Tenn.Jer Offline Upload & Sell: Off
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I've used a kayak for photography for three years now...
From the beginning I've carried the camera and lens in my lap, with a small towel laid across it to catch the errant drop or two. My personal ironclad rule is to always have the kit secure in a dry bag whenever I'm entering or leaving the boat, but otherwise I keep it ready and close to hand. I've used a 300 2.8L, with and without extenders, a 100-400 zoom, a 500 f/4L IS, and finally have settled on the 400 DO, first the older version and now the Mark II. I usually carry a small waterproof point-and-shoot (a canon D20 currently) for sunrise and scenery photos.
I found the 500 to be unwieldy and awkward to carry; it actually stuck out over the side when resting in my lap. The 300 worked as well as the 400 DO, but was heavier and lacked reach. I think I've hit the sweet spot with the DO II, because I can add the extenders without IQ or (much) AF speed compromise.
Let me stress that I'm only going out on quiet southern rivers with little or no current, or secluded woodland lakes with no motorized boat traffic. When I've been on flowing water, everything needs to be sealed up in dry bags. Kayaks (those without added outriggers or buoyancy floats) are inherently unstable, and I would never stand up, lean over, or even reach out very far. All my gear is insured, but that doesn't mean I can be careless with it - it would still be a huge, expensive hassle to replace...
OP, I understand you're physically limited with regards to bending or sitting for extended periods - a numb butt from hours in the seat is normal for my kayak time - but it seems you have stronger concerns than that. I can empathize, since my inability to handle the weight and bulk of a canoe is what prompted my move to the kayak. But to be honest, even looking at your examples (and others on line), I just can't imagine standing up (even in a double-hull) and feeling comfortably stable. I wish you luck, and I hope that you practice - without the cameras - exhaustively to get to that level of comfort...
There have been threads in the Nature Forum with photos of several rigs with outriggers and tripod setups; even a few with built-up blinds. They were all sit-in boats, but you might try a search.
It is a great way to approach some wildlife, though some are equally skittish whether you're on the water or shore. It's also a great tool for early-morning solitude and reflection...
Have fun,
Jerry
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