Birdingonthe.Net Recent Postings from Digi-Scoping > Home > Mail > Alerts Updated on Friday, November 20 at 11:52 AM ET The most recently received Mail is at the top.	Keel-billed Toucan,©Jan Wilczur

20 Nov Re: Panasonic GF1 and Swarovski DCA ["Gene" ] 20 Nov Re: Panasonic GF1 and Swarovski DCA ["hasherd" ] 20 Nov Panasonic GF1 and Swarovski DCA ["hasherd" ] 20 Nov Nikon Coolpix8400 with DCA Zoom ["Paul" ] 18 Nov Re: Celestron Regal Spotting Scopes? [Steve Sosensky ] 18 Nov Lurker into Activity - Needs Help ["Anand Arya - GMail" ] 18 Nov Coolpix P5100 accessories for sale ["h2otara" ] 17 Nov Re: looking for the right camera for my needs [Stephen Ingraham ] 17 Nov Re: looking for the right camera for my needs [Richard Stern ] 17 Nov PhotoScoped in the Rio Grande Valley [Stephen Ingraham ] 17 Nov Re: looking for the right camera for my needs [Jerry Jourdan ] 16 Nov looking for the right camera for my needs [turismo aves ] 16 Nov Nobuhiro Nakamura would like to connect with you on Yahoo! [Nobuhiro Nakamura ] 14 Nov Nikon Coolpix8400 with DCA Zoom ["roisenp1950" ] 13 Nov Re: Kowa TSN-17W Nikon P6000 [Kevin Bolton ] 13 Nov RE: Kowa TSN-17W Nikon P6000 ["Tara T" ] 12 Nov Re: Kowa TSN-17W Nikon P6000 [Kevin Bolton ] 12 Nov Re: Kowa TSN-17W Nikon P6000 [Jerry Jourdan ] 12 Nov Kowa TSN-17W Nikon P6000 [Kevin Bolton ] 12 Nov Kowa TSN-17W Eyepiece Digiscoping with P6000 [Kevin Bolton ] 12 Nov Digiscoping or telephotography ["Hans Schick" ] 11 Nov Re: Re: First attempt at digiscoping ["Scott Walker" ] 11 Nov Re: Celestron Regal Spotting Scopes? [David Graham ] 11 Nov Re: First attempt at digiscoping [Laura Heid ] 11 Nov Re: Digiscoping with Swarovski and Nikon P-6000 ["William K. Groll" ] 11 Nov Re: Digiscoping with Swarovski and Nikon P-6000 [Kevin Bolton ] 11 Nov Re: Digiscoping with Swarovski and Nikon P-6000 [Neil Fifer ] 11 Nov Digiscoping with Canon EOS 20D and EF 50 mm, f/1.8 ["Hans Schick" ] 11 Nov Re: Celestron Regal Spotting Scopes? [Subscriptions ] 11 Nov Digiscoping with Swarovski and Nikon P-6000 ["estonick" ] 10 Nov Re: Celestron Regal Spotting Scopes? [Alec Earnshaw ] 11 Nov re: digiscoping [William Leigh ] 10 Nov Re: Celestron Regal Spotting Scopes? [David Graham ] 10 Nov Re: Celestron Regal Spotting Scopes? [G smith ] 10 Nov Celestron Regal Spotting Scopes? [David Graham ] 08 Nov Re: Panasonic DMC-G1 with 20mm f/1.7 on Nikon EDG zoom ["bill.schmoker" ] 7 Nov Zeikos to DCA [] 7 Nov Re: [Robert Melbourne ] 7 Nov Panasonic 20/1.7 mm Pancake lens [neilfif11 ] 06 Nov Re: Panasonic DMC-G1 with 20mm f/1.7 on Nikon EDG zoom [Steve Sosensky ] 06 Nov Re: Zeikos gadget [Steve Sosensky ] 6 Nov Re: Zeikos gadget [Don Morgan ] 6 Nov Re: Zeikos gadget [Len Blumin ] 6 Nov Zeikos gadget [] 6 Nov Re: Also new to digiscoping [Jerry Jourdan ] 06 Nov Also new to digiscoping ["Jim" ] 06 Nov Re: Spotting scope vs refractor telescope ["wturber" ] 06 Nov Re: Spotting scope vs refractor telescope ["Gene" ] 05 Nov Re: New to digiscoping which route to take... ["gennaro209" ] 05 Nov Re: New to digiscoping which route to take... [Alec Earnshaw ] 05 Nov New to digiscoping which route to take... ["gennaro209" ] 5 Nov Canon G10 vs Canon S90 [] 5 Nov G1 on the Nikon 30xDS ["Tom Cuffe" ] 5 Nov RE: Cropping with the GF1 on a zoom can work ["Jack O'Neill" ] 5 Nov RE: Cropping with the GF1 on a zoom can work [neilfif11 ] 5 Nov RE: Cropping with the GF1 on a zoom can work ["Jack O'Neill" ] 5 Nov Using the DCA zoom with the new Swarovski Zoom 25x50 (end :-) [Hervé MICHEL ] 5 Nov Cropping with the GF1 on a zoom can work [neilfif11 ] 5 Nov Panasonic 20/1.7 P on the G1 [neilfif11 ] 4 Nov Re: Digiscoping with Swarovski Scope ["William K. Groll" ] 05 Nov Buying Step Rings ["Gene" ] 5 Nov Re: Digiscoping with Swarovski Scope [Neil ] 4 Nov Re: Digiscoping with Swarovski Scope ["Tom France" ] 5 Nov Re: Digiscoping with Swarovski Scope [neilfif11 ] 4 Nov Re: Digiscoping with Swarovski Scope [Ed Stonick ] 5 Nov Re: Digiscoping with Swarovski Scope [neilfif11 ] 4 Nov Digiscoping with Swarovski Scope [Ed Stonick ] 04 Nov Re: Spotting scope vs refractor telescope ["wturber" ] 04 Nov Spotting scope vs refractor telescope ["scoping10" ] 4 Nov Zeiss Digiscooped Pic of the Week [Stephen Ingraham ] 3 Nov Re: Nikon Coolpix 995 [Jeff Bouton ] 2 Nov Re: Nikon Coolpix 995 [Len Blumin ] 02 Nov Nikon Coolpix 995 ["gator1606" ] 31 Oct Re: Zeiss Digiscoping Tip of the Week [Stephen Ingraham ] 31 Oct Re: Zeiss Digiscoping Tip of the Week [Don Morgan ] 31 Oct Canon SD780IS ? [Stephen Ingraham ] Subject: Re: Panasonic GF1 and Swarovski DCA From: "Gene" <smithhill1 AT embarqmail.com> Date: Fri, 20 Nov 2009 17:51:10 -0000 Do not know how you can get a ready made male to male ring. All seem to be male to female. My favorite supplier is Photofilter.com, but they do not have any 65mm threads, seems to be non standard. I was able to solve a spacing problems by examining the way the rings fit and removed (ground away) 2mm from a step ring without giving up any used thread space. Perhaps you need to find a local machine shop that can cut metric threads. If you send me a picture of the mating parts perhaps I could make some other suggestions. Good luck, Gene S. --- In digiscopingbirds AT yahoogroups.com, "hasherd" wrote: > > Earlier this week I received my new Panasonic GF1, a great little camera. To attach it to my Swarovski AT65HD scope using the DCA I had to get a 52mm-46mm step down ring. However I am disappointed to experience some vignetting at all magnifications of the 25-50X eyepiece. I twisted in the eyepiece tube and removed the rubber ring. It seems that the problem arises because the step-down ring moves the camera too far from the eyepiece. I have done an extensive internet search and cannot find a 65mm male to 46mm male ring, which would enable direct coupling to the DCA. > Does anyone have any ideas or suggestions? > Regards > David > Subject: Re: Panasonic GF1 and Swarovski DCA From: "hasherd" <hasherd AT yahoo.com> Date: Fri, 20 Nov 2009 10:34:45 -0000 I should have added that I'm using the 20mm lens. Cheers David --- In digiscopingbirds AT yahoogroups.com, "hasherd" wrote: > > Earlier this week I received my new Panasonic GF1, a great little camera. To attach it to my Swarovski AT65HD scope using the DCA I had to get a 52mm-46mm step down ring. However I am disappointed to experience some vignetting at all magnifications of the 25-50X eyepiece. I twisted in the eyepiece tube and removed the rubber ring. It seems that the problem arises because the step-down ring moves the camera too far from the eyepiece. I have done an extensive internet search and cannot find a 65mm male to 46mm male ring, which would enable direct coupling to the DCA. > Does anyone have any ideas or suggestions? > Regards > David > Subject: Panasonic GF1 and Swarovski DCA From: "hasherd" <hasherd AT yahoo.com> Date: Fri, 20 Nov 2009 08:05:27 -0000 Earlier this week I received my new Panasonic GF1, a great little camera. To attach it to my Swarovski AT65HD scope using the DCA I had to get a 52mm-46mm step down ring. However I am disappointed to experience some vignetting at all magnifications of the 25-50X eyepiece. I twisted in the eyepiece tube and removed the rubber ring. It seems that the problem arises because the step-down ring moves the camera too far from the eyepiece. I have done an extensive internet search and cannot find a 65mm male to 46mm male ring, which would enable direct coupling to the DCA. Does anyone have any ideas or suggestions? Regards David Subject: Nikon Coolpix8400 with DCA Zoom From: "Paul" <roisenp1950 AT yahoo.com> Date: Fri, 20 Nov 2009 00:09:08 -0000 Anyone interested in getting into digiscoping for a reasonable price!!! FOR SALE: Nikon 8400 (no longer made but great for digiscoping) with charger, extra battery, hood, cable. Nikon UR-E15 adapter DCA Zoom (complete with four adapter rings M28x0, M30, M37, and M52). Allows great connection between Nikon 8400 and many scopes. If anyone is interested the whole thing is yours for $500.00 S/H included. I have about $625 into the set up but never used it for digiscoping. Too many dreams and not enough time. Contact me off line. Paul Roisen Subject: Re: Celestron Regal Spotting Scopes? From: Steve Sosensky <steve AT optics4birding.com> Date: Wed, 18 Nov 2009 12:07:33 -0800 Hi David, We have had the Regal 65mm and 80mm scopes in for review. We did not do any digiscoping for the review because Celestron does not offer any digiscoping adapters. We'll have a review up soon for the 65mm (an excellent price performer), but decided not to review the 80mm because other scopes in its price range performed a lot better. In particular, the Vortex Skyline 80ED was sharper and a lot brighter. At 10:46 AM 11/10/2009, David Graham wrote: >Thanks, Gene, >Those are precisely my thoughts and the reasons for my >interest. And I agree that the 100mm would be the better buy. For >my carry-around digiscoping I rely on my Pelntax 65-ED scope but >figure an affordable extra 35mm of objective diametetr would give me >a 2.4 stop advantage. I also use a Celestron 80-ED for digiscoping >from my truck with balance bar and home-made gimbal head on a window >bracket, It's just too damned big and heavy to horse around in the >field...but it's given me considerable respect for the Celestron brand! > >An additional factor is that the price of the Regal 100mm model >begins to approach that of the Sigma and Tamron super-tele AF zooms. >I've seen the results of the Sigma ("Bigma") with a 1.4x and with a >2x teleconverter and they are astounding! O.K. O.K. Yeah, I know >that wouldn't be digiscoping, and the super-tele zooms are heavy, >but as Andre Agazzis used to claim, albeit for Canon :."Image is everything"! > >So, I'm really eager to hear from anyone who has first-hand >experience digiscoping with the Regal scopes. > >By the bye, thanks to some earlier comments of yours I already have >a 17mm Baader Hyperioin eyepiece on order! > >Thanks again, Gene, for your input. > >Dave in East River, SD > > >On Tue, Nov 10, 2009 at 11:11 AM, G smith ><smithhill1 AT embarqmail.com> wrote: > > > > >Hello David: > > > >I do not have any first hand experience with these scopes, nor can I >find any independent reviews. Celestron is > >reliable, and I would have no concern if it were an OTA. A >spotting scope is harder to make well, with > >extra lenses for zoom and the objective is harder to make in the >shorter focal length. But, that said, it > >seems to be a good deal. If I were you I would examine it for good >seeing when you get it. > > > >Blows my mind that they are offering the fluorite. Checked OPT in >California and they are priced $600 and $700. > >The extra $100 for the 100mm would seem like a better deal. I get >stuff in central Ohio by priority mail in two > >days from them. > > > >I like the idea of being able to use standard 1 1/4 eyepieces with >the scopes. For digiscoping the Baadar Hyperion does > >a great job for only $119. Even the 5mm does a good job. I would >stay away from the Hyperion zoom for digiscoping, > >although people like it for seeing. Let me know how things >work out. Gene > > > > > > > > > > > > > > >----- Original Message ----- >From: "David Graham" <uuglypher AT gmail.com> >To: digiscopingbirds AT yahoogroups.com >Sent: Tuesday, November 10, 2009 10:49:34 AM GMT -05:00 US/Canada Eastern >Subject: [digiscopingbirds] Celestron Regal Spotting Scopes? > > > >We chatted some time ago about the Celestron Ultima scopes, and now >I'm considering a Celestron Regal Scope' either the 80 F-ED or the >100 F-ED. Has anyone on the list had experience with either of these >scopes in digiscoping? >Thanks for any comments of first-hand experience you might provide. > > > > > > > >-- >"When one tugs at a single thing in nature, he finds it attached to >the rest of the world." > John Muir > >"Einstein was wrong! The God I hold in consummate awe does, >metaphorically, "...play dice...." The laws - the facts - of >probability / chance / luck / fortune are as real and immutable as >is the speed of light through different media and its role in the >interrelationships among energy, and mass, and space, and time. >Therein is God.found" > >D.L.Graham, 2002 > > > > > > > Good Viewing, Steve Sosensky Vice President www.Optics4Birding.com 19 Hammond Suite 506 N 33.65926 Irvine CA 92618 W 117.70305 877.OP4.BIRD (877.674.2473) Toll Free 818.522.5261 Cell 949.360.OPTX (949.360.6789) Local Subject: Lurker into Activity - Needs Help From: "Anand Arya - GMail" <anandswarooparya AT gmail.com> Date: Wed, 18 Nov 2009 12:22:01 -0700 Been lurking here for a long time but am into activity now. Got my kit - Swarovsky 80mm + 25-50x eye piece + UCA to be hooked to P6000/Canon 40D-50mmLens. Did make the first attempt, which was a fiasco as expected. Here is an image taken using 40D + 50mm Lens attached to the scope/eye piece. Settings on Manual - Aperture 1.8; speed 1/500, ISO 400 The view through the scope was fantastic as usual but quite bit dark when seen through the viewfinder after attaching the camera. Would request Gurus to kindly advise the settings bpth for the 40d combo and for P6000. Regards. Anand Arya Camp : Phoenix 302 682 5755 602 406 3668 Subject: Coolpix P5100 accessories for sale From: "h2otara" <h2otara AT comcast.net> Date: Wed, 18 Nov 2009 02:50:06 -0000 I just sold my P5100 and have a few accessories for sale: Nikon UR-E20 adapter (also fits P5000): $12 Kowa TSN-DA1-AR28 adapter ring: $20 Nikon EH-62A AC adapter (works w/ a number of Nikon models, new in box): $20 I will ship for actual shipping costs including insurance. Please email me directly if interested. Tara Tanaka Subject: Re: looking for the right camera for my needs From: Stephen Ingraham <lightshedder AT gmail.com> Date: Tue, 17 Nov 2009 14:42:36 -0500 I have used several Sony cameras: unfortunately none are still in production. The T series have internal zooms but I have never tried one for digiscoping. Among current models the only one I know that works for sure is the W220. On Monday, November 16, 2009, turismo aves wrote: > > Hi all > I am a Mexican birder and bird-tour leader. I have a Sony Cybershot DSC-H7 which has 15x optical zoom and that works pretty well to document many of my encounters, but I am interested in buying a second camera for digiscoping hand-held. > The specifications I am interested in are the following: > -compact digital camera or hand-held digiscoping > -automatic (auto-focus, aperture. etc.) > -preferably Sony > -preferably without a lens that sticks out when the camara is turned on > > What camera suits my needs and provides the best results? Please send reply o-list to my e-mail address. > Saludos (warm greetings) > Héctor Gómez de Silva > > -- Steve Ingraham lightshedder: www.lightshedder.com Point and Shoot Landscape: Pic of the Day Cloudy Days and Netbook Nights: cdnn.wordpress.com Subject: Re: looking for the right camera for my needs From: Richard Stern <sternrichard AT gmail.com> Date: Tue, 17 Nov 2009 12:03:16 -0400 On the subject of Sony digicams, I recommend a DSC-W5 or W7, which are no longer manufactured, but available on E-bay. The reasons are twofold. Firstly, they have threads for an adapter, and there is one - the Sony VAD-WA, also available on E-Bay. The adapter can then be used with a scope adapter or eyepice, without having to create or buy complicated methods of hooking things up. Secondly, it's a "boxy" shaped camera, so you can easily squeeze the body between the thumb, on the bottom, and the vertically mounted shutter release on the top, for minimal camera shake. The Coolpix P6000 has an angled shutter button. I have a CP5100, and the images I get from digiscoping are less sharp than with the Sony. Other people, however, sem to be very happy with that camera. The images (not digiscoped) from either are high quality. Richard On Tue, Nov 17, 2009 at 7:41 AM, Jerry Jourdan wrote: > > > Hola, Hector, > > If you're interested in a Sony camera check out one of the W-series cameras > that offers 3X zoom capabilities. These tend to be good for digiscoping. > However, the Nikon Coolpix P6000 is probably the best camera for digiscoping > as it offers a bright viewfinder and great picture quality. > > Best of luck camera hunting, > > Jerry > http://jerryjourdan.blogspot.com > > > > On Mon, Nov 16, 2009 at 8:12 PM, turismo aves wrote: > >> >> >> Hi all >> I am a Mexican birder and bird-tour leader. I have a Sony CybershotDSC-H7 which has 15x optical zoom and that works pretty well to document >> many of my encounters, but I am interested in buying a second camera for >> digiscoping hand-held. >> The specifications I am interested in are the following: >> -compact digital camera or hand-held digiscoping >> -automatic (auto-focus, aperture. etc.) >> -preferably Sony >> -preferably without a lens that sticks out when the camara is turned on >> >> What camera suits my needs and provides the best results? Please send >> reply o-list to my e-mail address. >> Saludos (warm greetings) >> Héctor Gómez de Silva >> >> > > -- ################# Richard Stern, 317 Middle Dyke Rd. Port Williams, NS, Canada B0P 1T0 sternrichard AT gmail.com ################### Subject: PhotoScoped in the Rio Grande Valley From: Stephen Ingraham <lightshedder AT gmail.com> Date: Tue, 17 Nov 2009 08:55:40 -0500 Hi all, a Zeiss Digiscoped Pic of the Week: Immature Ruby-throated Hummer takes a Gnat! Estero Llano Grande State Park, Weslaco TX http://zeisssports.wordpress.com/2009/11/17/digiscoped-pic-of-the-week-1117/ And two more PhotoScoped images from the Rio Grande Valley from my Pic of the Day blog Young male Vermilion Flycatcher, Estero Llano Grande State Park, Weslaco, TX http://potd.lightshedder.com/2009/11/17/11172009/ Great Kiskadee, also at Estero Llano Grande http://potd.lightshedder.com/2009/11/15/11152009/ And a non-bird shot: Backlit White Peacock from the same location. http://potd.lightshedder.com/2009/11/16/11162009/ In all cases you can see the image at much larger sizes by clicking on the image in the blog and using the size controls at the top of the page that opens. Any and all feedback welcome. -- Steve Ingraham lightshedder: www.lightshedder.com Point and Shoot Landscape: Pic of the Day Cloudy Days and Netbook Nights: cdnn.wordpress.com Subject: Re: looking for the right camera for my needs From: Jerry Jourdan <jourdaj AT gmail.com> Date: Tue, 17 Nov 2009 06:41:39 -0500 Hola, Hector, If you're interested in a Sony camera check out one of the W-series cameras that offers 3X zoom capabilities. These tend to be good for digiscoping. However, the Nikon Coolpix P6000 is probably the best camera for digiscoping as it offers a bright viewfinder and great picture quality. Best of luck camera hunting, Jerry http://jerryjourdan.blogspot.com On Mon, Nov 16, 2009 at 8:12 PM, turismo aves wrote: > > > Hi all > I am a Mexican birder and bird-tour leader. I have a Sony Cybershot DSC-H7 > which has 15x optical zoom and that works pretty well to document many of my > encounters, but I am interested in buying a second camera for digiscoping > hand-held. > The specifications I am interested in are the following: > -compact digital camera or hand-held digiscoping > -automatic (auto-focus, aperture. etc.) > -preferably Sony > -preferably without a lens that sticks out when the camara is turned on > > What camera suits my needs and provides the best results? Please send reply > o-list to my e-mail address. > Saludos (warm greetings) > Héctor Gómez de Silva > > > Subject: looking for the right camera for my needs From: turismo aves <turismodeaves AT yahoo.com.mx> Date: Mon, 16 Nov 2009 17:12:01 -0800 (PST) Hi all I am a Mexican birder and bird-tour leader. I have a Sony Cybershot DSC-H7 which has 15x optical zoom and that works pretty well to document many of my encounters, but I am interested in buying a second camera for digiscoping hand-held. The specifications I am interested in are the following: -compact digital camera or hand-held digiscoping -automatic (auto-focus, aperture. etc.) -preferably Sony -preferably without a lens that sticks out when the camara is turned on   What camera suits my needs and provides the best results? Please send reply o-list to my e-mail address. Saludos (warm greetings) Héctor Gómez de Silva Subject: Nobuhiro Nakamura would like to connect with you on Yahoo! From: Nobuhiro Nakamura <nobu31 AT yahoo.com> Date: 16 Nov 2009 20:59:43 +0000 Subject: Nikon Coolpix8400 with DCA Zoom From: "roisenp1950" <roisenp1950 AT yahoo.com> Date: Sat, 14 Nov 2009 00:22:43 -0000 Researched I purchased the following equipment: Nikon 8400 with charger, extra battery, hood, cable Nikon UR-E15 adapter DCA Zoom (complete with four adapter rings M28x0, M30, M37, and M52). Intended for use with my Swarovski HD ATS 65 Scope. To my dismay I used my scope for spotting birds, the camera to take photos of butterflies and small plants and I never used it once for digiscoping. It is in excellent shape--I have kept it in a case in my truck all ready to go and just never got it out. (I am a photographer and ended up using a Canon 50D with 300mm f2.8 lens with 2x teleconverter for most of my shots.) Past posts would indicate it is an excellent set up for digiscoping. I believe Neil could support the use of this camera setup though it is a little dated. If anyone is interested the whole thing is yours for $100 less than I have in it ($624.88). Matter of fact first $500.00 takes it S/H included. Paul--birding enthusiast with too many dreams and not enough time. Cheers Subject: Re: Kowa TSN-17W Nikon P6000 From: Kevin Bolton <kakebolton AT optonline.net> Date: Fri, 13 Nov 2009 17:58:25 -0500 Tara , Thanks for the complement ! The 25LER does not have any issues with the DA-10 so that should be fine. The issue with the 30x/DA10 I can not pinpoint , the Vignetting did not go away till over the half way point of the Zoom with the P6000 plus shadowing and off center. When I tried the 30x along with the Kowa balance bar/camera adaptar it worked great with hardly any Vignetting I bet if I use the 25 LER with the same set up I will have NO Vignetting within the Wide are of the Zoom. Thanks Kevin Bolton New jersey U.S.A ----- Original Message ----- From: Tara T To: digiscopingbirds AT yahoogroups.com Sent: Friday, November 13, 2009 6:19 AM Subject: RE: [digiscopingbirds] Kowa TSN-17W Nikon P6000 Hi Kevin, The detail on your finch and the other "yard birds" is amazing. I was wondering what problems you were having with the 30x + DA-10-was it vignetting or something more? I'm thinking about getting a P6000 to use with my Kowa 884 and 25 LER. Have you tried using the P6000 on the balance bar with the 25 LER similar to the way you are using it with the 30x, and if so can you compare the results to using the 25 LER + DA-10? Thanks! Tara ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ From: digiscopingbirds AT yahoogroups.com [mailto:digiscopingbirds AT yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of Kevin Bolton Sent: Thursday, November 12, 2009 5:42 PM To: digiscopingbirds AT yahoogroups.com Subject: [digiscopingbirds] Kowa TSN-17W Nikon P6000 Hello Although the weather today was fit for the the garbage I did get a few captures of common yard Birds plus a picture or two of the set-up, the amount of Vignetting in the Green Zone was almost at the min so that was good and the eyecup can be used as sunshield. Conclusion I was satisfied that the Kowa TSN-17W 30x can be utilized with the system with out the problems I expierianced with the TSN -DA10 adapter. The link to the Set up http://www.flickr.com/photos/mcbrian/ Kevin Bolton New Jersey USA Subject: RE: Kowa TSN-17W Nikon P6000 From: "Tara T" <h2otara AT comcast.net> Date: Fri, 13 Nov 2009 06:19:04 -0500 Hi Kevin, The detail on your finch and the other "yard birds" is amazing. I was wondering what problems you were having with the 30x + DA-10-was it vignetting or something more? I'm thinking about getting a P6000 to use with my Kowa 884 and 25 LER. Have you tried using the P6000 on the balance bar with the 25 LER similar to the way you are using it with the 30x, and if so can you compare the results to using the 25 LER + DA-10? Thanks! Tara _____ From: digiscopingbirds AT yahoogroups.com [mailto:digiscopingbirds AT yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of Kevin Bolton Sent: Thursday, November 12, 2009 5:42 PM To: digiscopingbirds AT yahoogroups.com Subject: [digiscopingbirds] Kowa TSN-17W Nikon P6000 Hello Although the weather today was fit for the the garbage I did get a few captures of common yard Birds plus a picture or two of the set-up, the amount of Vignetting in the Green Zone was almost at the min so that was good and the eyecup can be used as sunshield. Conclusion I was satisfied that the Kowa TSN-17W 30x can be utilized with the system with out the problems I expierianced with the TSN -DA10 adapter. The link to the Set up http://www.flickr. com/photos/mcbrian/ Kevin Bolton New Jersey USA Subject: Re: Kowa TSN-17W Nikon P6000 From: Kevin Bolton <kakebolton AT optonline.net> Date: Thu, 12 Nov 2009 19:35:29 -0500 Thanks Jerry! Can you still find fixed Zeiss eyepiece on Amazon? Kevin Bolton ----- Original Message ----- From: Jerry Jourdan To: digiscopingbirds AT yahoogroups.com Sent: Thursday, November 12, 2009 6:29 PM Subject: Re: [digiscopingbirds] Kowa TSN-17W Nikon P6000 Fabulous capture, Kev! And I also like your entries in the Swarovski contest. I wish Zeiss still made fixed eyepieces..... Jerry On Thu, Nov 12, 2009 at 5:41 PM, Kevin Bolton wrote: Hello Although the weather today was fit for the the garbage I did get a few captures of common yard Birds plus a picture or two of the set-up, the amount of Vignetting in the Green Zone was almost at the min so that was good and the eyecup can be used as sunshield. Conclusion I was satisfied that the Kowa TSN-17W 30x can be utilized with the system with out the problems I expierianced with the TSN -DA10 adapter. The link to the Set up http://www.flickr.com/photos/mcbrian/ Kevin Bolton New Jersey USA Subject: Re: Kowa TSN-17W Nikon P6000 From: Jerry Jourdan <jourdaj AT gmail.com> Date: Thu, 12 Nov 2009 18:29:38 -0500 Fabulous capture, Kev! And I also like your entries in the Swarovski contest. I wish Zeiss still made fixed eyepieces..... Jerry On Thu, Nov 12, 2009 at 5:41 PM, Kevin Bolton wrote: > > > Hello > > Although the weather today was fit for the the garbage I did get a few > captures of common yard Birds plus a picture or two of the set-up, the > amount of Vignetting in the Green Zone was almost at the min so that was > good and the eyecup can be used as sunshield. > > Conclusion I was satisfied that the Kowa TSN-17W 30x can be utilized with > the system with out the problems I expierianced with the TSN -DA10 adapter. > > > The link to the Set up http://www.flickr.com/photos/mcbrian/ > > > Kevin Bolton > New Jersey USA > > > Subject: Kowa TSN-17W Nikon P6000 From: Kevin Bolton <kakebolton AT optonline.net> Date: Thu, 12 Nov 2009 17:41:46 -0500 Hello Although the weather today was fit for the the garbage I did get a few captures of common yard Birds plus a picture or two of the set-up, the amount of Vignetting in the Green Zone was almost at the min so that was good and the eyecup can be used as sunshield. Conclusion I was satisfied that the Kowa TSN-17W 30x can be utilized with the system with out the problems I expierianced with the TSN -DA10 adapter. The link to the Set up http://www.flickr.com/photos/mcbrian/ Kevin Bolton New Jersey USA Subject: Kowa TSN-17W Eyepiece Digiscoping with P6000 From: Kevin Bolton <kakebolton AT optonline.net> Date: Thu, 12 Nov 2009 07:29:10 -0500 Hello all ,after eliminating the use of the Kowa 30w eyepiece due to not being condusive with the TSN-DA10 , I decided to give it ago with the TSN-DA3 Balance rail system with results that were quite impressive!! A great thing about using this configuration is that on the Nikon P6000 the Vignetting at wide setting is eliminated almost completely ,which disappears 1 notch up still in the green Zone!! As far as stray light issues the eyecup adjusted over the lens should take care of that problem. I will be trying the set up out in the field and posting pics later today if the weather holds up. Kevin Bolton New Joisey U.S.A Subject: Digiscoping or telephotography From: "Hans Schick" <schick AT asca-berlin.de> Date: Thu, 12 Nov 2009 09:49:59 +0100 William, the main advantages of digiscoping are the lower weight and the lower price of the equippment with a focal length of 2000 mm and (much) more. The main problem is to get sharp photos. In 2006 I changed from digiscoping with Nikon Coolpix 4500 and Swarovsky AT 80 HD to telephotography using Canon EOS 20 D and Canon lens EF 100-400 mm, f/4.5-5.6L IS USM. The autofocus of this combination works well. But the autofocus fails when you try to use the teleconverters EF 2x II or EF 1.4x II. In 2007 I bought the Canon EOS 1D Mark III and the telelens Canon EF 600 mm, f/4L IS USM. The autofocus of this conbination works also with the Extenders EF 2x II or EF 1.4x. The weight of this equippment plus the weight of the tripod exceeds 10 kg. Due to the high weight of the equippment I always followed the development of new cameras for digiscoping with great interest. Maybe that the Panasonic Lumix G1 offers new possibilities. To learn more about this system follow the discussions in this forum and read the valuable contributions of Neil Fifer and many others concerning this camera. If you are interested in the results I got with the Canon telelens EF 100-400 mm, f/4.5-5.6L IS USM have a look on my website http://www.ornithos.de/Ornithos/Trip_Reports/England-London2009/England2009-SpeciesList.htm Hans Schick schick AT asca-berlin.de www.ornithos.de ----- Original Message ----- From: William Leigh To: schick AT asca-berlin.de Sent: Thursday, November 12, 2009 4:11 AM Subject: RE: [digiscopingbirds] Digest Number 3030 Hans, Thanks for your reply. Excellent photos.. especially the Shrike and the Hawk Owl. I would love to see a Northern Hawk Owl someday. I am actually trying to decide whether to go with a 400 mm lens or try the digiscoping route. Which do like best? what are the pros and cons in your view? I hate the idea of lugging around a 400mm lens and am now using at 300mm lens but the reach isn't enough much of the time. Also the 400mm lens seems to have a much quieter and quicker focusing system... How difficult was the focusing? William Leigh leightern AT msn.com > Subject: Re: Re: First attempt at digiscoping From: "Scott Walker" <sdwalker AT cox.net> Date: Wed, 11 Nov 2009 21:17:15 -0800 A good cable release is important for digiscoping. I normally make my own setup but I am sure someone can point you to a maker of a universal adapter that will work. One note about your setup, with the pentax 10W eyepiece you have a lot of magnification in the scope/eyepiece combination(X50). To get good quality images you should use your camera in the low to middle part of its range. At full camera zoom you will likely find the setup hard to point and the image quality rather soft. The pentax 20W eyepiece would be a more user friendly choice ,but the 10W should work, but not well at full camera zoom. With x50 in the scope/eyepiece the total setup will have a total "reach" of about 5000mm with the camera at full zoom ( multiply 50 times the 35mm equivalent focal length of the camera at full zoom( about 100mm)). Typically one wants to stay under 2500mm for good quality images. Starting off it is good to keep well under 2000mm. Good luck Scott Walker ----- Original Message ----- From: Laura Heid To: digiscopingbirds AT yahoogroups.com Sent: Wednesday, November 11, 2009 2:10 PM Subject: [digiscopingbirds] Re: First attempt at digiscoping Dear all I have been reading in this forum for well over a year and admire the work so many of you are doing. I FINALLY think I have found a set-up that will allow me to try digiscoping on my own. My equipment? Pentax 80ED scope, Pentax Optio s12 digital camera, a Pentax PF-DS1 adaptor (which attached directly to the camera and eyepiece) and a Pentax 10W eyepiece. Sadly, the cable shutter release is a little too far off to theshutter's side to work properly - so I manually depressed the shutter. (Any suggestions for a cable release to reduce vibration would be welcome. ) Forgive the composition etc - I was just trying to see if the set-up even worked - it does!!! Once Ida's remnants leave the Mid-Atlantic, I hope to try this in the field... My first 2 pictures are at http://www.flikr.com/photos/jeklandwho/ Thanks, Laura Heid Subject: Re: Celestron Regal Spotting Scopes? From: David Graham <uuglypher AT gmail.com> Date: Wed, 11 Nov 2009 20:55:05 -0600 Joe 'n' Alec, You are right ...and the corollary of that fact is, unfortunately, that I was wrong. Dammit dammmit dammmmmmit...I hate it when that happens...musta got carried away with wishful thinking. That 2.36 greater objective lens area translates to a 1.18 stop advantage- if I now figure right..., not the 2.4 stops (rounded) I had wistfully and with wide, hopeful eyes, reported. As y'say, 1.18 stop ain't t'be sneezed at... but with ISOs up to 3200 and judicious employment of Noise Ninja 2, is that 1.18 stop really worth the extra sheckles? Dave On Wed, Nov 11, 2009 at 12:57 AM, Subscriptions wrote: > At 08:39 PM 11/10/2009, Alec Earnshaw wrote: > >I calculate the relationship of the squares of the diameter to see how > >much more light you get. > > Ratio = 100 x 100 / (65 x 65) = 2.4 (rounding up a bit) > >OK, but... > >Comparing two scopes of equal diameter the result will be = 1, which > >means a gain of 0 stops (obviously) > >If the result is 2 it means you have a gain of 1 stop > >If the result is 2.4 it means you have 1.4 stops > >Is this right? > > About 1.25 stops. A ratio of 2 is one stop. A ratio of 4 is two stops. > 100*100/(65*65) = 2.367 > and 2**1.25 is 2.378 (close enough) > > Joe > > > > ------------------------------------ > > Please post bird photos to our other group birds-pix AT yahoogroups.com.Yahoo! > Groups Links > > > > -- "When one tugs at a single thing in nature, he finds it attached to the rest of the world." John Muir "Einstein was wrong! The God I hold in consummate awe does, metaphorically, “...play dice....” The laws - the facts - of probability / chance / luck / fortune are as real and immutable as is the speed of light through different media and its role in the interrelationships among energy, and mass, and space, and time. Therein is God.found" D.L.Graham, 2002 Subject: Re: First attempt at digiscoping From: Laura Heid <jeklandwho99 AT yahoo.com> Date: Wed, 11 Nov 2009 14:10:46 -0800 (PST) Dear all   I have been reading in this forum for well over a year and admire the work so many of you are doing.   I FINALLY think I have found a set-up that will allow me to try digiscoping on my own.     My equipment?  Pentax 80ED scope,  Pentax Optio s12 digital camera,  a Pentax PF-DS1 adaptor (which attached directly to the camera and eyepiece)  and a Pentax 10W eyepiece.   Sadly, the cable shutter release is a little too far off to theshutter's side to work properly - so I manually depressed the shutter. (Any suggestions for a cable release to reduce vibration would be welcome.   ) Forgive the composition etc - I was just trying to see if the set-up even worked -  it does!!!    Once Ida's remnants leave the Mid-Atlantic, I hope to try this in the field...   My first 2 pictures are at http://www.flikr.com/photos/jeklandwho/   Thanks,   Laura Heid         Subject: Re: Digiscoping with Swarovski and Nikon P-6000 From: "William K. Groll" <wkg AT austin78704.com> Date: Wed, 11 Nov 2009 09:00:46 -0700 In addition to the previous recommendations, do not zoom the camera very much. I've found the less zoom, the sharper the photo. Make some comparison shots to test for yourself. I've found if I try to remove all the vignetting, then I've zoomed too far. Some people use AF, some Macro. I've had some success with both. With Macro, the so-called "sweet spot" is just before the flower icon turns white. For my set-up that leaves a tiny bit of vignetting at the corners. Since the birds rarely hold still, you will want a faster shutter speed, which means things work better in strong light. Also, check out the video mode. It is easy to use and can be used in lower light situations. If the camera does not focus on the bird, you can refocus your scope to sharpen it up as the camera will not change its focus while recording. Bill ----- Original Message ----- From: "estonick" To: Sent: Tuesday, November 10, 2009 10:04 PM Subject: [digiscopingbirds] Digiscoping with Swarovski and Nikon P-6000 > Greetings! > > My new P-6000 just arrived in the mail, and I'm anxious to test it in the > field. I just wondered what mode(s) to shoot in. With my previous > camera, I mainly used the programmed mode but realize there may be better > choices. What mode or settings have any of you had the best success with? > If the lighting is marginal (cloudy, near dawn or dusk) what then? Any > tips or techniques you'd like to share would be much appreciated. > > Regards, > Ed > > Ed Stonick > Pasadena, CA > > edstonick AT earthlink.net > > > > ------------------------------------ > > Please post bird photos to our other group > birds-pix AT yahoogroups.com.Yahoo! Groups Links > > > > Subject: Re: Digiscoping with Swarovski and Nikon P-6000 From: Kevin Bolton <kakebolton AT optonline.net> Date: Wed, 11 Nov 2009 04:52:58 -0500 Ed . Apeture priority mode is the ticket,also turn the VR off , spot area focus ,Macro mode is some of the settings I use. www.flickr.com/photos/mcbrian Kevin Bolton ----- Original Message ----- From: estonick To: digiscopingbirds AT yahoogroups.com Sent: Wednesday, November 11, 2009 12:04 AM Subject: [digiscopingbirds] Digiscoping with Swarovski and Nikon P-6000 Greetings! My new P-6000 just arrived in the mail, and I'm anxious to test it in the field. I just wondered what mode(s) to shoot in. With my previous camera, I mainly used the programmed mode but realize there may be better choices. What mode or settings have any of you had the best success with? If the lighting is marginal (cloudy, near dawn or dusk) what then? Any tips or techniques you'd like to share would be much appreciated. Regards, Ed Ed Stonick Pasadena, CA edstonick AT earthlink.net Subject: Re: Digiscoping with Swarovski and Nikon P-6000 From: Neil Fifer <neilfif11 AT yahoo.com.au> Date: Wed, 11 Nov 2009 05:39:24 -0500 Ed, Well done on your new purchase. Select Aperture Priority to keep the aperture as wide as possible so the shutter speed will be the fastest. I normally Spot Focus and Spot Exposure too at iso 100. If I have time I switch to Raw + Jpeg for better quality but normally Jpeg willl be good enough. Let us know how you go. Neil. >Greetings! > >My new P-6000 just arrived in the mail, and I'm anxious to test it >in the field. I just wondered what mode(s) to shoot in. With my >previous camera, I mainly used the programmed mode but realize there >may be better choices. What mode or settings have any of you had >the best success with? If the lighting is marginal (cloudy, near >dawn or dusk) what then? Any tips or techniques you'd like to share >would be much appreciated. > >Regards, >Ed > >Ed Stonick >Pasadena, CA > >edstonick AT earthlink.net > Subject: Digiscoping with Canon EOS 20D and EF 50 mm, f/1.8 From: "Hans Schick" <schick AT asca-berlin.de> Date: Wed, 11 Nov 2009 09:54:23 +0100 Hi Williams, in 2006 I used the combination of Canon EOS 20D with EF 50 mm, f/1.8 and Swarovski AT 80 HD for digiscoping. Parallel I used the telelens Canon EF 100-400 mm, f/4.5-5.6L IS USM. The results can be compared on the following sites. http://www.ornithos.de/Ornithos/Bird_Gallery/Surnia_ullula/Surnia_ulula.htm http://www.ornithos.de/Ornithos/Bird_Gallery/Lanius_senator/Lanius_senator.htm http://www.ornithos.de/Ornithos/Trip_Reports/Spain-Andalucia2006-04/Falco_naumannii-IMG_6337-800x533.htm The main problem of digiscoping with this combination was focussing. Best regards Hans Schick schick AT asca-berlin.de www.ornithos.de ----- Original Message ----- From: William Leigh To: digiscopingbirds AT yahoogroups.com Sent: Wednesday, November 11, 2009 2:50 AM Subject: [digiscopingbirds] re: digiscoping Hi all, Wondering if anyone has tried digiscoping with a Cannon SLR such as the EOS 50d. Is this a viable way to go? I tried it briefly using a 50 mm lens but had lots of trouble getting a good focus on the bird. I don't own a 50mm lens and am considering buying one for the purpose of digiscoping as this was lens recommended by both Eagle Optics and National Camera if one is digiscoping with an EOS Cannon. I have read some post on BirdForum that indicating that SLR cameras don't work very well for Digiscoping. Would love to hear from anyone who has some experience with such a set up! Thanks in advance! William Leigh leightern AT msn.com Subject: Re: Celestron Regal Spotting Scopes? From: Subscriptions <subs AT dynsol.com> Date: Wed, 11 Nov 2009 01:57:39 -0500 At 08:39 PM 11/10/2009, Alec Earnshaw wrote: >I calculate the relationship of the squares of the diameter to see how >much more light you get. > Ratio = 100 x 100 / (65 x 65) = 2.4 (rounding up a bit) >OK, but... >Comparing two scopes of equal diameter the result will be = 1, which >means a gain of 0 stops (obviously) >If the result is 2 it means you have a gain of 1 stop >If the result is 2.4 it means you have 1.4 stops >Is this right? About 1.25 stops. A ratio of 2 is one stop. A ratio of 4 is two stops. 100*100/(65*65) = 2.367 and 2**1.25 is 2.378 (close enough) Joe ------------------------------------ Please post bird photos to our other group birds-pix AT yahoogroups.com.Yahoo! Groups Links <*> To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/digiscopingbirds/ <*> Your email settings: Individual Email | Traditional <*> To change settings online go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/digiscopingbirds/join (Yahoo! ID required) <*> To change settings via email: digiscopingbirds-digest AT yahoogroups.com digiscopingbirds-fullfeatured AT yahoogroups.com <*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: digiscopingbirds-unsubscribe AT yahoogroups.com <*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to: http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/ Subject: Digiscoping with Swarovski and Nikon P-6000 From: "estonick" <edstonick AT earthlink.net> Date: Wed, 11 Nov 2009 05:04:21 -0000 Greetings! My new P-6000 just arrived in the mail, and I'm anxious to test it in the field. I just wondered what mode(s) to shoot in. With my previous camera, I mainly used the programmed mode but realize there may be better choices. What mode or settings have any of you had the best success with? If the lighting is marginal (cloudy, near dawn or dusk) what then? Any tips or techniques you'd like to share would be much appreciated. Regards, Ed Ed Stonick Pasadena, CA edstonick AT earthlink.net Subject: Re: Celestron Regal Spotting Scopes? From: Alec Earnshaw <aearnshaw AT sinectis.com.ar> Date: Tue, 10 Nov 2009 23:39:00 -0200 Dave, I don't want to dissapoint you, and my calculations may well be incorrect, but it seems to me that going from 65 to 100 mm you'll get a 1.4 stop advantage. I calculate the relationship of the squares of the diameter to see how much more light you get. Ratio = 100 x 100 / (65 x 65) = 2.4 (rounding up a bit) OK, but... Comparing two scopes of equal diameter the result will be = 1, which means a gain of 0 stops (obviously) If the result is 2 it means you have a gain of 1 stop If the result is 2.4 it means you have 1.4 stops Is this right? 1.4 stops is still not bad! An exposure of say 1/100" would reduce to about 1/300" Regards, Alec David Graham wrote: > Thanks, Gene, > ...but figure an affordable extra 35mm of objective diameter would > give me a 2.4 stop advantage. > ------------------------------------ Please post bird photos to our other group birds-pix AT yahoogroups.com.Yahoo! Groups Links <*> To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/digiscopingbirds/ <*> Your email settings: Individual Email | Traditional <*> To change settings online go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/digiscopingbirds/join (Yahoo! ID required) <*> To change settings via email: digiscopingbirds-digest AT yahoogroups.com digiscopingbirds-fullfeatured AT yahoogroups.com <*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: digiscopingbirds-unsubscribe AT yahoogroups.com <*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to: http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/ Subject: re: digiscoping From: William Leigh <leightern AT msn.com> Date: Wed, 11 Nov 2009 01:50:03 +0000 Hi all, Wondering if anyone has tried digiscoping with a Cannon SLR such as the EOS 50d. Is this a viable way to go? I tried it briefly using a 50 mm lens but had lots of trouble getting a good focus on the bird. I don't own a 50mm lens and am considering buying one for the purpose of digiscoping as this was lens recommended by both Eagle Optics and National Camera if one is digiscoping with an EOS Cannon. I have read some post on BirdForum that indicating that SLR cameras don't work very well for Digiscoping. Would love to hear from anyone who has some experience with such a set up! Thanks in advance! William Leigh leightern AT msn.com Subject: Re: Celestron Regal Spotting Scopes? From: David Graham <uuglypher AT gmail.com> Date: Tue, 10 Nov 2009 12:46:28 -0600 Thanks, Gene, Those are precisely my thoughts and the reasons for my interest. And I agree that the 100mm would be the better buy. For my carry-around digiscoping I rely on my Pelntax 65-ED scope but figure an affordable extra 35mm of objective diametetr would give me a 2.4 stop advantage. I also use a Celestron 80-ED for digiscoping from my truck with balance bar and home-made gimbal head on a window bracket, It's just too damned big and heavy to horse around in the field...but it's given me considerable respect for the Celestron brand! An additional factor is that the price of the Regal 100mm model begins to approach that of the Sigma and Tamron super-tele AF zooms. I've seen the results of the Sigma ("Bigma") with a 1.4x and with a 2x teleconverter and they are astounding! O.K. O.K. Yeah, I know that wouldn't be digiscoping, and the super-tele zooms are heavy, but as Andre Agazzis used to claim, albeit for Canon :."Image is everything"! So, I'm really eager to hear from anyone who has first-hand experience digiscoping with the Regal scopes. By the bye, thanks to some earlier comments of yours I already have a 17mm Baader Hyperioin eyepiece on order! Thanks again, Gene, for your input. Dave in East River, SD On Tue, Nov 10, 2009 at 11:11 AM, G smith wrote: > > > > > Hello David: > > > > I do not have any first hand experience with these scopes, nor can I find > any independent reviews. Celestron is > > reliable, and I would have no concern if it were an OTA. A spotting scope > is harder to make well, with > > extra lenses for zoom and the objective is harder to make in the shorter > focal length. But, that said, it > > seems to be a good deal. If I were you I would examine it for good seeing > when you get it. > > > > Blows my mind that they are offering the fluorite. Checked OPT in > California and they are priced $600 and $700. > > The extra $100 for the 100mm would seem like a better deal. I get stuff > in central Ohio by priority mail in two > > days from them. > > > > I like the idea of being able to use standard 1 1/4 eyepieces with the > scopes. For digiscoping the Baadar Hyperion does > > a great job for only $119. Even the 5mm does a good job. I would stay > away from the Hyperion zoom for digiscoping, > > although people like it for seeing. Let me know how things work > out. Gene > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > ----- Original Message ----- > From: "David Graham" > To: digiscopingbirds AT yahoogroups.com > Sent: Tuesday, November 10, 2009 10:49:34 AM GMT -05:00 US/Canada Eastern > Subject: [digiscopingbirds] Celestron Regal Spotting Scopes? > > > > We chatted some time ago about the Celestron Ultima scopes, and now I'm > considering a Celestron Regal Scope' either the 80 F-ED or the 100 F-ED. Has > anyone on the list had experience with either of these scopes in > digiscoping? > Thanks for any comments of first-hand experience you might provide. > > > > > > -- "When one tugs at a single thing in nature, he finds it attached to the rest of the world." John Muir "Einstein was wrong! The God I hold in consummate awe does, metaphorically, “...play dice....” The laws - the facts - of probability / chance / luck / fortune are as real and immutable as is the speed of light through different media and its role in the interrelationships among energy, and mass, and space, and time. Therein is God.found" D.L.Graham, 2002 Subject: Re: Celestron Regal Spotting Scopes? From: G smith <smithhill1 AT embarqmail.com> Date: Tue, 10 Nov 2009 12:11:40 -0500 (EST) Hello David: I do not have any first hand experience with these scopes, nor can I find any independent reviews.   Celestron is reliable, and I would have no concern if it were an OTA.   A spotting scope is harder to make well, with extra lenses for zoom and the objective is harder to make in the shorter focal length.   But, that said, it seems to be a good deal.   If I were you I would examine it for good seeing when you get it. Blows my mind that they are offering the fluorite.   Checked OPT in California and they are priced $600 and $700. The extra $100 for the 100mm would seem like a better deal.   I get stuff in central Ohio by priority mail in two days from them.   I like the idea of being able to use standard 1 1/4 eyepieces with the scopes.   For digiscoping the Baadar Hyperion does a great job for only $119.   Even the 5mm does a good job.   I would stay away from the Hyperion zoom for digiscoping, although people like it for seeing.       Let me know how things work out.       Gene   ----- Original Message ----- From: "David Graham" To: digiscopingbirds AT yahoogroups.com Sent: Tuesday, November 10, 2009 10:49:34 AM GMT -05:00 US/Canada Eastern Subject: [digiscopingbirds] Celestron Regal Spotting Scopes?   We chatted some time ago about the Celestron Ultima scopes, and now I'm considering a Celestron Regal Scope' either the 80 F-ED or the 100 F-ED. Has anyone on the list had experience with either of these scopes in digiscoping? Thanks for any comments of first-hand experience you might provide.   Subject: Celestron Regal Spotting Scopes? From: David Graham <uuglypher AT gmail.com> Date: Tue, 10 Nov 2009 09:49:34 -0600 We chatted some time ago about the Celestron Ultima scopes, and now I'm considering a Celestron Regal Scope' either the 80 F-ED or the 100 F-ED. Has anyone on the list had experience with either of these scopes in digiscoping? Thanks for any comments of first-hand experience you might provide. Dave in East River, SD -- "When one tugs at a single thing in nature, he finds it attached to the rest of the world." John Muir "Einstein was wrong! The God I hold in consummate awe does, metaphorically, “...play dice....” The laws - the facts - of probability / chance / luck / fortune are as real and immutable as is the speed of light through different media and its role in the interrelationships among energy, and mass, and space, and time. Therein is God.found" D.L.Graham, 2002 Subject: Re: Panasonic DMC-G1 with 20mm f/1.7 on Nikon EDG zoom From: "bill.schmoker" <bill.schmoker AT yahoo.com> Date: Sun, 08 Nov 2009 00:51:45 -0000 Hi Steve- for now, I'm hand-holding the G1. For the kit zoom, I use a 52mm Swarovski DCA adapter as a centering guide. I've ordered a step-up ring (46 to 52mm) to use the DCA adapter in a similar way on the 20mm f/1.7 lens. Still figuring out an attachment system (awaiting permanent use of a Nikon universal digiscoping adapter) but I've got to admit hand-holding it has given great results provided good light is available. Best- Bill Schmoker, Longmont --- In digiscopingbirds AT yahoogroups.com, Steve Sosensky wrote: > > Hi Bill, > > How are you connecting the G1 to the EDG? > > At 06:38 AM 10/21/2009, bill.schmoker wrote: > >To follow up on this thread, I got the 20mm f/1.7 for the G1 > >yesterday. On my 65mm Nikon EDG zoom eyepiece I also have > >vignetting on the low end which goes away about halfway through the > >zoom range. The entire top half or so of the eyepiece zoom gives no > >vignetting. > > > Good Viewing, > Steve Sosensky > Vice President > > www.Optics4Birding.com > 19 Hammond Suite 506 N 33.65926 > Irvine CA 92618 W 117.70305 > 877.OP4.BIRD (877.674.2473) Toll Free 818.522.5261 Cell > 949.360.OPTX (949.360.6789) Local > Subject: Zeikos to DCA From: SiriusGuy AT aol.com Date: Sat, 7 Nov 2009 11:35:08 EST Per Steve Sosensky, who surely knows better than me, the <> being sold for $19.95 by Adorama, including shipping <> So I think I'll order one, particularly for my just-acquired Canon S90, whose tripod mount, by the way, is directly below the lens axis. Of course, that DCA is a BIT more expensive... Alan Birnbaum Fresno CA Subject: Re: From: Robert Melbourne <rmelbourne66 AT yahoo.com> Date: Sat, 7 Nov 2009 07:47:26 -0800 (PST) This is the same as the Foxfoto adapter, made in Poland and available on FleaBay for about 20 British pounds or equivalent. There are other screw in attachment accessories available such as a three screw universal attachment that allows for attaching to non-threaded eyepieces. Rmel66. Subject: Panasonic 20/1.7 mm Pancake lens From: neilfif11 <neilfif11 AT yahoo.com.au> Date: Sat, 7 Nov 2009 09:18:31 +0800 The adding a 46/43 step down converter to the Olympus 20/1.7 lens to match with DCA adapter ( the Ricoh GX100 is 43 too ) I thought the vignetting might get a little worse. The vignetting top right corner is at 25x on the 25-50x and it disappears at 30x so is not enough to worry about. This lens though doesn't Neil Panasonic Lumis GF1 plus Panasonic 20/1.7 mm lens on Swarovski STS80HD scope and Sw 25-50 zoom and DCA adapter (43 mm ) Hong Kong, China. November 2009 Subject: Re: Panasonic DMC-G1 with 20mm f/1.7 on Nikon EDG zoom From: Steve Sosensky <steve AT optics4birding.com> Date: Fri, 06 Nov 2009 17:05:45 -0800 Hi Bill, How are you connecting the G1 to the EDG? At 06:38 AM 10/21/2009, bill.schmoker wrote: >To follow up on this thread, I got the 20mm f/1.7 for the G1 >yesterday. On my 65mm Nikon EDG zoom eyepiece I also have >vignetting on the low end which goes away about halfway through the >zoom range. The entire top half or so of the eyepiece zoom gives no >vignetting. Good Viewing, Steve Sosensky Vice President www.Optics4Birding.com 19 Hammond Suite 506 N 33.65926 Irvine CA 92618 W 117.70305 877.OP4.BIRD (877.674.2473) Toll Free 818.522.5261 Cell 949.360.OPTX (949.360.6789) Local Subject: Re: Zeikos gadget From: Steve Sosensky <steve AT optics4birding.com> Date: Fri, 06 Nov 2009 15:01:44 -0800 Alan, This looks like it would be great for adapting P&S cameras that don't have filter attachments to Kowa (via TSN-DA1 or TSN-DA10), Swarovski (via DCA), and Vortex Razor (via their adapter) scopes using a 37mm adapter ring. There appears to be enough adjustability to be able to work with cameras whose tripod mount is not directly below the lens. The other interesting thing is that the SKU is the same as the mfgr's part number with a "CZ" prepended. This looks suspiciously like Carl Zeiss to me, and the "Z" in the logo looks like the same font that Zeiss uses. How about it Stephen, is this a Zeiss brand? At 12:56 PM 11/6/2009, SiriusGuy AT aol.com wrote: >The Adorama E-mail circular for today contains a gadget I haven't >previously seen, from Zeikos, for $19.95, including shipping, which >looks like it might have some application to digiscoping, >particularly if the tripod screw mount is in line with the lens axis: > >http://www.adorama.com/CZZEPSAD.html?emailprice=t&utm_source=ET&utm_medium=Email&utm_campaign=EmailWS110609 > >Has anyone seen one? Or used one? Or, failing that, comment on >whether it could be used to adapt a P&S to be used for digiscoping? Good Viewing, Steve Sosensky Vice President www.Optics4Birding.com 19 Hammond Suite 506 N 33.65926 Irvine CA 92618 W 117.70305 877.OP4.BIRD (877.674.2473) Toll Free 818.522.5261 Cell 949.360.OPTX (949.360.6789) Local Subject: Re: Zeikos gadget From: Don Morgan <mntncougar AT gmail.com> Date: Fri, 6 Nov 2009 16:45:25 -0500 Actually, the device is $19.95, not $199.95, which makes it a bit more appealing and intriguing. Don Morgan Coventry, Ct On Fri, Nov 6, 2009 at 3:56 PM, wrote: > > > The Adorama E-mail circular for today contains a gadget I haven't > previously seen, from Zeikos, for $199.95, including shipping, which looks > like it might have some application to digiscoping, particularly if the > tripod screw mount is in line with the lens axis: > > > http://www.adorama.com/CZZEPSAD.html?emailprice=t&utm_source=ET&utm_medium=Email&utm_campaign=EmailWS110609 > > > Has anyone seen one? Or used one? Or, failing that, comment on whether it > could be used to adapt a P&S to be used for digiscoping? > > Alan Birnbaum > Fresno CA > > > Subject: Re: Zeikos gadget From: Len Blumin <Len.blumin AT gmail.com> Date: Fri, 6 Nov 2009 13:02:35 -0800 Alan- You made a x10 typo. It's 19.95. :) Len On Fri, Nov 6, 2009 at 12:56 PM, wrote: > > > The Adorama E-mail circular for today contains a gadget I haven't > previously seen, from Zeikos, for $199.95, including shipping, which looks > like it might have some application to digiscoping, particularly if the > tripod screw mount is in line with the lens axis: > > > http://www.adorama.com/CZZEPSAD.html?emailprice=t&utm_source=ET&utm_medium=Email&utm_campaign=EmailWS110609 > > Has anyone seen one? Or used one? Or, failing that, comment on whether it > could be used to adapt a P&S to be used for digiscoping? > > Alan Birnbaum > Fresno CA > > > -- Cheers, Len Blumin, Mill Valley, California len.blumin AT gmail.com Swaro 80 HD, 30X, DCA, CoolPix 8400 http://www.flickriver.com/photos/lenblumin/sets/72157614994688364/ Subject: Zeikos gadget From: SiriusGuy AT aol.com Date: Fri, 6 Nov 2009 15:56:34 EST The Adorama E-mail circular for today contains a gadget I haven't previously seen, from Zeikos, for $199.95, including shipping, which looks like it might have some application to digiscoping, particularly if the tripod screw mount is in line with the lens axis: _http://www.adorama.com/CZZEPSAD.html?emailprice=t&utm_source=ET&utm_medium= Email&utm_campaign=EmailWS110609_ (http://www.adorama.com/CZZEPSAD.html?emailprice=t&utm_source=ET&utm_medium=Email&utm_campaign=EmailWS110609) Has anyone seen one? Or used one? Or, failing that, comment on whether it could be used to adapt a P&S to be used for digiscoping? Alan Birnbaum Fresno CA Subject: Re: Also new to digiscoping From: Jerry Jourdan <jourdaj AT gmail.com> Date: Fri, 6 Nov 2009 11:41:39 -0500 Jim, Simple tube adapters can be made using PVC pipe from hardware stores. The trick is attaching the camera to the tube. Here are my two most recent adapters. One using a pesto jar lid and nylon hose clamps superglued together. The other uses a Canon lens adapter and teflon tape cap. I refuse to purchase commercial adapters when lightweight, portable ones can be made w/ household items. These may or may not inspire you.... http://jerryjourdan2.blogspot.com/2007/04/homemade-adaptor-for-fuji-f30-and-zeiss.html http://jerryjourdan2.blogspot.com/2008/04/new-digiscoping-adaptor-for-coolpix.html Best of luck, and happy shooting, Jerry http://jerryjourdan.blogspot.com On Fri, Nov 6, 2009 at 10:06 AM, Jim wrote: > > > Have a vortex .. stokes sandpiper 65mm scope .. angled eyepiece and would > like to connect it to a camera. I have point and shoot cameras as well as > DSLRs (all canon). Vortex sells an adapter but it looks to be large and > heavy. > > Is there a simple, fast and easy way to connect a camera to this scope? > > Tripod is rock solid. > > Thanks, > > Jim > > > Subject: Also new to digiscoping From: "Jim" <jwwtex AT yahoo.com> Date: Fri, 06 Nov 2009 15:06:49 -0000 Have a vortex .. stokes sandpiper 65mm scope .. angled eyepiece and would like to connect it to a camera. I have point and shoot cameras as well as DSLRs (all canon). Vortex sells an adapter but it looks to be large and heavy. Is there a simple, fast and easy way to connect a camera to this scope? Tripod is rock solid. Thanks, Jim Subject: Re: Spotting scope vs refractor telescope From: "wturber" <jay AT studio522.com> Date: Fri, 06 Nov 2009 00:49:21 -0000 I'm sure the Orion is a very good optic for many of the reasons you cited. But the OTA alone weighs almost two pounds more than a Swarovski ATS80HD. The Orion is also much longer for two reasons. The first is that is has a longer focal length objective. This is good optically and for economy since it is easier to correct a longer focal length objective than the shorter one found, for instance, in the Swarovski. The other reason the Orion is longer is that it has no folded optical path. The erecting prisms in a scope like the Swarovski folds the optical path and makes the scope more compact. BTW, light absorption isn't much of an issue with modern optics intended for terrestrial use given modern lens coating technology. But it is true that each additional optical surface introduces an additional place for for image degradation. This increases the cost of modern compact spotting scopes. Anyway, it all leads to my original point. Pick the scope that best fits the compromises you can live with. Each approach has a good reason for its existence in the market. And each approach can be optically quite good. Jay Turberville www.jayandwanda.com Subject: Re: Spotting scope vs refractor telescope From: "Gene" <smithhill1 AT embarqmail.com> Date: Fri, 06 Nov 2009 00:06:49 -0000 Well said Jay, as always. I am very happy with my 80mm ED Orion OTA. The advantages I claim are a sturdy two inch focuser, a PURE optical system without additional lenses and prisms used to create zoom, which will adsorb light and degrade quality, at least to some degree. A major advantage of the OTA is also the use of a vast assortment of astro eyepieces. The Baadar Hyperion eyepieces give a 68 degree field of view, a 33mm dia. eye-lens, and 20mm of eye relief. The two different size threads on top of the piece allow secure and accurate attachment of a camera with a threaded adapter tube for digiscoping. Single focal length eyepieces seem to always be better for digiscoping, no matter what brand. The 5mm Hyperion, as well as the longer focal lengths, works well with my LX3 for digiscoping. With that set up it is not hard to get over 200X magnification. I suggest using a good quality Point and Shoot camera that has an adapter tube for secure attachment to the eyepiece. The Hyperions can be mounted in a 2 inch or 11/4 inch focuser. --- In digiscopingbirds AT yahoogroups.com, "scoping10" wrote: > > Hi, > I now use a William Optics 80MM refractor telescope at prime focus with a Nikon D50 DSLR. What I would like to know is which is better for nature photography. The last time I figured the power with the 80MM was around 14X. The optics are great. Thinking about getting a spotting scope if the quality improvement increase would justify the cost. > > Thanks > Barre > Subject: Re: New to digiscoping which route to take... From: "gennaro209" <gennaro209 AT aol.com> Date: Thu, 05 Nov 2009 23:16:01 -0000 Thanks Alec It does help some what, but I will have to research this more. Subject: Re: New to digiscoping which route to take... From: Alec Earnshaw <aearnshaw AT sinectis.com.ar> Date: Thu, 05 Nov 2009 18:33:00 -0200 Genaro, To go to your specific question, have you seen the Vixen webpage? http://www.vixensportsoptics.com/spotting.html Click on "Field Scope Photography" to see a chart that shows the various supported configurations. I can say a few words about the Vixen, but not about the D90 (I've never owned a digital reflex). I currently use the Geoma II ED 67 mm angled with a P6000. I use a Wide x20 eypeice (GLH20 WIDE, apparently discontinued) but failed to have he one I really wanted to an error in the shipping, which is GLH20D, designed for digiscoping and all I could find out is that this eyepiece retains better focus to the edge of the field of view (but since I was sent the wrong one I was subsequently told it was not noticeable!). The adaptor tube is home-made: a PVC tube to which I epoxied a filter ring with the proper thread pf the P6000. At the eypeice end it simply fits quite snuggly with the camera lens right up close to the eyepiece. The Vixen seems, to me, a fairly good scope for viewing. Also, I can take a better shot through this digiscoping setup that I can through my "normal" camera, which is a Panasocnic Lumix FZ30 with teleconverter - provided, of course, that the target is very very patient with me! However, I suspect that the weakest link today with my equipment is the scope. One thing is to get a full-screen shot (which is fairly good), and another is if you want to crop it down: if you do this it's not going to have a very sharp focus. The image you have is the full frame, pretty much. (I wonder how many others are bound in this way too...?). I can send you a few samples of what I've achieved with this. Hope this helps! Alec > I am new to digiscoping and need some help. I was looking to purchase > a vixen geoma pro 67. I wanted to know if someone could help me with > some information. I have a Nikon D90. I wanted to use a 50mm lens with > a Digital Camera Adapter (like the Swarovski set up, I recently read a > blog that someone used a Swarovski DCA, and a 50mm lens with a Leica > scope), or an Universal Camera Adapter. I am wondering if this is even > possible with a vixen scope. I can't get any info from the retailers. > Does any one have suggestions of a better set up like instead of using > my Nikon D90, maybe a point and shoot. I really appreciate any help. > Subject: New to digiscoping which route to take... From: "gennaro209" <gennaro209 AT aol.com> Date: Thu, 05 Nov 2009 20:03:01 -0000 I am new to digiscoping and need some help. I was looking to purchase a vixen geoma pro 67. I wanted to know if someone could help me with some information. I have a Nikon D90. I wanted to use a 50mm lens with a Digital Camera Adapter (like the Swarovski set up, I recently read a blog that someone used a Swarovski DCA, and a 50mm lens with a Leica scope), or an Universal Camera Adapter. I am wondering if this is even possible with a vixen scope. I can't get any info from the retailers. Does any one have suggestions of a better set up like instead of using my Nikon D90, maybe a point and shoot. I really appreciate any help. Subject: Canon G10 vs Canon S90 From: SiriusGuy AT aol.com Date: Thu, 5 Nov 2009 12:57:29 EST <> I have also found my G10 to be a fine camera for general use, especially for personal travel, though at times it gets a bit bulky for urban travel. I have just received my S90, similar but improved sensor and software, supposedly better low-light performance, different lens, shorter zoom ratio of 3.8, same fine rear LCD. I will try to do a few shorts in conjunction with my ATS65HD with 30X WA and advise how these two work together. Certainly I'd rather carry the S90 around on a day when I'm also lugging the ATS65HD with scope, plus binoculars. The older I get, the more I wish everything was filled with helium.... Alan Birnbaum Fresno CA Subject: G1 on the Nikon 30xDS From: "Tom Cuffe" <tblcuffe AT iol.ie> Date: Thu, 5 Nov 2009 15:21:39 -0000 Hi digiscopers Anyone out there tried the G1 with the kit lens on the Nikon 30x DS eyepiece+Nikon 82ED angled. Her good self is looking for me to pick out my Christmas present and the G1 might be a likely candidate. ATB Tom ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ No virus found in this incoming message. Checked by AVG. Version: 8.0.100 / Virus Database: 270.3.0/1501 - Release Date: 13/06/2008 06:33 Subject: RE: Cropping with the GF1 on a zoom can work From: "Jack O'Neill" <jack.oneill1 AT btinternet.com> Date: Thu, 5 Nov 2009 10:54:05 -0000 What I omitted to add was that it was a cracking photo _____ From: digiscopingbirds AT yahoogroups.com [mailto:digiscopingbirds AT yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of neilfif11 Sent: 05 November 2009 10:47 To: digiscopingbirds AT yahoogroups.com Subject: RE: [digiscopingbirds] Cropping with the GF1 on a zoom can work Jack, Thanks for that. I don't get to see too many Greens. Neil. That's a Green Sandpiper, Neil _____ From: digiscopingbirds AT yahoogroups.com [mailto:digiscopingbirds AT yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of neilfif11 Sent: 05 November 2009 09:40 To: digiscopingbirds AT yahoogroups.com Subject: [digiscopingbirds] Cropping with the GF1 on a zoom can work I gave the kit zoom (14-45 mm ) a run on the GF1 yesterday with the 25-50 zoom not expecting too much but I wanted to use the AF as the Wood Sandpiper was dashing around like a crazy thing. When I saw the result on the computer I almost trashed it but I thought it might be worth a second look. I was happy with the record image. Neil Panasonic GF1 and Panasonic 14-45 mm kit zoom lens on Swarovski STS80HD scope and Sw25-50 zoom and DCA adapter Hong Kong, China. November 2009 Subject: RE: Cropping with the GF1 on a zoom can work From: neilfif11 <neilfif11 AT yahoo.com.au> Date: Thu, 5 Nov 2009 18:47:14 +0800 Jack, Thanks for that. I don't get to see too many Greens. Neil. >That's a Green Sandpiper, Neil > > >From: digiscopingbirds AT yahoogroups.com >[mailto:digiscopingbirds AT yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of neilfif11 >Sent: 05 November 2009 09:40 >To: digiscopingbirds AT yahoogroups.com >Subject: [digiscopingbirds] Cropping with the GF1 on a zoom can work > > >I gave the kit zoom (14-45 mm ) a run on the GF1 yesterday with the >25-50 zoom not expecting too much but I wanted to use the AF as the >Wood Sandpiper was dashing around like a crazy thing. >When I saw the result on the computer I almost trashed it but I >thought it might be worth a second look. >I was happy with the record image. >Neil > >Panasonic GF1 and Panasonic 14-45 mm kit zoom lens on Swarovski >STS80HD scope and Sw25-50 zoom and DCA adapter > >Hong Kong, >China. >November 2009 > > > Subject: RE: Cropping with the GF1 on a zoom can work From: "Jack O'Neill" <jack.oneill1 AT btinternet.com> Date: Thu, 5 Nov 2009 10:35:00 -0000 That's a Green Sandpiper, Neil _____ From: digiscopingbirds AT yahoogroups.com [mailto:digiscopingbirds AT yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of neilfif11 Sent: 05 November 2009 09:40 To: digiscopingbirds AT yahoogroups.com Subject: [digiscopingbirds] Cropping with the GF1 on a zoom can work I gave the kit zoom (14-45 mm ) a run on the GF1 yesterday with the 25-50 zoom not expecting too much but I wanted to use the AF as the Wood Sandpiper was dashing around like a crazy thing. When I saw the result on the computer I almost trashed it but I thought it might be worth a second look. I was happy with the record image. Neil Panasonic GF1 and Panasonic 14-45 mm kit zoom lens on Swarovski STS80HD scope and Sw25-50 zoom and DCA adapter Hong Kong, China. November 2009 Subject: Using the DCA zoom with the new Swarovski Zoom 25x50 (end :-) From: Hervé MICHEL <michelhp AT orange.fr> Date: Thu, 5 Nov 2009 11:39:07 +0100 Hi, in order to have no vigneting with the new zoom Swarovski 25x50 SW and the adapter DCA zoom, especially with the panasonic 14-45 mm and the G1/GH1/GF1, you have to do that : These are the parts of the DCA which fit on the 25x50. Hervé MICHEL FRANCE Subject: Cropping with the GF1 on a zoom can work From: neilfif11 <neilfif11 AT yahoo.com.au> Date: Thu, 5 Nov 2009 17:40:05 +0800 I gave the kit zoom (14-45 mm ) a run on the GF1 yesterday with the 25-50 zoom not expecting too much but I wanted to use the AF as the Wood Sandpiper was dashing around like a crazy thing. When I saw the result on the computer I almost trashed it but I thought it might be worth a second look. I was happy with the record image. Neil Panasonic GF1 and Panasonic 14-45 mm kit zoom lens on Swarovski STS80HD scope and Sw25-50 zoom and DCA adapter Hong Kong, China. November 2009 Subject: Panasonic 20/1.7 P on the G1 From: neilfif11 <neilfif11 AT yahoo.com.au> Date: Thu, 5 Nov 2009 11:44:23 +0800 I finally got out in the field with the G1 and the Panasonic 20/1.7 P lens. I set it up using the DCA adapter ( 43 mm thread with 43/46 adapter to lens ) onto the 25-50x zoom eyepiece. Auto Focus works well enough, despite the heavier body on the G1 but you have to be careful not to put any extra pressure/weight on the camera from your hand or forehead when using the EVF. I think using a remote might be a safer way to go. I was using the zoom at 40/50x zoom to minimise/eliminate vignetting. The bird of the day was this Pacific Golden Plover. I tried manually focusing on it with the Olympus 50/2 Macro lens but didn't get a sharp shot as the bird was feeding continuously. Neil Panasonic Lumix G1 plus Panasonic 20/1.7 P lens on Swarovski STS80HD scope and Sw 25-50x zoom eyepiece and DCA adapter. Hong Kong, China. November 2009 http://www.flickr.com/photos/7892550 AT N03/ Subject: Re: Digiscoping with Swarovski Scope From: "William K. Groll" <wkg AT austin78704.com> Date: Wed, 4 Nov 2009 18:17:28 -0700 Tom, As Neil has explained to us in the past, cameras that are highly rated for general photography are not necessarily good for digiscoping. Matching the optics of the scope with the camera is tricky. We have to accept some compromises on features in order to find compatible optics. The way to figure out which cameras work better with spotting scopes is either to try each one yourself, or do what you are doing now and ask lots of questions on the list or visit a site such as Bird Forum: http://www.birdforum.net/forumdisplay.php?f=243 Bill ----- Original Message ----- From: Neil To: digiscopingbirds AT yahoogroups.com Sent: Wednesday, November 04, 2009 5:58 PM Subject: Re: [digiscopingbirds] Digiscoping with Swarovski Scope Tom, The G10 is a great camera but the lens needs a lot of eye relief from the eyepeice (at least 25 mm of ER ). Canon G lenses have always been "tricky". Neil Ps I have one and love it although the GF1 will get more use now Sent from my iPhone On 5 Nov 2009, at 8:17 AM, "Tom France" wrote: Neil Is there a reason that you aren't recommending the Canon G10 to people for digiscoping? It was selected over the Nikon P6000 in the review: http://www.luminous-landscape.com/reviews/cameras/pocket-battleships.shtml as having some superior features to the P6000 and it also has a wired remote control, which is handy for digiscoping. Tom Subject: Buying Step Rings From: "Gene" <smithhill1 AT embarqmail.com> Date: Thu, 05 Nov 2009 01:20:41 -0000 Ed: There is ONLY one place to buy step up step down rings if you do not want to pay through the nose. That is Photofilter.com A fraction of the cost at many other places. Great service. Understand their explanation of the difference between step up and step down. Gene Subject: Re: Digiscoping with Swarovski Scope From: Neil <neilfif11 AT yahoo.com.au> Date: Thu, 5 Nov 2009 08:58:58 +0800 Tom, The G10 is a great camera but the lens needs a lot of eye relief from the eyepeice (at least 25 mm of ER ). Canon G lenses have always been "tricky". Neil Ps I have one and love it although the GF1 will get more use now Sent from my iPhone On 5 Nov 2009, at 8:17 AM, "Tom France" wrote: > > > Neil > > Is there a reason that you aren't recommending the Canon G10 to > people for digiscoping? It was selected over the Nikon P6000 in the > review: > http://www.luminous-landscape.com/reviews/cameras/pocket-battleships.shtml > as having some superior features to the P6000 and it also has a > wired remote control, which is handy for digiscoping. > > Tom > > ----- Original Message ----- > From: neilfif11 > To: digiscopingbirds AT yahoogroups.com > Sent: Wednesday, November 04, 2009 4:15 PM > Subject: Re: [digiscopingbirds] Digiscoping with Swarovski Scope > > > Ed, > You can take the images in Jpeg and/or Raw. The RAW doesn't > do any in-camera adjustments to the image so you can make all your > adjustments with software later. Good if you have difficult > exposure situations. > The 52 mm adapters are sold under many different brands but they > probably all come out of one factory in China. Raynox are a reliable > brand > http://www.bugeyedigital.com/product_main/bow-a4652n6.html > > The remote is wireless ( same as Nikon 8400 and D90 ) > http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/207373-USA/Nikon_4730_ML_L3_Remote_Control_Transmitter.html > > Only problem with it is that the signal has to be from side/front. > > Neil. > > > >> Hi Neil! > >> > >> Thanks for your quick response! I'm still learning, but what is >> the "RAW?" How do you use the remote? Can you recommend a vendor/ >> brand for the 52mm adapter? Thanks again! > >> > >> --Ed >> -----Original Message----- >> From: neilfif11 >> Sent: Nov 4, 2009 5:23 PM >> To: digiscopingbirds AT yahoogroups.com >> Subject: Re: [digiscopingbirds] Digiscoping with Swarovski Scope >> >> >> Ed, >> Your best bet is still the Nikon P6000 with a third party 52 >> mm adapter. You get ED glass, much better screen, RAW and IR Remote >> ( optional). >> Neil. >> >> >Greetings! >> > >> >I'm new to the group but have been happily digiscoping with my 65mm >> >Swarovski scope and a Canon A570 (after I got over the shock of >> >purchasing the Swarovski attachment rings, which cost more than the >> >camera!). >> > >> >Most recently I was able to get some nice shots of the Bar-tailed >> >Godwit that showed up at Newport Back Bay. >> > >> >Anyway, I was wondering if any of the newer Canons or other digital >> >cameras can attach to the Swarovski. I purchased the Canon adapter >> >for the A570. Thanks in advance for any help you can give. >> > >> >Regards, >> >Ed >> > >> >Ed Stonick >> >Pasadena, CA >> > >> >edstonick AT earthlink.net >> > > >> >> > > > Subject: Re: Digiscoping with Swarovski Scope From: "Tom France" <taf1940 AT comcast.net> Date: Wed, 4 Nov 2009 17:17:33 -0700 Neil Is there a reason that you aren't recommending the Canon G10 to people for digiscoping? It was selected over the Nikon P6000 in the review: http://www.luminous-landscape.com/reviews/cameras/pocket-battleships.shtml as having some superior features to the P6000 and it also has a wired remote control, which is handy for digiscoping. Tom ----- Original Message ----- From: neilfif11 To: digiscopingbirds AT yahoogroups.com Sent: Wednesday, November 04, 2009 4:15 PM Subject: Re: [digiscopingbirds] Digiscoping with Swarovski Scope Ed, You can take the images in Jpeg and/or Raw. The RAW doesn't do any in-camera adjustments to the image so you can make all your adjustments with software later. Good if you have difficult exposure situations. The 52 mm adapters are sold under many different brands but they probably all come out of one factory in China. Raynox are a reliable brand http://www.bugeyedigital.com/product_main/bow-a4652n6.html The remote is wireless ( same as Nikon 8400 and D90 ) http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/207373-USA/Nikon_4730_ML_L3_Remote_Control_Transmitter.html Only problem with it is that the signal has to be from side/front. Neil. Hi Neil! Thanks for your quick response! I'm still learning, but what is the "RAW?" How do you use the remote? Can you recommend a vendor/brand for the 52mm adapter? Thanks again! --Ed -----Original Message----- From: neilfif11 Sent: Nov 4, 2009 5:23 PM To: digiscopingbirds AT yahoogroups.com Subject: Re: [digiscopingbirds] Digiscoping with Swarovski Scope Ed, Your best bet is still the Nikon P6000 with a third party 52 mm adapter. You get ED glass, much better screen, RAW and IR Remote ( optional). Neil. >Greetings! > >I'm new to the group but have been happily digiscoping with my 65mm >Swarovski scope and a Canon A570 (after I got over the shock of >purchasing the Swarovski attachment rings, which cost more than the >camera!). > >Most recently I was able to get some nice shots of the Bar-tailed >Godwit that showed up at Newport Back Bay. > >Anyway, I was wondering if any of the newer Canons or other digital >cameras can attach to the Swarovski. I purchased the Canon adapter >for the A570. Thanks in advance for any help you can give. > >Regards, >Ed > >Ed Stonick >Pasadena, CA > >edstonick AT earthlink.net > Subject: Re: Digiscoping with Swarovski Scope From: neilfif11 <neilfif11 AT yahoo.com.au> Date: Thu, 5 Nov 2009 07:15:18 +0800 Ed, You can take the images in Jpeg and/or Raw. The RAW doesn't do any in-camera adjustments to the image so you can make all your adjustments with software later. Good if you have difficult exposure situations. The 52 mm adapters are sold under many different brands but they probably all come out of one factory in China. Raynox are a reliable brand http://www.bugeyedigital.com/product_main/bow-a4652n6.html The remote is wireless ( same as Nikon 8400 and D90 ) http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/207373-USA/Nikon_4730_ML_L3_Remote_Control_Transmitter.html Only problem with it is that the signal has to be from side/front. Neil. >Hi Neil! > >Thanks for your quick response! I'm still learning, but what is the >"RAW?" How do you use the remote? Can you recommend a vendor/brand >for the 52mm adapter? Thanks again! > >--Ed > >-----Original Message----- >From: neilfif11 >Sent: Nov 4, 2009 5:23 PM >To: digiscopingbirds AT yahoogroups.com >Subject: Re: [digiscopingbirds] Digiscoping with Swarovski Scope > > > >Ed, >Your best bet is still the Nikon P6000 with a third party 52 >mm adapter. You get ED glass, much better screen, RAW and IR Remote >( optional). >Neil. > >>Greetings! >> >>I'm new to the group but have been happily digiscoping with my 65mm >>Swarovski scope and a Canon A570 (after I got over the shock of >>purchasing the Swarovski attachment rings, which cost more than the >>camera!). >> >>Most recently I was able to get some nice shots of the Bar-tailed >>Godwit that showed up at Newport Back Bay. >> >>Anyway, I was wondering if any of the newer Canons or other digital >>cameras can attach to the Swarovski. I purchased the Canon adapter >>for the A570. Thanks in advance for any help you can give. >> >>Regards, >>Ed >> >>Ed Stonick >>Pasadena, CA >> >>edstonick AT earthlink.net > > > > > Subject: Re: Digiscoping with Swarovski Scope From: Ed Stonick <edstonick AT earthlink.net> Date: Wed, 4 Nov 2009 17:44:37 -0500 (EST) Subject: Re: Digiscoping with Swarovski Scope From: neilfif11 <neilfif11 AT yahoo.com.au> Date: Thu, 5 Nov 2009 06:23:34 +0800 Ed, Your best bet is still the Nikon P6000 with a third party 52 mm adapter. You get ED glass, much better screen, RAW and IR Remote ( optional). Neil. >Greetings! > >I'm new to the group but have been happily digiscoping with my 65mm >Swarovski scope and a Canon A570 (after I got over the shock of >purchasing the Swarovski attachment rings, which cost more than the >camera!). > >Most recently I was able to get some nice shots of the Bar-tailed >Godwit that showed up at Newport Back Bay. > >Anyway, I was wondering if any of the newer Canons or other digital >cameras can attach to the Swarovski. I purchased the Canon adapter >for the A570. Thanks in advance for any help you can give. > >Regards, >Ed > >Ed Stonick >Pasadena, CA > >edstonick AT earthlink.net > Subject: Digiscoping with Swarovski Scope From: Ed Stonick <edstonick AT earthlink.net> Date: Wed, 4 Nov 2009 13:39:28 -0800 (GMT-08:00) Greetings! I'm new to the group but have been happily digiscoping with my 65mm Swarovski scope and a Canon A570 (after I got over the shock of purchasing the Swarovski attachment rings, which cost more than the camera!). Most recently I was able to get some nice shots of the Bar-tailed Godwit that showed up at Newport Back Bay. Anyway, I was wondering if any of the newer Canons or other digital cameras can attach to the Swarovski. I purchased the Canon adapter for the A570. Thanks in advance for any help you can give. Regards, Ed Ed Stonick Pasadena, CA edstonick AT earthlink.net Subject: Re: Spotting scope vs refractor telescope From: "wturber" <jay AT studio522.com> Date: Wed, 04 Nov 2009 20:20:23 -0000 > I now use a William Optics 80MM refractor telescope at prime focus with a Nikon D50 DSLR. What I would like to know is which is better for nature photography. The last time I figured the power with the 80MM was around 14X. The optics are great. Thinking about getting a spotting scope if the quality improvement increase would justify the cost. ......................................... The advantages of a spotting scope intended for birding probably don't include improved optical quality. In general, the advantages of a spotting scope (refractor BTW) for birding are things like: Weather resistance and or water proofing. Light weight Compact designs High quality erecting prisms built in Better ergonomics for focusing and operating the scope in poor weather. The attributes above can be costly to achieve while still maintaining superb optical performance. Refractors designed primarily for astronomy make different compromises that tend to favor optical quality over convenience and ruggedness. As a consequence, dollar for dollar, a good astronomical refractor will typically be better optically than a top-quality birding scope. Though the differences will be pretty small. The reason to consider a non-astronomical spotting scope would be that you have a need for some of the characteristics listed above or for some other characteristic available that I've failed to list. It wouldn't typically be for a significant improvement in optical quality. Jay Turberville www.jayandwanda.com Subject: Spotting scope vs refractor telescope From: "scoping10" <scoping10 AT yahoo.com> Date: Wed, 04 Nov 2009 11:02:48 -0000 Hi, I now use a William Optics 80MM refractor telescope at prime focus with a Nikon D50 DSLR. What I would like to know is which is better for nature photography. The last time I figured the power with the 80MM was around 14X. The optics are great. Thinking about getting a spotting scope if the quality improvement increase would justify the cost. Thanks Barre Subject: Zeiss Digiscooped Pic of the Week From: Stephen Ingraham <lightshedder AT gmail.com> Date: Wed, 4 Nov 2009 07:07:54 -0500 Am. Goldfinch seed feeding in Cape May. PhotoScope http://zeisssports.wordpress.com/2009/11/03/digiscoped-pic-of-the-week-113/ -- Steve Ingraham lightshedder: www.lightshedder.com Point and Shoot Landscape: Pic of the Day Cloudy Days and Netbook Nights: cdnn.wordpress.com Subject: Re: Nikon Coolpix 995 From: Jeff Bouton <jbouton2 AT yahoo.com> Date: Tue, 3 Nov 2009 08:13:45 -0800 (PST) Bill,   Len's apparently a lot more patient than I when he describes these older style universal adapters as "not so good", I'd say maddening to the point I wanted to throw the thing in the ocean. The GOOD thing about these adapters that made me buy one early on was that they were inexpensive I think I paid about $60. However, as Len suggests they were SO time consuming fiddling with the three seperate screws to take out all of the excess slack and center the camera that I missed MANY shots. This lasted for maybe a couple weeks before I upgraded to a better solution.   I went instead to a similar design that was machined exclusively to the diameter of my specific eyepiece. I purchased both a Spidertech adapter http://www.spidertech.fi/ada.php and one from Cheang in Malaysia. Both worked very well and allowed me to get phenomenal images with my old Coolpix 4500. To answer your question Len, no the old Swarovski sleeve will not work on the Leica I'm afraid. When dealing with a <4mm  wide exit pupil being off center by even half a mm or more can be a big deal.   Now for the real kicker though. If it were me I'd invest in a new camera as well. The Coolpix 990, 995, and 4500 were wonderful digiscoping cameras and many have (and a handful still) produced wonderful images with these cameras. That said, much like an adapter that simply works (albeit not very well) an OK camera can also add to digiscoping frustration that can be avoided simply with an upgrade. The Coolpix 995 is near 7-8 years old now. By digital p&s camera standards that is an eternity. Like any computerized device the advancements made from one generation to the next are both rapid and real improvements.   Since a typical "generation" of these small p&s cameras generally runs 8 months or so you are starting a good 10 generations of advancements/improvements behind more modern cameras. As such in direct comparison to modern contemporaries, the 995 will be frustratingly difficult to view in the field. The postage-stamp sized screen, is low resolution and lacks the backlit/reflective technologies of modern screens making it near impossible to view in daylight. Newer screens are typically 4x larger (maybe more) are very hi-res, and can be viewed effectively in daylight.   There is also the limitation of megapixel to consider, which some would argue is not as big a deal, however without this you are at a minimum of how much cropping and framing you can do. However, one of the most dramatic (and frustarting for me) differences between the old cameras and newer contemporaries is the incredible shutter lag. On these older Coolpix and other cameras similarly dated you could sing half a song between when you depressed the shutter release and when the image was actually recorded. Today's modern p&s cameras have much more sophisticated (and much faster & smaller) microprocessors. The result of this is a more pocket-sized camera that has near real time response. When shooting wildlife thi smakes a huge difference because even when you ask your subject to sit perfectly still for 2 full seconds, my experience was they often didn't! ;p   At any rate, believe me, this isn't a dig at these older cameras or at Nikon. In their day, these were the best digiscoping cameras bar none. Unfortunately, I can say with clear conscience that this is absolutely not true anymore. Nearly any modern p&s will perform better and you will definitely get more images, with much less frustration than with these older rigs. Including the ability to capture birds in flight and even smaller more active passerines which was near impossible with the slower early digiscoping cameras.   With all of that in mind, to simply get started in digiscoping if you want to go ahead and invest in the most cost effective system you can and get one of these very affordable universal designs with the three set screws. I'd certainly support this for anyone, to test the waters and see if you like digiscoping. Unfortunately, I've run into far too many who have not had good results and quit out of frustration. As such I offer the advice above and add the caveat that with a system that is far from ideal, you need to be proud of the results you get but not want to quit due to the limitations of an older or less than ideal system understanding your results can only get better by upgrading and with more practice.   Best,   Jeff Bouton Leica Sport Optics jbouton2 AT earthlink.net --- On Mon, 11/2/09, Len Blumin wrote: From: Len Blumin Subject: Re: [digiscopingbirds] Nikon Coolpix 995 To: digiscopingbirds AT yahoogroups.com Date: Monday, November 2, 2009, 8:17 PM   Bill-   The adapter looks like the type that was offered by EagleEye OpticZooms. There website was: www.eagleeyeuk. com. I used one with my Nikon 4500, which I believe as the same 28mm threads as the 995. The good thing about their "DigiMount Adapter", was that you could order it with the appropriate threads to fit the lens threads of various specific cameras, as well as a padded sleeve sized to fit your particular scope. The "not-so-good" feature was that is took a bit of fiddling to mount the adapter to the eyepiece when you wanted to take a shot, as it requires tightening 3 (or 4) set screws, which in turn compressed the "split ring" of the padded sleeve so as to firmly grip the eyepiece. I'd be happy to sell you the one I have, but the sleeve is sized to fit the older Swarovski 20-60 zoom, which is likely different from the Leica.   Cheers, Len Blumin On Mon, Nov 2, 2009 at 2:18 PM, gator1606 wrote:   I have a scope and the Nikon Coolpix 995 shown on the intro page. Does anyone know where I can get an adapter like the one in the photo. Thanks Bill Papet -- Cheers, Len Blumin, Mill Valley, California len.blumin AT gmail. com Swaro 80 HD, 30X, DCA, CoolPix 8400 http://www.flickriv er.com/photos/ lenblumin/ sets/72157614994 688364/ Subject: Re: Nikon Coolpix 995 From: Len Blumin <Len.blumin AT gmail.com> Date: Mon, 2 Nov 2009 17:17:36 -0800 Bill- The adapter looks like the type that was offered by EagleEye OpticZooms. There website was: www.eagleeyeuk.com. I used one with my Nikon 4500, which I believe as the same 28mm threads as the 995. The good thing about their "DigiMount Adapter", was that you could order it with the appropriate threads to fit the lens threads of various specific cameras, as well as a padded sleeve sized to fit your particular scope. The "not-so-good" feature was that is took a bit of fiddling to mount the adapter to the eyepiece when you wanted to take a shot, as it requires tightening 3 (or 4) set screws, which in turn compressed the "split ring" of the padded sleeve so as to firmly grip the eyepiece. I'd be happy to sell you the one I have, but the sleeve is sized to fit the older Swarovski 20-60 zoom, which is likely different from the Leica. Cheers, Len Blumin On Mon, Nov 2, 2009 at 2:18 PM, gator1606 wrote: > > > I have a scope and the Nikon Coolpix 995 shown on the intro page. Does > anyone know where I can get an adapter like the one in the photo. Thanks > Bill Papet > > > -- Cheers, Len Blumin, Mill Valley, California len.blumin AT gmail.com Swaro 80 HD, 30X, DCA, CoolPix 8400 http://www.flickriver.com/photos/lenblumin/sets/72157614994688364/ Subject: Nikon Coolpix 995 From: "gator1606" <gator1606 AT yahoo.com> Date: Mon, 02 Nov 2009 22:18:45 -0000 I have a scope and the Nikon Coolpix 995 shown on the intro page. Does anyone know where I can get an adapter like the one in the photo. Thanks Bill Papet Subject: Re: Zeiss Digiscoping Tip of the Week From: Stephen Ingraham <lightshedder AT gmail.com> Date: Sat, 31 Oct 2009 16:09:11 -0400 I think...not sure...he means the link to my tip??? Might be hidden if you are using gmail. On Sat, Oct 31, 2009 at 3:28 PM, Don Morgan wrote: > > > Darned if I see any "blue link below" that makes any sense to this > conversation. > Don Morgan > > On Fri, Oct 30, 2009 at 6:38 PM, Gerry wrote: > >> >> >> Sweetest one-of-all, please click on the blue link below. :-) >> >> OJ, Gerry >> >> >> Stephen Ingraham wrote: >> >> >> >> Mind your back (ground) >> http://zeisssports.wordpress.com/2009/10/30/digiscoping-tip-of-the-week-1030/ >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> -- >> Steve Ingraham >> lightshedder: www.lightshedder.com >> >> >> Point and Shoot Landscape: >> Pic of the Day >> Cloudy Days and Netbook Nights: cdnn.wordpress.com >> >> >> >> > > > > -- Steve Ingraham lightshedder: www.lightshedder.com Point and Shoot Landscape: Pic of the Day Cloudy Days and Netbook Nights: cdnn.wordpress.com Subject: Re: Zeiss Digiscoping Tip of the Week From: Don Morgan <mntncougar AT gmail.com> Date: Sat, 31 Oct 2009 15:28:52 -0400 Darned if I see any "blue link below" that makes any sense to this conversation. Don Morgan On Fri, Oct 30, 2009 at 6:38 PM, Gerry wrote: > > > Sweetest one-of-all, please click on the blue link below. :-) > > OJ, Gerry > > > Stephen Ingraham wrote: > > > > Mind your back (ground) > http://zeisssports.wordpress.com/2009/10/30/digiscoping-tip-of-the-week-1030/ > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > -- > Steve Ingraham > lightshedder: www.lightshedder.com > > > Point and Shoot Landscape: > Pic of the Day > Cloudy Days and Netbook Nights: cdnn.wordpress.com > > > > > Subject: Canon SD780IS ? From: Stephen Ingraham <lightshedder AT gmail.com> Date: Sat, 31 Oct 2009 06:56:24 -0400 Has anyone out there tried this camera, Canon SD780IS, for digiscoping? I am looking for a P&S that does HD video as well. -- Steve Ingraham lightshedder: www.lightshedder.com Point and Shoot Landscape: Pic of the Day Cloudy Days and Netbook Nights: cdnn.wordpress.com