Ahoy hoy. I'm planning to go to a drag racing meet this Saturday at the local strip. I'm trying to work out what the best settings would be to photograph cars there in various locations: Burnout box, lights and mid-strip. Lighting there is very ordinary and I'm still not packing a flash in my equipment set. Camera is a 350d and I'm planning on using the 17-85mm lens, however I do have the option of the 70-200.

Any tips to get the right ISO and light settings would be sweet.

Sit at mid track with the 17-85 and shoot panning. I have the same delima, so I sit mid track near some lights, pump the ISO upto 800/1600 and shoot @ 1/10th shutter speed, it makes for some awesome practice and great fun, not to mention the pictures look great if you get them right

Ok cheers. Hope they got working lights mid track... :S

Dude, it's all about figuring it out and learning! You don't learn when you're told!

shoot on TV, that way it'll sort your aperture for you, just worry about the shutter. Start on 1/60th and move down, depends on how quick the cars are.
Get both lenses, you may find you're using the longest end of the 17-85 which isn't totally awesome with pin cushioning so grab a 70-200 cause the tele may come into use for launches etc.. Hope it's a 2.8 but or you'll be running a bit high in the ISO's. Also turn IS OFF on the 17-85, it does both axis unlike the tele's which can be vertical or both (A or B).

350d - high iso = noisy
17-85 - 3.5-5.6 = not enough light
no flash = major fail

Get that 70-200 IF its a 2.8

When the sun goes down, shoot in manual, f2.8, iso1600 and shutter around 1/160th and you might start to get something decent

Or just buy a 1D then sell it and buy a D700 like Kyle... Where's the 'rich-wanker' smiley

My advice, leave the camera at home and just watch. I shot compak attack last year with a 350d and 55-250. minute the sun went down i packed up and went home, saved myself from being disappointed

Harsh but true Matt.. Harsh but true..

Yeah D700.. Who needs flashes!

Shut up traitor

So, when are you posting me the free diamond?

even d700 needs flashes at willow or mackay

How true is that Dave. The Sydney boys are blessed with great lighting down there.

The difference between WSID and Willowbank is the same as Willowbank to Mackay unfortunately.

Terry.

I swear I saw Kyle the other day, getting out of his Continental and he dropped his keys. He just looked at them on the ground, 2 foot from the car - drivers door not even closed yet. He just shrugged and walked off!


Damn that bum for throwing a good right hook or I'd be cruising in Kyle's style right now [Shakes fist at sky].

Haha continental thats not how i roll nick

Is it now a kids pushy after you got the D7? At least one with a little basket for the camera?