Review of Window Mounts

I do a lot of wildlife photography from my car using a heavy Canon super-telephoto lens as my main lens.  A few months ago I read about a new type of window mount that is very light and inexpensive, so I ordered one.  It’s called a Puffin Pad.  Together with my Kirk Window Mount and my BLUBB bean bag I now have three window mounts.  I use the term “window mount” loosely here.  The Kirk is the only one of the three that “mounts” to the window, but I couldn’t think of a better term to cover all three.  In any event, I’ve used all three now and I want to pass along my thoughts on them to those who may be contemplating the purchase of a window mount.

Photo of car window with three windowmounts on it or on sill.
Three Types of Window Mounts

I have attached all three of them to the driver’s side window area of my 2011 Subaru Outback.   From left they are: (1) the BLUBB bean bag, (2) the Kirk Window Mount (which requires a separate tripod head) and (3) the Puffin Pad.  By the way, when I mounted the Kirk I just lowered it onto the top of the window without trying to level it.  It can be mounted so it’s parallel to the ground on a sloping window.   Note the slope of the Outback’s window along almost its entire length and where it disappears into the door.  (more…)