Settings suggestions for taking photos at F1 night race in Singapore using Lux 35, 50

[hockey44]

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Hi,

Welcome suggestions on settings to try shooting at the forthcoming F1 here in Singapore in couple of weeks- night race, but very powerful lighting. AWB suggestions, how to pan etc. Recently made jump from DSLR (5d2) to M240 so appreciate suggestions. A new world for me.

[250swb]

Use your DSLR.

 

 

Steve

[sillbeers15]

Tempted to try shooting my M240 @ ISO800 with my APO-R 180mm F2.8 on the event.....

[kdriceman]

I shoot a lot of sports and for an event like this, unless you are trying to pan with motion blur, you will want a much higher shutter speed than what i think an 800 ISO will allow at f/2.8. You will be using a long lens in lighting that will appear strong, but will not be daylight intensity. As Steve noted, a DSLR would be the best tool for this, but if you want to use an M with its paltry frame rate, manual focus and no image stabilization (depending on how far you are from the action, you will find it hard to hold focus at f/2.8), I think you will want to shoot at a much higher ISO than 800. Noise will be manageable in post... Motion blur and fuzzy focus are not. Take many photos of the pre-race (assuming it will have similar lighting) at ISO 6400 just to see if you can keep sharp focus at f/2.8, then dial back ISO to a shutter speed that still gives you sharp images. Experiment and apply this knowledge to the main event. Hopefully you will be sitting at a low-speed corner! Good luck.

[rramesh]

The M is not really the right choice for a formula one high speed night race, especially in Singapore, if you plan to take photos of cars whizzing by.

 

However you can take some great pictures of people track side, and in and around the paddock area (if you are privileged) with a 50 Summilux.

[algrove]

Also suggest a DSLR. I find the 5D3 on ISO 5000 gets superb results while shooting auto racing.

[CalArts 99]

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The M is not really the right choice for a formula one high speed night race, especially in Singapore, if you plan to take photos of cars whizzing by.

 

However you can take some great pictures of people track side, and in and around the paddock area (if you are privileged) with a 50 Summilux.

 

That would be a lot more interesting, too. I'd much rather see unique images of 'behind the scenes.' Photographs of the cars themselves "whizzing by" are everywhere. It's like when people take pictures of the most popular monuments when they travel. There are plenty of postcards of that sort of stuff....

 

(btw, Räikkönen has signed on with Ferrari for next year. Alonso and Räikkönen as a team will be good for Marenello.)

[250swb]

You see it really depends where you will be.

 

Most spectators will be behind a safety net, and while your eyes will adapt and see through the net a regular medium tele lens won't. But a very long tele could if it is a fast lens used wide open, the net may not show much, if you are close enough to the net. But a long tele really needs image stabilisation and a DSLR.

 

If you are not behind a safety net you will be high up, which requires a long tele with image stabilisation, or the cars will look tiny, so you need a DSLR.

 

But if your are a VIP, you will still be behind a net or high up out of the way, yet probably have greater access to interesting things when the race isn't running, so a Leica would be good for that. Although the technique of panning is unlikely to be needed at a cocktail party WB can be a problem with the varied and colourful lighting, and Leica's are rubbish at that, so ..........a DSLR could be the answer...........

 

Steve

[dwbell]

In general, find the direction the paddock is in and point your camera the OTHER way.

[sillbeers15]

Thanks for all the concerns and advices.

 

As a hobby, I often have a picture I wanted to capture in my mind that I chase after and make it happen.

 

For this Fomula one sports, I do not look forward to getting pin point sharp reportage type of pictures on cars going at speed in excess of 250km/h.

Rather I hope to get shorts of slightly blured pending shots during a night race( flood lights lited) on street circuit.

 

Can any of you guys believe I shot the pic of the butterfly below @ ISO800 with 80-200mm/F4 R lens?

 

[jaapv]

Given the proper level of technical expertise, why not? Nice shot. It reminds me of that bloke who was on the forum a few years ago shooting hummingbirds in the air with the DMR and a long lens. The pundits told him it was impossible, get an autofocus camera, use light traps etc... He replied with dozens of brilliant shots.