Digiscope camera

[haddonite]

Have been reading many articles in the forum, and to be honest I'm a lttle confused!

My good lady has recently purchased a Nikon D70s camera (which is a DSLR believe) as she is re-kindling her interest in photography. I would like to use this camera for wildlife photos too!

Now, I'm a complete novice as far as photography goes, but I understand the logic in buying the best you can afford, and have been pricing up digiscoping equipment (Nikon ED82). I have also seen the amazing photo results that some members have produced with digiscope equipment.

Would it be advisable to buy the digiscope or should I buy a good quality lens for decent close-up bird and wildlife photos with this camera?

Neil

[glsammy]

I've been through exactly the same thought process you're going through, and it's a struggle to come to an exact "correct" answer. We've got some excellent digiscopers here, John is the prime example. He uses a Nikon Coolpix 4500, which is ideally suited for digiscoping.
What I found out is that you need a camera with a small lens, and preferably a screw thread. The 4500 has I believe a 27mm thread (correct me if I'm wrong John!) You then get an adaptor that fits into the eyepiece on you scope, and you've got a super telephoto lens. You can get prime focus adaptors that will work with the likes of D70's or other DSLR's but I've no idea how good they are.
The camera route, which is the choice I've taken, means spending big money on lenses to try and get somewhere near digiscoping, but Digiscoping will always give you a better chance of getting that long distance shot.
A good telephoto lens for your Nikon, would be something like the Sigma 50-500mm. You can get teleconverters for them to make it 1,000mm (1,600mm 35mm equivalent.) Sounds good, but there are downsides. Your maximum lens aperture would be only F12.6, which would mean low shutter speeds and only really usable in good light and with a tripod. The 500mm end though is perfectly hand-holdable. Have a look at Digi's images. Most of them are with the 50-500mm lens, and hand held.
The 500mm lens cost around £600 if from importers with 1yrs warranty, or £719 from Uk suppliers with 3yrs warranty.

I've probably confused you even more now!

[haddonite]

With all the information out there, it is difficult, isn't it!

As I sat here in an upstairs room, reading through these forums, I glanced out of the window. Saw a Common Buzzard sitting in a tree some 200 metres away!

Out with the DSLR in 'point and shoot' mode. Took several pictures, but sadly not of good quality. The lens is a Nikon 70-300, but no tripod, so the clarity is poor, unfortunately. The weather hasn't helped either!

I have seen some of the wonderful photos taken by the members! Something to aim at in the future! I know it is very early days for me yet, though, lots more practise needed with the camera alone!

I appreciate the advice, Thank you.

[glsammy]

Originally Posted by haddonite

With all the information out there, it is difficult, isn't it!

As I sat here in an upstairs room, reading through these forums, I glanced out of the window. Saw a Common Buzzard sitting in a tree some 200 metres away!

Out with the DSLR in 'point and shoot' mode. Took several pictures, but sadly not of good quality. The lens is a Nikon 70-300, but no tripod, so the clarity is poor, unfortunately. The weather hasn't helped either!

I have seen some of the wonderful photos taken by the members! Something to aim at in the future! I know it is very early days for me yet, though, lots more practise needed with the camera alone!

I appreciate the advice, Thank you.

Your lucky, I've only ever once seen a Buzzard! If your weather is like it is here, dull and wet, NO lens or digiscope will give you a good image. Light is essential for good images.

[rlchew]

Neil

I currently use the Nikon D70 DSLR (the version before the D70s that you have).

I use it with a Nikon ED82mm Fieldscope and the Nikon FSA-L1 camera/telescope attachment. I also use it with a Sigma 80-400mm lens. Please see my website for more details .... the photography tips and equipment section.

I have to say that I prefer using the Sigma lens which under most conditions allows me to hand hold and is therefore far more flexible. I have considered buying a teleconverter but I am slightly concerned about the disadvantages as have been mentioned by glsammy in an earlier post.

The camera/scope set up does work and you do have the added reach that this provides but you need to ensure that (a) you have a good tripod to ensure rock solid stability and (b) lighting is good. If not, results can be disappointing.

Both my own website and my Gallery uploads here on WAB include examples of the results from both .... only the successful ones! I have also had poor results from both.

In conclusion, I am not sure that I can advise you. I find the flexibility of both options to be of benefit .... but then the costs start going up and you have to be fit to carry all that weight around

Regarding costs, however, I purchased all my equipment from www.warehouseexpress.com who at least allow you to spread the pain interest free over 9 months. Sorry, I can't help with a gym for the fitness regime!

Best of luck what ever you decide to do.

[John]

Hi Neil

The first thing you have to decide on is what type of wildlife photography you want to do. That might sound simplistic but in fact is the starting point on the final decision on what camera to use.

Do you want top rate images full of all the pin perfect details that some contributors on this site produce. If so then you have to realise that these shots will have been taken of subjects not that far from the camera and will have been taken with a DSLR camera.

Do you want to photograph almost anything you see, no matter how far away. This is the realm of the Digiscoping camera. A DSLR will totally outstrip Digiscoping in quality of image but cannot compete with a Digiscoping set up when it comes to subjects just that bit further away.

Birds within the range of a DSLR are in fact probably too near for a Digiscoping camera. You have to realise that a scope is probably set at at least 20x mag. Add to that the slight amount of zoom required to get rid of the vignetting, caused by the adaptor used to attach the camera to the scope, and you are now probably in the realms of 30 to 40 mag minimum. That is way too much of a mag for birds in the DSLR range. Add to that the digiscoping camera used through a scope or converter is not capable of equaling the quality of the final image with a DSLR.

Taking birds not that far away with a Digiscope setup actually gives the image a softer look, with less feather detail on birds than the close ups of the DSLR acheive. Take a look at mine that are close up then look at the close up's of the DSLR's. Mine are nowhere near as good but a lot of my photos are taken at extreme ranges (possibly in excess of 2 or 300 yards - or even more).

As Graham said earlier, I have a Nikon Coolpix 4500. To me this is a fantastic camera that can give you excellent results with distant shots and is also an excellent Macro camera for those close up insect / flower shots.

Unfortunately it is now out of production but Warehouse Express have just got some in and are doing an excellent deal on them. The one downside of this type of camera is the ease of use. A DSLR is hand held and flexible enough to capture a bird almost as soon as you see it. With Digiscoping you are possibly looking for birds through a pair of bins first then your scope. You see it, line up your scope, focus on it then get the camera and adaptor out, attach it to the scope, re-align the shot, focus up, half depress the button, re-focus then if you are lucky and the bird is still there take the shot.

You are also carrying a scope and tripod as well as your camera bag which is a lot of weight in comparison with a DSLR set up.

The upside of digiscoping is a set up capable of capturing birds you could only dream of getting with a DSLR set up and another up side is the cost as it is nowhere near as costly as a good DSLR set up.

The upside of the DSLR is the fantastic images within a limited range. The weight is also a fraction of a digiscoping set up if you are just using bins and a camera bag. It is also a more portable set up. The downside is the cost.

Hopefully I haven't confused you, but you did ask.

[nightshade]

Haddonite,use a program that allows you to select a small aperture,use a tripod or a monopod asa around 800,I have just bought a D70s and although
I was pretty ace with slide film I do struggle with the Dslr

[haddonite]

Thank you all for the information, it really has given me much food for thought, and it is much appreciated!

At the moment, the one piece of equipment we do have is the DSLR camera, and judging by your feedback, it's not a bad place to start! I do take on board the fact that it will not be plain sailing, as Nightshade has pointed out, and do need to get a decent tripod/monopod for stability.

I have visited all of your photo sites, and there are some great pictures posted on them. You guys obviously know how to take wildlife photos, so I know I came to the right place to ask the question.

To be honest, there doesn't seem to be a "right" answer, as a DSLR with a good lens, is as valuable as a digital camera with a scope set up.
I do acknowledge the point made by John about where I want to be in respect of the type of photos I want to take. I just know that I would eventually like to produce images to match those I've seen on your sites.

Richew mentioned the flexability he has with both set ups, so I can see warehouse express relieving me of my pocket money over the next few months!!

Once again you guys, Thank you for the advice. I will now sit my good lady down, show her your brilliant photos, and try to talk her into the inevitable investment.

Neil

[Helen]

HI Haddonite, regarding the tripod/monopod, I don't use them, they hinder the flexibilty. I am using a 100-400 IS lens with a Canon 20D, and so far, have never needed the tripod.

Cheers

[haddonite]

Originally Posted by Helen

HI Haddonite, regarding the tripod/monopod, I don't use them, they hinder the flexibilty. I am using a 100-400 IS lens with a Canon 20D, and so far, have never needed the tripod.

Cheers

Does that mean that you use natural or available support, depending on location, or just free-hand?

Neil