[PappyB]

Originally Posted by Waltz41

I just bought a panasonic dmc-FZ50. its not an SLR but a bridge camera (in between a point and shoot and DSLR). i like that it has a manual zoom ring on the lens, and the lens has no extension, it's all internal. i did a lot of research on it, and it's the best thing i could get for the money. someday i'll go DSLR but it's just too much considering you need to buy a telephoto lens to a bout 400mm, so you are easily looking at $1500 for that.
so far so good, but there's a lot i need to play with first on it and get the feel for shooting with it.

I hear you, that camera seems like a great choice! I've been doing research on what telephoto lens to get for my D50 for airshows and the top choice runs $1,200 (egad, that's a lot of diecast ).

Again, great pics -- love the shot of the p-40!

[Waltz41]

Thanks fellas. There's another show this saturday in New Castle DE and weather permitting and i think me and mrs. will be heading out for the last show of the season. F-22 flyby, B-2 flyby, warbirds, a-10 demo, should be a good one. i'll put 'em up if i go.

brian

[Waltz41]

oh yeah, hey pappy, one thing i've heard from the photo guys, is that you want to put most of your money into your lens. it's the one thing that really can make or break the pictures.......and you will always have the lens to use for different cameras down the road.....but that's easier said than done budget wise!
good luck with it though!

brian

[PappyB]

Originally Posted by Waltz41

oh yeah, hey pappy, one thing i've heard from the photo guys, is that you want to put most of your money into your lens. it's the one thing that really can make or break the pictures.......and you will always have the lens to use for different cameras down the road.....but that's easier said than done budget wise!
good luck with it though!

brian

Yeah, I've heard that too -- though it seems crazy to spend twice as much for a lens as the camera when I don't know if my skills will be good enough to get the most out of it What I need is a trial period

Don't be surprised if you see me posting a huge spring cleaning sale of things collecting dust in the Hangar ;-) to pay for the silly thing!

Hope you get to that show this weekend, Brian, sounds like a good one -- never seen an F-22 or B-2 flyby myself yet!

Here's a link to some pics I took at a show this summer, if interested, -- I'm really pushing the limits of the current lens.

http://www.klett.phanfare.com/album/103361

[Planebeach]

What is up with that vintage NC37361, look at the left wing.

[Waltz41]

Pappy, those are great pics man, nice job. i really like some of those with the a-10 and the vapor, really captured it nicely.

That's also another reason why I went with the bridge camera, not only money concerns, but i'm a beginner by all means at the airshow picture game, and to shell out that much for it all...well, even if i had it i don't know if i would of before i learn a bit more.

The other thing is that i want to get a better video camera. I'm currently working now to finally get some video onto my computer. I just finished a Blue Angels thunderbirds music video, maybe i'll get it up sometime soon.

brian

[PappyB]

Originally Posted by Planebeach

What is up with that vintage NC37361, look at the left wing.

LOL, that's a pic from the "comedy" routine of the show -- that plane flew in and the PA made it sound like he was crashing the party, so to speak... it did all sorts of aerobatics, losing parts all the while... including the right aerilon. The pilot landed and then jumped out and was chased across the field and tackled... it was pretty funny, actually, and the pilot was amazing.

[F14lvr]

AWESOME pics. F18 and P40 are spectacular!

FYI, for those interested in DSLR's:

Major manufactures such as Nikon and Canon's have a len magniifcation factor due to the fact that a STANDARD digital sensor is smaller than a 35mm frame of film. The magnification is USUALLy 1.5 to 1.6. This makes a 300mm lens a 450mm lens when used on a DSLR. This saves quite a bit of money. It is BAD for landscape and wideangle shooters, but GREAT for wildlife and action shooters.

NOT ALL models have this factor. Some have a "full frame" sensor that eliminates this magnification, but are MUCH more expensive.

Hope this helps,


BTW, the B-2 is amazing to see fly..... It doesn't look like it should be there... Looks like a UFO. I can't imagine seeing one of these in the Nevada desert before we knew what they were.....

[Waltz41]

Hey f14,
thanks for the info. i did read about that, but still, you need to buy an accompanying lens rather than what comes with most of the kits. it does seem though that some of these prices are coming down, sony's new alpha series looks like it has a 400mm lens you can get for about $300, so you are looking at about $1300 for the whole set up. still a lot of money, and i'm getting decent shots at a third of that price. someday....someday....

brian

[Waltz41]

and oh yeah....didn't make it down there today to new castle. so that's it for the season!!! time to go back through this past seasons pics. i'll probably make a new thread and post some if you guys want to see 'em.