5 Stabilisation etc.

Algarve Azure-winged Magpie (Blauwe Ekster) at 15 meter, sun. In order to get low perspective picture and get close to rather shy bird, D500, handheld, resting on the grass, Nikkor 500mm f/5.6E PF VR, VR Off (!) equivalent 1050mm substantial camouflage.

This is workshop page: 5. Stabilisation and miscellaneous equipment

To tripod or not to tripod, that is the question

Preferably we use stabilised equipment and no tripod. Recent 4-5 stops stabilised Nikon (compatible) lenses and Nikon Z-camera’s with inbody stabilisation ISIS make this an absolutely reliable mode of photographing.

However we still prefer using a stable tripod in special situations (example pictures below at this page) like:

Photographing (small) birds at great distance when we need maximal reach (bereik) and a sight (vizier).
In order to be able to put our equipment on tripod aside and rest during brief stops.
When working handheld and or expecting we will have but seconds to (re)focus.

If required we carry usually use tripod type Coman (light but sufficiently stirdy when using lightweight lenses) plus head (schommelkop) Sirui (light and sufficient at longer walks). Our equipment & photos today

To absolutely avoid touching the camera we use remote control (you can operate e.g. V3, J5 or digiscope with small remote control in between teeth!). May sound overdone but works safely at equivalents >= 1000mm [and a relatively heavy lens like Sigma Sport 150-600mm or Nikon 500mm f/5.6E PF VR TC-20E III on light Coman tripod].

We also use small binoculars Pentax 9 x 42 (good optics, they fit in our pocket). Occasionally we use Swarovski STM80HD or STM50HD telescope (both with perfect optics and perfect Swarovski UCA adapter when digiscoping or phonescoping).

At longer trips we occasionally use lightweight Micnova camera harnas hip/breast to carry second lens [converter] or second camera. This “harnas” has proven to be absolutely safe and comfortable during long walks. In this way we can photograph large birds and action (nearby) and use second combination when long reach (bereik) required. We carry one combination on tripod and exchange this one with second camera [converter] behind the lens [converter], which thus remains safely fixed on tripod. Very comfortable at longer trips. One can also switch photo and video camera this way.

Whether you work handheld or using tripod depends on sufficient stabilisation camera or lens, distance to subject, EXPOSURE time and working method like handheld, tripod, monopod, rice bag, someone’s shoulder, some kind of remote control or support like a tree, wall, car window, tripod or the like. Anything may help like for instance resting your back against a tree or wall.

Make sure you switch Off VR when using tripod!

When using tripod or any other support, do switch VR (Vibration Reduction) Off! Otherwise the camera may continuously attempt to compensate non-existing camera movement! This is tricky because sometimes this works out very well for instance when you rest your combination on some wall or open car window or the like but sometimes it does not work at all! Occasionally you may notice the drifting camera behaviour when the subject in your viewfinder is moving like a staggering drunk, but sometimes you don’t notice anything it at all. So be aware!

TIP: Practice VR On and Off in various and borderline situations and check the results!

Biking on tribike we usually use Nikkor 500mm f/5.6E PF VR [TC-14E] VR OFF with the combination resting in front of us on the tribike itself. The bike is always covered with camouflage towels and in this situation perfectly acts like a rice bag (bonenzak). We can drive at very slow or normal speed and rest comfortably and in our “tripod” and look around or haave a talks wih someone. We can hardly imagine a more versatile and relaxed way of birding-photographing. When waiting in the bush under cover we sit low and safe. Overall tribiking happens to be a very efficient, versatile and extremely relaxed way of birding. All you need is more or less flat territory.

Remote controls

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tribike — With **D7200 Sigma Sport 150-600mm** equivalent **1260mm** on our LUKA Cratos bike and “substantially camouflaged”. Notice our **V3 FT1 equivalent 2270mm** on the side. Using **Z50** **ZTF** would also result in equivalent **2270mm**.

Tripod head and other equipment

We usually carry a Coman tripod (light but sufficiently stirdy if lightweight lenses used) with Sirui head (top quality and very light). We use binoculars Pentax 9 x 42 (good optics, fit in pocket). Mostly however we use our camera-lens combination as binoculars because it mostly has equivalents of 1050 or more. Buy the way equivalent 50mm corresponds to 1 X magnification binoculars, for example a 500mm equivalent corresponds tot 10 X magnification binoculars.

Sometimes we use a special lightweight Micnova camera harnas to carry a second lens [+ converter] or second camera at hip or breast. This has proven to be an absolutely safe and comfortable method during longer walks or day trips. This way we can either photograph large birds and (fast) action (nearby) or we can photograph having large reach (bereik). We carry one combination mounted on tripod and exchange this one with another camera [+ converter] behind the lens [+ converter] on tripod. That way lens [+ converter] remains safely mounted on the tripod. It is a very comfortable solution for longer trips in the field: we carry two (potential) combinations, one on tripod and one at the hip. Using Coman tripod and latest Z system MLC’s and Z tele lenses makes this an lightweight and optically high quality universal method for bird photography.

Other equipment and accessoires