600mm lens supported by gimbal head
Even a professional photographer may not necessarily own a super-telephoto lens. Let’s face it, a super-telephoto lens is a big, big, big investment; upwards of $8,000. With that kind of scratch you could outfit a small studio with a mid-tier DSLR, a 24-70mm, f/2.8, 70-200mm f/2.8 and a decent set of lights. For anyone but the most committed wildlife photographers, a 600mm f/4 is strictly a once-in-a-while lens. For equipment that you use infrequently, it might be a better solution to rent what you want.
Last week we discussed considerations when choosing a lens, camera and teleconverter combination for wildlife photography. In this post, we discuss supporting all that weight and where to go to get it.
The Right Tripod Head
A 600mm lens weighs almost 9-lbs/4-kg, you will need a system that will not only support your gear, but also allow you to control it easily. The most popular style of head for this type of photography is a Gimbal head.
The Gimbal head is designed to support large lenses on a tripod and gives the photographer a range of motion on two-axises: vertical and horizontal. Moreover, a good gimbal head makes it easy for you to setup and frame your image.
It’s important to select a tripod head that’s easy to use. If you don’t like using it, it’s likely that you may not use it and try to shoot handheld. This is not a recommended approach.
WH-200 Wimberley Head Mark II
The Tripod
Once you’ve selected a lens, camera, and tripod head, it’s time to mount the whole rig to your tripod. This is where a strong tripod becomes important.
All this equipment can weigh up to 20-lbs/9-kg and cost about $20, 000/€14,000 your tripod has to be able to support the weight comfortably without wavering. Check your current tripod to see if it’s up to the challenge. If not, add a better one to the shopping list. If you need help choosing a tripod, check out this video we made on the subject.
Why Buy When You Can Rent?
Now that you have a list of what you need for a successful wildlife outing, it’s time to collect it all. You could go out and buy the gear and rack up a bill of over $20,000 or you can rent. That’s right, you can rent camera gear.
Camera Rental Houses
There are a number of companies which rent camera equipment around the country. Some are even here in Denver. As a consumer, you have plenty to choose from. Here’s a short list:
- Borrowlenses.com, your rental from BL supports this blog.
- LensRentals.com
- Camren.com (Denver local)
- ProPhotoRental.com (Boulder local)
- Mike’s Camera (Denver/Boulder)
BorrowLenses, LensRentals and ProPhotoRental will ship the equipment you need to your home. Some will even ship to your destination. This convenience saves you from wasting a rental day while you are traveling.
Is Everything Covered?
As a precaution, make sure that the equipment you rent is covered against theft or damage. Most rental houses will recommend (and sell) a damage waiver. Check with your home owners/renters/business insurance agent to see that you are covered against theft and damages of any equipment you carry with you. Nothing can ruin a great photo trip more quickly than the loss of some valuable gear.
Checklist for Wildlife Photography
- Stable Tripod Legs
- Strong and Flexible Tripod Head: Gimbal
- Quick Release Plate for Tripod Head
- Lens(es)
- Teleconverter
- Camera
- Memory Cards
- Camera batteries and extras
- Cable or Remote Shutter Release
- Weather Protection
- Damage Waiver
- Correct Shipping Address and Delivery Dates
Let us know if we missed anything in the comments below. We hope you have a safe trip and that you will visit our Destination Workshops sites:
Moab Photography Workshop: Shoot, Edit, Create
Yellowstone Landscape & Wildlife Workshop
Capturing Fall Colors Around Crested Butte