Digiscoping Forum
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Member Posts: 3 |
Hi, and thanks for this website - such a wealth of information. I've flirted with digiscoping with a compact set-up in the past, but gave it up. Now, however, I've bought an ageing Nikon D200 DSLR which I attach directly to my Celestron F ED 80 scope using the adapter ring that came with the scope, and Celestron's own Nikon T ring. Both pieces of equipment work very well independently, but I'm struggling to get them to work together. I can't even get a decent view through the viewfinder (the D200 didn't come with the "active view" LCD screen). It's like this: I get the scope focussed on my subject, then fit the camera. Now, from reading your excellent website I expected to have to re-focus when the camera was attached, but not to anything like the extent I'm having to. I have to wind on masses of adjustment to get anywhere near an image, and then I can't get it anything like sharp enough to be acceptable. I know how important it is to have good light for digiscoping, and admittedly I've been trying out this combination during the recent dull grey weather, which is far from ideal. I've had the camera set to Aperture priority (though again from reading this forum, maybe Manual might be better?) with auto ISO, and any comments or suggestions you have will be very gratefully received. Cheers Tony | |
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Site Owner Posts: 372 | Hi there! Sorry for my delay in replying! It sounds like you have all the right ideas but just lack a bit of experience is all! Have u checked that the camera can take a sharp image using a conventional lens? Also, from experience with my friends Nikon/Celestron set up I seem to recall that the view through the viewfinder is pretty dire! Using manual mode is a must for him as the camera will not allow shooting in Ap priority as it is an entry level Nikon DSLR. Have you checked that the diopter on the cameras viewfinder is set correctly? This is often a cause of mis focus. Also, a more modern camera body will aid you in digiscoping. Cameras finally started to catch up with the concept of digiscoping a few years back....at last. I hope this helps, and do let me know how you get on! Regards, Danny | |
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Member Posts: 3 |
Hi Danny and thanks for the reply. As regards the camera's capabilities, this is a sample of what it can do using a 55-300mm lens:
Depth of field issues but it'll do for me. I did check the diopter adjustment with the camera attached to the scope; the difference was marginal. The D200 will allow shooting in A-priority, but I'll try it in Manual mode. One question (for now): I understand that the scope+camera produces something like F14 aperture, but what - within reason - should I set the aperture at, and will upping the exposure compensation help? I'm a bit of a beginner at both DSLR photography and digiscoping, so if any of the above makes no sense, please accept my apologies, and feel free to put me right. Many thanks Tony | |
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Site Owner Posts: 372 |
If you can use Ap priority then that will work best for you I think. Using compensation will help, but ideally you will need good weather to really help you to achieve the best results. Plenty of practise will really be key to you progressing, so deciding which kind of photography suits you best is the first issue to answer. All the best, Danny | |
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Member Posts: 3 |
You're right of course Danny, what I need is some decent weather so I can experiment with the settings and find out what works. Hmm - wonder when we'll get some? Thanks for replying, and I'll be back in touch as and when things develop. Tony | |
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