Digiscoping

[jaykay]

Hi

I need some help with digiscoping. I'm looking to purchase a Vanguard VSP-85 80mm spotting scope, I have a Canon 10D camera. Can anyone tell me how the scope performs at wildlife/bird photography please? All help gratefully received

[Hobjob]

Originally Posted by jaykay

Hi

I'm looking to purchase a Vanguard VSP-85 80mm spotting scope, I have a Canon 10D camera. Can anyone tell me how the scope performs at wildlife/bird photography please? All help gratefully received

I can't answer the question directly as I don't know the scope.

However, many members of WAB has dabbled with Digiscoping and ended up with dSLRs and big lenses.

There are lots of fora on the web devoted to digiscoping and I would advice you strongly to read widely before committing to buying, When it comes to optics you really do get what you pay for. Have a good read round on the older threads on WAB too.

The other thing with digiscoping is time that it takes, so that quick action shots are just not possible.

If you do go down this route, budget for a good sturdy tripod, anything less with disappoint. When I bought my spotting scope (Viking) I was very disappointed until I bought a new Manfrotto tripod.

[nightshade]

Hobjob has it, high ISO,s, small apertures, long exposures, haze disappearing birds .......

[Meta menardi]

Originally Posted by nightshade

Hobjob has it, high ISO,s, small apertures, long exposures, haze disappearing birds .......

One comment I saw said that even using a wired remote control for the camera was a problem, as the heartbeat was tranmitted to the camera by the wire! Certainly not for the fainthearted. Actually, reading that, being faint hearted could be just what you need.

[jaykay]

thanks for the assistance, maybe I'll forgo the scope for the moment and look at lens' instead.

[Steve S]

The attraction of digiscoping is taking pictures with a very long focal length optic. The payoff is the difficulty that is inherent in using it effectively.

I've seen some excellent results from digiscopers, the best invariably use top-end scopes and have spent a lot of time developing their technique. Don't give up on your ambition without first reading around, if this is what you want to do.

Just keep in mind what a highly published expert photographer once said to me as we were discussing taking top class pictures, "Nothing is easy".

Steve.

[jaykay]

Thanks Steve, Ok, I may stick with giving it a go before consider going down the lens aisle! Can't complain if I haven't even tried it.