When we did it (1995) it was about £60 each, which was way cheaper than in the UK, we were flying for about an hour and a half, and we had a cooked breakfast when we landed.

Australia, at least back then, was outstanding for value for money.

Dan Bridge

You've obviously never done a balloon flight in the UK! I think Virgin's standard rate is £280 per person. I suppose I could try to find an independent pilot, but the area I want to photograph is on the outskirts of London, and any direction we flew in would most likely end up in a densely populated area, not ideal for landing.

But if I need to do any pics further out in the countryside, it's something to think about - thanks for the suggestion, it's an option I hadn't thought of.

Did a wonderful balloon flight from Alice Springs some years back, right across the McDonnell Ranges, but clearing the ground before inflating the balloon was a little scary - in the dark, in the Bush, picking up sheets of corrugated metal - seemed an ideal place to surprise a snake.

Dan

Well, thanks again for all your comments and tips, but the flight never happened (too windy/couldn't get hold of pilot), and the client decided it wasn't the shot they were after anyway. But, it's still on my wish list.

Ken, the helicopter would be an R22 Robinson, practically a motorbike engine with blades on top, so certainly cheaper than a Squirrel, but as I say, not sure if it would be only £130/hour.

With regard to air sickness, I've had 4 previous experiences in light aircraft. First was a jet ranger pleasure flight around Swanage, which probably took about 10 minutes and I was fine. Second was in the back of a Cessna when my mum was having a trial flying lesson - the cabin was boiling hot, and I was queezy, but not sick. Third was my trial lesson, I was fine.

Fourth, was when I worked at the Met Police Air Support Unit (Storeman), when I went up for one of their routine flights. As I was getting strapped in a call came through for a vehicle pursuit in Rickmansworth. Off we trot, across north London, I was fine, taking snaps out the window no problem. We get to said pursuit, pilot spots car, we tip on our sides and go round and round and round and round in the tightest circles. All I can see is the ground spinning round out the R/H side, and clouds spinning round out the left.

Did I puke? No I did not, but the rest of the hour's flight wasn't the best experience I'd had. Every time my stomach was feeling better, we'd get to a recce point and we'd do long, slow circles...

Got great views of London though, but I nearly died when on the way back to Lippitts we ended up circling Pentonville for about 15 minutes as they had a prisoner on the roof.

Didn't eat for the rest of the day.

"Come for a flight at night", they said, "it looks beautiful". I'm sure it does...

Have to hand it to the Police Observers though, watching the TV screen and controlling the camera, must do their heads in. Apparently about 1/3 are regularly airsick, 1/3 are queezy, and 1/3 are fine with it all. When the Met first had their Bell 222s one Obs was sick down the heater vent. Stank every time they put the heating on. (WHere's the emoticon for 'yuck'?)

Thanks again,
Dan

Thanks for all the replies!

I was unsure about shutter speed - I know the ground won't be moving very fast, but I was concerned about vibation. I won't brace the lens on the window!

As I'm not sure what aircraft we'll be in I'll have to 'wing' it when I get there. Hopefully it's the helicopter, but it's going to be £65 for 1/2 hour, so I'm guessing it might be fixed wing - I can't remember if I mentioned helicopter when I spke to the guy.

I'm after a wider view, so hoping my 16-45 will be okay, as I don't have a longer zoom range, switching between lenses isn't ideal I know.

If I think of any other questions, I'll ask.

Cheers,
Dan

Hi All,

I know some of you (Dirk especially) have experience of aerial photography, and I may be having a go myself later in the week, assuming the gales die down.

Are there any tips I should bear in mind to ensure sharp shots on the day. Not sure if I'll be in a plane or helicopter (Robinson), but I'm thinking minimum shutter speed etc.

And anything that I might not have considered...

Thank you!

Dan

Danny, I keep meaning to ask, in your signature it says "1.4x SDM converter". As there isn't an actual designated SDM converter yet, I'm wondering what one it is, as I have a Tamron 1.4x that has the power zoom contacts and was wondering if that would still use the SDM motor, or switch over to the body motor.

Ta,
Dan

Having had a play with the DA* 300mm f/4 at SRS today, I was very impressed, but looking back at the pics I'm disappointed... in myself. SHould have tried more apertures, ideally on a tripod. However, here are a couple that I took.

First, some ducks, no. 1 is cropped down to about 1/2 the frame. No. 2 is detail shown at 100%. This was at f/4, 1/125s, ISO 100, on my K10D.







No. 3 is a different duck, again at f/4, again cropped down and shown at 100%.





These are looking straight up at the clouds, I was hoping to see how even illumination was, and there wasn't a white wall to point it at. Unfortunately the clouds were a little varying in shade, but it looks good to me.



f/4



f/4.5



f/5.6

Focusing was quick and quiet (first time I've been able to try the DA* lenses out, no-one's got them round my way). A lot lighter than my Tamron too.

Dan

I always think the pop-up ones would be a pain, as if you wanted to check the histogram quickly, you'd have to pop the shade up, have a look, then put it back down again before the next shot. I suppose it would put an end to constantly glancing at the LCD, but for the times you want to refer to it briefly, it would just get in the way IMHO.

Dan

Excellent! So when are you building yourself a floating hide?

Dan

I humbly seek your exculpation.

Dan