Some widgets I’ve created to help calculate useful photographic information:
Example Values (Canon DSLR) :
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If you need some help with the terminology, please have a look at the site glossary.
Author Archives: antamuk
Eckla Eagle Review
The Eckla Eagle Car Door Lens Support
Introduction
In various circumstances a car can make a useful hide from which to photograph wildlife. Many wild animals view a motor vehicle with less suspicion & caution than they do a human. However controlling a large telephoto lens that is poking out of a car window is not an easy thing. One simple solution is to rest a bean bag on the car door but on many occasions it would be good to have a more solid solution.
This is where the Eckla Eagle comes in. The Eagle provides a solid platform upon which to mount your gimbal or other tripod head. Even if you wish to use a simple bean bag solution, the Eagle provides a broader platform for such.
Construction
As can be seen the Eckla Eagle is a stout piece of manufacturing. Made from substantial aluminium plate with stainless steel fittings, I expect to be using this piece of kit for many years to come.
The bracket at the top in the above picture, is designed to clamp on to a car door with the window fully open. It is also possible to reverse this bracket and after attaching the supplied piece of rubber, clamp on to the window glass itself. Whilst this is useful for car windows that do not fully open, I prefer clamping to the door itself; as shown below:
In this picture you can see how the adjustable bottom plate rests against the door’s arm rest and so supports the weight of your camera & lens. Also seen above, protruding through the main plate, is the 3/8″ threaded bolt for mounting your camera head. All adjustment bolts are fitted with good sized hand knobs and included on the main plate is a bubble level to assist in level mounting. All metal edges are safely rounded off and the bottom plate is finished off with plastic covers so that it does not damage you car upholstery.
In Use
I have been using the Manfrotto 393 head (as previously reviewed) with the Eagle and so shall illustrate this review with its use. I believe any other 3/8″ threaded gimble head will function equally as well.
Adjusting the Eagle is made a simple task by the well thought out hand knobs, so no need for spanners or sore fingers. Attaching your camera head is similarly accomplished and it is possible to slide the head towards front or back of the main plate, as desired. Here’s the Manfrotto 393 now mounted to it:
These pictures are taken on the front passenger door of our family Renault. I’ve found that with the seat slid completely back there is a comfortable working position that allows good mobility with the lens. If working from a vehicle with a bench seat, such as some Land Rovers, the working situation will be even better.
Pictured above is the complete rig with camera & lens attached.
In this setup I have felt the camera & lens to be secure and easily used to pan with creatures moving past the side of the car. The rig also works well for more static shots and it is nice to be able to relax with the camera held firmly in position while you wait for the wildlife to appear.
I have driven slowly across farmland with everything in place but great care is needed particularly since the lens is protruding from the side of the vehicle.
Alternative use: I have one permanent timber hide at home and it has been possible to minorly adjust the window shelf to accept the Eagle. This has removed the clutter of needing a tripod in what is a relatively small space; a substantial bonus.
Conclusions
The Eckla Eagle is a well built & useful addition for anyone expecting to use their vehicle as a mobile hide. Having previously used some of the ‘cheap’ car window clamps available for smaller equipment; I can tell you that they are not comparable to this product, the Eagle is far more substantial and truly fit for purpose.
At the time of writing the Eagle retails for about £150 in the UK.
Manufacturer’s link: Eckla Germany
Positives
Strong, Versatile, Stable
Negatives
Not the cheapest car mount
Overall
If you shoot with long telephotos from a car then consider getting one of these as soon as you can.
Manfrotto 393 Review
The Manfrotto Long Lens Bracket
The 393 is marketed by Manfrotto as a Long Lens Support for Monopods. Whilst it will perform admirably on a monopod, it is in fact very adept at being used on a sturdy tripod; as an alternative to a gimbal head from the likes of Wimberley or Kirk.
Introduction
Anyone who regularly uses large telephoto lenses will tell you of the need for a stable support for the lens. Not only will the support aid you in achieving sharp images but various muscles & joints in your body will be thankful too. If you are a nature or sports photographer, then most likely you not only need a stable support but also one that allows you to pan smoothly and track your subject wherever it moves. This is where the 393 comes in.
The picture on the right shows a Canon 500mm f4L & camera mounted on the 393 head. The tripod is a Manfrotto 055XPROB and I have used the short centre column accessory to mate the two together. This has been my favoured rig for some time now, especially useful for birding & moving mammals.
Construction
The head is made from two strong U-shaped pieces of aluminium, which can be mounted together at several different pre-defined heights. The tension knobs seen at top-left & top-right provide an easy way to adjust the freedom with which the head can swing the lens up & down. Friction can be adjusted such that the motion is fully locked, right through to extremely free moving.
At the base of the larger U-shaped plate there is a rubber covered bearing system, this runs very smoothly and allows for easy panning with your subject. Should you feel the need to customise the resistance; this can be achieved with tensioning screws hidden under the rubber cover.
The Lens attaches to the head by means of the same type 375 plate heads used for Manfrotto’s video system. Indeed this is the same system that I have used to build a mounting system for astrophotography and I can vouch for both its security & rigidness.
The plate comes with both ¼ and a 3/8 of inch thumb-bolts. In the case of the 500mm lens, I use 1 of each size to securely fit the plate to the lens. Spare bolts can be store on the side of the plate mount as seen in the above picture. The brass ‘button’ seen above is the release for a spring loaded safety catch that stops the lens from accidentally slipping to the ground; this is an essential & effective measure. On the left side of the plate mount there is a thumbscrew to tighten the plate in to place and lock it there.
In Use
As you will have noticed in the pictures above, I use the head in the ‘down’ configuration; that is with the lens’ weight resting on the plate. I find this a natural & easy way to use the bracket. It is however also possible to use the bracket inverted with the lens suspended from it, as per the picture on the left. Some people may prefer this configuration.
Whichever configuration you use, you will want to balance the camera lens combination. When first sliding the plate in to the mount, move it forwards & backwards to find the point where the lens comfortably comes to balance in the desired position. Now tighten up the thumbscrew on the left of the plate mount to lock things safely in position.
Once setup the 393 Bracket is a pleasure to use, the camera system can be easily tilted or panned to follow your subject. I have used the system both in hides & out in the open, for extended periods of time; without any cause for complaint or concern. Over the years that I have been using it, my only grumble would be that it is quite heavy (1.6kg) & also an awkward shape for carrying; but heavy loads are the lot of a natural history photographer 
The rubber hand grips are a godsend in cold weather, helping reduce contact between hands & metal. The quick release plate system is also excellent, allowing for the camera to be removed for an opportunistic shot and then quickly replaced for further use.
A final attractive feature is the price, typically retailing for about 1/3 the cost of many other heavy duty gimbal mounts.
Conclusions
Manfotto’s 393 Bracket is an excellent head for use by natural history or sports photographers. It is well built and simply does its job well with the minimum of fuss.
Positives
Build quality, price, effectiveness
Negatives
Awkward to carry
Overall
I happily recommend this product.
Photo Glossary
Glossary of common photographic terms
I’ve written this list to help avoid misunderstandings of definitions across my site & when entering in to discussions. If you think I need to add some more, please let me know.
AE Auto Exposure. A system by which the camera can estimate & set the level of exposure required.
AF Auto Focus. A system that allows the camera to set the lens focus point suitable to subject distance.
Angle of View The angle formed between imaginary lines drawn from the extreme sides of an image formed by a camera / lens combination. Can be given for horizontal, vertical or diagonal planes.
Aperture The size of opening formed by the camera iris to allow light through.
AV Aperture Priority mode. A mode that sets the aperture at a fixed size and allows an auto exposure camera to adjust exposure by varying other settings such as shutter speed.
Bracket The process of taking several exposures with different settings, so as to maximise the potential for a perfect image. Eg Exposure Bracketing
Bulb setting A setting which allows long exposures (over 30s) to be made.
Circle of Confusion The series of small circles of light that can be considered to form an image. The smaller the circle, the sharper the image.
Colour Temperature A way of defining the overall colour of a light source. Often quoted in Kelvins.
Contrast The difference in brightness value of different points within an image. The greater the difference, the greater the contrast.
Crop Factor In DSLRs, the amount by which an image is apparently cropped in comparison to the same lens image on a full frame 35mm SLR. This is due to smaller sensor sizes in some DSLR cameras.
Depth of Field The distance between the nearest and furthest points that are in acceptable focus at any given lens setting.
Exposure The amount of light allowed on to the recording medium to record an image. Often quoted as a period of time at specific settings.
Exposure Compensation Changing the calculated correct exposure to compensate for some factor that may affect the final image quality; such as highly reflective snow.
F-number The setting of aperture size. A higher f-number equates to a smaller aperture.
Focal Length The length (usually in mm) at which a lens system brings light from infinity to a focused point. A longer lens (greater focal length) will appear to bring the subject closer to you than a shorter lens.
Hyperfocal Distance The distance at which a lens must be focused, for everything from half that distance to infinity to be in acceptable focus.
ISO International standards organisation definition for the light sensitivity of film & sensors. A higher number equates to a higher sensitivity.
Prime A lens with a fixed focal length
Standard Lens A lens with a focal length and field of view similar to that of a human eye. About 50mm focal length on a 35mm camera.
Telephoto A lens with a greater than standard focal length, often used to bring the subject closer.
TV Shutter speed priority. A mode that fixes the shutter speed and allows the camera to adjust exposure by changing other settings, such as aperture.
Wide-angle A lens with a shorter than standard focal length, giving a wide field of view, often used for Landscapes.
Zoom A lens with a variable focal length. Versatile but often heavier & more expensive than a prime, for any given image quality.
Review Sites
Useful Camera Review Sites
When considering how to solve a particular photographic challenge or what your next kit investment will be, it’s always useful to do some research first. Trade shows & visits to your local dealer are great but for getting the low down, I find nothing better than a handful of trusty internet review sites. Here I present to you my favourite options:
The Digital Picture
Excellent resource for Canon & Nikon owners. The site is usually my first stop when wanting to compare lens specifications. The reviews are full and practical, with useful real world comparisons and not too much pixel peeping. Take a look at http://www.the-digital-picture.com/
Digital Photography Review
Another good site with a broader topic range. DPreview cover compact and SLR camera systems and provide an excellent stream of news to keep you up to date with the photography world. This is where I visit when looking for camera body reviews. You’ll find them at http://www.dpreview.com/
The Manufacturers
It’s always good to go straight to the horse’s mouth, here’s links for the big two:
If like me you are a Canon user then I’d also suggest trying to get hold of the most recent version of their book “EF Lens Work”. I have version III of the book and it is a valuable guide to their lenses and technology, as well as an interesting read about the history of the company.
Other Noteworthy Sites:
Camera Pricebuster
If you’re buying in the UK, this site is better than most price comparison sites and will give you a quick feel for what range of prices your desired product is selling for.
http://www.camerapricebuster.co.uk/
Luminous Landscape
A good general purpose photography site with reviews, advice and a good community. Very much geared towards the landscape photographer, as the name suggests.
http://www.luminous-landscape.com
Services
AnnMarie Jones Photography
As an award winning professional Photographer, AnnMarie can offer a variety of services:
- Stock photos - AnnMarie has an extensive & growing library of quality images relating to the British countryside, its flora & fauna, landscapes, rural life and related topics such as equestrianism, astrophotography and microscopy. Digital files are available for commercial licensing and prints / merchandise are available for purchase by members of the public.
- Commissioned Work - AnnMarie is available for commissioned projects that fall within the scope of work mentioned above.
- Books, Writing & Advice - AnnMarie is currently engaged in a book project that is envisaged to be completed in 2012/2013. She is also available to write articles on Photography & Natural History. She may also be available to give presentations / talks as her other commitments allow.
About this Website
About these Galleries
These galleries contain a small selection of my work. I hope that you can derive some pleasure by viewing them. The images are at low resolution to provide a good internet experience. When browsing the galleries, click on the ‘image details’ button to bring up the photo’s own page. On the individual photo pages you can click on the image to display a larger view.
Please Note. All content is copyright AnnMarie Jones with all rights reserved. Please do not use images or text without permission. Thanks.
If you wish to use an image then many are available to purchase from me as either print or high-res digital image for publishing.
About Me
I’m a professional photographer concentrating on the nature around us.
I live in a beautiful wooded area of north-west Wales (UK). I have a wonderful partner and a great daughter too. We’re all very interested in the conservation of our planet and the fascinating things that live here with us all.
Academically I studied a wide variety of subjects at school before specialising to study Physics, Chemistry & Biology to advanced level. At University my top specialities were Nutrition, Physiology & Biochemistry. I subsequently worked in Industry gaining Managerial, Accounting & Computing experience before leaving to start my own business and follow my dreams.
My photography has been published across much of the world. Here in the UK you may have seen it in publications as diverse as The Sun & the Telegraph or Countrylife & BBC magazines. Whilst not motivated by competition, I occasionally enter such and have received a variety of awards from organisations, competitions & exhibitions. These awards include:
- Highly Commended Finalist in the British Wildlife Photography Awards
- Top 3 Picture of the Year for Professional Imagemaker
- Multiple Gold Awards for Wildlife Photography from the Society of International Nature & Wildlife Photographers
- Gold Standard from SWPP for Science, Nature, Pet and Contemporary Portrait Photography
When I’m not behind the camera I can be found working to improve the bio-diversity on & around our small farm in the foothills of southern Snowdonia or spending time with my horse.