Posted by Mark Jenkins on January 4, 2010 at 10:47 AM
I know that a lot of photographers in NPN take shots from their cars or trucks and was wondering what the best window mount might be. Does everyone use one? Is the Kirk mount the best one? What are some other good brands. Thanks for any help.
I have a Kirk mount and use it as well as a bean bag when shooting from my truck. I don't use it as much as I had expected to. On the plus side I can use it with a ball head and Wimberley Sidekick which is very solid and holds the camera up off the window sill which is more comfortable than the bean bag. It also allows for mounting my flash and better beamer. On the down side, it limits my range of shooting from right to left vs. the bean bag and it's much less convenient if you are moving around frequently. I have also used the Kirk mount on the cut-out window of a plywood blind where a tripod wasn't an option but again found my ability to swing from right to left was limited by the mount (and the cut-out was too small for the Sidekick and flash). All in all, I'm happy with it but I'm not sure I'd buy it if I had it to do over again. I think it really depends on how and how much you are going to use it.
I would agree with Keith on this one.. I have the L.L. Rue Enterprises GROOFWIN POD or (Ground-Roof-Window). Its great but I find myself using the bean bag more for the same reasons he stated of range of shooting from right to left. If I had it to do over again I would not buy the window mount.
I’m photographing more than often from out my car but and until a view months I used always one of my own produced beanbags. This works okay but when photographing more intensive I always have some trouble while panning and (in my case) zooming.
That’s why I thought about a way to use my tripod head from out the car. I had a design and found a company to produce it and after several tests two months ago we could release the ‘Eckla-Eagle cardoor support’.
Until now it’s quit a hit in my country and it’s already available in more and more countries.
Maybe this can be your solution also?
I don't know how to put a picture in this topic but you can read about the Eagle at this link on my website.
http://www.hanbouwmeester.nl/cms/front_content.php?idcat=58
I've owned a Kirk mount for some years now. I have never even tried it yet. I usually just rest the lens foot on the bottom edge of the open car window.
Posted by Jim DeWitt on January 4, 2010 at 5:28 PM
Another vote for a bean bag. I have one with a zipper; I buy a small bag of rice on arrival to fill it, rather than pack the weight in my baggage. I cook and eat the rice the last day. I've found rice works better than beans.
I have a window mount, but I seem to spend more time struggling with it than getting photos with it. The bean bag just works...
Posted by bill meikle on January 4, 2010 at 6:16 PM
I use a beanbag, commercial type, but I also lean the lens on the window and I also use anything that comes to hand eg beanie hat! I do find that turning off the engine improves sharpness!
Posted by Nate Chappell on January 4, 2010 at 8:08 PM
I have one but never use it. I prefer to either shoot handheld out the window or rest the lens on the sill. There are now Apex beanbags which I think you can mount a tripod head to which seems like a good idea, but I haven't tried it.
Well Mark I guess you have your answer we all own them and nobody uses them! I'm sure there are a few here that will go for cheap if you still want one A few months ago I tried to sell mine on ebay and got no hits at all so I dropped the price and still no hits! Its the first time I have not been able to sell photo gear on ebay and now I know why. I guess people know that the bean bag is really all you need. By the way heres a nice one I found last night and plan on buying. http://www.kirkphoto.com/Fat_Bag_Support.htmlhttp://www.kirkphoto.com/Fat_Bag_Support.html
Posted by Colin Smale on January 15, 2010 at 7:24 AM
Hi guys, I agonised with this problem for years and have now find what for me is the 'almost' perfect system.
Purchase an ERGOREST made in Finland, place a plywood board on it with a hole drilled in the centre to push the quarter whitworth screw through, find a really thin/flat nut to scew onto it securing the board to the Ergorest, slap a bean bag on the board and hey presto, it's brilliant. I use it mainly with my 500 f4. The illustration on the ergorest website makes this gadget look flimsy and 'plasticky' which put me off buying it until a friend of mine showed me his. They are very far from flimsy, made of metal and look like they will last a rugged lifetime. http://www.ergodirect.net/browseproducts/Ergorest-Multi-Tripod-Stand.html
Discussion
9 repliesThat’s why I thought about a way to use my tripod head from out the car. I had a design and found a company to produce it and after several tests two months ago we could release the ‘Eckla-Eagle cardoor support’.
Until now it’s quit a hit in my country and it’s already available in more and more countries.
Maybe this can be your solution also?
I don't know how to put a picture in this topic but you can read about the Eagle at this link on my website.
http://www.hanbouwmeester.nl/cms/front_content.php?idcat=58
I have a window mount, but I seem to spend more time struggling with it than getting photos with it. The bean bag just works...
Purchase an ERGOREST made in Finland, place a plywood board on it with a hole drilled in the centre to push the quarter whitworth screw through, find a really thin/flat nut to scew onto it securing the board to the Ergorest, slap a bean bag on the board and hey presto, it's brilliant. I use it mainly with my 500 f4. The illustration on the ergorest website makes this gadget look flimsy and 'plasticky' which put me off buying it until a friend of mine showed me his. They are very far from flimsy, made of metal and look like they will last a rugged lifetime. http://www.ergodirect.net/browseproducts/Ergorest-Multi-Tripod-Stand.html