That was a beautiful launch!!!!

[DAPUNISHER]

Just saw another perfect shot from the backyard I've seen almost every launch and it's still spectacular! This time was a little different since there were F-18s in a circling pattern going over my house every 30-60seconds for the 5 min preceeding the launch. Anyways, if you've never seen one live you must get down here for one because they're awe inspiring. Watching the SRBs fall is my favorite part.

 

[ElFenix]

i wonder how much a 300MM IS lens would be? i would need one for a shuttle launch.

 

[notfred]

I'll assume you're talking about the space shuttle.

 

[Rallispec]

do they even show them on TV anymore?

 

[Lucky]

<< i wonder how much a 300MM IS lens would be? i would need one for a shuttle launch. >>



you'd need far more than a 300 unless you live next door to nasa.

 

[Lucky]

<< do they even show them on TV anymore? >>



yep, watched it myself.

 

[Cyrus]

<< do they even show them on TV anymore? >>



It was on MSNBC, I watched it too.

 

[JetBlack69]

PICS!!!! (I always wanted to do that on a non-chick related thread )

 

[Anubis]

friend of mine bought a 500mm lense for her cannon rebel max cost here more then 500$ i think

 

[DAPUNISHER]

I just use my 10x50mm Binoculars or camcorder because I'm only 15miles or so from the pad I wish I could post pics but my camcorder is a VHS-c (the wifey bought it :frown: ) format and I don't have a capture card

 

[ElFenix]

<< you'd need far more than a 300 unless you live next door to nasa. >>

well, i'd be driving from texas, so i suspect i would get as close as they let people get... i think you could probably get a good image with a 300MM. $4500 might be something that eventually i could think about throwing down. i'd have to rent a 600MM.



<< friend of mine bought a 500mm lense for her cannon rebel max cost here more then 500$ i think >>

the Canon EF 500MM/F4.5L IS USM is going for $6,299.95 at my local camera store. they don't make zooms that long so she'd be looking at $5500 even for a used lens. maybe you missed a 0 there

 

[Lucky]

[/i] >>

well, i'd be driving from texas, so i suspect i would get as close as they let people get... i think you could probably get a good image with a 300MM. [/i] >>





They dont let people get too close. They dont even let photographers get close to the launch anymore after 9/11. I think, IIRC, the closest public watching point is about a mile away.









<< friend of mine bought a 500mm lense for her cannon rebel max cost here more then 500$ i think >>



<< the Canon EF 500MM/F4.5L IS USM is going for $6,299.95 at my local camera store. they don't make zooms that long so she'd be looking at $5500 even for a used lens. maybe you missed a 0 there >>

[/i] >>






Sorry, but its completely possible to get a 500mm lens for cheap, even for $200. The easiest way is a 500mm f/8 "mirror" lens that is very compact and lightweight. This kind of lens produces some anomolies called "doughnuts" in the background but for someone on a budget its fine as long as its a bright sunny day.

And they do make zooms that go that far, and yes, they are under $500 as well. Not the image quality of a brand name prime 500mm lens, but I was forced to use a 170-500 zoom lens once when the 600mm prime I was shooting broke at a soccer game. The relatively poor aperture required me to shoot higher speed film but the results were adequate.

 

[Squisher]

I would have liked to have seen that night launch they had a while back.

 

[DAPUNISHER]

Night launches are great and you don't need to be that close to really enjoy them either(same goes for day launches) the Shuttle is obviously huge and with standard binoculars you can see it well from any area beach or the intercoastal waterways anywhere north of SR 520 so you have a lot of places to get a great view from. Ofcourse being on NASA property with a launch pass is the best, I saw the first ever night launch there years back and the exhaust flames were so big you felt like you could reach out and burn your hand in them. The night shots are so spectacular and bright that people in Orlando 40-50miles away can see them easily. If you can get here for one it's well worth it!