Air Show Pictures & Photography Tips

Hi!


Thanks to Bryan, for the excellent "Air Show Pictures & Photography Tips" article. What I find most illustrative is that Bryan notes the camera, lens, shutter speed, ISO, etc... from the shots, at least I can learn a lot from this.


But this also left me with a question: Bryan used the non-IS EF-400L f/5.6 lens on a 1D4, and sometimes used shutter speeds of 1/250 (helicopters) and said that he got a relatively large number of blurred photos, what is to be expected.


Why not use something stabilised istead? A EF500 IS f/4 on a 1Ds3? Or, if it was the weight, a EF400 DO IS? Or a EF300 IS on a 7D/50D?

I'm not an expect, but I imagine no IS is used because panning and IS don't mix. There is a newer form of IS (mode 2) that allows panning along a single place (horizontal or vertical). But my experience with shooting a single air show is that much of my camera panning was at an angle as the planes went overhead. I don't think mode 2 would be able to compensate for that and you would end up with the majority of your photos blurred.

ISdoes not help with subject motion. When there is plenty of light, allowinga high enough shutter speed IS is pointless.