Author: Ravi Kailas (ficustours@gmail.com) I have been using Manfrotto’s MVH502AH for a few months now, replacing its smaller, less versatile cousin, the Manfrotto MVH500AH, which I had originally bought as I was exploring the delights of wildlife videography with the Panasonic GH5 mated to a telephoto zoom. The 500AH worked ok for this set-up, barringContinue reading “Manfrotto Fluid Head (MVH502AH) – (not just) a practical Gimbal Head alternative: Equipment Review”
Tag Archives: Equipment Review
Zeiss Victory Harpia 85, a brilliant spotting scope with smidgens of imperfection: Equipment Reviews
Author: Ravi Kailas (ficustours@gmail.com) Some favourable alignment in the heavens (I expect), and Zeiss India’s excellent customer service, had me in possession the Zeiss Victory Harpia 85mm, their absolute premium offering in their range of spotting scopes, for a few days recently. My expectations were high, given Zeiss’s reputation for making stellar optics for natureContinue reading “Zeiss Victory Harpia 85, a brilliant spotting scope with smidgens of imperfection: Equipment Reviews”
GSO Star Tracker Telescope, a (‘minimalist’) night-sky gazing set-up: An Overview
Author: Ravi Kailas The rather imposing size of the set-up, belies the simplicity of the Dobsonian telescope design For observing the night sky, I primarily use a GSO Star Tracker, a 8\” Dobsonian telescope (a type of telescope, which despite its bulk, is the best value for money for light gathering ability), manufactured by GSOContinue reading “GSO Star Tracker Telescope, a (‘minimalist’) night-sky gazing set-up: An Overview”
Comet Neowise from a Chennai terrace part 2
Author: Ravi Kailas (ficustours@gmail.com) After making a post on my first sighting of Comet Neowise, on Thursday, 23rd July, the sky was clear enough (relatively speaking, but not before a typically dramatic (see video below), July evening cloud build-up in the western sky, threatening a black-out) for another attempt at imaging the comet, on Friday,Continue reading “Comet Neowise from a Chennai terrace part 2”
Comet Neowise from a Chennai terrace
Author: Ravi Kailas The barely discernible Comet Neowise in the only image I managed to capture, before the clouds took over An unusually (relatively speaking) clear July sky over Chennai (13N 80 E) yesterday evening (21/07/2020), prompted me to drag my behemoth 8″ Dobsonian telescope onto the terrace, to enjoy the spectacles that the summerContinue reading “Comet Neowise from a Chennai terrace”
Binoculars for nature-watchers: an introductory guide
Authors: Ravi Kailas & Ganesh KR (ficustours@gmail.com) The sheer pleasure of observing nature through a pair of fine binoculars is pretty near unparalleled, a feeling akin to the extension of your own vision, only more vivid and magnified several fold, placing you in the midst of the occupants of the distant scene. Binoculars have been indispensableContinue reading “Binoculars for nature-watchers: an introductory guide”
Flashlight Review: ThruNite Catapult V6 with Nitecore Red Filter for wildlife observation at night
Author: Ravi Kailas (ficustours@gmail.com) Introduction An oft arising ethical dilemma for any nature enthusiast is where to ‘draw the line’ in pursuit of appreciating our natural world. Without a doubt, any attempt at observing wildlife, has some impact on the natural system – indirectly, at the very least. Observation efforts at night, by flash-lighting, are obviouslyContinue reading “Flashlight Review: ThruNite Catapult V6 with Nitecore Red Filter for wildlife observation at night”
Ficus Wildlife and Natural History Tours 