Rob B
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Registered: 8th Jan 04
Location: Area Motorsport Drives: Race EP3
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I just went up to try and take some snaps, need a bigger lens as i only have 18-55 so these images are cropped and zoomed afterwards hence the crap quality.
All done on manual with manual focus as i'm sure you can tell 
Let me know what you think anyway 
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Matt L
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Registered: 17th Apr 06
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why did you do it in manual focus? none of them are in focus so dont look very good, would have been great if they were as panning/shutter speed look spot on to me.
stick it in ai servo mode or what ever its called basically constantly focus's until you fully press the shutter.
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AndyKent
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Registered: 3rd Sep 05
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Only time I would possibly consider manual focussing is if you want a specific part of a car in focus on a specific part of the track (for example, a wheel hitting an apex). Other than that AI servo will be perfect.
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Tiger
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Registered: 12th Jun 01
Location: Leicestershire Drives:Astra VXR
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I ALWAYS use manual focus for motorsport and get about a 80% hit rate.
I like the control manual gives me whereas auto I dont know if its going to 'see' my target.
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AndyKent
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Registered: 3rd Sep 05
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You say that, but of all the ones you've posted only 1, maybe 2, are perfectly in focus.
The porsche and the clio are miles off.
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Rob B
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Registered: 8th Jan 04
Location: Area Motorsport Drives: Race EP3
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I didn't say anything
it's my first attempt, what's ai servo? When I depress half way it focuses and that's it it doesn't constantly focus. Nikon D3100 BTW.
Most were took on iso200 due to lighting, 1/100 shutter speed and f.10.
Help is appriciated
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AndyKent
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Registered: 3rd Sep 05
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Oh shit, sorry, didn't even look at who I was posting to
Its a different method of focussing. Theres manual (obvious), single (focusses on one point when you half-press the shutter - doesn't change) and ai-servo (tracks an object and adjusts the focus to suit).
You should have all three modes, check the manual.
Also, up the shutter speed a bit to start with, 1/125 or even 1/200 would help until you've got a bit more practise.
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Adam_B
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Registered: 13th Dec 00
Location: Lancashire
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I was there today too!
http://www.corsasport.co.uk/board/viewthread.php?tid=610935
[Edited on 25-07-2011 by Adam_B]
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BluKoo
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Registered: 8th Apr 02
Location: Stonehaven (Scotland)
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I'd suggest that you could drop the f/ to about 5 or 6.
If light is an issue then this'll enable you to use a faster shutter speed.
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Rob B
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Registered: 8th Jan 04
Location: Area Motorsport Drives: Race EP3
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I've found the focus setting for motion now :doh:
If i drop the f/ down to that makes the photos really bright if i'm using a 1/100 shutter speed.
If i speed the shutter speed up then the background isn't blurred as such. 
Adam - You're pics are awesome1
[Edited on 25-07-2011 by Rob B]
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AndyKent
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Registered: 3rd Sep 05
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Don't use full-manual for exposure, use shutter priority instead. The shutter speed is more important to you than aperture.
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Rob B
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Registered: 8th Jan 04
Location: Area Motorsport Drives: Race EP3
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Exposure = the f number? Lol.
I think I have a setting to do that will read the instructions
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Adam_B
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Registered: 13th Dec 00
Location: Lancashire
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What camera are you using Rob?
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Rob B
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Registered: 8th Jan 04
Location: Area Motorsport Drives: Race EP3
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Nikon d3100 mate
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Adam_B
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Registered: 13th Dec 00
Location: Lancashire
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Exposure is basically how much light is going into the camera be it too light/perfect/too dark. Exposure is mostly controlled by aperture, (f number) shutter speed (sec) and ISO.
For panning shots of cars the aperture can take a back seat. To get enough blur to make the car appear moving but not so much everything is fuzzy, you need to concentrate on the shutter speed, so as Andy says, use shutter priority mode (on my Canon its Tv, dunno if its the same on Nikon.)
This way you can set your shutter speed to the recommended 125 or 200, then you don't need to worry about the aperture as the camera will figure it out for you to get the correct exposure. If you do find the exposure is too light or too dark you can use exposure compensation, (check your manual for that) or sort it in photoshop etc.
In shutter priority you should have control over the ISO as well, I like to keep it low, 100 or 200 at most. The higher you go the more sensitive the camera is to light which is great for using faster shutter speeds but you will start to see your images looking grainy (digital noise)
At Donington there was plenty of light all day so I kept mostly to 100 ISO, panning shots were done from 1/80th to 1/125th sec (changing for lighter/darker coloured cars) at F7.1, for example -
http://images12.fotki.com/v532/fileRhVB/abc14/0/911700/9930892/_MG_0981.jpg
 Hosted on Fotki
I used a 17-55 most of the day inc the above shot.
On the manual/auto focus thing I like to use AI most of the time because I like the speed of the auto on my lens and manual focusing hurts my eyes after a while. There are pros and cons to both so just see what works best for you.
Hope this makes sense!
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Butler
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Registered: 2nd Jun 05
Location: London
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I usually spend a while focusing on the apex of a corner, then knocking auto focus off and snapping the car when it comes into focus. None of my lenses are quick enough.
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