Panera Spotting

[adscram14]

All,
Looks like I'm going to get one more chance this vacation at JFK spotting. Looks like they'll be using 31s. What lens is reccomended for Panera/Costco? What's the closest you can get (in terms of less mm) for pics?
Thanks again!

[Zee71]

I would say for Costco a 70-200mm or 70-300mm should be fine, but for Panera I would say 70-300mm, 100-400mm, or 80-400mm (Nikon lens) or 200-400mm

[adscram14]

I would say for Costco a 70-200mm or 70-300mm should be fine, but for Panera I would say 70-300mm, 100-400mm, or 80-400mm (Nikon lens) or 200-400mm

Looks like I'll be heading to Costco. I shoot with a 70-300 and then a 18-50 for everyday shots.
Thanks for all of your help Mark!

[Zee71]

You should be fine at Panera with the 70-300mm.....Panera is only a couple street lights away from Costco (less than a 2 minute ride), but your distances is a little further away and you have different angle as well. Take a few at Costco and then a few at Panera.

[adscram14]

Will do. I wonder what traffic will be like tomorrow morning because of this blizzard...

[gonzalu]

I just created this map that may help with distances from spotting locations and the flight paths for the runways.

http://goo.gl/maps/KnFh

Please let me know if useful!

[gonzalu]

Traffic should still be OK... today it took me about 20 minutes from JFK to home, 30 miles... THAT'S A NEW RECORD for me lol. Normally, afternoons it can take me 1.5 hours.

[adscram14]

Thanks for the map, Manny! Any 31L spotting ideas...?

[gonzalu]

For 31L, your best bet is Inwood Park... sweet viewing, although the tower is barely visible and no views of the runways... well, you can see the AREA around 31R/22L but it is useless photographically speaking :-)

For 31L however, you get a nice angle and nice views. a crop sensor and 400mm will frame fully when wide bodies are square with your position. Once past, you can get the nice shot of the planes engines 1 or 1 & 2 and the nose.

[eric8669]

I might be out there tomorrow.

[adscram14]

How about 31L arrivals?

[gonzalu]

Innwood park!!

[gonzalu]

I might be out there tomorrow.

Departures (HoBe) or arrivals (Innwood) ?? I am trying to decide what's best :-)

[eric8669]

Departures (HoBe) or arrivals (Innwood) ?? I am trying to decide what's best :-)

I'm thinking Hobe, if its plowed, and you can stay in your car. Inwood, you gotta be outside.

[gonzalu]

I'm thinking Hobe, if its plowed, and you can stay in your car. Inwood, you gotta be outside.

Soo true... but I don;t want to miss an interesting diverted arrival LOL. One can always catch it leaving I guess, no way to miss an arrival but you don;t get second chances with missed departures :-)

HoBe it is then...