AlanCHS From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Posted (6 years 4 months 2 weeks 6 days 21 hours ago) and read 2418 times:
I purchased a Nikon D50 months ago and after the Air Force transferred me to Scott AFB I found a park near Lambert to take photos. I put the camera on auto for all my shots. Here is an example photo resized to 800x600. What is the best setting for shooting aircraft flying overhead and is using the auto feature a good idea? I was using the Nikor 300MM lens on full zoom when the planes came close to my location. Any help would be much appreciated.
ANITIX87 From United States of America, joined Mar 2005, 3240 posts, RR: 14 Reply 1, posted (6 years 4 months 2 weeks 6 days 20 hours ago) and read 2411 times:
When shooting aviation, I almost always put my camera on Aperture Priority. This way I can get the depth of field I want, and the camera will meter the shutter speed for me. I can also control the exposure compensation if it's a bright day, or a bright aircraft, and vice versa. The camera will still take care of the shutter speed. On auto mode, the camera does everything itself and you have no leeway with artistic value. Going up or down an exposure stop can have a huge effect on how a picture looks, and even how good the quality is.
It's to each his own, but that's what I do.
TIS
www.stellaryear.com: Canon EOS 50D, Canon EOS 5DMkII, Sigma 50mm 1.4, Canon 24-70 2.8L II, Canon 100mm 2.8L, Canon 100-4
JeffM From United States of America, joined May 2005, 3266 posts, RR: 53 Reply 2, posted (6 years 4 months 2 weeks 6 days 20 hours ago) and read 2411 times:
Quoting AlanCHS (Thread starter): What is the best setting for shooting aircraft flying overhead
CalgaryBill From Canada, joined May 2006, 686 posts, RR: 6 Reply 3, posted (6 years 4 months 2 weeks 6 days 20 hours ago) and read 2404 times:
I'll second all three of Jeff's comments. I shoot on manual most of the time and use a light meter to check settings. You can't entirely rely on the camera's meter as it more or less just averages the scene.
Dbudd From United States of America, joined Nov 2005, 228 posts, RR: 24 Reply 4, posted (6 years 4 months 2 weeks 6 days 20 hours ago) and read 2402 times:
With my 50 I set the camera in "A" mode. That is aperture mode and then use the wheel to dial it to f/8. That will give you the best results (IMHO) and will give you good DOF and the fastest shutter speeds.
You will have to get good at using the clone tool to take away those dust spots. learn to crop tighter on the aircraft and resize to 1024.
TedTAce From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 8, posted (6 years 4 months 2 weeks 6 days 10 hours ago) and read 2341 times:
I have the D-80, and I have to say that M/Manual mode is best. Yes, it's like flying a helocopter with trying to control your f/stop, exposure time, and ISO, but the shots are infinately better then anything the automatic mode will do. Sure there are arguments/scenarios where aperature or shutter priority are going to serve you better (namely when you don't have time to make the adjustments between shots), but if you have time to set up for the shot I would use manual mode shooting a few shots to get it right and know for a fact what is right as opposed to knowing only 1/3 of the equation.
Irish251 From Ireland, joined Nov 2004, 925 posts, RR: 4 Reply 9, posted (6 years 4 months 2 weeks 6 days 3 hours ago) and read 2314 times:
Quoting Viv (Reply 7): To clean the sensor, use a blower brush with the brush part removed. Be careful not to touch the sensor.
I have a D50 as well and have successfully used a vacuum cleaner hose held beside the front of the camera to suck out any dust on the sensor. That way you don't need to touch anything inside the camera and there should be no risk of introducing dirt into the camera, as long as you have the machine switched on before bringing it near to the camera.
UnattendedBag From United States of America, joined Oct 2003, 2242 posts, RR: 1 Reply 10, posted (6 years 4 months 2 weeks 5 days 7 hours ago) and read 2266 times:
Quoting Irish251 (Reply 9): and have successfully used a vacuum cleaner hose held beside the front of the camera to suck out any dust on the sensor.
I can see it now...
Just make sure the mirror and everything else in there is secure!
Irish251 From Ireland, joined Nov 2004, 925 posts, RR: 4 Reply 11, posted (6 years 4 months 2 weeks 5 days 5 hours ago) and read 2259 times:
Quoting UnattendedBag (Reply 10): Just make sure the mirror and everything else in there is secure!
Well, of course care is required. However there should be no need for full power or more than few seconds of suction, nor should you stick the end of the hose right into the camera. The rest I leave to people's commonsense...
Sponsor Message: 
From , joined Dec 1969, posts, 
From Canada, joined May 2006, 686 posts, 
From Netherlands, joined Mar 2005, 3779 posts, 
From Ireland, joined May 2005, 3109 posts, 
Printer friendly format 
