Tripod for birding?
I wish to try some birding this year after seeing some impressive shots in the gallery recently, do i need a tripod and if so can i get some recommendations please, or do you guys that shoot birds just use freehand to hold your camera's?
Darren.
Darren.
Depends if your after birds in flight or stationary, for BIF def handheld as their movement is generally unpredictable, for birds in a tree or bush, a tripod would help in reducing any camera shake with a long lens.
You'll get more definitive answers if you expand a little more on what your looking for as well as the kit you have / intend to acquire
You'll get more definitive answers if you expand a little more on what your looking for as well as the kit you have / intend to acquire
I quite often use a small table top style tripod about 6 inches high so if out and about I can quickly put my camera on the floor for ground level photos of the wildlife
Steve
Steve
I grabbed my DSLR with my 70-200mm (havn't bought new lens yet) this morning and test ran a couple of shots just to get the feel of things and have decided no tripod, easier and more flexible to go free hand so to speak.
thanks for the replies.
Darren.
thanks for the replies.
Darren.
I don't shoot birds in the wild exactly; just the ones in my garden and the ducks etc. at a nearby canal and the local parks, none of which are in flight.
I've got hundreds of images gathered over the years, not one of which was taken using a tripod.
In fact, I don't really see how you'd be able to use one.
I've got hundreds of images gathered over the years, not one of which was taken using a tripod.
In fact, I don't really see how you'd be able to use one.
If you have an arca plate on your lens and the weight with camera is hand holdable, then you can get cheap pistol grips on eBay, simply attach a cheap arca clamp to it for gripping the lens, it can help when wafting it about
If you’’re in a hide then a simple bean bag would normally suffice
You would normally only need a tripod if you’re kit is very heavy, you’’re hanging about for ages waiting for something to turn up or you’re using a remote trigger
If you’’re in a hide then a simple bean bag would normally suffice
You would normally only need a tripod if you’re kit is very heavy, you’’re hanging about for ages waiting for something to turn up or you’re using a remote trigger
Some of the pictures you have seen are likely to have been taken with very expensive equipment and a Gimbal head on a tripod - AFTER learning where a specific bird species can relatively easily be photographed.
Perhaps you could start by hand holding photographing birds in the garden through a window, or on ducks in a local park to see how you get on and whether you want to take bird photography further.
Perhaps you could start by hand holding photographing birds in the garden through a window, or on ducks in a local park to see how you get on and whether you want to take bird photography further.
After spending a couple of days in the garden chasing birds around with my 70 - 200mm i have found i don't have the patience for birding and any shots i got would be put to shame against the excellent images i have seen in the gallery, i'm going to stick with macro and flowers for a while since i don't have to chase them 
I'll leave birding to the dedicated people here.
thanks for all the replies.
I'll leave birding to the dedicated people here.
thanks for all the replies.
