Tips and Tricks
Easy and cheap car window setup for long lens camera…
Your car is a great tool for bird photography - just like a blind. You can take a bungee cord and split foam pipe insulation and create a simple and cheap lens support. The bungee goes through the handle grab above the door and the foam protects the door glass as well as steadies the camera/lens. Just make sure you are in a safe place and stopped before attempting any photography from your vehicle.
ProMediaGear SS2 Quick Release Strap Adapter - This is an amazing item that allows the camera and lens to be attached to a BlackRapid strap using a ProMediaGear Arca plate on your lens foot. It has a push button quick disconnect to attach to the adapter. Large lenses mounted on camera should never be carried using a strap attached to the camera as it places considerable stress from the weight on the lens mount. This allows the camera and lens to be at your side for comfort and quick access while making sure the lens supports the camera’s weight instead of the other way around. That can be done with a threaded screw that comes with the regular Black Rapid strap. What makes this so amazing is that when you go from carrying and using handheld to place on the tripod head, all you do is press the button and it pops off the plate. Otherwise you would have to thread the screw in each time on/off and remember to check it periodically to make sure it doesn’t come loose. If you try this, you won’t ever go back to a threaded attachment.
