ChristofferB
EF2
- Joined
- Aug 27, 2009
- Messages
- 197
I have been looking through a couple of my previous chase photos and videos and started to plan for what type of cameras to focus on for this year's chase. In my first couple of chases I was using a basic systematic Canon 450 camera with the standard lens. I was using my pocket camera for filming, which really wasn't optimal (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_XYTSU-Fb5o) but it was all I had.
On last year's chase I brought a telescope lens but it proved not to be very useful. For most of the storms I wanted a broader angle and using the telescope lens as my standard lens was just not the best option. On the other hand, the most important photo I took would definitely have benefited from having the telescope lens mounted. It was a brief land spout tornado that was quite far away (https://twitter.com/StormChasingUSA/status/471681777681965056, heavily cropped).
In my arsenal this year I have:
- The same systematic camera with my standard lens and a telescope lens
- A GoPro (suitable for wide angle shots?)
- A small handheld HD video camera (which replaced my pocket camera)
- My iPhone (which I only use for panorama photos)
As you all are aware of, when those exciting moments appear you don't want to be running around changing lenses, making settings on your camera etc. You still want to take stills, video and of course also enjoy the moment!
I guess some are more into still photography, others on making videos, making the selection easy. Sometimes it is quite obvious if the situation calls for still photography, video (or both). My experience is that most events call for a normal lens but in the event of a tornado you want pretty everything from video, focus shots and wide angle shots - this is of course highly dependent on how far away you are.
I would be interested in how you pre-select the equipment you:
1. Bring out on a chase
and
2. Keep in your hands when you step out of the car
For example, do you always keep two sets of cameras available: one for focus shots and one for wider/normal angle shots? Do you video while shooting stills? Do you use a camera that take stills while shooting video?
On last year's chase I brought a telescope lens but it proved not to be very useful. For most of the storms I wanted a broader angle and using the telescope lens as my standard lens was just not the best option. On the other hand, the most important photo I took would definitely have benefited from having the telescope lens mounted. It was a brief land spout tornado that was quite far away (https://twitter.com/StormChasingUSA/status/471681777681965056, heavily cropped).
In my arsenal this year I have:
- The same systematic camera with my standard lens and a telescope lens
- A GoPro (suitable for wide angle shots?)
- A small handheld HD video camera (which replaced my pocket camera)
- My iPhone (which I only use for panorama photos)
As you all are aware of, when those exciting moments appear you don't want to be running around changing lenses, making settings on your camera etc. You still want to take stills, video and of course also enjoy the moment!
I guess some are more into still photography, others on making videos, making the selection easy. Sometimes it is quite obvious if the situation calls for still photography, video (or both). My experience is that most events call for a normal lens but in the event of a tornado you want pretty everything from video, focus shots and wide angle shots - this is of course highly dependent on how far away you are.
I would be interested in how you pre-select the equipment you:
1. Bring out on a chase
and
2. Keep in your hands when you step out of the car
For example, do you always keep two sets of cameras available: one for focus shots and one for wider/normal angle shots? Do you video while shooting stills? Do you use a camera that take stills while shooting video?