantage there.