DOF Advice

[Pehpsi]

g'day.

just wondering if it's possible for the other car to be in sharp focus too?

i used shutter priority @ 1/250s which meant the cam chose f4. would f8+ help here? should i shoot in manual and pick my own settings?

(i don't normally shoot in manual, as i get a bit lost when thinks are happening quick...)



cheers.

[Oz_Beachside]

you could shoot in aperture priority if you wanted both in focus (assuming they are travelling at the same speeds, relative to shutter speed).

depending on focal length, but yes, f8 would give more DOF than this image if its at f4.

[Pehpsi]

thanks mate, i'll have a play soon during the day and try a few things out...

[Cre8tivepixels]

Its a great image............well done!

Love the motion blur...

Dan

[Pehpsi]

thanks

the guy in the far lane is looking out his window to his opponent you always catch them doing this...

cheers..

[Kyle]

The problem here is not your aperture James

You panned for the green car, so you matched your speed accordingly.

For both cars to be sharp, they would need to be travelling the same speed.


Short of reducing your shutterspeed (dont do that though), there's not a lot you can do

[Pehpsi]

ok, makes good sense...didn't think about their speeds having to be the same

well, i've learned something new today, so that's good.

cheers.

[Kyle]

Same principle here, pan for 1st car, 2nd car is at different speed entering braking point

http://www.kylesharpphoto.com/gallery/d ... b07531.jpg

[Pehpsi]

great example nice shot too...

thanks for info.

[joey]

DOF is influenced by aperture of the lens, focal length and the distance between the lens and the subject you are taking picture of.
Come as close or as far practicable.

[bwhinnen]

Such is the difficulty in motorsports when you want a good feel of motion. As others have stated a great DOF wouldn't have helped unless they were matching speeds.

In saying that I really do like this image. Besides the obvious fact that the Capri is in front, the slight blur of the second car, the fact that the drive is looking at the Capri says that he is behind and trying his hardest to get in front. I don't think he will though

If I may make a suggestion for next time, I would slow the shutter speed down a bit, start with 1/200th and work down. I think looking at these you could get down to 1/125th and still have a sharp image but more blur on the wheels.

Love your drag images, keep them coming!

[Pehpsi]

thanks mate

i would also like a bit more blur. i was a bit hesitant to go below 1/200s because i didn't use VR, and just thought i should match the 200mm lenght of the lens. when i buy the 1.7TC, i guess i will need VR for sure...

[bwhinnen]

Not with panning, you can compensate for the 1/focal length rule when panning with ease. I regularly shoot at 1/60 to 1/80th at 200+mm on the 70-300G lens on the D70. I have since found I really don't need to go that low as their (the cars) speeds pick up but it is good practice, any wobble or twist shows up in the resultant image.

I can't wait to get the 70-200VR and TC 1.7 out to the track. I'll be shooting motorsports for the first time this weekend with the new gear, so should be interesting to say the least.

[Pehpsi]

i see. good to hear, can't wait to test out some new setings then.. i think i have a handle on my panning technique, but need to experiment with slower shutters and see what i get

the 70-200 is awesome. it's very quiet and the focus speed is pretty damn quick. best $ i've spent so far. can't wait for a D200, which is on my list.

[bwhinnen]

This pic was taken at 95mm and 1/60th with the D70 and 70-300G, there are a number of decals on the car so you can see whether it was messed up or not.

I haven't uploaded the ones with a larger resolution yet that use a longer focal length.

But play around and practice, you may mess a few up, but you will start to know without looking at them which ones worked.

Brett

[Pehpsi]

cheers. great shot too, love the amount of blur! and the car is sharp as.

now i'm all wound up and thinking about shutter and focal combo's.. wish i had a race meet this weekend to do some testing...

thanks and good luck with the new gear..

[Kyle]

wish i had a race meet this weekend to do some testing...

http://www.cams.com.au/content.asp?PageID=Calendar

Plenty of motorsport this weekend James

[Pehpsi]

cheers kyle. been hanging to go to another form of motorsport. only ever been drag racing...

[Kyle]

Drag racing is awesome fun, esp. from the start line/top of the hill for laundry.

But circuit is awesome too, love it

[Pehpsi]

think i'll have to check out the circuit stuff..

few quick q's:

1 - can you get decent shots from a normal 'spectator spot'? will 200mm cut it? (you prob got special access, don't you, you lucky so and so

2 - do similar rules apply to the circuit, like shutter/panning etc..?

[bwhinnen]

1. Depends on the track. Most of them in QLD you can get decent shots from spectator vantage points, 300mm is handy in some spots but not all.

2. Yep the same, but work on a faster shutter speed for the corner shots.

Brett

[Pehpsi]

thanks mate.

might have to pop into the circuit track next door to willowbank when i'm up there for the drags

[bwhinnen]

When are you up here next? I'm out at QR (Queensland Raceway) this weekend and will be attending the minijam at Willowbank next weekend.

Brett

[Pehpsi]

not for a while prob.

next meet is the winternationals in june..

i'll have a look around at the calendar and see what's on in the local area

[Kyle]

200mm is fine at eastern creek and also oran park.

If you go to wakefield on an open day, sign in and get a photogrrapgers pass and get cameron to run you out to marshall points

If you want to head to OP or EC sometime, give me a holler and i'll tag along for sure

[Pehpsi]

thanks, kyle.

i'd say my first circuit event will be at eastern creek, nice and close. haven't been since they stopped running drags there years ago, be good to go back..

i'll keep ya posted

cheers for all the help guys, prob see ya in the field soon...