There are many variations that photographers use for birding and here are some typical setups that you may see out in the field.Hopefully this will help clear some of your doubts. As there are plenty of variations out there, this short list represents mostly what we see here.
Setup 1
This is the simplest and most portable setup of all. Mid to high magnification telephoto lens e.g 100-300mm, 75-300mm, 100-200mm.
Great results could be achieved with careful handling in bright lighting condition. Use of Remote release or mirror-lock-up may further enhance image sharpness.
Setup 2
This is similar to setup No. 1. However, to aid in better flash distance coverage, an external flash would be a great tool to come in handy.
At 300mm f5.6 an external flash lie this e.g With Guide Number of 56(ft)/17meters and above can help get well illuminated subjects above 15 metres.
Setup 3
This is a common setup using fast lens e.g f2.8, f4 lens. Choosing the right time of the day, ambient lighting shots are possible.
Utilizing tripod collar for mounting of the full setup ensures better stability and handling. Proper handling techinique is necessary
to maximize the setup.
Setup 4
This is similar to setup No. 3. However, to aid in better flash distance coverage, an external flash would be a great tool to come in handy.
At 300mm f5.6 an external flash lie this e.g With Guide Number of 56(ft)/17meters and above can help get well illuminated subjects above 15 metres.
With the added
The key differences of this setup from the ones shown earlier is the use of flash bracket. Flash bracket is used by many photographers to achieved specific desired flashing position. Generally, flash bracket is very helpful if coupled with a mini ball-head at the flash mounting point to allow adjustments in the flash's incident point.
The key differences of this setup from the previous setup is the Use of Flash Extender to increase the flash effective illumination distance.
The key differences of this setup from the previous setup is the Use of Flash Extender to increase the flash effective illumination distance.
The key differences of this setup from the previous setup is the combining the use of - flash bracket and third party mounting solutions to have more freedom in setup. This approach is mainly seen used by advance amatuers and professional nature bird photographers.
There are many other variations of setup and in some cases, where larger gears like the 600mm f4 lens are used, dedicated Gimbal mounts are also used for greater stability. In general, as the setup gets larger, the mobility gets lower. Therefore, planning is a good phase in any photography session to avoid unnecessary load of gears.
written & illustrated by mohammad sulhan
