I just recieved my new Bush Hawk today and was so excited till I tried it out. It seems really hard to fit right but perhaps just needs alittle time and practice? My best eye is my right eye so I naturally shoot with it but does that mean the shoulder mount goes to the left shoulder.It seems awkward when I put it to the right shoulder. Help! Any feedback from users would be greatly appreciated. Thanks
I bought a cheaper version of it and tried it only once. Maybe it would feel more natural to someone who is familiar with shooting rifles, but it didn't work for me.
I have made several adjustments to mine. First of all, I made the length so that it fist in the middle of my chest, not to the right shoulder. I taped one of the crutch pads, you could use any kind of padding, to the part that you hold into your body and taped it on. I don't use the shutter release but click the camera shutter with my right hand and hold the front with my left. I use my right eye as well.
It did take some getting used to and I made a few minor adjustments but I had to get used to it because I can't seem to use a tripod for Birds in Flight. Keep Trying!
I have the similar "Quick Action Harness" that I also found too awkward and bulky to use. I just could not find and focus on a bird - especially flying - quickly enough.
I went back to hand-holding for 80% of shots (and almost all avian) and lifting hand/arm weights to strengthen my arms.
The technique for good hand-holding is not difficult, but does take practice.
If you're interested, I'd urge you to take Jim Neiger's "Flight Photography" school to learn hand-holding that does not ruin your back and shoulders :
http://www.flightschoolphotography.com/FSP%20Current%20Workshops.htm
Hi Cheryl. I've have a bush hawk and have had to shorten the length to fit from my "chest" to my hand and in doing so made it workable. lt is uncomfortable but I still use it for birds in flight... I also find a tripod totally useless because I cannot carry that much weight. I thnk the manufacturers of both the bush hawk and tripods should carry a line for small framed women. Lets begin a writing campaign to various vendors to put pressure on the manufacturers.
Thanks Ladies! I'm not sure what to do now with it because obviously I will need to "use it" to get a feel for it then I probably can't return it. Eleanor, I like the idea of putting the pad in the chest area it seems less awkward.
Posted by David Taylor on March 5, 2011 at 3:27 PM
I've had a BushHawk for a couple years now, but don't get to use it as much anymore since I've been focusing more on landscapes. BIF has been on a back-burner lately. I never used the remote trigger option, because I felt unsteady with my hand off the camera's shutter button. I used my left hand to hold the front support and kept my right hand on the camera's shutter. This also allowed me to lock focus when needed and off-center my subjects. I am right eye dominant, so I used positioned the stock of the BushHawk in my right should and adjusted the BushHawk in a configuration that twisted the stock to allow for a good alignment to the viewfinder. It looks a bit weird, but was quite comfortable.
My former life in the military and previous 12 year competitive shooting 'career' made the gun-like BushHawk perfect for my uses. I'm hoping to get it out again this May/June to return to my secret bald eagle location here in Alaska Gotta do a final scouting trip for my 2012 Bald Eagle Photo AdvenTour
You've got to stick with for a while and soon you will feel better using it. It is odd and a bit unnatural feeling at first, but hang in there. You didn't like the taste of beer the first time you tried it, did you? Maybe you still don't!
Posted by Dan Roberts on March 10, 2011 at 12:55 AM
Hi, there. I was pretty much a total failure with BIFs until I got a BushHawk. But my reasoning for doing so was that I used to pretty good at shooting birds with hardware other than a camera If you're used to shooting a shotgun it's a lot easier to get used to the BushHawk. Maybe this will help:
- Take the pad off the stock and pitch it.
- You have to play around with the stock adjustment to figure out what works for you. Try adjusting both length and angle.
- Learn to stand like you're shooting a gun, not a camera. That means if you're right handed, stand with your left foot forward, shoulders at an angle. Not totally sideways like shooting a gun, more like at a 45 degree angle.
- I have to use the trigger, not the shutter button on the camera. Personal preference but IMO if you need to keep your hand on the camera controls, you're better off using a monopod.
- Practice turning your head at an angle and keep both eyes open. By doing this when you bring the camera to your dominant eye, the other eye is looking over the top of the camera. When you see the bird in both eyes... bingo. You're on target and can close the other eye and you've got the bird in the viewfinder. This is a HUGE help in getting the camera on a moving target.
- Using a monopod in tandem with the BushHawk is a big help. I bought a V shaped rifle rest that threads onto the camera mount on top of the monopod. When standing around waiting for something to happen, I rest the BushHawk on the pod slightly lower than shooting position. If I need to track a bird, simply lift the BushHawk up and let the monopod fall or strap it to your wrist so it swings with you. This summer I plan on attaching it to the forward handle with a ball mount and use the monopod as the forward grip.
We all have to figure out what works for us. As a former shooter, the BushHawk works great for me. Also I do a lot of shooting from a small boat and a tripod isn't even a viable option. Once you learn to use it, the BushHawk/monopod combo is WAY faster and more mobile than a tripod.
Discussion
10 repliesI have made several adjustments to mine. First of all, I made the length so that it fist in the middle of my chest, not to the right shoulder. I taped one of the crutch pads, you could use any kind of padding, to the part that you hold into your body and taped it on. I don't use the shutter release but click the camera shutter with my right hand and hold the front with my left. I use my right eye as well.
It did take some getting used to and I made a few minor adjustments but I had to get used to it because I can't seem to use a tripod for Birds in Flight. Keep Trying!
I went back to hand-holding for 80% of shots (and almost all avian) and lifting hand/arm weights to strengthen my arms.
The technique for good hand-holding is not difficult, but does take practice.
If you're interested, I'd urge you to take Jim Neiger's "Flight Photography" school to learn hand-holding that does not ruin your back and shoulders :
http://www.flightschoolphotography.com/FSP%20Current%20Workshops.htm
Cheers -
Sandy
My former life in the military and previous 12 year competitive shooting 'career' made the gun-like BushHawk perfect for my uses. I'm hoping to get it out again this May/June to return to my secret bald eagle location here in Alaska
- Take the pad off the stock and pitch it.
- You have to play around with the stock adjustment to figure out what works for you. Try adjusting both length and angle.
- Learn to stand like you're shooting a gun, not a camera. That means if you're right handed, stand with your left foot forward, shoulders at an angle. Not totally sideways like shooting a gun, more like at a 45 degree angle.
- I have to use the trigger, not the shutter button on the camera. Personal preference but IMO if you need to keep your hand on the camera controls, you're better off using a monopod.
- Practice turning your head at an angle and keep both eyes open. By doing this when you bring the camera to your dominant eye, the other eye is looking over the top of the camera. When you see the bird in both eyes... bingo. You're on target and can close the other eye and you've got the bird in the viewfinder. This is a HUGE help in getting the camera on a moving target.
- Using a monopod in tandem with the BushHawk is a big help. I bought a V shaped rifle rest that threads onto the camera mount on top of the monopod. When standing around waiting for something to happen, I rest the BushHawk on the pod slightly lower than shooting position. If I need to track a bird, simply lift the BushHawk up and let the monopod fall or strap it to your wrist so it swings with you. This summer I plan on attaching it to the forward handle with a ball mount and use the monopod as the forward grip.
We all have to figure out what works for us. As a former shooter, the BushHawk works great for me. Also I do a lot of shooting from a small boat and a tripod isn't even a viable option. Once you learn to use it, the BushHawk/monopod combo is WAY faster and more mobile than a tripod.
Good luck.