SANParks.org Forums

bwana, which window mount have you ordered?

I've been looking at a Kirk window mount myself but they're pretty expensive. In Africa Geographic there was an article by Daryl Balfour a while back where he commented on a window mount which is produced in S.A. I haven't been able to find any info on that on the Internet though. If the one you ordered was locally produced then I'm very interested in your opinion about build quality and stability.

madach

Madach, I have ordered it locally however it is not being commercially manufactured at this time. I have not used it myself but it has been very positively received by proffesionals that have used it. Unfortunatly due to the immense demand for it since word got out getting one is almost impossible. Should this remain so, I will sell one of the two I have ordered to whoever wants it and whoever puts the money in my account. I will obviously charge what I paid for it ie. cost price. When I receive it I will post a message here.
I shall however keep in contact with the manufacturer and if and when it goes on sale will let you know!
regards
bwana

Hi

Guys i dont know which mounts you are looking at if you are getting the ones the mount exactly onto the window, i have had problem with them. Cause the window is slanted when you pan from left to right or vice a versa you basically go in a half moon only at the centre of the half moon is it perfectly straight...
I dont know if you guys understand what i am trying to say..

( if that helps!!!

The model window mount I'm talking about looks like this:



I'm not sure I know what model you're referring to.

Hi Madach
If you drive an 80 series Land Cruiser I can lend you one of my prototypes.Unfortunatly that one is not universal.Our universal one is being dissected by the engineers.
What size lens do you use,if I know I can maybe give you advice.
Ours are very much built for the gumpa lenses.With lighter lense there are ways and means.
Do you know what a gumpa lens is??
http://outdoorphoto.co.za/forum/showthread.php?t=26
This photo is depicted with the door bracket Darel Balfour most probably talked about.
Ours is much different

Hi

As mentioned somewhere on another topic i always carry my
TRIPOD . I love to check out the animal live in the camps.
For photography these animals are ideal. Used to humans and
that means that with a bit of patience and the right light u
can do some nice things. For those shots i always use the tripod and position it very low. To get the groundshot.

Here are two examples.

Love the squirrel, Bert. I should try a tripod once. Never did.

We keep a tripod in our microbus and use it whenever we can to take photos. We take out the middle seat in the m/bus and stand the tripod closest to the window we wish to photograph out. Otherwise I use a bean bag on the window.

In camps we also use a tripod and you are right Bert, there is a lot to photograph in the camps, especially the birds as they are used to humans.

Is it not a golden rule that one should touch one's camera as little as possible - so strickly speaking one should use a cable release with a tripod when taking a pic? Even lock the mirror up?

Just one small snag - I have a tripod that I have to screw my camera/lens onto which is a bit of a long process when one needs to take a pic in a hurry. Am looking to get one of those you can just clip the camera to.

I always use the cable release. The groundsquirrel is done late in the afternoon. Time 1/60. And did not measure the light on the squirrel.(spot meet) Took a overal light measurement. I wanted the background to be nice too.

DB, i first check out the animals. These squirrels for eg used the same spot every day. I always walk around (if i am on a photo hunt) with the camera attached to the tripod. Be prepared. The trick in the camps is to try to get a shot without human interference. Thats why i always do a bit of investigation. To get the right setting in the light i think is good enough.

Slides being scanned
I have a lightweight from Gitzo and the legs can be spread at
a height of 5 cm. I have no gun bearer

Hi,
While touring Kruger my Angel used a windowtripod
Ergorest instead of a beanbag.
Used with a Sigma 100-300 and 2 x extender
Used as a small tripod when shooting from verandas and even
with groundshots.
Bought it in Holland for 99 euros. More expensive that a
home-made bean(rice)bag but works very well, lightweight, easy to take along in a plane and durable.
Link
http://www.ergorest.com/eng/index.htm

Howzit,

I've grown up using a window-clamp, quite a basic ball-joint head one yet it easily takes the weight of my camera and lenses, so good quality.
Then beanbags or 'bushbags' came in. People around me say how useful they are, easy to use and better than any window mount. But, are they better than, say, the pod that's currently adverised on the Outdoorphoto wesbite - the ergorest?

I'll still use clamps as I have off-camera flash set-up, but, having never used a beanbag, it'd just be good to canvas opinions from people who have used either...the beans and/or the proper, stable ergorest-style window mounts.

Wondercloak: Hedrus from outdoorphoto has a custom setup, where he uses a 'snugfit beanbag'(Fits over door) and a panning plate, which works wonderfull. I used it in Addo and Kruger. First thing I do when I get ready to go through the gate is open the window and position my beanbag(Which is filled with rice for extra weight). It also doubles as a comfy arm rest. And if I'm in a rush and don't have time to place and setup the panning plate, then moulding the beanbag and placing the Tripod collar on the beanbag works just fine.
He sells this custom design for a reasonable price, so mail or phone him and he can send you pictures of it.

I own a ergorest and fill a bag (old pillow, customized) with rice.

Fixed on the window the ergorest is very sturdy and with the camera attached, vibration free. And as Duco pointed out you have high clearance. And the best way to get high shots in the trees of birds. Bateleur for eg.

But the rice/bean bag is much more versatile. I can take any difficult position in the car and move easily from low-angle to frontshots using my mirror. Bag has more work involved and hard to use for high shots.

In my case it does hamper a little, but your lens sounds like the Bigma (Sigma 50-500) and you zoom in and out by turning the lens. You should be fine with that.
The push-pull system my lens has is great, but not as handy on a beanbag.