Merlin

Cynthia Crawford wrote: I always wonder how you manage that big rig in a kayak and stay dry and steady.

Pete Zwiers wrote:

Cynthia Crawford wrote: I always wonder how you manage that big rig in a kayak and stay dry and steady.

I think the key is to have a long enough kayak, so 12' minimum. My wife and I both have a Pungo 120, which is great for tracking and cutting through rougher water. That said, we really try to stick to less windy days overall. Another strategy is to use lily pads and other aquatic plants to your advantage ... fields of these are great wave stabilizers when snapping photos. Fortunately, most of the birds like this stuff as well so we stick to lakes that have more of that.

The recent advancements in lenses is actually the biggest game changer though. I couldn't handhold my old Canon 800mm f/5.6 at all, but my newer Nikon 800mm f/6.3 hasn't seen a tripod or monopod since I got it, and that includes a lot of 'dry ground' photo trips. Nikon has put the fun & passion back into wildlife photography for me ... so THANK YOU Nikon.

I use a Zeiss harness to make sure the camera rig can't fall into the lake (that easily). The hardest part is actually getting in and out of the kayak with the camera, so my wife goes to shore first and takes the camera before I get out (and hands it to me after I'm in the kayak and ready to launch). I stick a beach towel on the kayak floor so the hood of my lens doesn't get rubbed onto any hard surfaces, and I balance the whole rig between my thighs/knees while paddling.

Kayaking is hard on the camera equipment though ... I have a Lenscoat that is very shredded after only a year of use (the lens is still fairly unmarked), and my Z9 has some real wear & tear on the right side where I grip it (battery cover and security slot rubber is failing badly).

Other than that, keep the shutter speeds high and 'spray and pray'!