The Tank: Our Battle-Tested “Night Ops” Rig

Here’s a new item we’ll be adding to our store. I think it might be of interest to users who work in rugged environments and challenging weather. I originally developed this outfit for the 55th Combat Camera Platoon out of Ft. Mead, Maryland. The photographers of Combat Camera Platoon are charged with the daily creation of both stills and video, day or night, rain or shine. With that in mind, let’s look at the thinking behind this particular product.

Firstly, the relentlessly bright sunshine found in many combat theaters makes viewing the camera’s LCD screen a real challenge. Secondly, there’s the issue of Night Ops. At night, the LCD screen becomes much easier to see but the user's face is bathed in light - not a desirable circumstance, I would imagine, when enemy snipers are ever alert...

While our original iDC Viewfinder solves both of these problems, there are a couple of additional military mandates to address. The first of these is the requirement that the camera be able to attach to a gear harness via a “Wolf Hook” - basically a heavy-duty carabiner-style clip. Done. Our iDC Viewfinder includes a 1/2” diameter hole in the baseplate that easily addresses this need. Secondly, in an effort to guarantee the long-term functionality of the 5D MK II in a combat role, the Army has decided to fit all of their cameras with Camera Armor. You may have seen this online or in your local camera store. Camera Armor is a multi-part rubber skin that is designed to give access to all controls while adding a layer of protection against bumps and abrasion. I refer to it as a camera condom but that’s just the way my brain works.

With the addition of Camera Armor to the 5D Mk II, the external dimensions of the camera body grows by a substantial amount and my original off-the-rack iDC Viewfinder no longer fits properly. After gathering the appropriate dimensions, I designed a slightly over-sized version and dubbed it The Tank. The Tank is now working in combat theaters worldwide.

And it’s available to you as well. I think The Tank would be a great choice for any photojournalist or nature shooter who might find themselves working in foul weather conditions or a nasty rough-and-tumble environment.

Please note: The Tank is NOT compatible with our iDC Follow-Focus rig. The rubberized Camera Armor coating adds considerable dimension to the camera. This additional camera body girth forces the Follow-Focus fitment beyond acceptable tolerances and renders it Not Compatible...