May 2007

Asdrius · 11 maja 2007, 19:58

Here are the pictures at last <img src="http://picsrv.fora.pl/images/smiles/icon_smile.gif" alt="Smile" border="0">.
 
They were taken at April-May 2007. I will also put route information, because I always research my observations routing. I am just curious why and where planes are flying. I will not put links or thumbnails as the quality improvement in looking at my photos on full size will not be significant as compared to small versions. I have problems focusing and getting sharp images. But i would like to share with them and get some advice, comments. The main question for me: Is this really the maximum quality I can make from my current equipment and only equipment upgrade will help me improve?
 
A340-300 Lufthansa DLH736 EDDF-RJGG
 <img src="http://i207.photobucket.com/albums/bb12 ... thansa.jpg" border="0"> 
B737-300 KD Avia KNI995 UUDD-UMKK (this routing is not flown over poland, but this company's planes could be seen over Poland on other routes)
 <img src="http://i207.photobucket.com/albums/bb12 ... 070415.jpg" border="0"> 
B747-400 KLM KLM887 EHAM-VHHH
 <img src="http://i207.photobucket.com/albums/bb12 ... FO_KLM.jpg" border="0"> 
B747-400 Lufthansa DLH720 EDDF-ZBAA (nice shadows on the fuselage due to sunset <img src="http://picsrv.fora.pl/images/smiles/icon_smile.gif" alt="Smile" border="0"> )
 <img src="http://i207.photobucket.com/albums/bb12 ... ansa-1.jpg" border="0"> 
B777-200 Air France AFR184 LFPG-VHHH
 <img src="http://i207.photobucket.com/albums/bb12 ... France.jpg" border="0"> 
B777-200 Continental COA82 KEWR-VIDP (a rare one over here <img src="http://picsrv.fora.pl/images/smiles/icon_cool.gif" alt="Cool" border="0"> I think this route and company do not fly over Poland)
 <img src="http://i207.photobucket.com/albums/bb12 ... nental.jpg" border="0"> 
That's all for now.

jpro747 · 12 maja 2007, 12:23

Hi Asdrius,
 
Nice Pictures <img src="http://picsrv.fora.pl/images/smiles/icon_razz.gif" alt="Razz" border="0"> 
In answer to your question, I think that it is neccesary to buy some new equipment if you want better quality photos. When I first started contrailspotting 3 years ago my photos were taken through a very cheap telescope and small compact camera and the quality wasnt very good. I also had very little knowledge on cameras, what settings to use etc. It all comes with experience - and I can tell you that there are many members on this forum who can offer you help on improving your photos. <img src="http://picsrv.fora.pl/images/smiles/icon_smile.gif" alt="Smile" border="0"> 
Since 3 years ago I have saved up a lot of money from my job, and spent around nearly Ł1,200 on contrailspotting equipment! <img src="http://picsrv.fora.pl/images/smiles/icon_surprised.gif" alt="Surprised" border="0"> 
I am using Celestron Starhopper 6" + Canon EOS 350D telescope to capture my photos.
 
Most of the members on this forum are using telescopes to capture contrailing aircraft, and I would strongly reccomend using a telescope.
 
In my opinion, Grztus makes the best pictures on here and he is using a similar telescope to mine, but it lets in more light. I'll leave him to tell you the technical details <img src="http://picsrv.fora.pl/images/smiles/icon_wink.gif" alt="Wink" border="0"> _________________ ContrailsUK

grztus · 12 maja 2007, 19:09

<table width="90%" cellspacing="1" cellpadding="3" border="0" align="center">
<tr>
<td>contrailsUK napisał:</td> </tr>
<tr>
<td class="quote">Most of the members on this forum are using telescopes...</td> </tr>
</table>

 
It's not exactly the truth becouse most of our members are using mono or binoculars (like Yukon, Kronos 20x60 etc.) with some simple digital camera. There are also some people taking shots with DSLR (like Nikon, Eos) + MTO/Rubinar 1000/10 system and the number of members taking photos through telescope is less than 10.
 Asdrius your pictures are really good (taking account of your equipment), they are sharp, almost well exposed, have naturall colours. In my opinion, you have made the best what you could with this Pentax bino. I can tell, that they are even better from some of my shots with EOS 350D+Sigma 70-300.
 
Now you need to answer yourself for one question: do you want to stop on this level of contrails spotting, or your dream is to taking shots like air to air pictures...? For us it doesn't matter which answer will you choice, becouse we are always ready to help you. We have here (in ICC section) forum about equipment, so you can starts new topics there and ask as many questions as you need get answer for. _________________ Grzegorz Tuszyński
 <a href="http://www.grztus.orgfree.com" target="_blank" class="postlink">www.grztus.orgfree.com</a>

Asdrius · 12 maja 2007, 22:13

Hello,
 
Thank you for your comments, I definately want to make better pictures, but looking at the prices, for a significant upgrade I will have to save up some money. So I'll stick with current equipment for a while.
 
My photos look sharp only when I reduce into such small sizes, around 30-40% of original size. At 100% they look blurry and not so nice, I cant make desktop wallpapers out of them <img src="http://picsrv.fora.pl/images/smiles/icon_smile.gif" alt="Smile" border="0"> But I guess it's a limitation of my equipment.
 
So later I'll ask some questions about equipment in Equipment section to move discussion there ant keep this section for observations. Here is a nice one I made this evening:
 
A340-600 Lufthansa; DLH712 EDDF-RKSI
 <img src="http://i207.photobucket.com/albums/bb12 ... thansa.jpg" border="0">

jpro747 · 13 maja 2007, 12:39

nice photo and great lighting <img src="http://picsrv.fora.pl/images/smiles/icon_smile.gif" alt="Smile" border="0"> 
I have no photos to show due to bad weather conditions (typical english rain <img src="http://picsrv.fora.pl/images/smiles/icon_mad.gif" alt="Mad" border="0"> ) and it doesnt look like it will clear up until wednesday at the earliest. _________________ ContrailsUK

Asdrius · 14 maja 2007, 16:44

I'll show some more pictures, while weather in England improves <img src="http://picsrv.fora.pl/images/smiles/icon_smile.gif" alt="Smile" border="0"> 
A300-600 Lufthansa; DLH3188 EDDF-UUEE
 <img src="http://i207.photobucket.com/albums/bb12 ... thansa.jpg" border="0"> 
B747-400 Lufthansa; DLH728 EDDF-ZSPD
 <img src="http://i207.photobucket.com/albums/bb12 ... thansa.jpg" border="0"> 
TU-154M Sibir; SBI894 EDDV-UUDD
 <img src="http://i207.photobucket.com/albums/bb12 ... _Sibir.jpg" border="0">

jpro747 · 14 maja 2007, 21:26

looks like you see a lot of lufthansa <img src="http://picsrv.fora.pl/images/smiles/icon_smile.gif" alt="Smile" border="0"> 
That last one is also interesting, i have never seen a Tupolev before.
 
BTW, how do you find out your flight information? _________________ ContrailsUK

Asdrius · 14 maja 2007, 23:54

Yes I get enough Lufthansa, that sometimes it makes me sick <img src="http://picsrv.fora.pl/images/smiles/icon_smile.gif" alt="Smile" border="0"> But their 747's and A340's are a very nice sight, with those beautifully painted and higly visible tails.
 
On some days, if conditions are right I could see all types Lufthansa operates. Mostly from/to Frankfurt variuos small distance B737's, A319/20/21 on Moscow flights, medium range A330's,A300's on Kazakstan flights and long range A343,A346,B744 on China,Korea,Japan flights <img src="http://picsrv.fora.pl/images/smiles/icon_smile.gif" alt="Smile" border="0"> Lufthansa Cargo MD-11F also visible on flights to/from Asia.
 
For Tupolevs, I got very lucky with that shot. They are becoming very rare over Lithuania. When I started spotting 3-4 years ago, Tupolevs, especially Sibir's were a frequent sight. But now many Russian carriers like Sibir bought many western planes and Tupolevs are left on domestic Russian flights and only in rare occasions they replace a western plane on flights to Europe.
 
As for flight information, it's a pitty where are no such flight tracking sites for Europe like in USA, so I usually have to search through various sites: airports, airlines websites, Acarsd.org,openatc, airliners.net and etc. Recently a new site helps me a lot:
 <a href="http://www.flygradar.nu/ostersjon.php" target="_blank" class="postlink">http://www.flygradar.nu/ostersjon.php</a>
 
It shows all traffic over Baltic sea and part of Poland. If on correct airway, an eastbound airplane shown there usually in 20-30 minutes fly above Vilnius. So I just write down the info of a flight and get my photo equipment ready then I see a plane in screen. That's why most of photos are for eastbound fligts.
 
Tu154's do not have mode-s so they are not visible, I found about it in an old way just looking through airports websites arrivals, departures info. TU was photographed at 2007-04-22, and I also found a photo of the same plane on same day in hanover here: <a href="http://www.jetphotos.net/viewphoto.php? ... 843&nseq=0" target="_blank" class="postlink">http://www.jetphotos.net/viewphoto.php? ... &nseq=0</a>
 
So it just confirmed my observation and I got reg. nr. <img src="http://picsrv.fora.pl/images/smiles/icon_smile.gif" alt="Smile" border="0">

jpro747 · 15 maja 2007, 18:31

Interesting tracking site.
 
I am using a similar website to track my aircraft (http://www.openatc.com), where people can share there SBS-1 information online. It works with Google earth or maps. The areas that are covered include the UK, part of Belgium and the Netherlands, some of Germany and Switzerland, and also some of the Middle East. Poland and Lithuania are not yet covered but could well be in the near future as SBS-1 is becoming more popular as is the site! <img src="http://picsrv.fora.pl/images/smiles/icon_smile.gif" alt="Smile" border="0"> _________________ ContrailsUK

jpro747 · 17 maja 2007, 23:25

grztus · 18 maja 2007, 00:23

Nice AirShow... <img src="http://picsrv.fora.pl/images/smiles/icon_wink.gif" alt="Wink" border="0"> _________________ Grzegorz Tuszyński
 <a href="http://www.grztus.orgfree.com" target="_blank" class="postlink">www.grztus.orgfree.com</a>

Asdrius · 18 maja 2007, 18:50

Interesting photos, that XS606 is flying with its cargo door open <img src="http://picsrv.fora.pl/images/smiles/icon_eek.gif" alt="Shocked" border="0"> . Was it dropping something like paratroopers?
 
Openatc is great site but of little use in my area. That swedish site, while very useful for my area, does have some problems, like no logging of previous flights, so I have just to keep my eyes glued to the screen if I dont want to miss flight info <img src="http://picsrv.fora.pl/images/smiles/icon_sad.gif" alt="Sad" border="0"> .
 
Here last few days was not good for contrail photography, but I am going to show some more older pictures from April I have:
 
A320 Aeroflot; AFL260 LFPG-UUEE
 <img src="http://i207.photobucket.com/albums/bb12 ... 070422.jpg" border="0"> 
A340-300 Air France; AFR106 LFPG-ZGGG
 <img src="http://i207.photobucket.com/albums/bb12 ... 070422.jpg" border="0"> 
B737-500 Transaero; TSO309 UUDD-EDDT
 <img src="http://i207.photobucket.com/albums/bb12 ... 070422.jpg" border="0"> 
B747-400ERF JADE Cargo; JAE7402 EHAM-ZGSZ
 <img src="http://i207.photobucket.com/albums/bb12 ... ECargo.jpg" border="0">