Photo Hide Aquila Mark III Reed

Photo Hide Aquila Mark III Reed ​is the perfect two-person photohide for wildlife and bird photography.
This is the latest version of our two-person photohide, and successor to the Aquila Mark II, with several improvements. See below for specifications compared to the previous version.

Advantages of ordering from us

✔  Ordered before 3 pm, shipped the same day.

✔  2-year warranty on your photo hide.

✔  Free exchange within 30 days.

​✔  Safe buying and paying.

​✔  14 days right of return.

​✔  Own parts & service department.
 

Plus and minus points 

According to our photo hide specialist

+ Several improvements over the Aquila Mark II, see below in the description.

+ Space for one or two persons, chairs, photo gear and backpacks.

+ Keep yourself and your gear perfectly dry.

+ No noise from the hide, invisible in the hide.

+ Hydrostatic head of 2.500 mm for water-resistance.

+ Camouflages you and your gear perfect with 4 different camo patterns.

+ Perfect new window and snoot/lenscover system.
 

Description:

Developed by nature photographers

About the hide:

The Aquila Mark III is the latest version of our two-person photohide.
We looked closely at areas for improvement, and listened carefully to feedback from many users and ambassadors of these wildlife and birdhides.

Thanks to some clever applications, the Aquila Mark III is much more resistant to precipitation, keeps you perfectly dry in 'bad' weather conditions and features better photo and viewing windows.

The hide on the outside:

• Smarter applications make the tent much more resistant to moisture from precipitation:
• There is an additional 'canopy' on three sides, this prevents rain drops from entering through the insect net and also better protects your lens from precipitation.
  Besides protection against rain drops, this hood also works as a sunshade, the photo window with your lens will be more shaded and therefore less noticeable. 
  These canopies can all be folded down when not in use or not needed. If you leave the tent up for a longer period, this is also useful because your tent will be less conspicuous, and it will also be less sensitive to wind.
• The improved construction with longer poles that extend to the bottom means the tent keeps its shape better.
• 8 pegs: Longer and stronger than previous versions. 18 cm. long, black aluminium, triangular in shape.
• The use of (thicker) strings on all runners of the zips, and the absence of Velcro prevents annoying noises.
• All windows are lockable with a zip, there are no more windows where water can easily enter.
• Optionally, Buteo Photo Gear offers:
  • A matching Snoot/Lens cover (see below).
  • An additional rain roof (see below).
  • A matching ground sheet (see below).

The hide on the inside:​

• All windows and insect nets can also be controlled from the inside.
• Ropes and 'tunnels' inside the hide are in brighter colours for easy visibility in the dark.
• Label with instructions.

Photo and viewing windows:

• All photo windows are much wider than before, at 40x36 cm. (bxh) The photo windows are also viewing windows (upper part window), and are therefore also much wider than in the Buteo Mark II. So there are no more separate, small viewing windows as in the previous version.
  By means of a zip that can be operated from 2 sides, you can make the viewing window larger or smaller to your liking.
  On the left, a wider window is still available, perfect for filmmakers, or in case you need more space.
  In this wider window, another photowindow is provided (same size as all other photo windows).
• All windows are fully lockable with high-quality zips so that they can be closed watertight. (can be operated from both inside and outside).
• No Velcro has been used, so no more annoying noises.
• The insect nets in the windows consist of 2 sections that overlap in the middle, equipped with an elastic band so they securely enclose your lens.
• These insect nets are attached to the tent fabric with a zip, thus zipping it all the way open if you wish or if you want to zip in a snoot as an alternative photo window (see snoot description below).
• The insect nets are alternately vertical or horizontal (see photos).
  • The advantage of vertical is that there is more margin in height, so you can vary the height of your lens. This margin is also useful for taller or smaller people.
    Insectnets in the photo windows on the front and right side are vertical positioned.
  • The advantage of horizontal is that it is a bit easier to swivel right/left, especially for filmmakers.
    Insectnets in the photo windows left are horizontal positioned.
• Photo windows at 3 alternating heights spread over 3 sides. There is a large panoramic window for filmmakers on the left-hand side.
• In rainy weather, it is even possible to close the outer fabric of the photo windows, and use a zip in the middle to close them off around your lens, so that the tent is tight but you can still take photos (see photos).
• The sides you don't use for photography, however, can be used as viewing windows by partially opening the zip, again large or small as desired.

Carrying bag:

• The carrying strap of the carry bag/foldbag is longer (but adjustable) making it easier to carry.
• Separate compartment on top of the carry bag for accessories such as pegs, guy ropes, etc.
   

Accessories (optional):

Snoot / Lenscover:

Buteo Photo Gear offers a matching snoot as a replacement for the original photo window.
The snoot has the advantage that it additionally camouflages your lens with the same waterproof fabric and camouflage pattern as the hide, and also protects your lens well against rain, snow and dust etc.
Another advantage is that your hands are less likely to be visible when operating the camera.
The snoot fits perfectly in any photo window, can be easily zipped in, and has its own viewing window at the top with fixed netting. This viewing window can also be fully or partially closed on the inside, and can be made larger or smaller as desired with a zip that can be operated from two sides.
The larger insect net in the tent can be zipped down when using the snoot, but can also be used as is, as your lens goes through it.
Finally, you can also use the outer polyester fabric in bad weather. It has a zip through which you put the lens, with the zip you then close the fabric so that you and your equipment have maximum protection from precipitation (see photos).

Rain Roof:

An additional rain roof can be useful to make the roof of your Aquila Mark III even more waterproof.
If you want to leave the hide up for a longer period of time, or if you want to be 100% sure that not a drop will seep through the roof again, this is a perfect solution. It gives you a double polyester roof over your head, so also 2 a hydrostatic head of 2,500 mm. This rain roof fits exactly over the existing roof, and can be easily fixed at 4 corners with a hook.

Ground sheet:

The groundsheet used with the previous version is also applicable with the Mark III. This ground sheet has the same base dimensions as the hide (150x150 cm), and is made of PVC fabric 0.4 mm thick, (polyester Oxford).
The water column of this ground sheet is no less than 10,000 mm!

Prepare and place:

It is useful to visit a nature reserve in advance and prepare well, so that you start photographing purposefully.  Preferably make use of the surroundings as much as possible; if possible, place the tent against or under existing vegetation so that everything becomes one, preferably 1 or a few days in advance so that birds and mammals can get used to it. The hide can be secured with the supplied pegs and guy ropes, although this will not often be necessary.

The Aquila Mark III also has the option of attaching additional camouflage such as branches, leaves, reeds and so on. These extras can be attached using the strings. If you do this properly, your photohide will blend in even more with its surroundings, which is exactly what you want! Another possibility is to use an extra camouflage net, please feel free to check our page camouflage nets.
However, make sure you have a good, unobstructed view to all sides with your camera.

The Aquila Mark III is perfect for use for short periods (up to several months). If left in full sun for long periods, the colour may fade slightly.
You will still stay dry in rain/rain: The canopies, the possibility to close everything tightly (and still be able to take photos), and optionally the extra rain canopy make this tent more weather-resistant than ever!
The tent fabric itself is a strong, waterproof polyester (150D, hydrostatic head of 2,500 mm.) that lasts a long time. Just keep in mind that the weather resistance may decrease a bit if the tent is left outside for months or even longer.

Taking photos from the hide

The spacious entrance has a high-quality zip, stays nicely to the side when opened and is also equipped with an insect mesh in the same camouflage print. So the tent with the door (slightly) open is still perfectly camouflaged.
Once inside the tent, you can see that it is very dark because of the black coating on the inside. However, the strings on the zips and the edges of the storage compartment and 'tunnels' for the fibreglass poles in the roof are more prominently coloured, so they are still easy to see in the dark.

The photo and viewing windows are provided at 3 different levels:

• Two front photo windows, at 87 cm. (centre photo window).
• On the left you'll find a wider window with an insectnet, in this wider window a 'normal' photowindow is provided.
• One photo window is provided at the bottom left, if you want to shoot at low-level, at 36 cm. (centre photo window).
• On the right you'll find another two photowindows at eye-level, at 75 cm. (centre photo window).

All photo windows are equipped with an insect net, these consist of 2 sections that overlap in the middle, fitted with an elastic band so they securely enclose your lens. In case of rain, it is possible to close the outer fabric as well, and put your lens through a zip opening. This allows you to still shoot, but protects you and your equipment to the maximum from wind and weather.

All insect nets in these windows can be partially or fully unzipped. This allows the viewing window to be resized as required. These viewing windows are wide, so you have a perfect view to the outside. On the left and right side you will find the same options to keep a good view there as well. There is a smaller viewing window in the door at the back, which can be closed watertight.

The hide has enough space for your seats, your tripods with cameras & lenses and photo backpacks or bags. At the front, you will find a storage compartment where you can store small items.

Standard delivery:

• Aquila Mark III Reed.
• Additional fibreglass poles.
• Carrying bag, Reed.
• Storage bag Reed with 8 pegs, 18 cm. long, black aluminium.
• Guy ropes.

Accessories optional:

• Additional rain canopy in storage bag, Reed.
• Snoot / Lens cover Reed.
• Storage bag with 8 pegs and guy ropes, Reed.
• Spare fibreglass poles.
• Carrying bag for the tent, Reed.
• Ground sheet Aquila.
• All accessories can be found here
   

At Buteo Photo Gear, we are happy to advise you personally. So if you need help, please get in touch with us.

Buteo Photo Gear: Your Photo Hide Specialist