Pro Digiscoping Techniques

[dnaxe]

Anyone tried using a digiscope?

The most impressive example i've found are at: http://naturephotoadvisor.com/Articl...xamples002.htm

I think the photos demonstrate that whatever combination of lenses/digiscopes being used can focus and take the most technically demanding telephoto shots sufficiently well, and I would be very interested in acquiring such a setup (for fun).

The website doesn't appear to have the book "Pro Digiscoping Techniques" on sale though, and google throws up nothing. Anyone have any idea? I'm going to email the author, but if anyone knows about this it would be interesting to hear about it.

[creampuff]

Digiscoping is one way of shooting wildlife with the longer focal length of a spotting scope allowing the photographer to shoot subjects at a distance. You only need a spotting scope and a camera adapter to convert a spotting scope into a super-telephoto lens. Pentax and Nikon does make some very good spotting scopes but they aren't cheap (S$1000 upwards not including the eyepiece). Even the Pentax Camera Adapter PF-CA35 costs about S$650. Then you need a very sturdy tripod to control camera shake due to the very high magnification. Bottomline digiscoping is not a cheap undertaking and there are some limitations like no aperture control for exposure.

[dnaxe]

hmm. interesting. thanks creampuff. Hadn't even heard about the PF-CA35.

[xdivider]

Im planning a kit for Sungei Buloh / natural reserves to reach 2000mm focal. Most of the time, I find the 500mm to 800mm range more than enough for parks but a 1400mm effective did not cut it at SBWR for some of the more skittish smaller birds.
This is probably one of the best forums for digiscoping - http://www.birdforum.net/forumdisplay.php?f=243. A sample setup that is very commonly used seem to be 80-65mm scope+eyepiece to filter thread adapter to digicam / 40mm pancake + dslr. however, if u really want to go this route, u will find getting some of the cheaper mid-tier scopes is like finding a needle in a haystack. Getting a 66mm to 80mm apo refractor telescope is easier if u visit the SG astronomy forum for their local MO pple.

[dnaxe]

You mind if I tag along sometime, after you put your kit together xdivider? Would be interesting to see in action Let me know!

[xdivider]

If I finally get it. Now juz planning and reading up. Some more info to wet your appetite. Not technically digiscoping though

http://digiborg.wordpress.com/

[dnaxe]

sounds great

[ian0138]

I did try some digiscoping before... not with a spotting scope but with a refractor telescopes.

Result at prime focus is ok (direct mount the DSLR to the scope with out the eyepiece) this will limit the focal length as the scope focal length,
but with eye piece projection is a little bit disappointed with DSLR due to the larger sensor (this way you can push higher magnification with the eyepiece power)

Digiscoping with a spotting scopes work better with P&S camera rather than a DSLR imho

Below is my setup of a William Optic's Megrez 88 (500mm f5.6)


100% crop with some PP

[woefulwabbit]

Wow that's quite sharp. Could use a CPL filter though, but where would you get one that size

[fengwei]

Fotograph at Chinatown Point (#02-15, or oppsite, can't remember for sure) has a couple Pentax tele scopes. There might be some PK adapters too. You can check it out