Need tips on M8 night photography from chartered plane

[Arif]

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For a friend's birthday present, we will be going on a short plane ride at night and was wondering what settings/equipment I should use to photograph. City is Tokyo so there will be a lot of skyscrapers as well as city lights. I use an M8 and my lenses include a CV15, 21 ASPH/2.8, 28 ASPH/2, 35/1.4 non-asph, 35/2Asph Cron and a 90/2.8.

 

Any advice on lens/light/ISO/Aperture settings will be very helpful since the ride will be fairly short to chimp away

 

Thank you,

Arif

[Guest guy_mancuso]

Probably the widest you will use is the 35 lux anything wider and the plane maybe in the image. I did a lot of aerials in my day and really you almost want to be 50 or longer. The minimum ceiling is around 1500 ft for the plane so your up there.

 

the big issue is getting the plane in the shot , that wing is almost always in the way

[farnz]

Also you'll be shooting through perspex or glass so it's advisable to get the lens as close to the glass as possible to minimise or eliminate reflections from inside the plane. The most effective way to do this is to attach the shade to the lens and move that as close as you can to the glass. You may be able to put the shade directly onto the glass but beware of high frequency vibrations, which may blur your images.

 

Aerial night photography really pushes the enveolpe because you have to contend with low light and high vibration so you may have to sacrifice quality for noise by increasing ISO to allow yourself to minimise the effects of vibration with as high a shutter speed as you can get.

 

Pete.

[Guest guy_mancuso]

Rubber lens hood is very good in this spot

[Arif]

Dear Guy and Pete,

Please accept my many thanks for the valuable suggestions and for sharing yur experiences. I will take your advice and try and borrow a 50+ and use a rubber hood as close to the glass as possible without inducing vibrations.

 

Thank you again,

Arif

[BerndReini]

Make sure you take off the UV/IR filter. Point source reflection at night can cause ghosting havoc when you use the filter.

[Guest guy_mancuso]

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One other tip . Use a monpod but don't stick it on the floor , actually stick it in the lower belly of you. Your body will absorb vibration and yes the meater area the better. Not nice to say but it works, also with a rubber shade put it right on the glass to cut any reflections. Think suction cup here and use your hands to help here. The whole trick in this is cut vibrations and get steady as possibe but watch reflections also and yes taking the filter off is not a bad idea at all. Chimp and see what is working the best but get the fastest shutter . i would try to stay at ISO 640 to keep noise down . If you can nail it at 1/250 than your doing great but it will be tough , i am thinking more like a 1/60 so that mono will come in handy. have fun and like to know how this works out