briboy From Canada, joined Jul 2001, 322 posts, RR: 1 Posted (7 months 3 weeks 2 days 4 hours ago) and read 4529 times:
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
next up: YYC, SFO, SYD, AKL, WLG, CMB, BKK, SIN, FRA, VCE, JFK
unattendedbag From United States of America, joined Oct 2003, 2240 posts, RR: 1 Reply 1, posted (7 months 3 weeks 2 days 1 hour ago) and read 4499 times:
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.
alevik From Canada, joined Mar 2009, 806 posts, RR: 8 Reply 2, posted (7 months 3 weeks 2 days ago) and read 4488 times:
AIRLINERS.NET CREW HEAD SCREENER
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.
briboy From Canada, joined Jul 2001, 322 posts, RR: 1 Reply 3, posted (7 months 3 weeks 1 day 16 hours ago) and read 4414 times:
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.
next up: YYC, SFO, SYD, AKL, WLG, CMB, BKK, SIN, FRA, VCE, JFK
PHX787 From Japan, joined Mar 2012, 4984 posts, RR: 14 Reply 4, posted (7 months 3 weeks 1 day 14 hours ago) and read 4401 times:
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.
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.
alevik From Canada, joined Mar 2009, 806 posts, RR: 8 Reply 12, posted (7 months 3 days 17 hours ago) and read 3400 times:
AIRLINERS.NET CREW HEAD SCREENER
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.
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