Mounting a Tripod in a Jeep for Photography
Photographing from Vehicles
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All the game reserves that we recommend are self-drive reserves so nosotros will show you lot how photographing from vehicles can bring not bad rewards.
Currently we drive a Toyota Fortuner 4X4 but in the past nosotros have driven a Land Rover, diverse Jeeps, a Toyota Prado and even a Toyota Camry that performed better than our Freelander!
Photographing from vehicles - Window Pods
There are various window pods or window mounts available such every bit the Rue Groofwinpod (ground-roof-window pod), the Kirk Window Mountain, both made in the USA to the Eckla Hawkeye Car Door Lens Support that is made in Europe and the Annoy window mount and cheaper CamStedi window mounts, both made in Southward Africa...
Annoy Window Mount
Kirk Window Mountain
I have used all the higher up window mounts for photographing from vehicles and my preference used to be for the Kirk window mount as information technology clamps onto the window while the others merely rest on the door and rely on the weight of the photographic camera and lens to keep them stable.
All the window mounts have a flat plate that you mount your head onto except the Kirk. Its plate is made in a 'Z' shape which means the head is lower. Many photographers do non like this equally yous then need to bend forward to photograph.
In the photo higher up you will see that this photographer has inserted a metal block, about two inches high, to raise his Wimberley head.
I also don't like the height of the Kirk then I cut a block of wood that I inserted between my sometime Kirk (I now utilize the Camstedi) and my Arca-Swiss ballhead to raise the height...
Ron McKechnie, who makes the CamStedi window mount, has made two new accessories - a clench attachment then yous tin can now clench the unit to your window (like the Kirk merely without the 'Z' design) plus an L-plate that you attach to the end of the CamStedi and slide into your window recess.
Both new additions will provide more stability and 'agree', keeping the CamStedi on the vehicle while driving or shooting.
I do, however, still recommend yous employ some form of security strap from the window mount to your car in case the window mountain comes loose - specially if yous desire to drive with your lens mounted to it - accidents can and exercise happen!
The CamStedi is sold by Ron for about R1000,00 (near USD150,00). This makes the CamStedi the cheapest and nigh practical window mountain on the market in my apprehensive opinion.
He produces the CamStedi in very pocket-sized quantities and should y'all want to buy 1 please contact Ron on ronmck@lantic.net or phone him on +27 (0)eighteen 468 5203.
If you desire to drive with your lens mounted onto the window-mount, regardless of which make you cull, then you need something that will not come off! We have seen people that have had their 600mm f4 come up tumbling off while driving as they went over a bump in the route.
Many people have learnt this lesson and now apply some sort of cable or 'stretchie' to secure the window mount to their vehicle...
We don't feel comfy with the stretchie scenario and if we drive with our lens mounted in that location is but one window mountain that nosotros will trust and that is the Eckla Eagle...
Click here to see the two small modifications nosotros made to our Eckla Eagle window mount to make information technology the all-time window mount for usa.
If yous shoot out of sunroofs and then you could consider using a Todd-pod, which is a metal T-mount that fits on the corner of a safari van's roof-hatch.
The Todd-pod was created by Todd Gustafson a professional wildlife photographer who specialises in Eastward African safaris.
With a Wimberley or Manfrotto caput mounted to the Todd-pod information technology provides more than peak than shooting off a edible bean bag and volition alleviate hunched shoulders and sore neck from bending downward.
Stedilens
Peter Derichs, the author of the Peter'due south Guide series of books, has created a simple only effect support called Stedilens. This video shows how easy it is to utilise, either on a beanbag or on your vehicle window...
Photographing from vehicles - Bean Bags
We accept used various Bean bags for photographing from vehicles and have institute The Tooth Bean Pocketbook manufactured by Vertex Photographic in the USA to be a fast and easy way to provide a window mount for a photographer'due south camera and lens.
Designed to fit properly on a automobile door or window the Molar Bean Bag™ provides superb camera support for any camera and lens combination.
Its unique molar shape (similar a molar tooth) wraps effectually and hugs a automobile door or window. It provides a very solid platform for our large 600mm lens and also works well with whatever other heavy lens/camera combinations.
Non but does it work great on a vehicle door or window it can also exist turned upside down and placed on a flat surface similar a vehicle roof. In the upside downwardly position the tooth 'roots' provide splendid support for large lens and camera combinations. The Molar Bean Bag can even be placed on its side and used to support a big lens combination.
Recently I started using the Badger Gear Beanbag as a second support. There are times when the subject is constantly moving effectually and irresolute position so here I will have the 600mm f4 on the Molar Bag and the Badger Bag will have the 200-400mm f4 on it. This allows me to change magnification quickly depending on the discipline's closeness to our vehicle.
We have kept our old Kinesis bean bags as nosotros employ them in some hides that have a narrow wooden shelf where the Molar bean bag would big too large and beefy. When photographing from vehicles the Kinesis edible bean bags were too light and would autumn off the window when driving.
The Walt Anderson Panning Ground Pod - The ground-pod consists of a metal base plate with 4 small rubber feet and a small Arca-Swiss style clamp mounted on superlative that makes it is easier to follow moving subjects.
The ground-pod was designed for use on the basis (with camera in either vertical or horizontal position) and then that you don't cease up placing your camera in sand or mud just it is also ideal for employ on the Tooth Edible bean Pocketbook as well...
A final piece of advice regardless of the support arrangement you apply when photographing from vehicles – please switch off your engine before taking the photograph. You lot won't notice the lack of sharpness when viewing the paradigm on the camera but you will when the files are downloaded to your computer.
This photo shows a chap photographing an eagle - he is handholding and the engine is idling...
If you are doing a self-drive safari you are in control then make sure you switch off the motor and use some sort of support system!
If you lot proceed a game drive ask the commuter to switch off his engine, fifty-fifty if it ways he must switch off every few minutes. What's the indicate of going on a safari and your pictures are not precipitous? Even Canon's IS (Image Stabilization) and Nikon'due south VR (Vibration Reduction) will have their limits, especially in depression light.
At the end of the day you need to employ the back up system that you are comfy with even if y'all wrap a towel around your side mirror or use the side of the game-viewing vehicle...
And there are many other support options for photographing from vehicles, in improver to those we have mentioned, that may adapt y'all and your photographic style...
There are then many products for you to choose from for photographing from vehicles merely the bottom line is that you should not skimp on cost when choosing your support system.
You have invested thousands of Rands or Dollars on photography equipment and yous want to ensure abrupt photographs and protect your photo equipment and vehicle from impairment.
If you have big heavy lenses - from 400mm f2.viii upwardly to 600mm f4 and 800mm f5.vi with heavy pro bodies like the D3S and so you should exist looking at the molar pocketbook or annoy bag with a panning plate or a window mount (Eckla Eagle, Kirk, Camstedi, or Badger) with Wimberly or Benro gimbal head.
The Apex Beanbag provides the all-time of both worlds for photographing from vehicles - it is similar to the molar purse but it besides has a plate that can exist inserted at the top and y'all tin adhere your gimbal or brawl-head.
With this product you lot have a bean bag plus gimbal head selection minus the window bracket - the best safari beanbag by far!
If you utilise modest to medium weight lenses and cameras such as the Nikon 300mm f4, eighty-400mm f5.6, Sigma 170 - 500mm, 50 - 500mm zoom etc. you could besides utilise the higher up products but they may be overkill - a scrap too big and beefy for your smaller items. The more appropriate supports could be the products that clamp onto your window, like the Windbag Pro or the new Apex Mini Beanbag.
Nosotros do not recommend these foam supports that sit on the vehicle window for apply with the large heavy lenses. We used one of these products in the past with a Nikon D3S and Nikon 600 f4 lens and the weight pushing down on the window damaged the window motor.
My lens weighs 5 kilograms - add to this the body, panning plate and flash plus flash bracket and you lot are looking at 7 to eight kilograms! In addition, skilful long lens technique says that you must push down gently on the top of the lens to stabilize it when shooting, for both tripods and beanbags, so in that location you would have even more force per unit area on the window.
Ideally, when photographing from vehicles, the pressure and heavy weight should be on the vehicle door and not the window hence a beanbag similar the Apex works perfectly!
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