Aerial View Maps

What type of lenses should you use in Aerial Photography ?

Aerial Photography:Questions and Answers

Public Comments

1. Aerial LENS
2. It depends on the type of camera you use: type-specific aerial photography cameras use dedicated sensor-lens combinations and medium format (30+ mpixels) sensors. Some camera sensors are calibrated to capture infrared light. However, their price tag can be obscene. DSLR users can compensate for in-flight movement using a hi-speed lens (f2.8 or less) and low to medium iso-sensitivity (100 - 400 ISO), and shutter speeds of more than 1/250 s, with image stabilization (e.g. Nikon VR, Canon IS) active. As the point of focus in aerial photography will usually be set to infinity, there's no need to close down the aperture to get a more detailed picture. Contrast etc. is usually enhanced in post-processing. A good 80-200 / f2.8 will ususally do the trick but they can be bulky and cumbersome, epecially in a light aeroplane. If you know what flight altitude and max. speed to expect before you fly, you might want to consider taking a relatively small and fast prime lens, such as a 85mm of 50 mm/f.1.8 with you.
3. I would echo nuclearf, but with the proviso of using a Wratten 1A filter at all times. This will enable you to cut through haze and Ultra Violet that is always present in Aerial Photography.
4. I would echo nuclearf, but with the proviso of using a Wratten 1A filter at all times.
5. depends on the camera (according to Steve Mulligan's composition book, he uses medium format cameras when doing aerial photography).