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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Andrew Whitehouse" data-source="post: 525162" data-attributes="member: 3550">I've had a Cullman shoulder pod for a year or so now but haven't used it that much.  Now that I've acquired a Nikon ED50 (straight version) I'm planning to use it more often.  I just did a quick bit of testing of this combination in the local park with a 16x lens.  In particular, I wanted to experiment with using it 'Finnstick style' propped on my chest, just above my bins in fact.  Here are a few thoughts:Propping the shoulder pod on the chest rather than on the shoulder probably makes the combination less 'quick on the draw' but I think it has a couple of advantages.  One is really only applicable to people like me who tend to carry a rucksack (i.e. people without cars to hoard their stuff in!).  Wearing a rucksack makes it more awkward to use the pod on the shoulder but it can easily be transferred onto the chest where there's a bit more room (so long as bins don't get in the way).  The other advantage of using it this way is that it's easier to hold the pod at the base with hands resting on the chest.  This is really quite comfortable for prolonged viewing - more comfortable than using bins in fact.  A shoulder strap of the right length also gives a bit more stability.  The view is about about as stable on the chest as on the shoulder in most situations, although (how can I put this) individual physiognomy may affect its use on the chest.I think the Culmann is a pretty decent bit of kit and I'm surprised more birders don't use them (and also that more manufacturers don't make shoulder pods).  With a small scope it really gives an incredibly lightweight, easy to carry set up that still gives you pretty decent views.  It's never going to be as stable as a tripod but it's more versatile and allows you to get onto birds very quickly, especially those above you (e.g. flying or in trees).  Because it's so convenient and quick it's also virtually as easy to look at close birds with the scope as it is with bins, which means you get some wonderful close ups of birds like passerines.  You could do this with a tripod of course but by the time you set it up, the bird will probably have flown off.</blockquote>

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