Thankyou Simon. As a former digiscoper, I'm OK with long lens technique, but there is always room to improve! I had an interesting learning experience this weekend just gone. The particular birds I was interested in happened to be in a small wetland that was best approached by simply parking on the side of a road and staying in the car till they came out of the reeds. (Painted Snipe - wonderful!) Better to park and wait than get out and try to hide behind some grass or something, I judged.
So, armed with 500 f/4 and 1.4TC, I rested the lens on the passenger side door sill and hunkered down so that I could see the view. I soon discoverd that I could hold the lens really steady that way - much steadier than I can hold it on a tripod. I was very surprised!
I think there are several reasons for this. First, my tripod (Manfrotto 055 NAT 3) is rather wobbly: fine for a scope and OK for a light camera/lens combination, but not really steady enough for the big 500, or the 100-400 for that matter. Second, I'm thinking that the sheer weight of the 500 on the solid car door frame is a benefit. And third, the camera/lens combination is being held at three points instead of one point - by its own weight on the door frame, by my left hand on the lens, and by my right hand on the camera. Further, in this position, scrunched up in the passenger seat and braced well against the car (whether you want to be or not - there ain't a lot of room to play with!) you have good mechanical purchase. It's not like hand-holding or using a tripod in a normal standing position, where you are always at least slightly unsteady.
Anyway, I thought it was a useful discovery, and I'll be doing more of it as opportunity offers.
Cheers,
Tannin
|