Buteo photo gear shelter falco mark iii snow

The Falco Mark III was developed by nature and wildlife photographers. It has been extensively used, tested, and improved where necessary. The Falco Mark III is the ultimate one-person hide for low-level nature photography, and we currently offer it in no fewer than six camouflage patterns.

The simple yet extremely strong aluminum construction makes this tent easy to set up and pack away. The aluminum poles are easy to assemble.
Then secure the tent with a peg at each corner and your shelter is ready to use!

Perfect camouflage

If you're often in the field, you'll quickly notice that birds and mammals are very wary of humans. This isn't surprising considering that these animals have been hunted almost everywhere for centuries.
Camouflaging yourself and your gear with a photo tent is the best solution for successful wildlife photography. The basic idea is that the animals no longer see or recognize us as humans, and therefore don't feel threatened.

With the Falco Mark III tent, you'll be quickly and perfectly camouflaged, allowing you to take beautiful low-level photos. Its compact size allows you to easily position the tent among or under vegetation and provide additional camouflage with branches, leaves, reeds, and so on.

Easy, fast and mobile

The advantage of having your own mobile shelter is that you can take it with you anytime, anywhere and deploy it quickly when an opportunity arises.
This lightweight and compact camouflage tent is easy to take with you when you're out and about in your local area, travelling further afield or even traveling by plane.

If you prefer a tent with fiberglass poles (faster to set up), take a look at the Falco Mark II models:
Falco Mark II Reed, Falco Mark II Light Brown, Falco Mark II Green, or the Falco Mark II Reed+.

Prepare and place

It's fun and helpful to visit a nature reserve beforehand and prepare well, so you can take photos with your photo shelter with purpose. But even a casual encounter can turn into a fantastic photo session, because you can set up this hide quickly.

Ideally, make the most of the surrounding area; if possible, place the tent against or under existing vegetation to create a cohesive whole. Due to its small size, this is generally quite easy. Ideally, do this the day or evening beforehand so birds and mammals can get used to it. The tent can be secured with the supplied pegs and guy ropes, although this won't be necessary often.

The Falco Mark III also allows you to attach additional camouflage, such as branches, leaves, reeds, and so on. These extras can be attached using the cords. If you do this correctly, your hide will blend in even more with its surroundings, which is precisely the point! Another option is to use an additional camouflage net, which you can find on our camouflage netting page.
However, make sure that you have a good, unobstructed view with your camera.

The tent canvas itself is made of a durable, long-lasting material (150D polyester). The photo booth is perfect for short-term use (up to several months). If left in direct sunlight for extended periods, the color/camo print may fade. In rain/showers, you'll stay dry thanks to the 2500mm hydrostatic head. However, keep in mind that weather resistance may decrease slightly if left outdoors for months or even longer.

For added comfort, and to keep yourself and your belongings dry, you can use an additional groundsheet. The tent itself has a groundsheet, but it's not always sufficient in wet conditions. The groundsheet can be placed inside or underneath the tent, depending on your preference.

Imagine yourself lying in your tent, well-prepared and ready for action. Suddenly, you see a beaver, a grebe, or a wading bird appear in front of your tent, and you manage to capture a beautiful photo at your favorite low-level angle. For nature photographers, there's nothing quite like successfully capturing birds, mammals, or other natural subjects, making the sometimes long wait worthwhile. At that moment, it's reassuring to be able to rely on your equipment!

Photographing from the tent

The tent has high-quality zippers at the front and back, and an insect screen in the same camouflage print is also fitted at the entrance. Even with the door slightly open, the photo tent remains perfectly camouflaged. The front of the tent can be fully opened, making it easy to set up your tripod and equipment.

Once inside the tent, you'll notice it's very dark due to the black coating on the inside. The photo window is located at the front. An optional snoot/lens cover can be attached to this, which also camouflages your lens and protects it from rain and dust. An added benefit is that your hands are invisible from the outside while operating the camera.

The tent has just enough space for you, your (ground) tripod with your equipment, and a camera backpack or bag. There are storage pockets on the sides where you can temporarily store small items. The viewing windows, fitted with an insect screen, provide a clear view of all sides and can also be used for ventilation.

In this tent, we recommend using a ground tripod due to the small space and low height, and it can be placed entirely inside the tent. A regular tripod will also work, but then one leg is placed outside the tent. A compact but sturdy tripod is therefore preferable. Using a (special) ball head is also recommended, as a gimbal head or gimbal can hit the tent canvas, which can be seen and deterred by animals! We offer the perfect ball heads for this task.

So, if you are looking for the perfect low-level hide for photographing mammals and/or birds, which is also easy to set up and easy to carry, then the Falco Mark III is the best option for your photoshoot!

Experiences of our specialists

• Perfect for lying stretched out in the tent, even for tall people.
• Perfect low level photography.
• Viewing windows give you a good overview of the surroundings.
• Quick and easy to set up and store.
• Blends in perfectly with its surroundings due to its compact size.
• Strong construction (aluminium poles) and strong polyester.