ZigView

Hi,

does anyone use one of these..

http://www.zigview.co.uk/zigview-R.htm

and the new swivel version which is about to be launched..

http://www.zigview.co.uk/S2.htm

I'd love the swivel one, as that has got to be the gadget, but at that price (£249) I couldn't justify it (could even George??) . Perhaps I'll find one for a tenner on Ebay soon..

I guess they'd be very useful for the pros here, especially the studio based ones. It even gives real time playback like P&Ss do, and the motion sensor means that if I did get one, I may even get my piccy of a bat. (If you want a challenge, try photographing one)

Ah, while I think about it, isn't there some way of getting the DL to fire the shutter automatiacally if a.. for instance, bat.. flies in front of the camera and bleeps the focus confirmation device (sounds better than thing.. ) If you know how that's done, I'd appreciate a bit of advice on how to go about it, please.

Cheers

Liam

Every once in a while someone brings this item to the front.

Like you Liam, I can't afford it - but wish I had one.

EDIT: I haven't looked recently but, they were talking about a rep this side of the pond.

Liam, how about wiring one of these up to a cable shutter release? http://www.alanaecology.com/acatalog/Skye_SBR1260_Bat_Count_Unit.html or http://www.alanaecology.com/acatalog/TM1550_Series_Active_Trail_Monitors.html

Legal Stuff: Bats are a protected species and disturbing them is illegal.

Hi Tim,

shame they're so expensive..

My idea was to just set the camera up on a tripod and let it carry on, catching them in flight. There were loads of them up in the lake district, and there are a few near me, but I'd want to catch them just doing their thing, so no disturbing required..

BTW, I'm reading Richard Dawkins' The Blind Watchmaker at the moment. If anyone wants a read about how bats communicate, it's a great read, albeit quite intensive.. I've just found a PDF link..

http://www.evolutionary.tripod.com/dawkins_blindwatchmaker_1996_full.pdf#search=%22%22and%20turns%20each%20pulse%22%20dawkins%22

Chapter 2.

I think it's fascinating, although about as far off-topic as it goes.. Apologies John and Matt..

Cheers

Liam

I'll watch out for the Bats next week, as I'm off to spend time in Langdale and Wasdale

Happy hunting Tim..

Hi Liam,

I was desperately wanting one of those original Zigviews but a review in a recent photography mag that said it wan't too hot - they thought the update speed of the screen was too slow, and another criticism that i forget (will post if i find the mag). Can't remember which mag but it was in the last 2 months-ish.

However the new one looks lush, if pricey...looking forward to reviews.

smithy

Hi Liam,

I don't think a 'set up and leave it' set-up would react quickly enough to get your shot - I'd guess the bat would be gone by the time the shutter fired.

You can just prefocus your manual focus lens, set the camera to autofocus, set the drive mode to 'consecutive' (not single shot) and then press the shutter release (using a cable relaese would probably be best, it needs to be kept locked down). When something comes into focus, the shutter will fire. Using the consecutive drive mode means that the next time something comes into focus, it will fire again. But as I say, I don't think it would react quickly enough.

I've had some success with the following method:

Find somewhere with bats (preferably woodland), and look for a clearing where they spend a fair amount of time. It's best to do this at dusk, so you can still see them fairly clearly without a torch. Try to estimate what height they're flying at. Prefocus a 50mm lens (camera needs to be set to manual focus). Use a manual flash, and see what aperture give correct exposure for the distance you've focused on. Using this aperture, select a shutter speed that will give some colour to the sky.

Now comes the fun bit! Bring the camera to your eye, but leave both eyes open. The view will be roughly the same through the camera and the naked eye. This will help enormously as you now try to follow the flying bat (with the camera, don't try running like this. ) Fire at will, check focusing and exposure. Hopefully at least some shots will work.




Not perfect, and cropped down, but great fun.

Good luck!

Dan

Cheers Daniel,

I'll try that soon. Using the both eyes open trick is a usual one for me when using a long lens to catch birds in flight.

I'll practice on the cats when they're running around one evening.

The weather's starting to get a little wetter now, so if I'm going to get damp, then I'd better give myself half a chance of getting something.

Cheers

Liam