I find that aerial photography is actually an ideal opportunity to use my old FA 28-200.

I took this, for instance, at 38mm.

Much wider than that, and you'll have a lot of aircraft structure in the shot, and detail on the ground will appear too far away.

I took this, on the other hand, at 200mm, which at the heights you're likely to be at, is a good focal length for getting a decent amount of detail closer up.

That second shot is completely genuine, by the way. Some pranksters painted a huge Homer Simpson next to the Cerne Abbas giant. I thought it would be rude not to fly down there before the rain washed the new artwork away.

Returning to your question, if you can only take one lens (and changing lenses in a cramped aircraft cockpit can be a bit of a faff, it must be said), you have something of a dilemma. 70 won't be long enough for getting distant detail if the visibility is good, and 50 might not be short enough for a wider view. Although this one of the Didcot Power Station was taken at 50mm, so you might be all right.


If I had to pick one or the other myself it would be the 50-300, but if you can get hold of a 28-200 it would be perfect.

Forget the prime. The additional quality will be wasted if you're shooting through the canopy, and even if you're not, you won't have much framing flexibility.

One thing to remember: don't hold the end of the hood against the canopy to steady the camera, since the engine vibrations can cause dreadful camera shake at a frequency that gives the SR no chance at all.

Edit:

Here's another example, of the particle accelerator near Wantage (Oxfordshire), taken at 113mm.

Hope these examples give you a feel for the sort of focal length range that's useful.

Do report back!

I had one, very nice indeed, just didn't use it enough to keep it. The exposure issues with the K10D and pre-A lenses were annoying enough to get rid of all my M lenses, but there was nothing wrong with them at all.

I'd love an A version. And of the 200mm.

Possibly, but I'm so busy at the moment, that I have almost no chance of setting up the idea I have in mind in time for the comp.

Do you like Ardbeg, George?

I guess George or I ought to have a go at this one.

I don't think George is criticising anyone, merely expressing his customary compassion for the repentant.

'Sold' - 2008/2 to Womble and the rest to Flossie.

I'm clearing out some shelf space, and I have the following editions of the PU mag which I'd rather went to someone who'd like them, rather than chucking them in the recycling:

2007 - issues 3 and 4
2008 - issues 2 and 3
2009 - issues 1,2, and 3

They're all in good condition, although 2008/3 has a top-right corner that's slightly graunched. (It doesn't affect image quality though.. )

Would appreciate a bit for the postage, but PM me if you're interested.

I bought my K10D in Jessops

(sadly, before I knew SRS existed!)

I only started using the Huey I now have about a month ago - I'd had some prints come back very disappointing, even though they looked Ok on the screen.

The adjustment it made explained the dark prints (the monitor was way too bright), but I haven't repeated the print experiment yet.

For normal use, though, the screen is a lot easier on the eyes.

Still quite a lot left, despite all my best, albeit somewhat sporadic efforts. Working on a Caol Ila, at the moment, amongst other things.