Camoflauging camera and tripods

[ncbill]

Not sure id this is the right forum...but here it goes---I have been thinking of adding camoflauge to my silver shiny camera and tripod, a nice woodland print of some sort to blend with my clothing, surely the suns reflection off of silver or shiny black cameras and tripods can spook wildlife, I'm sure my family and friends will think I have gone mental for painting my gear, but if it can hide me better, I think it's worth it, maybe even a camo tape to cover thr shiny parts?.....what do you guys think?....think it would make a differance?

[rezMole]

Does it make any real differnce? Most birds see things totally different from us anyway. Just because something looks camoflaged to us, will it appear the same to birds? Don't many birds see "movement" more than colours?

Just a few thoughts - perhaps camoflage is important - but it'd be quite funny/annoying if you spent a forture on camoflage tape and it ended up standing out like a sore thumb to many birds!

[stevo]

Try www.wildlifewatchingsupplies.co.uk (http://www.wildlifewatchingsupplies.co.uk) they have all the camo gear for your camera & if not listed will make for your particular combo.

Steve.

[Claymore]

Not sure id this is the right forum...but here it goes---I have been thinking of adding camoflauge to my silver shiny camera and tripod, a nice woodland print of some sort to blend with my clothing, surely the suns reflection off of silver or shiny black cameras and tripods can spook wildlife, I'm sure my family and friends will think I have gone mental for painting my gear, but if it can hide me better, I think it's worth it, maybe even a camo tape to cover thr shiny parts?.....what do you guys think?....think it would make a differance?
Don't do it! I fitted my tripod with camo tape turned my back on it and when i turned around i couldn't find the bugger! 8-)
Seriously i used to use a sleeve off an old camo jacket as a cover (cost me approx £3.00) for the camera/scope etc (you can even use childrens camo trousers for charity shops etc and some have elastic or velcro around the bottom for tight fit)
I find matt black paint on the shiny tripods works fine, check out Johnny Kingdom show boy would i love his hide! he shops at Wildlife Watching Supplies.
Cheers
Brian
Ps has anyone got a Stealth Cam? looks like fun for snapping badgers etc

[Claymore]

Ps Forgot to mention you can get Camo tape on Ebay
Cheers
Brian

[Flemingo]

Man out in open, bird flies away

Man in big shiney car, bird ignores

Maybe instead of camolfaging yur tripod you should get a bigger one and hide behind it.

[ncbill]

Man out in open, bird flies away

Man in big shiney car, bird ignores

Maybe instead of camolfaging yur tripod you should get a bigger one and hide behind it.

That's the truth, they ignore my car, but let me try to be in the open and they scatter...I'm gonna have to resort to dousing myself with feathers....maybe I could pass for bigbird or something....lol.....I'm going to get some camo tape as suggested.....hope it does the job

[jimtfoto]

If you do decide in favour of camo, check out the store at www.naturescapes.net (http://www.naturescapes.net/). You'll find camo pads for select tripod legs, as well as camo for lenses. It's based in Pennsylvania. I've bought from them many times and recently purchased camo for my tripod and lens.
cheers,
jim

[avan]

In america, you can go to the hunting store and buy camo tape. I got mine with the browning brand name, it,s a non adhesive tape, kind of ruberized one that self stick to itself when overlap.Try a google search with self adhesive camo tape, I see this tape under other name and cheaper in the usa.

[GYRob]

My Mates got a Parrot
Next time at at his house i will ask it how it see's thing's :)
Rob.

[impotentspider]

At least it should stop the Magpies from trying to nick your camera!

[Adam C]

Birds are much more aware of someone trying to be sneaky than someone who looks like they are not paying any attention to them. I am amazed at the amount of birds i can get close to by walking casually up to about 20ms slowly but making plenty of movement but looking at anything but the birds (Ive lost my car keys approach!) then squatting casually behind your camera and tripod and moving up a foot at a time all the time keeping busy (moving your hands constantly but never suddenly), medium steady constant movement. (anything that makes the birds think you are not trying to hunt them!) after a while you will often find youself within 10-15 feet and you can blaze away, as long as you keep moving gently and keep a low profile. Only problem with this approach is often someone else turns up and thinks they can just walk straight up to the birds as close as you are when you have just spent the last half an hour getting into position! Its really cool though sitting in plain view, working with a group of birds that have decided you are one nothing to worry about instead of being cooped up in a hide!