Im looking to buy a car window mount to take with me on this years holiday, so as to use the car as a hide etc.
I have seen one made by Kirk
Can someone throw so light on which is the best one to purchase and with what mount to take a canon 600mm f4 white lens
When I use my 600 in a vehicle I do so by using a double Wildlife Watching Supplies bean bag, resting on the fully wound down window, or alternativley I put G1548 pod outside the vehicle with two of the legs flat against the side of the vehicle with the camera at eye level and throw some camo netting over the whole lot.
Hi Tony,
I use the WWS double bean bag for my 500mm F4 and it works far better than any window mount could , I think you'd be taking a very big risk with the 600mm attached to a window mount , imho go for the bean bag.
I sometimes use a Kirk Window Mount with the 500, othertimes I use a beanbag, or just rest the lens on the door edge. Each method has it's pro's and con's.
With the window mount, you do need to be careful how you mount it - wind the window down so there is only enough for it to grip onto and make sure the support feet of the rest are resting firmly against the car body - inside or outside. Don't attempt to drive with the lens mounted, and don't slam the car door with the lens on the mount either . Where the Kirk benefits is in the ability to swing the lens around on the ballhead/wimberley and to switch between portrait/landscape without losing focus - something that I find very frustrating just using a beanbag! The Kirk also works well as a low tripod, and I sometimes use it for macro/flower work. for the reasons mentioned above. On thing I've found with the Kirk is that it can sometimes be difficult to find the right spot to mount it to the window - modern cars are too curvey - both on the glass and on the door shape and trim. If you car has curved glass, then you might have problems getting the Kirk mount and it probably won't be level for panning...
Beanbags are cheap, simple and flexible, but as I tend to rest long lenses on the focus ring, I find that I can lose the focus, especially if I switch horizontal to vertical, as the lens pivots on the focus ring.
FWIW, I tend to use a beanbag more often than the kirk - it's a lot quicker to throw over the window edge.
If you want to use a gimbal head with your 600, one thing that some people do is to use one of the very large beanbags that is designed to fit over the car door frame (eg the Kirk product, or Artie Morris' blub) with the window down, and then to use this to support a ground pod which has the gimbal head attached.
I use a WWS double bean bag for my 500 but I don`t use a standard one, I use his modified version which has a extra 2" on each section, much heavier as it holds more but the stability on the door frame is a big improvement.
I don`t think he advertises them, you need to ask.
I've used both a WWS double beanbag and the Kirk window mount with the 500f4, the Kirk wins hands down for me - stability and camera position are perfect, especially on a day long shoot. I have also moved the car to track subjects with the camera in position and as long as this is done slowly and carefully (which you would with most animals anyway) this is a big bonus too. As Nick says, not losing focus when switching between portrait and landscape is another plus.
Cost is the only negative - but considering the price of a long lens it makes sense to use the most stable and flexible platform available.
Discussion
13 repliesIm looking to buy a car window mount to take with me on this years holiday, so as to use the car as a hide etc.
I have seen one made by Kirk
Can someone throw so light on which is the best one to purchase and with what mount to take a canon 600mm f4 white lens
thank you for your comments in advance
Tony Anderson
West Sussex
Can't help with a window mount.
When I use my 600 in a vehicle I do so by using a double Wildlife Watching Supplies bean bag, resting on the fully wound down window, or alternativley I put G1548 pod outside the vehicle with two of the legs flat against the side of the vehicle with the camera at eye level and throw some camo netting over the whole lot.
HTH
Regards
Rob
Better to use a Bean bag.
John
Aberdeen.
I use the WWS double bean bag for my 500mm F4 and it works far better than any window mount could , I think you'd be taking a very big risk with the 600mm attached to a window mount , imho go for the bean bag.
Kind regards
Andy...
Rob
With the window mount, you do need to be careful how you mount it - wind the window down so there is only enough for it to grip onto and make sure the support feet of the rest are resting firmly against the car body - inside or outside. Don't attempt to drive with the lens mounted, and don't slam the car door with the lens on the mount either
Beanbags are cheap, simple and flexible, but as I tend to rest long lenses on the focus ring, I find that I can lose the focus, especially if I switch horizontal to vertical, as the lens pivots on the focus ring.
FWIW, I tend to use a beanbag more often than the kirk - it's a lot quicker to throw over the window edge.
I don`t think he advertises them, you need to ask.
I've used both a WWS double beanbag and the Kirk window mount with the 500f4, the Kirk wins hands down for me - stability and camera position are perfect, especially on a day long shoot. I have also moved the car to track subjects with the camera in position and as long as this is done slowly and carefully (which you would with most animals anyway) this is a big bonus too. As Nick says, not losing focus when switching between portrait and landscape is another plus.
Cost is the only negative - but considering the price of a long lens it makes sense to use the most stable and flexible platform available.
A
Regards
JohnS