Re: [KOML] Aerials

[John J Stafford <stafford@WIND.WINONA.MSUS.EDU>]

> So, I should focus at infinity? I tried that but if I remember the
> finder showed that I was out of focus. I will try again and report back.

My experience with aerial photography includes the Big Stuff: USAF recon
RB66 and Voodo RF101 airplanes in the sixties. Sure, we used monsterous
hardware (like 9" by 180 fool rolls of film, shot in stereo), which doesn't
relate to our work, but two other things did. First, the motion of the
focal plane and film relative to the direction of the aircraft is
important. Our take on this is to either not use FP shutters (which the KO
does not), or to be certain that the FP shutter travels in the same
direction. Since we don't have the option of a film traveling across the
shutter, use the very highest shutter speed you can. The other point,
pertinent here, is that just because you are at 1000 feet, does NOT mean
that the ground is at infinity. 1000 feet is really pretty low (compared to
my experience), and bare in mind that you are shooting at a relatively flat
target - one that really shows when you haven't perfect focus.  Dunno how
well the KO accomdates 'infinity', especially with its longer (180mm) lens
(which is wonderful on land.)

I have several aquaintences who shoot aerials, and unfortunately the best
of them is not very good. It seems they all have problems first with focus,
steady cameras and fast shutter speeds and second, with LIGHT. They just
don't get it.