Bird Hide for Photography
I use a bird hide for my wildlife photography on a fairly regular basis, using both public and paid hides. If you are a regular visitor to a bird watching hide you know that they aren’t always in the most accessible locations. Being inaccessible means I have to think carefully about how the kit I am going to hump to the hide.
In this kit review I am pleased to be talking about a piece of kit that is very dear to my heart. My very own ‘Camera Hide Plate‘ which was conceptualised, designed and built by me in collaboration with a local engineering company.
When I designed my camera hide plate I wanted it to be lightweight, portable, stable, organic, sustainable and above all else a nice addition to my kit bag.
The Bird hide & Camera Hide Plate
Weight – Very Light
Manufactured from reclaimed beech wood, with a natural grain finish, the camera hide plate is very light. Weighing in at just 350g it has been designed to be carried inside or on the outside of your kit bag. Camera kit is notoriously heavy so I wanted to make sure that my hide plate didn’t become another burden. I chose wood because it gave the plate strength without weight. If you have ever used or bought a metal hide plate you will know exactly what I mean! With most hides a fair trek from civilisation, the weight was a very important factor.
Stability
The camera hide plate is a rock steady and solid piece of kit. I wanted it to not only be extremely sturdy but manufactured from something that would have very little impact on the environment. After much searching I located a local Shropshire company that could supply beautiful reclaimed beech wood. It was always my intention to end up with something that looked aesthetically organic, as well as being very functional. However, I did not want perfect. I wanted to see and feel the grain, hence the wax finish. Using wax gave me the added benefit of making it waterproof.
I think I have achieved that goal; with its natural grain, together with waterproof wax finish, I think the plate looks fantastic. What do you think?
You can see it here being used by one of my customers, Jez Shimmin. He loaded it up with his Nikon DSLR , with battery grip and 500mm prime on a Wimberly gimbal head. The plate was rock solid and gave him a fantastic base from which to shoot.
Flexibility
A lot of bird watching hides simply will not allow the use of full size tripods due to the amount of space taken up. Smaller tripods, like gorilla pods, are just not built to carry a gimbal head, a heavy camera and long lens. Most of the time I resorted to resting the lens collar foot on the window ledge. Although this worked, I ended up hand holding most of the time, but it became harder over time as the kit is so heavy.
Time for a re-think.
Enter the Camera hide plate. Small, light, stable…..brilliant!
Main Features
Adjustable Feet – One of the things that I have noticed about hide plates, other than their horrendous weight, is the inability to place them exactly where you want if the surface isn’t level. So I decided that giving my hide plate four height adjustable feet would solve this issue.
All four feet can be height adjusted independently to ensure a rock solid base for your camera and lens.
Seated Bolt – in order to stop the bolt head spinning as you try to tighten the gimbal down onto the plate I had a recess built into the base the same shape as the bolt head. The securing bolt slots into this shaped recess which prevents the bolt head spinning.
Multi-Purpose
A lot of bird hide (even public hides) do not allow the use of tripods due to the amount of space they take up. Using the Camera Hide Plate gives you the solid base you need for sharp images without inconveniencing your fellow photographers.
Coupled with a Gimbal head it provides the flexibility required to capture pin sharp images. Your fellow photographers who share the bird watching hide with you, will be grateful that you have such an elegant solution.
Results from a Bird Watching Hide
Some of the images taken using the plate.
Since I have been using the plate I have found that it is extremely good for macro photography as well. Coupled with my macro gear it gives me an extremely stable base which is essential when photographing macro subjects. I normally grab my tripod, invert the centre column and attach the camera, (you can read more here), but the hide plate gives me a solid stable base when fitted with my ball head.
If you are thinking of getting a mobile hide you might be interested in this related post – how to use a hide for wildlife photography
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Ron Wilson
31 Jan 2023For a moment I thought this was it for me, but the hides I am using don’t have the shelf on the window ledge, it is approx 6 inches below, and I fear the gimble won’t clear the opening. And I suspect an extention tube or similar may make it top heavy.
Roger Chapman
2 Feb 2023Hi Ron, I am in the process of adding an extension for the plate. It will give another 2 inches of height without compromising the stability.
Geoff Warminger
7 Jan 2024Hi Roger.
Before i purchase one of your wooden star shape gimble base’s i need to know the dimension of it to make it will fit on my hide shelf.
Regards.
Geoff.
Roger Chapman
18 Jun 2025It is 25cm on the longest dimension
Pilar Martinez-Abarca
2 Jul 2024Hello Roger
Have you already that extension you mentioned? Most of the (non photographic) bird hides I use need a bit more height for my camera and gimbal.
Also, if I order from you, how long does it take for UK deliveries?
Many thanks.
Roger Chapman
18 Jun 2025The extension is still in the pipeline but I will see if I can hurry it up