Digiscoping
Help,
Advice & Lessons for All!

I have been digiscoping for about a year with an old Nikon Coolpix 995 and a non ed cheapish scope.I want to ugrade to an ED scope with a new camera.I have been offered a good deal on the Hawke Frontier 80 ED with a Sony alpha 37 camera.Has anyone any experience of this setup or either individually.I will only be using the camera for digiscoping.The Hawke is within my budget which does not stretch to top end stuff Leica etc.

Hi there,

Sorry for my delay in replying, and welcome to the Forum.

I think the Hawke scope will serve you well. I'm really pleased that you have taken the time to learn without breaking the bank, but that now you are ready to progress, that you are going for good quality optics, so well done!!

Click HERE

Then scroll down to the digiscoping adapters. You will see the adapter for the frontier scopes, its only £40, plus youll need a T2 adapter for your Sony. I think this model has the A mount, and not the E mount that Sony use in their compact system cameras.

This should get you up and running!!

Let me know how you get on!

Best wishes,

Danny

Hi Danny,

                 Thanks for the information that helps a lot.I have the option of buying body only or with the 18mm-55mm on the Sony alpha.In your section of DSLR digiscoping you show a camera attached to a scope with its 18mm-55mm lens.How is this connection acheived.

                                                                                 Regards 

                                                                                 Terry

hi,

Thanks.I will let you know when I am up and running with the new gear.

I have got the scope but not the Sony a37.I read that its performance was not too good in low light because of the mirror system it uses so I am looking for a camera that will work with the camera lens in place or removed.I was thinking of a 4/3 micro but was warned that they shut off when the lens is removed.Is this the case for all makes?Any suggestions for a camera that would be good with or without lens.Also as yet I dont have an adapter as the one advertised by Hawke is in fact not compatible with the scope I have.I am beginning to regret ditching my old sytem at least it worked. Regards Terry

Hi Terry, 

Solving the adapter system is more of a problem right now. Cameras can wait, but the Sony Alpha A6000 is the CSC that I am currently using and it works fine.

Have you contacted Hawke directly about a DSLR adapter for your scope?

Regards,

Danny

I bought the adapter,found it did not fit and contacted Hawke immediately.They agreed it was not compatible with my scope but have no replacement as yet.I am sure R-B Griturn can provide one if Hawke cannot so my main problem is still the choice of camera.We have no friendly camera shops nearby so that I can try out the camera before buying.I am restricted to on line or Argos etc so I need to be sure my choice is suitable before buying..

                                  Regards Terry

Hi,

   I now have a different digiscope adaptor supplied as a replacement by Hawke.I think it came from SRB originally and seems to have a T2 mount at one end (42mm male thread) I need to connect this to the filter thread on my camera which is 43mm female thread.From your shop can I get a T2 mount-filter thread adaptor for those sizes.Or an appropriate stepping ring.

                                                                                          Regards 

                                                                                         Terry  

Hi,

     Got the adaptor from  Jack the Hat.Everything works fine.Some vignetting but using the camera zoom overcomes that.

                                  Thanks for the info

                                 Terry

Hi,

    Thinking of buying a used 4/3 csc with a T2 adaptor to my Frontier.I have read somewhere that some 4/3 micros will not shoot with the lens removed.Is this the case or do they just lose the auto focus function.Ideally I would like the option of using with or without the camera lens.I am leaning towards a Nikon V1 or a panasonic GF1.Do you think these would be successful for both options.

                                                                                    Regards

                                                                                     Terry