Mid-Ohio as spectator

[Bill Jurasz]

I'm going to the Vintage races in June as a pure spectator with my dad and brother in law but will be bringing the camera. Is 40D with a 70-200 enough reach? Should I bring the 1.4TC? Or even rent a 100-400? Thanks. I plan on also bringing a 24-70, maybe the 10-22 and my dad's 20D.

[Blake Blakely]

Don't know about the reach you need for Mid-Ohio since I haven't been there. But, if you want to rent more focal length I would recommend the 300 f4L IS or the 400 f5.6. Both are reasonably priced rentals, easy to carry around, and from what I've heard much sharper and faster focusing than the 100-400.

[Ken Neher]

mid ohio is a pretty good place to shoot behind the fence, but if you want to try and shoot through the photo holes in the catch fence or from the stands you might need more lens than that (yes this is very very possible) I 2nd the 400 F5.6 it is a pretty nice piece, and is sharper than the 100-400 in my experience, but I have never used the 300mm Blake mentioned so I cant comment on it

this is an oversharpened example shot from behind the spectator fence but through a photo hole in the esses. I used my crappy $150 300mm to get this shot, but its just an example
http://i101.photobucket.com/albums/m50/comporangesvt2003/general/smallIMG_3934copy.jpg

you can get shots like this at the Acura bridge
http://i101.photobucket.com/albums/m50/comporangesvt2003/general/smakkIMG_3561-1.jpg

[Steve Stein]

Bill,

40D + 70-200 + 1.4 is pretty good. 100-400 would work shooting from outside the fence through the photo holes in Keyhole (turn 4-5) and 12. I'd go for fixed glass instead of the 100-400, 400 5.6 is good, 300 f4 w/1.4 does work but focus is a bit slower to lock. Carousel on the inside you can use anything. Outside through the photo holes longer is better since the openings are small and farther away. Turn 8 is pretty much catch fencing but with a long lens, you can get them cresting the turn before the cars drop into turn 9. Between 9 and 10 is the Honda/Acura Bridge and that's where the bulk of photogs hang out. Best 20 buck investment is a two step ladder to see over the Armco.There are quite a few spectator mounds and you can get some slow pans with wider glass. There is quite a bit of elevation changes and out of turn 11 into Thunder Valley and back up the hill into 12 you can get some shots from the hill, although the catch fencing blocks out a lot unless you go super slow mo on the shutter. Outside Turn 7 there is a grand stand (hopefully they fixed some of the wood since it's pretty tall) and from near the top, you can shoot the cars coming into 7 and 8. If they miss the turn in 7, they're on the beach.

Check this link out.
http://www.trackpedia.com/wiki/Mid_Ohio#Track_Summary

JT and Chris Clark probably know the track better than anyone and they can offer up a lot more suggestions. I'm thinking of going too if I can swing some time off.



Keyhole with the 400 5.6/40D (cropped edges to get ride of the fence)
http://sasteinphoto.com/img/v6/p188460669-3.jpg

Turn 8 with the 400 5.6 + 40D
http://sasteinphoto.com/img/v3/p828965148-3.jpg

Turn 12 through a hole 30D + 400mm
http://sasteinphoto.com/img/v1/p783707567-3.jpg

Going up the ridge into turn 10 from the right side of the Honda/Acura bridge.
http://sasteinphoto.com/img/v2/p954037273-3.jpg

[Bill Jurasz]

Thanks guys. Sounds like the 400/5.6 is the best choice, though I have been curious about the 100-400 for a long time. Fortunately this trip is for pure fun and nothing else.

[Steve Stein]

Heck Bill, if you're going to rent, go for the 500. :)

There's lots of people shooting with the 100-400 at Mid Ohio. I just think the IQ on the 400 is much better. I shot mine with the 1.4x at Sebring and it held up pretty good as for IQ. If you need in between, then switch over the 70-200 w/1.4x. That gets you over 400 with the 1.6 crop factor.

http://sasteinphoto.com/img/v4/p581915053-3.jpg

[Chris Clark]

In all honesty, the 500mm can be a bit long at Mid-Ohio at times. I'd say a 400 is about perfect.

If you are coming to the Vintage GP, most of the interesting stuff is off-track anyway. They have a pretty big car show Saturday and Sunday, and the paddock is open at no extra cost. Tons of opportunities there.....

A quick and dirty guide to shooting M.O. from the spectator side of the fence:
Mid Ohio Spectators Guide (http://blog.cclarkphoto.com/2008/09/mid-ohio-spectators-photography-guide.html)
:)

[Bill Jurasz]

Thanks to all the advice guys, and to Chris for his spectator's guide. I hope to post some pics soon, but I'm going on another vacation shortly and thus it might have to wait another week. I had a blast. I ended up bringing my 70-200/2.8 and using my 1.4TC with it on my 40D. I did notice a slow down in the auto-focus speed but I don't think it was anything I wasn't able to compensate for. The vintage races were great and I really was not expecting to see Indy Lights and retired ALMS cars! Got some good shots in the paddock with the 24-70 as well.

[Steve Stein]

Can't wait to see them Bill. I wish I could have made it up but I was tied up on Saturday and the weather on Sunday looked pretty crappy to drive 3+ hours to get there.

Chirs, you were there, weren't you?

[Chris Clark]

Chirs, you were there, weren't you?


Yep. We had some power outage issues Sunday afternoon, night, into Monday morning so I am running a little behind. Finished up client stuff tonight. I'll probably post some stuff up tomorrow.

Bill: Looking forward to seeing some images. Glad the guide worked out for you. I need to update it with some newly discovered spots........

[Bill Jurasz]

Trying to find 8 images to post before I go out of town again. I made a hurried selection but here goes. :) All C&C is welcome, but do not be surprised if it takes me a few days to respond to C&C. Thanks!

1. Under the Honda Bridge at Madness:
http://mercphoto.exposuremanager.com/scripts/expman.pl?rm=view_photo&photo_id=20100627_5518_13_2&dir=galleries/13/2&file=20100627_5518_medium.jpg

2. Cresting the hill at 8:
http://mercphoto.exposuremanager.com/scripts/expman.pl?rm=view_photo&photo_id=20100627_5418_13_2&dir=galleries/13/2&file=20100627_5418_medium.jpg

3. Entering 8:
http://mercphoto.exposuremanager.com/scripts/expman.pl?rm=view_photo&photo_id=20100625_5122_13_2&dir=galleries/13/2&file=20100625_5122_medium.jpg

4. One of the most active passing zones, turn 7:
http://mercphoto.exposuremanager.com/scripts/expman.pl?rm=view_photo&photo_id=20100625_4993_13_2&dir=galleries/13/2&file=20100625_4993_medium.jpg

5. No parking!
http://mercphoto.exposuremanager.com/scripts/expman.pl?rm=view_photo&photo_id=20100625_4870_13_2&dir=galleries/13/2&file=20100625_4870_medium.jpg

6. Front stretch:
http://mercphoto.exposuremanager.com/scripts/expman.pl?rm=view_photo&photo_id=20100625_4798_13_2&dir=galleries/13/2&file=20100625_4798_medium.jpg

7. Old Lola Champ Car:
http://mercphoto.exposuremanager.com/scripts/expman.pl?rm=view_photo&photo_id=20100625_4689_13_2&dir=galleries/13/2&file=20100625_4689_medium.jpg

8. Turn 7 again:
http://mercphoto.exposuremanager.com/scripts/expman.pl?rm=view_photo&photo_id=20100625_4879_13_2&dir=galleries/13/2&file=20100625_4879_medium.jpg

[John Thawley]

I think #3 would be a great candidate for black and white conversion.

[Bill Jurasz]

Very quick transformation before I need to step away from the computer and get to packing. :) Red 50%, Green 10%, Blue 40%. I like how the red of the barrier blends more with the green of the grass, doesn't pop out anymore.

http://mercphoto.exposuremanager.com/scripts/expman.pl?rm=view_photo&photo_id=20100625_5122bw_13_2&dir=galleries/13/2&file=20100625_5122bw_medium.jpg

[Steve Stein]

Bill,

Turn 7 is pretty active. It's good for at least one car to hit the beach.

Glad you enjoyed OH. I'm sure you enjoyed the high temps and humidity.