Panning question

[fmshoemaker]

Why, when I do or see many panning shots, is the rear of the vehicle more out of focus than the front? Can this be attributed to bad technique?

 

[tirediron]

What aperture, focal length and shutter-speed were you using?

 

[fmshoemaker]

Just checked. 1/40th f13 at 70mm

 

[SCraig]

It's probably bouncing.

 

[minicoop1985]

No, actually, it has to do with the way the car is moving in relation to the lens and direction you're panning. There's about a 15 degree window where you can get the whole car panned in sharp focus.

Peep this for example.

Corvette C6R by Michael Long, on Flickr

Here's an example of a sharp one:

Audi R8 LMP by Michael Long, on Flickr

Even the sharp one suffers a little at the back end. Then again, that thing was doing over 150 by the time it went past me. And that's uncropped.

 

[fmshoemaker]

So the closer the vehicle is to perpendicular to the lens, the sharper the whole vehicle will be?

 

[KmH]

Yes.

 

[minicoop1985]

Precisely. There's two ways to get a rolling car in sharp focus, and that's with a rig or a car to car roller.

 

[fmshoemaker]

Thanks, I see it now. Again, thanks.