Digiscoping

[Neil Rigby]

Digiscoping is a method of obtaining photos using a digital camera through a telescope. Photographs are taken by holding or mounting the camera over the telescope eyepiece, with the camera taking the place of your eye.

Sounds easy, and more than often is with some amazing results being obtained. We've even seen some good results from people using mobile phone cameras!

Here is the place to ask questions and discuss Digiscoping.

[jonven]

Hi Neil,
Being new to the forum i hope i am doing this okay, I am also new to the art of digiscoping so was wondering if you or any of the forum members could give me some advice, i have just purchased a Swarovoski set up which consist of a Swarovoski ATS 80 HD with 20x60 eye peice; to sit this onto the tripod i have purchased the balance rail along with the DCB.

What i was wondering about is the camera, not wanting to use a DSLR because of the weight i was thinking about the Canon IXUS 980 Is which has 14 megapixels and a 3.something zoom; do you know if this camera could be used for digiscoping and have you heard any good feedback from anyone who does use it.

I have tried all over the web on many bird sites but can't even get a reply from some and those that do answer which is very limited have no idea; I have even asked shops that sell the camera if i can take my gear along to try it out but all seem reluctant to let me try it.

Regards
Jonven(Mike)

[bassist]

Do you search for the target with your scope first, then put on your camera?after having fixed your scope/tripod in position!Or do you search for your target with the camera on the scope and use your lcd screen as the eyepiece...?Am i right in saying with zoom scope eyepieces you should not use the zoom?Is digi scoping a more economical way of getting good quality sharp pics ,than buying a higher end lens..?If so why buy a higher end lens......?..........I ask these questions because the photography side of birding is what is really beginning to appeal to me.!Already i am frustrated at the lack of sharpness ,and length of reach of the lens i have recently bought...........!Got loads more questions but these will do for starters......!Found this link will dig into it later...!Peace.!Digiscoping - Digiscope pictures, images, techniques, advice, equipment Very basic questions i know ....but i thought i would put them on this site first ...!

[clydebirder]

Originally Posted by jonven

Hi Neil,
Being new to the forum i hope i am doing this okay, I am also new to the art of digiscoping so was wondering if you or any of the forum members could give me some advice, i have just purchased a Swarovoski set up which consist of a Swarovoski ATS 80 HD with 20x60 eye peice; to sit this onto the tripod i have purchased the balance rail along with the DCB.

What i was wondering about is the camera, not wanting to use a DSLR because of the weight i was thinking about the Canon IXUS 980 Is which has 14 megapixels and a 3.something zoom; do you know if this camera could be used for digiscoping and have you heard any good feedback from anyone who does use it.

I have tried all over the web on many bird sites but can't even get a reply from some and those that do answer which is very limited have no idea; I have even asked shops that sell the camera if i can take my gear along to try it out but all seem reluctant to let me try it.

Regards
Jonven(Mike)

Hi Mike

Most compact digitals can be used for digiscoping, the one major drawback with the IXUS 980 is the external zoom which means the lens has to move in and out, this means that you cant use a fixed adaptor to hold it in place. Camera's with internal zooms are better suited to digiscoping. You can hand hold the camera to the eyepiece but wont give as good results. I don't know anyone who has tried with this camera so I can't really say anymore specifics for that particular camera. I still use my trusty Nikon Coolpix 995 for digiscoping

cheers, John

[clydebirder]

Originally Posted by bassist

Do you search for the target with your scope first, then put on your camera?after having fixed your scope/tripod in position!Or do you search for your target with the camera on the scope and use your lcd screen as the eyepiece...?Am i right in saying with zoom scope eyepieces you should not use the zoom?Is digi scoping a more economical way of getting good quality sharp pics ,than buying a higher end lens..?If so why buy a higher end lens......?..........I ask these questions because the photography side of birding is what is really beginning to appeal to me.!Already i am frustrated at the lack of sharpness ,and length of reach of the lens i have recently bought...........!Got loads more questions but these will do for starters......!Found this link will dig into it later...!Peace.!Digiscoping - Digiscope pictures, images, techniques, advice, equipment Very basic questions i know ....but i thought i would put them on this site first ...!

You can do either depending on your set up, with my coolpx 995 I use the screen but have an adaptor that allows you to use the screen like an eyepiece so usualy find the bird with the camera on the scope.

With zoom eyepieces it's better not to use the zoom as it degrades the quality of the images the higher you zoom the worse it gets.

Usually lack of sharpness is down to camera shake due to camera and lens not being supported properly, you realy have to keep an eye on shutter speeds when hand holding a DSLR, as for lens reach, no matter what lens/scope you use you will always want more power, it's better to get to grips with the equipment you have and use it within it's capabilities (as photographers we sometimes ask the impossible from our equipment).

Higher end lenses will definately give better results than digiscoping, it really depends what you want from your photography. I mainly use digiscoping to get a record shot of scarce and rare birds that are out of range of my DSLR kit, if the birds are within the capabilities of my DSLR then that would definately be the weapon of choice.

hope this answers some of your questions, with photography there are usualy more questions than answers though

cheers, John

[Twitcheruth]

I've tried digiscoping with my compact camera and have had a few good results........more bad ones tho but it's worth persevering.
I just hold the camera up to the scope eyepiece and click!! It's no good for moving birds tho!!
Below are a few of my digiscoped efforts!

[Twitcheruth]

And here's a phone-scoped image......I forgot my camera on the day we saw a Woodchat Shrike!!!!!!
An awful pic but i'll not forget the camera again!!!!! lol!

[astafjevs]

Originally Posted by Twitcheruth

And here's a phone-scoped image......I forgot my camera on the day we saw a Woodchat Shrike!!!!!!
An awful pic but i'll not forget the camera again!!!!! lol!

Is he a baby?

It's 1,000,000,000 times better than the pic I got of mine in Lundy. which is just an orange blur on a distant to fence post. It wouldn't be so bad but the picture makes it look like I was miles away and I was about 20 yards away!

[Twitcheruth]

Originally Posted by astafjevs

Is he a baby?
It's 1,000,000,000 times better than the pic I got of mine in Lundy. which is just an orange blur on a distant to fence post. It wouldn't be so bad but the picture makes it look like I was miles away and I was about 20 yards away!

No it's a female Stuart......the male is brighter isn't he? Was yours a male?
I was about 20 yards away from this one......on top of the Great Orme,Llandudno,Wales..........oh for a lottery win so I can buy a decent camera!

[astafjevs]

Originally Posted by Twitcheruth

No it's a female Stuart......the male is brighter isn't he? Was yours a male?
I was about 20 yards away from this one......on top of the Great Orme,Llandudno,Wales..........oh for a lottery win so I can buy a decent camera!

Must've been. He looked black and white at first but when we got 'around him' so the sun was behind us rather than behind him his head glowed like a copper beacon!