Compatibility RRS BH55 with Kirk Window Mount

[snakeroot]

Anyone use a combination of the RRS BH55 ballhead with a Kirk Window

Mount? I know there are compatibility issues with Arco Swiss

ballheads with the Kirk Window Mount, but wonder if anyone has

personal experience with my planned configuration.

 

Got several shots at an owl today, but handheld out the car window,

and definitely no way to rig a bean bag. Sharpest shot follows, of

course with a turned head.

 

I wonder if one can shoot up into the trees with the Kirk window

mount like one can with a regular tripod using my Wimberly sidekick.

 

Using a Canon 1Ds Mark II and EF 500mm F4 with an extender.<div></div>

[mark_chappell]

With the 500/4, I prefer to do without any window mount or beanbag, and simply rest the

lens on the window (which can be raised or lowered to the correct height). This works very

well, especially if you put some padding on the lens (like those neoprene covers). There

are several problems with window mounts: <BR>

<li> they are slow to set up.

<li> they effectively reduce the height of the window, which can make it hard to aim the

lens high or low. You asked if you could aim 'up' at the same angle as with a Wimberley

sidekick -- that's especially hard out of a car window but you can aim higher without an

window mount than with one, I think.

<li> for the same reason they can make it difficult or impossible to use a flash.

<li> they can reduce the left-right arc you can cover, compared to a hand-held lens.<BR>

A lot of this varies with the window dimensions of the vehicle.<P>

 

The window mount could be better than simple hand-holding if you plan on leaving the

lens aimed out of the window for long periods -- it allows you to let go of the lens safely!

It <B><I>might (?)</i></b> be a bit more stable for long exposures than simple hand-

holding. However, you would be surprised how much your vehicle can move if there is the

slightest wind, or if you shift position a little. Sometimes even breathing sets up small

movements.<P>

 

Examples (too many, sorry) shot out of my car window -- the ferruginous hawk,

kingfisher, osprey, and merlin were fairly high and I don't think I could have aimed that

high if I wasn't hand-holding the lens and resting it on the window:<P>

<CENTER>

 

<img src = "http://www.biology.ucr.edu/personal/MACphotos/birds3/

ferruginousadult.jpg" width=530><BR>

ferruginous hawk<P>

<img src="http://www.biology.ucr.edu/personal/MACphotos/birds4/

beltedkingfisher2.jpg"><BR>

male belted kingfisher<P>

<img src="http://www.biology.ucr.edu/personal/MACphotos/birds3/

burrowingowl5.jpg"><BR>

burrowing owl<P>

<img src="http://www.biology.ucr.edu/personal/MACphotos/birds3/osprey2.jpg"><BR>

osprey<P>

<img src="http://www.biology.ucr.edu/personal/MACphotos/Alaskamammals/

wolf2.jpg"><BR>

wolf (Denali park; overcast, drizzly day)<P>

<img src="http://www.biology.ucr.edu/personal/MACphotos/birds3/

merlinfemale.jpg"><BR>

merlin<P>

</center>

[chris_leck]

Mark, how did you get those awesome pictures out of a car window?! Those birds typically don't just hang out, waiting for one to drive by. Or do they?

 

The bokeh on Michael's image seems kind of harsh. Is that normal for that particular lens?

[snakeroot]

I had just shot some seabirds in bright sun, and had the circular polarizer in the lens, with an ISO of only 100. I forgot to change things on the way home when I saw the owl and didn't have the presence of mind to at least change speed. This probably explains some of the background distractions.

 

I vow not to be so poorly prepared in the future.

 

Thanks again Mark, will not order the Car Mount, instead I did order neoprene camo covers for my 500/4 and extenders. You should post your website again for some of your wildlife shots, and if you don't here it is: http://www.biology.ucr.edu/personal/MACphotos/flyingindex.html

 

It's in my favorites list.

[snakeroot]

Better?

[mark_chappell]

<I>Mark, how did you get those awesome pictures out of a car window?! Those birds

typically don't just hang out, waiting for one to drive by. Or do they?</i><P>

 

Glad you liked the pictures! Many birds, especially hawks, are <B><I>much</i></b> less

intimidated by a vehicle than by a free-standing human. Therefore it's a lot easier to

approach them in a car than on foot -- cars make very good hides. But it is a PITA to get a

shot of something high in a tree or on a power pole from inside a car. I'll bet a roof hatch (or

a sunroof) could come in handy for that.

[snakeroot]

Got another shot today of a hawk, this time used the tripod collar's mounting clamp to steady on the window haflway up, much more effective method.

[chris_leck]

Nice Coop shot. Is it a hatch year?

[snakeroot]

I don't know about the hatch year, and I think the jury's still out on whether this is a sharp-shinned vs cooper's.

 

Not an ornithologist here, but it looks like my bird identification skills are going to have to improve.

[snakeroot]

By the way, ordered my neoprene lens covers today. Camo from Nature Photographers Online, I assume it will help avoid spooking all the critters that I'm after.

 

Thumbs down on the car window mount for now.

[chris_leck]

A knowledgeable person, e.g., someone from HawkWatch Int'l, most likey could tell the hawk, age, and sex from your image -- and possibly from a great distance. Immature Coops and Sharpies are very similar, as are the sexes of each.

 

I suspect hatch year because the eyes are yellow. AFAIK, by the time the bird is two or so, the eyes will be deep orange-brown.

 

This year I learned a little bit about hawks and a few other types by shooting at a raptor banding station. It was quite a bit for this casual birder to digest, but very interesting. I have some images at http://photostore.chrisleck.com/Birds .