No Naked Lenses
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- Опубликовано: 13 сен 2024
- A short video about an alternative way to camouflage your lenses so they blend in with the environment in which you are photographing. It can make a big difference in getting close to wildlife and getting close can make or break getting the shot!
Links to items used in this video:
Mossy Oaks Graphics for lens camo: amzn.to/3BPpoyU
Canon R5 MILC: amzn.to/3Dlv70H
Great tip, thank you. Just ordered mine. Really love that it can go around the part of lens that you zoom with, that was always a problem with the neoprene type.
I've found that the "cling-on" stuff works great. I get my camouflage material from Amazon in big bags that comes in tape style rolls. Fairly inexpensive and works great.
If it rips, simply remove it and reapply a new wrapping.
This stuff is self adhesive (clings) and leaves zero residue on the lens.
Alot cheaper than neoprene casing and is just as waterproof at a quarter of the price.
Thank you! I used a VViViD vinyl product available on Amazon, but did the same thing in snow camo. Thanks for the tips. I wrapped my RF100-500mm barrel with no overlap at the seam, and it still zooms smoothly.
Just wanted to say thanks again, man. This is perfect for the 100-400/500 lenses. It works perfectly on the lens barrel. I've been looking for this kind of covering for years with no success. I am installing it on my lenses now. I am putting my Matte cutter to use for something other than picture frames.
Awesome. I am sure they will come out great.
@@whistlingwingsphotography Finished both lenses and they look sweeet, but more importantly, they are now protected.
@@Methodical2 Awesome. Glad they turned out well.
Thanks for covering this. I just wrapped my 100-400 IS II in the mossy oak duck blind tape and the zoom function works great.
Thanks for the tip Ron. I just received my order and I have 2 questions. First, how do you get it on curved surfaces like your lens hood and the lens foot ring? Second, how do you cut around the switches? Obviously you don't want to apply over the switches then take a knife to the lens. A few side notes...stiff feel like I need a Lenscoat for the rubber zoom portion of the lens and second, my zoom in/out seems a little stiffer with the material applied but still worth it in my opinion.
If you heat the material a bit with a hair dryer while applying it will soften up and stretch around the curved surfaces with no wrinkles. It takes a bit of work, but keep at it. If you make a mistake the material is repositionable and it take a lot to tear it. Cutting around the switches is done on a cutting board with an xacto knife. I cut the piece to size use scotch tape to temp hold it in position on the lens then take a fine point sharpie marker and outline the switch area remove the piece from the lens and then cut it out. Then apply
@@whistlingwingsphotography That helps, thank you.
This is great. I'm gonna try this over using the neoprene stuff
I just finished my RF 70-200 f2.8. With interruptions it probably took me a good 8 hours! Yeah, I’m not real handy with this stuff but I’m pretty finicky and tried to be extremely careful when cutting the vinyl. It’s a really stretchy material and pretty easy to work with but the complex angles of some parts makes it tricky to line up and press in place without causing creases or wrinkles. That’s what took most of my time today. Also, something to note is the tripod mount - the tolerance for the adjustable ring is very tight and I had to trim all of the vinyl off of the inside edges of the ring and I can just barely close it properly. (I did cover the lens where the mount ring attaches to the lens in case I want to hand-hold the lens without the ring mounted. Also, for those curious, I ordered a 2 foot by 4 foot roll and doubt if I used more than an 18 inch by 2 foot piece. You have to account for extra so you can stretch the material and trim it off later. I’m very happy with the results, thanks for the recommendation Ron!
Hey, glad it worked for you. Yep, it is a bit of a process, but I enjoy such processes.
Thanks for posting this! I ordered mine a few days ago and applied it to my rf100-500 last night. It looks great!
Awesome. Thanks for the comment.
Thanx for a good idea for my lenses ... just got into wildlife photos this past 1 1/2 years.
My pleasure. Hope it works out well for you.
Thanks Ron. Will order it today.
Just received my Mossy Oak Graphics cover on your recommendation. Looking forward to applying it tonight.
I was really hoping to find a video of this graphic being applied but could only find applications to firearms and trucks. If you added an instructional video on applying the Mossy Oaks Graphics I’m sure it would get a lot of views.
@@chrisschindler7634 while not the exact material, I found this video helpful. ruclips.net/video/OTPvBUTaV5c/видео.html
Would really love to see a "how to" video. If not, thanks for this video! It's super informative. 🙂
I have a "how to" video on applying the camo. ruclips.net/video/pcOznJoS5xQ/видео.html
Thanks Whistling Wings i have done my 100-500mm and now starting my 70-200mm great stuff I am in the UK so the Mossyoak costs more than my lenses.
Great point about the barrel ill get some just for that.
I couldn’t bring myself to buy one of those bulky neoprene wraps and then I found your video randomly just sitting down and catching up on some of your older videos. So glad I did. I wrapped the lens and the stuff is amazing. Thanks so much!
I didn’t have the balls to wrap the extension tube on my 100-500. How has that worked out for you? Any regrets? Would you change your advice to wrap it for any reason based on anything else you’ve heard. Your channel is one of the ones that has helped me the most starting out in bird photography. I love it and all I can say is thank you.
Thanks so much. Glad you like the channel. The extension part of my 100-500 is still wrapped and I have had no issues. I love it
That's funny. I bought a sheet of black and camo of this stuff YEARS ago and just cut my own out. All the guys with neoprene see my lenses all the time and are jealous. I also use this on my drones and have used it on my 4 wheeler..
Use neopren on my large whites. But they are not great in use especially the "window" makes it difficult to use the buttons.
I was just about to spend 3x the amount, and ran into your video! Ordered it with your link and will try it out! How has it done over time on the inner barrel of the RF 100-500 for you?
Thanks for the tip!!!!
Just got this lens and wanty to get a cover. This looks to me like the best alternative to those neoprene ones. Would love to see a video on cutting/apply. BTW, the link above goes to another product. Thanks for this.
Thanks. I fixed the link to the product. Cheers.
Thank you so much !! Ben Stanford
OK, I like the look and just order the same RF 100-500. I like the one you are using, which pattern is that? Looks like Obsession?
Yep, Obsession.
Great tip, just found you on RUclips and subscribed. I’d been looking for something to replace neoprene which, as you point out, isn’t great. Unfortunately, it’s not available in the UK and the company you link wants $50 to ship a piece 24”x36” so, it’s back to the drawing board.
Hi, did you ever find a uk alternative?
@@kevinfordham4455 yes, it’s available on Amazon. They ship it from the US but, mine was delivered pretty quickly. Here’s a link www.amazon.co.uk/MOSSY-OAK-GRAPHICS-14003-7-OB-Camouflage/dp/B00BWR89K8/ref=sr_1_7?dchild=1&keywords=Mossy+oak+Vinyl+Wrap&qid=1625348128&sr=8-7
@@mikeyb9819 that’s great, thank you ordered tonight. Any good tips for installation?
@@kevinfordham4455 I measured the circumference and width of each part of the lens with a piece of string, then precut the vinyl to size. It’s a fiddly job but, you can lift and reposition if you mess it up. Mine certainly didn’t end up as neat as Rons’.
Hi Ron, Have you put this on the RF 800mm? I would like to try it but didn’t know if it would be problematic with putting the lens in and out of shooting position. Thank you so much Rene
Thanks Ron, another useful tip . How are you getting on with the 100-500?
I like the 100-500 for the most part. Very good sharpness with the R5. I don't like the stiffness of the zoom ring. Even when it is on the loosest setting it is still pretty hard to rotate. I hope it loosens up over time. Also the throw is long to get from 100-500. I can't go all the way without repositioning my hand on the ring. I really like how Sony did their 200-600 and wish Canon would have done the same. But I am sure I will get used to it quickly. Thanks for the comment and have a great day.
I noticed on one of your videos that you didn't put the camo on the extension portion of the 800 f11. Is that because it won't fit?
Too bad the covers don't have a matte finish. They look shiny and reflective which could spook some birds? I'd be interested in your feedback - maybe a vid - about success strategies in getting close to different species. Yesterday I took my Lumix G9/Leica 100-400 (both naked with black finish) and sneaked slowly out along a jetty to within about 20 feet of some slumbering Dunlins and Purple Sandpipers. Didn't spook 'em at all. Conversely Long-Tailed Ducks and Buffleheads motor rapidly away with even the slightest disturbance.
Actually the finish is not very shiny at all. It works very well. To get close to birds like the long-tailed ducks you need to be in place and camo'd up before they get there. Then you let the birds come to you. Many birds you cannot go after in a pursuit type way, you must let them come to you.
Hi Ron,
Can you make a video installation of Mossy Oak Graphics?
@mg6911 I hope this one helps. ruclips.net/video/OTPvBUTaV5c/видео.html&ab_channel=VwrapsSikar
@@dannydanquah3681 Thanks Danny!
Thanks for this video! How much material do you need for the 100-500? 24" x 24"?
I've ordered some of this material but have yet to receive it. Recently I've seen Alphagvrd or Lifeguard skins advertised. They appear to use the same 3M material but are laser cut to cover precisely. It looks like the 100-500 skin cost $70. I ordered 3' of 24" width from Mossey Oak that will cost me $44 so I'll have extra. I wonder if anyone has any experience with this Lifeguard product.
Note that the Alphagvrd does not include material to cover the portion of the barrel that extends and retracts (per their customer service 1/13/2021.)
@@Sparisland yes but I didn’t intend to cover that anyway. I don’t want to compromise the weather sealing and I think adding material there has to have some effect on the barrel operation.
@@dav14pawest I covered the barrel of my 70-200 today, see my earlier comment but I have no issue with any of the weather sealing. There is no extra effort needed or stress placed on the lens components that will adversely effect its performance.
Probably works best for mammals. Many birds can perceive a wider range of wavelengths (in the UV-range), so what looks natural to a human, may look weird to a bird.
Just FYI. I am not just a wildlife photographer, but an avian research biologist of over 30 years. I have studied and thus had to get close to a lot of birds in my day. I am a firm believer in camouflage. Without getting all technical here, look at it this way. If you and your camera equipment are the same colors, pattern of colors, and reflectivity of the surroundings you and the bird(s) are in, you will look like your surrounds to the bird(s) no matter what wavelengths of light a birds can see or how they see it. Camo also helps make any movements you might make less obvious to the bird(s), which many times can be very important.
@@whistlingwingsphotography I respect your opinion, but colour is a pretty subjective thing, so neither of us knows, what the birds actually see. Some of the syntetic pigments used in the printing, can potentially have strong reflections in the UV range (as some animal urine does), making it stand out. Natural materials are preferable (as in good Ghillie suits) Camo helps a lot with other mammals including human beings, but I have had wrens land on my solid green trousers, as long as I sit still,. We both know about how ,say,, white flowers have 'invisible' patterns in n the UV range to attract insects, (there is, btw, an idea lurking here about a UV marking spray for windows to avoid birds hitting them, but I never got around to test it).
@@clausvind8010 I have read about the UV spray. I hope we can find something that can help with this issue that works. We are losing so much wildlife. The recent research is just so depressing showing a loss of 3/4 since 1970.
@@whistlingwingsphotography Yes, we have a disaster on hand. In Europe (I'm Danish) that loss is probably due to excessive use of pesticides and loss of habitat, combined with a lot of ignorance among our politicians and the general public. It's an uphill struggle. Stay safe.
It is not necessary to use "Mossy Oaks" for this. Any sign shop will be able to print-off an JPG image of camo onto vinyl and laminate it. The only issue you will have is with tapered pieces like some hoods, then you have to do some math and cut an arc shape so it will work.
You can definitely do as you suggest but I warn people to be careful with the vinyl they use as it may fade quickly and may leave sticky residue on your lens. I have no stake in mossy oaks I tell people to use mossy oaks because I have years of experience with the material and it is top quality and has properties other vinyl products don’t. First and foremost it will not degrade or leave a residue.
@@whistlingwingsphotography If it's from a "sign" printer, it will not fade quickly. They're all designed for outdoor use. If Mossy Oaks uses 3M, that is available (and possibly stocked) to all sign shops.
I've been in the sign business for over 30 years.
With a sheet of vinyl, one could simply roll the lens or lens hood while tracing on the material. No math needed.
Good video. They want 25 dollars to mail a sheet to Canada. Deal breaker!
Yep, that stinks. International shipping is getting expensive.
This was a helpful video. I had wondered what product you used on your lenses. I have 2 installation questions: In order to join 2 ends together do you butt them or overlap them? For contoured areas, do you cut the material on an angle or just use straight cuts and try to smooth out material by heating it? Thanks -
You can butt them or overlap them it depends on the area. If overlapping does not make the material too thick for the area then it is fine. on contoured areas I heat with a hair dryer and stretch the material around the area. No need to cut it.
@@whistlingwingsphotography Thanks so much.
I was in trouble because there was no good camouflage goods for EF100-400Ⅱ. It's a good idea to put a sticker on the zoom lens!
Is a camouflage sticker unnecessary for black lenses such as Σ150-600C?
I would not worry too much about trying to camo up a black lens. they tend to not shine like a big white lens. However, that being stated, if you are super conservative when it comes to blending in to your surroundings when photographing wildlife, putting the appropriate camo on a black lens can't hurt your chances of getting good images IMO.
@@whistlingwingsphotography Thank you for your comment on my question!
Thanks for sharing. Are you going to do a 100-500mm lens review? No real world review here except Canon ambassadors.
Yes, I will be doing a 100-500 review. I need to shoot with it a bit more before I will feel comfortable putting out a review. I hope to have one done by the beginning of next week if I get out shooting with it the next two days. Thanks so much for your interest.
@@whistlingwingsphotography I’d like a comparison with the EF100-400 mark ii as here in New Zealand it’s half the price of the RF100-500 (NZD3,140 vs NZD6,000) and I’m hoping the performance is similar and as a bonus with EF lenses you can use them with stacked 2x and 1.4x mark ii extenders which should still perform well (I hope) with mirrorless (whereas with DSLRs the autofocus is terrible)
Apparently it’s impossible to stack the RF extenders (and the EF mark iii)
Also a comparison with the EF400 f/5.6 would be great
Thanks, great video, please could you tell me how you apply the vinyl to the knurled tension ring? Thanks, Ian from France.
I apply it the same as other areas. I warm it up a bit with a hair dryer and then apply pressure. Cheers. Ron
Thanks I’ll give it a go !
Thanks for this video, was just about to ask what the skin was👍
No problem 👍
@@whistlingwingsphotography just arrived this afternoon. Hope I'll do a nice job….
Hi Ron,
Is Mossy Oaks Graphics material for scope, guns, atvs the same material or do I need to order a certain type? Also do you know how much I need for A canon 100-400 II lens?
Thanks
Rick
It is all the same material. I usually just buy a piece 24" x 3 feet and that way I have enough in case I make a mistake and also to have some left over for other projects.
@
Whistling Wings Photography. Ron I have an old tamron 150-600 along with my 500 prime BUT do you think this stuff is thin enough to place on the extending barrel of that lens and still extend and retract ok. I hope that made sense :)
I am not sure if it will work on that lens given all lenses have different tolerances in that area. The material is very thin and if you do not overlap it at the ends I feel pretty certain it would work. I state this because it works on the Canon 100-500 and the gap on that lens is very tight. Hope this helps.
@@whistlingwingsphotography I always appreciate your responses, Ron. Love watching your videos as they've been a great help to my r5/r6 group for wildlife shooters
@@TimNunyerBizniz Thanks so much.
Wonder how this material will affect the seals around the extendable lens barrel over time?
Don't know, but I have had mine on since I got the lens and on a 100-400 for years and I have seen no ill affects.
I need some of that in my life lol ! I’ll have to order from the states tho the UK doesn’t have lovely cammo stuff like that 🙄😂.... cool stuff cheers for sharing buddy 😁 ...... edit! 50 bucks postage 😳🤯😳 time to look in the UK lol 😂
Yah, shipping over the big pond is expensive.
Look for some like minded photographers and share shipping
@@whistlingwingsphotography Thanks for the tip, ordered from Amazon UK, £25 post free from the US.
how easy was this to apply to the contours
Like just about anything, it can be a bit tricky the first time you try to do it, but this material stretches when it is warmed up with a hair dryer and that is the key to getting it wrinkle free around tapers and corners. Do the flat areas and then stretch it around the contours.
Do hot temps outdoors affect the adhesive? That is, does it cause the product to slide around if the lens is in the car or direct sunlight?
No, not at all. I have used this material on a lot of things other then lenses too. Many of the items are outside all the time in all the elements and for years. This stuff is really durable and does not fade.
@@whistlingwingsphotography I was just curious because you mentioned warming it up for removal. I guess if you don't pull at the corner it stays put even when it's warm?
@@cc63 Yep. Once you heat it and then it cools it is really stuck down.
Hi, Is it possible to order custom made cover for my 600mm f/4 III ? I like the pattern you have.
Nope. The Mossy Oaks Graphics material comes in roll form and you need to cut it to fit your lens.
@@whistlingwingsphotography From where I can order it ?
@@whistlingwingsphotography Found it :) Thank you
Won't having on the retractable part of the barrel cause problems when it is retracted under the weather seal O-ring?
Not sure. I have had no issues to this point. The material is very thin, so my thinking is it will be fine. I feel no difference in how the lens works with it on. Also, I always have a rain cover on my lens and camera when conditions are wet, so there is that.
How long before we see that 1-500 review?
Working on it. Need to shoot with it a bit more.
@@whistlingwingsphotography I could not help but notice how long (and how many twists) it took to full extend the lens. It was as if you have some thoughts on that to put out there into the world. :)
How much do you need to order to cover one 100-500 lens?
Not very much. I get more than I need for any one lens because I use the stuff for other camo needs as well. For just the 100-500 you can get a piece 24 inches by 36 inches and have plenty.
@@whistlingwingsphotography Thank you for the info!
Cannot get this in the U.K.?
I am not sure if they ship to the U.K.
Hi Eric, I just got some in the UK just search Mossy oaks graphics on Ebay there is a seller that sells in in 20cm X 20cm sheets (2 per pack) but quite expensive. I bought 2 packs (4 sheets total) which did my 100-500 easily with probably 1 sheet spare - hope that helps
Aren’t birds color blind ? At least they see 4 colors UV AND only blue green and red only
Birds see wavelengths in the visible light spectrum as well as some Ultraviolet wavelengths. Different species see differently as well. Birds have four types of cones in their eyes and also specializations in the form of pigmented oil droplets. This all gives birds better color vision than that of humans. Recent research has suggested that tetrachromacy in birds provides birds with a larger visual spectrum than that in humans, and their spectral resolution is similar to our own. Of course, they also can see reflections from shiny objects like large white camera lenses. I am a firm believer in blending into your surroundings when trying to get close to wildlife, especially birds; and double especially birds in the family Anatidae. IMO camo works, and my motto is better to be conservative and have it and not need it, then to need it and not have it.
@@whistlingwingsphotography Well said!
Based on my (limited...) experience Magpies (here in Scandinavia) are very observant regarding colors/contrast and camouflage helps a lot. They are not that rare or exotic species 😂, but nice to take photos of because they do all kind of funny activities.
P.S. Humans see only three colours; blue, green and red. So many animals are superior in that regard reaching to UV and IR.
@@tkermi Thanks so much for your comment. Personally, there are very few times I go into the field and do not try to at least blend it with my surroundings a little bit. We are never invisible to birds and wildlife, but being less intrusive in their minds can make a big difference in being successful at getting them close for good images.
@@whistlingwingsphotography Yes, and I think that when you behave calmly and look less intrusive the birds/other animals you see often begin to trust you earlier than if you use bright, shiny high contrast clothes/gear.
It's so cool that in my yard doe brown hares show their offspring that I'm not dangerous. I don't handfeed them or anything like that so they don't let me super close and some of them are more skittish. But still nice to notice that they recognise me and don't be afreid 😊.
Oops! Just saw you answered this below. 24 x 36
yes, that will give you plenty and some left over in case you make mistakes or need to reapply in the future