Digiscoping
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Advice & Lessons for All!

All,

I have a Panasonic Lumix DMC-TZ25 compact camera that I am happy with and am about to purchase a Celestron Regal 80 F-ED scope. The scope is mainly for birdwatching from hides but it sounds like a fantastic candidate for digiscoping also. I have never digiscoped in my life, nor have I seen anyone doing it so I'm not really aware of the pitfalls but I love a lot of the shots I have seen from others who have successfully digiscoped so it is something I really want to try.

1) Are the camera and scope suitable for digiscoping?

2) If so, how do I connect the camera to the scope? I see the scope comes with a T-adapter but am I right in thinking that's for DSLRs rather than compact cameras? So do I need something like the Jackar Universal Adapter? And if so, do I also need anything else, such as stepping rings? Please be as specific as you can because I am *really* new to this

Thanks in advance

Mat

Thanks for the reply Danny.

The camera has a 16x optical zoom. It has a tripod connector on the bottom if that helps with connection at all. The tripod connector is not directly beneath the lens though. The lens is offset from centre on the front of the camera while the tripod connector is centred.

I do have an older compact camera that I used to use (not for digiscoping) before getting the Panasonic. A Canon Ixus 50 I think. There's nothing wrong with it as a camera, I just wanted a better one with a better zoom when I replaced it with the Panasonic last year. The old Canon has a 3x optical zoom. Would that actually be a better choice, do you think?

Edit: In terms of budget, that's an awkward question. I don't really want to get a new camera just for digiscoping. I'd like to marry the scope with one of the compact cameras I have but if that's not possible then I'd have to consider a new camera I guess. So if we're just talking adapters I'll pay whatever is needed to get something to get the camera and scope to 'talk' but I assume we're talking relatively small sums (~£50 or less?)

Thanks again Danny. It's fantastic to get advice from someone who actually knows what they're talking about!

A couple of questions:

1) Am I better using the Jackar and stepping ring or one of the universal adapters that fits over the eyepiece of the scope? I will probably want to be able to switch between using the scope as intended (for viewing the birds) and digiscoping with it. I assume the Jackar would need a bit more effort to switch in and out but would it make for better pictures?

2) I'm a bit confused about why compact cameras with a large optical zoom aren't so good for digiscoping. Can they not just be used on low zoom levels? Or is there likely to be too much vignetting at low zooms?

You're a top fella Danny, really appreciate the help and advice