Shooting at the racetrack

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davedwyervideo

Member
Hi folks.

Got a gig coming up which will require me to stand by a racetrack and video motorcycles as they come racing towards me, then past me, then off into the distance.

So, focus people. How do I keep these suckers in focus?

Trial run today with 12-35mm and 14-140mm lenses were rather average. I tried using the auto focus AREA function, it was hit and miss. The 'hits' using the 12-35mm looked the best.

I live in PAL land so would typically set to shutter to 1/50. Is there any merit to cranking the shutter upwards for this?

Any tips and/or advice as to how I might get some craking shots (or at the very least stay in focus) would be majorly appreciated.
 
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You might think about using a smaller chip prosumer type camera for this. Is this a live broadcast, or something that will go to post? If it's the latter, then you can use the AF100 for the shots you think you can get, and the other for the main stuff. Shouldn't be too hard or expensive to rent one for a couple of days.
 
Use a faster shutter if you increase the frame rate other wise 1/50 is fine. I would increase the DOF by stopping down as much as needed.
Whats the track?
 
F-stop. Set the f-stop to f/8, and that'll keep most things in focus. If you used the 14-140 at 14mm, and f/8, and set the focus to 6 feet, then everything from 3 feet to infinity will be in sharp focus.

Of course, you're not going to get the shallow DOF look by doing that, but -- did you want that? Or did you want the subjects in focus? Or both? Also, is this a locked-down shot of them racing towards you, or is this more like a news coverage situation where you're chasing the bikes all over the track wherever they go?

The deeper you make your DOF, the easier it'll be to keep the subjects in focus (obviously, of course...)
 
Be careful of shutter speed if it's going to be at night since it will be lit with those big stadium lights. I don't know the characteristics of them, but if you're not in a factor of 50 or make it too fast, then you'll probably get waves or blinking. Otherwise, if it's just going to be daylight, you can use whatever shutter you want. A faster shutter may give it a better look for the style, depending on what kind of project this is. XSV has done some work around racetracks, he could probably chime in and say if a faster shutter speed makes for a good effect on racing footage.
 
Thanks for the excellent advice folks. Apologies it's taken me almost a year to report back. The project turned into more of a photography assignment mixed with GoPro footage so all was fine.
 
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