Amazing Telephoto Lens for Airshow Photography | Aviation Photography for Beginners

[@markgilder9990]

I purchase all my photography equipment used from a reputable on line main stream dealer. Saves an absolute fortune. I must admit I have the Sigma 150-600 Zoom and it outperforms the Canon 100-400 IS USM that I use to own. But this lens is dedicated to a Canon 6D MK 2 and used the micro adjustment to set it all up. Took a bit of patients but well worth the effort. The Canon 400 is a great lens and there are loads of them about at really great prices. Thanks for sharing your experiences.

[@myketripp3838]

I have the Z600pf and it's hand-holdable all day long. I will be at an airshow next week! I can't wait. Great video and advice.

[@PhotoTrekr]

Back when I shot with Canon cameras and lenses, I liked the 400mm f5.6 as a travel lens for wildlife. Excellent lens for the money.

[@astroguy5364]

I've been using the Canon 70-200mm f/2.8 L and getting amazing results- the only downside is having to crop in post. But since I don't print most of my shots, it's just fine!

[@sturousephoto]

Totally agree! It’s a great lens to have.

[@Toebaksworld]

Been looking to buy this lens for a while now, and now i'm convinced 🙂, thanks for the advice!!

[@ChristophShyper]

My go-to lens for aviation is Sigma 60-600mm, maybe it's that sharp, but can have I close-up photo of Super Puma lit up by its flares on 600mm, quick pump-action and I have all the flares on 60mm. All under one second.

[@sturousephoto]

Good choice - 600mm definitely for the experienced!!

[@ChristophShyper]

​@@sturousephoto I love its versitality. I no longer need to exchange lenses to shoot static displays, most of the times 60 mm is enough for what I need or I just step back. Even for air-to-air shoots wide angle is just enough on wide angle and allows to quickly zoom in on pilot's face. I bought Tamron 150-600mm

[@JgHobley]

Great video Stuart. Canon 400mm f5.6 L is certainly a cracking lens. And that price is crazy cheap!! Nikon, however have just played their trump card with their new 180mm-600mm f5.6/6.3 for their Z series cameras at £1800. This has to be a belter of a lens! I may even keep my Z9 now! 😅 Shame it wont be available gor RIAT.

[@davidko.2]

Maybe not the most appropriate question but is there a similar lens but ideally for Nikon (F)?

[@georgeaviat1on]

Depending on your budget

[@davidko.2]

@@georgeaviat1on under 2k?

[@cameraman655]

Yep, it's a great hunk of glass and metal. Sadly when I moved from Canon after 37 years to Fuji back in ‘17’, this lens and all of my other Canon gear were sold off. While I have no regrets about making the move from Canon to Fuji (as I am no longer a news shooter), there are some lenses that I do miss and this the one I miss the most. I recently acquired the Fujinon 150-600mm that I use alongside my Fuji 50-140 2.8 (70-200 FF) and they are great lenses (both work well with the X-T5’s 40mp sensor), but honestly, zooms simply cannot compete head-to-head with a prime. I have toyed with the idea of reacquiring this lens for my Fuji system along with a Fringer adapter. That said, my whole point of switching to Fuji was to lighten the load so to speak, if I do this, it feels like I might be falling back into that same trap of having too much gear.

[@d53101]

I shoot with a Sigma 100-400 with my Canon 90D DSLR. It’s an APSC body so the effective fl is 140-640.

[@davidrennolds969]

Great video. Have you tried or do you have advice on the Nikon 500mm PF and 180-600mm lens?

[@sturousephoto]

Unfortunately not - however, as a rule of thumb, a 500mm prime will be much sharper than a zoom lens. But I have no experience of these lenses I’m afraid!

[@jackieboshoff2013]

Great video That's the lens I use for aviation- and wildlife photography. It's an oldie but goodie, top notch glass! And you're right, there's loads of them on the second hand market. You can easily pick one up over here in South Africa for R9500, which is around £400

[@sturousephoto]

So sharp, isn’t it!? Interesting how a 30 year old lens can still be so impressive!! Goes to show, it’s not necessarily all about modern cameras, great glass is still where it’s at!

[@khanscombe619]

I just tried but I was too close for 400. 300 was very tight hard to track movement. 200 was better for most until they swing towards me the big planes fill out frame on FX. What about a 80-400 zoom? What about some sort of action finder frame for tracking fast moving targets to frame up?

[@m1gs363]

what would be good for a nikon

[@BerkaySoyal]

Im taking pictures of commercial planes do you think that this lense is good bc I think 400mm is a bit too much ?

[@sturousephoto]

Obviously depends how far from the aircraft you are, but I think you wouldn’t need more than 300mm, probably only a 70-200mm

[@BerkaySoyal]

@@sturousephoto can you recommend me a Canon 70-200mm ef lense with good sharpness under 8 or 900€

[@rgraham-ncal]

Why isn't the 100-500 L zoom in this video? It's certainly one of the best choices, especially on the R5. As sharp or sharper than any 400 prime other than the 2.8.

[@LupusAries]

I would ask the same about the Nikkor 200-500mm F5.6 or the Z 180-600mm F5.6-6.3. Yeah the 200-500mm F5.6 is a heavy chonker that will make your airshow day a workout session. And for what it is it is damn cheap with an awesome Image Quality. Couple that with a APS-C you have a 300-750mm equivalent, with just about enough for the AF to still work.

[@TK421-53]

Why? Because it is not your video or recommendation. The likes the 400/5.6 and recommends it as your first *Canon* air show lens. No need to feel hurt because “whatever your choice” would have been. There is plenty of glass that could fulfill this role and each system has its own lenses, not counting third party options. You can argue for the 100-500L, 100-400L, 100-400L Mk II etc. but again it is a moot point because it is not his recommendation. His arguments are sound, simplicity, quality, price, availability - focus on technique. I’ve got no beef in this argument, I have an old 100-400L (well in years, not usage as it looks practically as new as when I bought it new in 2006/7 iirc).

[@DenmarkVea]

Quick question, I've been considering an EF 400mm f2.8 and pairing it up with a 1.4 extender. Have you had any experience with it?

[@sturousephoto]

Not directly I’m afraid, but the 300 2.8 MkI is fantastic with a 2x so I would assume it’s as good, if not better with a 1.4x.

[@DenmarkVea]

@@sturousephoto Thanks! Just debating on a 300 or 400 and just wondering if you had any experience with it. For now, I'll use my 100-500 next week for a Pro surfing competition and the Miramar Airshow here in San Diego. I really like your content. Thanks again!

[@nunopluis]

Sony SEL 200-600 G lens is also great! It's a 5.6-6.3 aperture and very capable. More expensive than those mentioned in the video, sure. Close to 2000€, but might be even better than the Canon Rf 100-500 which tops out at 7.1 aperture. Not to mention it's almost 3000€ price tag! For static display I still use my 64 Megapixel Samsung smartphone with great results.

[@sturousephoto]

Fantastic lens, but possibly not the ideal choice for a beginner or someone wanting to try it out for the first time. 200-600 on the Sony is a great range of focal lengths though, if expensive!

[@hansn.433]

It is funny, how in Germany the Sony is actually only 1700 whereas the new Nikon is 2000 and the Canon remains ridiculously overpriced

[@stephenparkin2701]

You forgot to mention the Sigma 100-400mm which is incredibly sharp rated better than the Canon Mk11 and very much cheaper

[@sturousephoto]

Good point, however, I have no experience of using this lens and I haven’t seen anyone using it to shoot aircraft.

[@dirksw1220]

Nikon 300mm prime + 2x converter on a good day. Second body 70-210 +1.7. Covers everything.

[@sturousephoto]

Nice! 👍🏻

[@djollieuk]

So if your f is 5 or 6 is that a slow speed or a fast speed, new to photography i think f2.8 is fast?

[@sturousephoto]

Yes, you’re right f/2.8 is a fast aperture, f/16 is slow. f/5.6 and f/8 are somewhere in the middle, but not considered fast apertures for action. However, for aviation lenses at 400mm or 600mm you’re not going to get much faster unless you spend a huge amount of money!

[@djollieuk]

@@sturousephoto yh I'm just starting out and I know hardly anything about cameras lol, I just looked up once and thought I'd love to see that plane up there closer, binoculars were ok but not strong enough so I thought I need a camera that can zoom right in, plus I could use it then to produce photos wherever I go but I'm really into long exposure stuff atm especially with water flow shots

[@007silverwings]

Thanks for the top tip on the 400mm F5.6 lens. How is the autofocus speed on a modern mirrorless like the R5? Which camera are you using with it? Thanks

[@sturousephoto]

I’ve been using it on a 7D2 and a 5D3.

[@BF1GUN]

What is the equivalent of this lens brand new?

[@sturousephoto]

There isn’t one really, certainly not a 400 canon prime. I suppose the nearest equivalent is the 100-400 zoom.

[@BF1GUN]

@@sturousephoto Thank you.

[@djollieuk]

Im looking at buying a nikon coolpix 610 so i can zoom in on aircraft way up high. Its the only one i can afford but i really want a p1000. I need zoom in my life

[@NickImberyPhotography]

The problem with this is that for the Sony system, the 400mm f2.8 is a $12k lens, probably a bit cheaper if you can find one second-hand.

[@Anythingwithwings459]

£700 now😬

[@Megablizz]

Nowhere in the caption the make of the lens is mentioned- a big downside.