Good Year Blimp

[Bob_Benner]

I had my D50 out today with the Sigma 70-300mm APO lens on it. The Goodyear Blimp was out over the Stadium for the Holiday Bowl. I figure the blimp was approx. 2 miles away. I did crop alot of the sky out of the picture but thats all I did to it. I was not trying to get great colors or anything just seeing how well I could zoom in on the blimp. This was taken handheld at
300mm, f/5.6. Just wanted to give an example if anyone else has been looking at this lens. Let me know what you think.

http://www.pixentral.com/hosted/1JAFzTEJuXVwoE3FtfwQ26FHWrdS_thumb.jpg (http://www.pixentral.com/show.php?picture=1JAFzTEJuXVwoE3FtfwQ26FHWrdS)

[mom to 4]

Bob:

I certainly am no expert, but ....THAT BLIMP WAS TWO MILES AWAY?!?!?!?!?
Wow!, I think it looks great! I am sure you would have to have cropped lots of sky, but who cares, you wanted the blimp and not the sky. Personally, I think it looks great, you can even see the landing lines (?) coming off the front! Very nice!

[kevq]

Bob,
great shot with a great lens.
Kev.

[Bob_Benner]

Thanks Colleen:) . I looked up the driving distance to the stadium and it is 4.6 miles, so I still figure the straight distance is approx. 2 miles or so, give ot take a half mile maybe. The landing lines I thought was a smudge on the lens at first, thanks for mentioning that.

[Bob_Benner]

Thanks Kev :) There are alot of mixed reviews and opinions on this lens, but I decided to see for myself, and I am glad I did.

[Chuck S.]

you can even see the landing lines (?) coming off the front!

Colleen, yes - those are definitely landing lines. Some 30 years ago, I got the opportunity to ride on a Goodyear Blimp, and they had a ground crew that would run after those lines, grab them, and hold on for dear life. Definitely a low-tech landing process! On our little flight, the winds came up and we had to abort the landing...with a couple guys hanging onto the lines! Fortunately, they let go before we went back aloft and tried a second time..

:)

Chuck