Buteo photo gear hide falco mark ii light brown

The Falco Mark II was developed by nature and wildlife photographers. Extensively used, tested, and improved where necessary. The Falco Mark II is the single-person hide tent for low-level nature photography that we currently offer in no fewer than 6 camouflage patterns.

Thanks to its simple hoop construction, this tent can be set up and folded down easily time and time again. As soon as you take the hide out of its bag, it automatically pops open and takes shape. Then, secure the tent with a peg at each corner, and your hide tent is ready for use!
This tent comes standard with pre-assembled fiberglass poles.

If you prefer to use aluminum poles (stronger), consider these Falco models: Falco Mark III, Falco Mark III Snow, or Falco Mark III Reed.

Perfect camouflage

If you are often in the field, you will quickly notice that birds and mammals are very shy of humans. Not surprising when you consider that these animals have been hunted almost everywhere for centuries.
Camouflaging yourself and your equipment with a photo tent is then the best solution for successful wildlife photography. The basic idea is that the animals no longer see or recognize us as humans, and therefore do not feel threatened.

With the Falco Mark II lie-down tent, you are quickly and perfectly camouflaged and can photograph beautifully at ground level (low-level). Its compact size allows you to place the tent well among or under vegetation and further camouflage it with branches, leaves, reeds, etc.

Easy, fast, and mobile

The advantage of your own mobile hide tent is that you can take it anywhere, anytime, and quickly deploy it when an opportunity arises.
This light and compact camouflage tent is easy to carry when you are out and about in your area or traveling further afield.

Preparing and positioning

It is fun and useful to visit a nature reserve in advance and prepare thoroughly, so you can photograph purposefully with your lie-down photo tent. But even an incidental encounter can turn into a great photo session because you can quickly set up this hide.

Preferably make as much use of the surroundings as possible; place the tent, if possible, against or under existing vegetation so that everything becomes one whole. Due to its small size, this is generally quite easy to do. Preferably do this the day or evening before so that birds and mammals can get used to it. The tent can be additionally secured with the supplied pegs and guy lines, although this will often not be necessary.

The Falco Mark II also has the option to attach extra camouflage, such as branches, leaves, reeds, and so on. These extras can be attached using the strings. If you do this well, your hide will blend even more into the surroundings, and that is precisely the intention! Another option is to use an extra camouflage net, which you can find on our camouflage nets page.
However, make sure you have a good and clear view with your camera.

The tent fabric itself is made of a strong material (polyester 150D) that will last a long time. The photo hide is perfect for short-term use (up to several months). If it is left in direct sunlight for a longer period, the color/camo print may fade somewhat. In rain/showers, you will still stay dry due to the Hydrostatic Head of 2,500 mm. But keep in mind that the weather resistance may decrease if it is left outside for months or even longer.

For a bit more comfort, but also to keep yourself and your equipment dry, there is the option to use an extra groundsheet. The tent itself has a groundsheet, but this is not always sufficient in wet conditions. The groundsheet can be placed either under or inside the tent, as desired.

Imagine yourself lying in your tent, well-prepared and ready for action. Suddenly you see a beaver, a grebe, or a wader appear in front of your tent, which you then manage to photograph beautifully at your favorite low level. For nature photographers, there is nothing as beautiful as successfully photographing birds, mammals, or other subjects in nature, making the sometimes long wait worthwhile. At that moment, it's nice to be able to rely on your equipment!

Photographing from the tent

The tent has high-quality zippers at the front and back, and the entrance is also equipped with an insect mesh in the same camouflage print. So, the photo tent with the door (slightly) open is still perfectly camouflaged. At the front, the tent can be fully opened, making it easy to place your tripod and equipment.

Once inside the tent, you will notice that it is very dark due to the black coating on the inside. At the front is the photo window. Optionally, a snoot/lens cover can be attached here, which also camouflages your lens and protects it from rain and dust. An additional advantage is that your hands are invisible from the outside when operating the camera.

The lie-down tent has just enough space for yourself, your (ground) tripod with your equipment, and a photo backpack or bag. On the sides, there are storage pockets where small items can be temporarily stored. The viewing windows, equipped with an insect net, give you sufficient overview on all sides and can also be used for ventilation.

In this tent, we advise you to use a ground tripod due to the small space, the low level, and also because it can be placed entirely inside the tent. A 'normal' tripod is also possible, but then one leg will be placed outside the tent. Therefore, a compact yet sturdy tripod is preferred. The use of a (special) ball head is also recommended because a swing head or gimbal can come into contact with the tent fabric, which can be seen by animals and deter them! We offer the perfect ball heads for this job.

So, if you are looking for the perfect low-level hide tent to photograph mammals and/or birds, and one that can also be easily set up and is easy to carry, then the Falco Mark III is the best option for your photoshoot!

Experiences of our specialists

• Perfectly lie stretched out in the tent, even for tall people.
• Perfect low-level photography.
• Viewing windows give you a good overview of the surroundings.
• Easy and quick to set up and store.
• Blends perfectly into the environment due to its compact size.
• Strong construction and strong polyester.