Digiscoping
Advice
Lessons
Learn to Digiscope

Hi Jerry,

Its good to meet you!

You definitely do have all the gear for digiscoping with.

I'll be honest and say that I'm not convinced that DSLR's work so well when they are connected via a lens. That will instantly cut down the aperture and the more glass there is to focus through, the more chance of a blur (have you ever tried focusing through a window for example?) Also, the 20-60x eyepiece isn't wide angled so you may lose a little light because of that.

This is gonna sound a bit mad, but have you considered the TLS 800? You'll get f10 fixed aperture through the 80mm Swaro, but the extra light makes up for it. You'll need to use your DSLR in Ap priority, and to get good results you'll have to manipulate the shutter speed by balancing the light with the ISO and exposure compensation.

What do you think?

OR! You could buy something like the Nikon P300 and use your UCA. From what I have been told the camera can operate at around f3!

Let me know how you get on!

Regards

Danny

Hi Danny, I am new to your site.

I like widlife photos, therefore I have been using digiscoping for an extended time. I bet I have taken 2000 digi photos, 2 of them were good, the rest you would not line the bird cage with them. -the birds would be offended.

I don't do it every week but I digi frequently. Also I do not quit easy or cheaply. Here is the hardware:

1. 80 MM Swarovski scope

2. 20 X 60 eyepiece

3. Canon EOs 1ds Mark III or a Canon XTI

4. Canon 50 MM f1.8 lens

5. Swarovski UCA attachment

6. wimberly head

7. balancing rail

8. Monfratto tripod that is stiffer than I am.

9. cable release

Pardon if I misspelled product names.

But , I think you can tell it not the equipment but the operator is a putz.

I have read articles and blogs-- from that I think that I have tried every combination of camera settings there is.

I use a high iso--500-800. I use apature control, set it low as possible, bigger hole more light. I use manual focus and live view. I use the 5x and 10 x magifers in the live view of the camera, I get what I think is a focused photo and it comes out "real" soft. I use the cable release. I pray to the photo gods and it stilll comes out soft..

I know distance makes a difference. I do not expect to see a flea on a dog at 500 yards. I would be satisifed if my photos looked like the ones on this site. I also know that the digi photos are not going to be as sharp as my 400 MM f2.8 or the 2oo mm F2, can"t happen.

But can you offer me any advice???. Is it possible that the live view looks focused but the camera is actually not in focus?? If that is the case I have 3 cameras that are 'bad". I just want to be able too extend my range a little bit further than a Dslr lens..

I would certainly be happy with some digi photos that look like the ones on this site.

Hi Robin,

I'm good thanks and hope you are too?

I'm on a work mossion so birding will have to be missed on this occassion. I'll make it to Nth Norfolk some other time!!

See you soon,

Danny.

Hi Danny, how are you doing? What's this I hear you passed up the chance to meander up through north norfolk and take in the wash on your way to Grimsby?

Hi, Thanks for your questions. Your list of requests sounds scary, and I think you are over complicating things. By the way you talk it sounds like you either know a lot about conventional photography or you have taken a lot of different terms and got a bit confused?!!

If you are thinking of digiscoping from your deck then great, but its a simple concept about telephotography, not the science that you talk of.

If you wanna take pictures using the digiscoping method I can help, but I'm not an expert in all types of photography.

As a beginner your list should look something like this.

1. Scope

2. Camera

3. Means of attaching the scope and camera

4.Tripod with fluid head.

If you want a good beginners set up, look at the Celestron Ultima ED range. They have a built on T thread, which is ideal for attaching all kinds of cameras, especially DSLR's

If, however you are looking for specific equipment then I cannot help as I only have limited experiance, and wouldnt want to misinform you.

I hope I've helped, though I doubt I have!!

Regards,

Danny.

I looked at the blog, and it's looking a little abandoned, so i thought I'd post here.  You seem like a good egg, and thanks for all the help you provide people.  This has been one of my stops over recent weeks, perusing blogs and reading about digiscoping.  This year I moved into a little apartment, three stories up, with a huge window and deck, only feet from a wide spot in the river.  There are millions of trees, and so much wildlife, birds and waterfowl, it's impossible not to take an interest.  My girlfriend got a little spotting scope for me, which is helping me identify and enjoy watching all the more.

I am going to get a second hand, astro type telescope, and DSLR for my deck.  As you know the science of optics is daunting, but I think, with this set up, I'll get the best photos, and keep in my budget (which is almost non-existent, fixed income).   I need to know which Astro-type telescope will give me the best digital photo-plane with the least color or shape distortion?   http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_telescope_types

I'm thinking a short, wide tube, for lots of light, and near distance focus ability at lower magnifications.  But which type to get?  I'm totally confused.  The photo advice offered on these, is always Astronomical Afocal Photography for nightviewing of heavenly bodies.  Digiscopers want me to charge out and spend WAY TOO MUCH.  It's not going to happen.  I'm in Pawn Shops, Estate Sales, and Craigslist, buying one baby thing at a time.  

Shopping list:  1. Video type tripod for fast movement and easy locking with fluid vibration relief.  2.  Short tube, @5" Diam Telescope with near distance focus ability,  low end magnification, removable standard eyepiece and adaptability to non-proprietary tripod.  3.  DSLR Body with modern software, manual focus, ISO, and priority ability  4.  Sliding tripod adapter platform, to balance scope and camera assembly  5.  Appropriate adapter to mount camera to scope

I think this is the cheapest way to go, and still get high quality photographs.  The big question is the telescope.  Can you help an old guy out without totally discouraging him, Danny?

thanks

Hi Slopeflyer,

Looking at the cameras that you have I think I'd go for the C70. It seems like the lens should be wide enough to see down the eyepiece properly. The zoom is too great on the other 2 cameras that you have I think. The adapter you suggest should work fine, just check the diameter of your scopes eyepiece and make sure the adapter you buy is the right size as I believe there is one for smaller eyepieces and the other is for larger eyepieces. Before you buy the adapter though, simply turn your camera on and hold it up to your scopes eyepiece. A tunnel like view (officially called vignetting) should appear on the lcd screen, if this happens, zoom in to relieve this effect. If you can see what your scope is pointing at on the lcd screen with no vignetting then this camera will be fine for digiscoping. You can try this with your other camera as well if you like, but be careful with the extendable lenses as you dont want to damage your eyepieces or your cameras. See how you get on, and if you are happy with your camera choice then go ahead and buy the adapter.

One little pointer regarding your scope is that the small objective (50mm) means that there will not be as much light available through your scope so that will hinder digiscoping a little. All photography is reliant on good light. A larger objective scope would be better long term, but for now it will be ok!!

Also, have a look HERE It'll give you an idea of what Nikon offers digiscopers.

I hope this helps, and good luck,

Danny.

I would like to start using my scope [ NikonED50] with my digital cameras. I have an Olympus C70 compact. an Olympus C760 and a Fuji Finepix S2000HD. the eye piece on the scope is80Dia/25x 60Dia/20x 50Dia/13x.

I have seen the Camlink Digiscope Adapter for about £50

Is this suitable for use with any of the equipment that I have.

No problem, I aim to answer everyone personally within a few hours and I hope I've helped a little.

Let me know how you get on. Using your DCH first will allow you to try a far wider range of cameras before you decide which one works best. After that we can think about direct connections of cameras to scopes.

Keep in touch,

Regards,

Danny.

Hi Danny,

Many thank's for the fast reply i didnt expect one this quickly lol. I was thinking of sending the camera to them to see if there is a problem i do think there is as the lense has some play ie its moving if its gently shaken you can feel it move this was purchased of ebay second hand ive never had a sharp picture from it yet and is my reason for looking at other camera's i did look at the panasonic G2 and as much as the sales assistant was pushing for a sale i refused to buy it with out atleast seeing if i could find more out about it first glad i came across your site now. the Canon G12 ive not as yet seen in the flesh and is £399.00 so im again reluctant to purchase untill ive found out a little more about it or see if anyone has used one for digiscoping and had good results from it i dont mind paying a little more if the camera is good, as it can be used for general photo taking as well as digiscoping ill keep you posted as to what i decide if i can find the info before i commit to buy. I forgot to mention that i do have the Olivon DCH adapter aswell with various stepping rings its just down to the camera i also have the Olivon TR154-11 Tripod so im nearly there as far as the basics are concerned.

cheers for now

Regards

Mick

Hi Mick,

Thanks for your (many) questions!!  

The Ricoh GX100 is a good camera for digiscoping. It does sound like there is a problem with it, perhaps with the auto focus. It'd be worth trying to send it to them for repair or at least get an estimate before you think about shelving it.

You have made a good choice with the scope, the ED version is better, but you will be able to upgrade if you progress & enjoy digiscoping.

The lens on the Panasonic G2 just doen't seem to work for digiscoping, however the lens that comes with the G1 does seem too!

When it comes to compact cameras you have some choice. The easiest thing to do is buy a universal digiscoping adapter and then you can mount almost any compact to the scope, in a similar fashion to the picture. The Nikon P300 is a good camera (and new) for digiscoping. You could also try some of the Canon Powershot  range. Just keep to a lower optical zoom (usually less than 4x) and make sure the lens of the compact isn't too large, eg 7-24mm.

As for DSLR's, the basic technique is easier, but the taking of good pictures requires a little knowledge on balancing the available light against ISO to obtain decent shutter speeds.

You can attach a DSLR of your choice via the T52 adapter and a T2 mount. You would need the relevant T2 adapter for the make of DSLR. The scope becomes the lens with a DSLR set up.

Whichever set up style you choose it will take a bit of time and practice to get good results. You've done the right thing by not spending too much too soon.

Bottom line for me would be to choose a simple adapter, with a reasonable compact camera and see how you get on. We can talk about bigger, more expensive set ups after you've tried your gear out!

I hope this helps,

Good Luck,

Danny.

Hi Danny, well ive stumbled across your site by pure chance so i hope someone can help. Ok im new to the world of digiscoping and have just purchased an Olivon T90 scope but not the ED version bit expensive for a first scope. Im in the need of some help here with regards camera's i have a richo gx100 but i think there is a problem with the camera as it does not take sharp quality pic's off the scope or on the scope they all come out soft not sharp even though the view finder and screen show a pin sharp picture. ok now do i go DSLR or Compact ive looked at the panasonic G2 four thirds but ive read on this forum that they are a bit hit and miss being able to mate to a scope and get a decent picture not sure if the guy got the problem sorted out with out spending a fortune on other lenses. As for compacts ive looked at the Canon G12 as a possible option or do i discount these and go for a proper DSLR Nikon or Canon body with or without lense any thoughts on this, sorry this is a bit long winded for an enquirey but its a mine field when it comes to equipment i dont want to make an expensive mistake when it comes to the camera.

Kind Regards

Mick

hi Danny, owlsaboutthatthen.blogspot.com/ is the blog I was on about, enjoy, I'm sure you will

Hi Chris,

I'll look forward to seeing them.

Have you tried sending the jpeg file to danny@dannysdigiscoping.com

That should come straight through to my email.

Well done on getting your first pictures. It seems like you are already starting to understand the basics of digiscoping. Keep practising, it will make perfect!

Danny.

Hi Danny,

I have just sent off my first attempt with the digiscope to Barry and asked him to pass them on to you as it is beyond me how to do it.

It took me close on 10 days to work out how to send them to his e-mail address, still any comments appreciated.  I am still waiting for the balance head to arrive and it will be a godsend as the movement due to the weight of the camera is unbelievable.

As I have said to Barry, I have so many questions that I dont know where to start, so I will play around a little more, wait for the balance rail to arrive (2 weeks) and then start to ask you.

Cheer's Chris.

Hi Chris,

The DCA should be a good choice of adaptor. I'd recommend you use it with your fixed 20x to start with, they fit on the tapered eyepieces a little better. I'm pretty sure it will connect on your cameras lens via the 52mm thread. Its all straightforward. You may experience slight vignetting (black corners when looking thru the viewfinder) but this is cured by zooming the camera lens slightly, its not a major issue!

And yes, I do own a Swarovski balance rail, the same one I think judging by the price quoted) Its a marvelous thing, and really does help to keep things from getting back heavy!

As for taking pictures with the Nikon, I'd recommend starting out in aperture priority, the camera will then pick the fastest shutter speed whilst you control the aperture (f number). Barry will have a much sounder idea of how the Nikon cameras work than me, but I'm sure you'll not find it difficult to use.

If you havn't got a tripod with a fluid head then it would be a good idea to think about getting one. They really help when it comes to keeping your set up steady. Also a shutter release cable in time. Never under estimate just how much camera wobble can affect your pictures.

Also, don't rush out into the field, spend a few hours getting to know your equipment in the garden or somewhere quiet, and try to make it a sunny day. This will help keep the pressure off a little.

The real key is patience and practice. Very few of your first pics will be any good, but they will get better over time.

Do keep in touch, I'll do my best to help.

Regards,

Danny.

Hi Danny,  I have just ordered the D.C.A. Adaptor (£163) and a  Swarovski telescope balance rail (£112) these will take approx 5 days to arrive at our dealers in Truro.  Swarovski have on You Tube, films showing all of their adaptors and how to use them, so I should be ok to figure out that part and it was here that they mention the balance rail, do you use one of these, or have I gone a bit berserk.  (looking at more of your site I now see that you do use one).

Photography wise though! all the help I can get will be appreciated, as I have no real idea how to take "proper" photo's.

Cheer's  Chris.

p.s. I have been on your friends web site and I think the only difference between his camera and mine, is that I can take a video with mine, so his site will be helpful as well.

Sounds like the best idea Chris. Once you have decided on your adaptor let me know and I'll walk you thru setting it up and onto taking your first pics!!

Good luck!!

Danny