Going to the drag races, need help

Sony 16-50mm f/3.5-5.6 E-mount

07/27/2007 08:40:45 PM · #1

Ok, not my first drag race, but the first time I will have ever taken a camera. There will be top fuel and funny cars.

I have the following lenses for my D50, not really able to carry my whole bag, so what should I do?
Nikon AF Nikkor 50mm f/1.8D
Nikon AF Nikkor 55-200mm f/4-5.6G ED DX
Nikon AF-S Nikkor 18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 DX ED

Also, what settings should I use for best results? Lighting will be daylight, possibly cloudy or very sunny, never half way here in Ohio.

Thanks,
Steve

jmsetzler

Sony Alpha a6000

07/27/2007 08:53:16 PM · #2

Take the 55-200 and put the camera in automatic mode.

**edit**

Make that the sports mode...

Message edited by author 2007-07-28 00:55:31.

Sony 16-50mm f/3.5-5.6 E-mount

07/27/2007 09:01:55 PM · #3

Thanks for the reply. I was thinking about the long lens, but is is not the sharpest or fastest. I wish I had a super zoom and did not need to even post such a question, LOL.

jmsetzler

Sony Alpha a6000

07/27/2007 09:04:03 PM · #4

There are better ways to shoot sports, but if you are just learning, its probably more important to let your camera do the work while you learn so you can get good photos at the same time. If you are shooting in the daylight, you shouldn't have any trouble.

Sony 16-50mm f/3.5-5.6 E-mount

07/27/2007 09:06:14 PM · #5

im by no means new at photography, just not really worked with action. i went to a baseball game and got a few shots that were good, but not many that i was happy with and surely do not want to repeat that mistake.

jmsetzler

Sony Alpha a6000

07/27/2007 09:09:24 PM · #6

Originally posted by steveh552:

I put together an article recently for my website:

Shooting Sports

Maybe there will be something useful there for you :)

fotomann_forever

07/27/2007 09:25:23 PM · #7

If the D50 has a sports mode, you can put t in that. If you are feeling more adventurous. throw it in shutter priority and experiment with motion panning and such.

Citadel

Nikon D7500

Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 24-70mm f/2.8G ED

07/27/2007 10:01:25 PM · #8

Take the long lens. Its not likely you will be getting close enough for the other lenses.

Go with shutter priority mode. Set it to 1/200 or faster to help eliminate camera shake. The camera will take care of the aperture so you can get a good exposure. If you shoot in auto it will usually get the exposure right but it might lower your shutter speed at which point you'll lose a lot of sharpness.

Shoot in JPG in continuous mode. In RAW you get about 4 shots before it slows down. JPG you can pretty much shoot til your finger gets tired.

Here is the important part: Set your camera to continuous focus mode. Under the pencil menu (for lack of a better term) change option 02 (Autofocus) to AF-C. Another important thing to change: Change option (AF-Area Mode) to dynamic area.

Continuous focus will allow your camera to keep changing focus until you decide to press the shutter release. Dynamic focusing has some intelligence built into so that if you don't quite have your focus area over your subject after you start focusing, its smart enough to keep that subject in focus.

Just my two cents.

NikonJeb

Nikon D850

Nikon AF-S Nikkor 28-300mm f3.5-5.6G ED VR

07/27/2007 10:27:04 PM · #9

Just relax, enjoy, and do what you love......take the shots. The drags are great fun and not just at the line.

It's not really any big deal, great shots are easy, don't worry too much. Take your favorite lens for everyday duty and take lots of pics.

A lot of what looks terrific later are the shots like the young lady with the happy grin in the Legends dragster in the triptych. That was a wonderful moment.

You'll have lots of time to play with all kinds of shots, from stills in the pits, warming the tires (GREAT effects shots!), and the beauty of drag racing is that you have the timing handed to you on a platter.

Position yourself well, and you can watch the Christmas tree through the lens.......you'll find out if you have drag racer reaction time!

I put up the Galaxie shot hoping that you know the sport well enough to know what an exceptional car that is to launch like that.

It was dead easy to bang out wheel standers like that. You just watch through the lens and click. The timing's easy.

I used my 18-70, shot in RAW, and cropped a little here and there, but these shots took very little PP.

Have fun!

Message edited by author 2007-07-28 02:30:22.

wavelength

Nikon D300

Nikon AF Nikkor 50mm f/1.8D

07/27/2007 11:10:52 PM · #10

heh, drag the shutter. :P

Skip

Canon EOS-1D X

Canon EF 300mm f/2.8L IS USM

07/28/2007 03:28:55 AM · #11

here are a couple threads that might be useful...
drag-racing 1
drag-racing 2

07/28/2007 05:34:37 AM · #12

Thanks everyone for their input. It has mad a difference since I was going to take the 18-55, but I will use the 55-200. I wont be carrying a bag, so I wont get to take the other glass with me. Here is hoping for a good, non-raining day.

Buckeye_Fan

07/28/2007 06:01:49 AM · #13

Originally posted by jmsetzler:

Originally posted by steveh552:
im by no means new at photography, just not really worked with action. i went to a baseball game and got a few shots that were good, but not many that i was happy with and surely do not want to repeat that mistake.

I put together an article recently for my website:

Shooting Sports

Maybe there will be something useful there for you :)

Great tutorial JM. I want to be a college football photography. I love the game and would love to down on the field.

fotomann_forever

07/28/2007 09:27:35 AM · #14

Originally posted by wavelength:

heh, drag the shutter. :P

Booooooooo!