Best Camera Settings for Capturing Aircraft at Night

Hello fellow aviation photographers! I've been experimenting with night photography at airports and I'm curious about your camera settings. I've been using my Canon EOS R5 with a 70-200mm f/2.8 lens, mainly at LAX (Los Angeles International Airport, LAX). I try to catch some of those stunning long-exposure shots with light trails, but I struggle with getting the perfect balance between ISO, shutter speed, and aperture.

My usual settings are ISO 800, f/4, and a shutter speed of about 1/30s, but I find my shots can sometimes be too noisy or not sharp enough. I'm using a tripod, but I still feel like there's room for improvement.

What settings have worked well for you in similar situations? Do you have any tips for dealing with light pollution and getting clear, vibrant shots? Also, any post-processing tips in Lightroom or Photoshop to enhance night-time shots would be greatly appreciated. Looking forward to your insights and experiences!

I've had similar experiences shooting at night, especially with long exposures at busy airports like LAX. One trick is to lower your ISO to around 400 to reduce noise, which can be quite noticeable with higher settings. You might want to try a slower shutter speed, around 1/15s or even a few seconds, if you're aiming for more pronounced light trails. Just ensure your tripod is stable. As for aperture, keeping it between f/4 and f/5.6 can help maintain sharpness while allowing enough light.

In Lightroom or Photoshop, noise reduction can be a lifesaver for night shots. Use the 'Details' panel in Lightroom to fine-tune noise reduction and sharpness. Also, using the 'Dehaze' slider can help manage light pollution and enhance contrast. Have you tried bracketing exposures for HDR processing? It can be helpful in balancing highlights and shadows in night shots.