Digiscoping

[Dogghound]

Just a few questions please, is it worth me (or anyone for that matter) getting into digiscoping or am i wasting my time?

What sort of quality can you expect?

Is it a poor alternative to a DSLR?

What are the pros and cons?

I have a high definition swarovski scope, which is good for looking at birds but would it be good for photographing them through.

Cheers DH.

[nightshade]

I would think your scope would be very good, you need a really solid tripod to go with it. Why not just try some shots holding your camera to the eyepiece

[Dogghound]

Thanks nightshade, ive got a good tripod, just not sure on the camera, I have tried several hand held shots which is quite difficult, they were through a window so the quality was not great, plus its an old camera. Ive got a bit of free time so will try and devise a way of attatching the camera to the scope.

[nightshade]

There were several long threads here on digiscoping cameras and some really excellent photo examples. Main man was John Digiscoping

[nightshade]

swarovski bits here
digiscoping cameras - Search Results - Warehouse Express

[Mitty]

Hi,

There are some lovely pictures from digiscoping with a swaro scope, if you search 'digiscoped swarovski' or similar on the Flickr website.

[nigel_b]

If you can get lined up with the correct exposure and the subject stays still long enough the results can be quite good. I found it all a bit of a hassle as even with live view if the subject wanders about a bit you have to swing the camera out of the way, unlock the scope, move the scope, lock the scope, focus the scope then swing the camera back around. By the time you've done that lot you can bet your subject's probably moved again!

[Tringa]

I've read that a fairly simple camera coupled with a decent scope can give good results.

There is also lots of advice and equipment on the net, eg -

Digiscoping - Digiscope pictures, Digiscoped images, techniques, advice, equipment

Digi-scoping

I did the attached shots as an experiment. The first photo is taken on a FZ28 with the 35mm equivalent of a 129mm lens. The marks on this photo show the position of the subject in the second shot. For the second I handheld the camera next to the eyepiece of an 80mm scope.

It worked reasonably well but I had 3 or 4 unsuccessful ones before got this one. Not an option for most wildlife, but there are lots of adaptors available.






Dave

[nigel_b]

Exactly, but look at your subjects...

I've had great results with the scope, as long as its buildings or landscapes its not too much of a pita to get it right but I've found wildlife a totally different matter.

[Dogghound]

Thanks for the info, I will give it go, although I dont plan on taking photo's of buildings or landscapes. I will start off with "easy" targets like ducks and geese and work my way up.