Starting from scratch.

[sjprg]

After dealing with the prices of Canon, and Sigma long lens, I'm looking for a more inexpensive solution. I would think that $1500.00 to $2,000.00 USD should buy me a perty decent spotting scope. I keeping reading the forum but no one seems to have put together a top of the line setup. I have two choices of cameras available, niether of which seem to be the cameras of choice. Number 1 which could be dedicated to digiscoping is my Minolta 7i, and could be locked on the scope permentaly. Number two option is an adapter to mount a Canon 10D.

So basicily I'm asking for the experienced birders here to recomend a spotting scope and adapters, etc. in the $1500.00 to $2500.00 USD range.
Thanks in advance
Paul

[Jay Turberville]

A number of people have given digiscoping with a DSLR a try and have had some preliminary success. However, there are a few fundamental problems with doing this.

Because of the larger CCD in a DSLR, the effective f-number when magnifications in the digiscoping range are encountered is usually fairly high. F11 to f22 would be the typical range for an 80mm scope getting 1500-3000mm equivalency. This leads to a dim view through the optical finder and slower shutter speeds unless you start pumping up the ISO. And its a shame to pump up the ISO and spoil one of the big advantages of using a DSLR, its lower level of CCD noise. Add to this the issue of mirror slap and while workable, this is hardly an optimal route. Digicams don't have the mirror, have smaller CCDs and hence end up with smaller (faster) f-numbers (f4 to f8 being typical for the 1500-3000mm range), and even when relatively small f-numbers are used, have the advantage of an electronically amplified LCD viewing screen.

I'm not aware of any "tried and true" route to success. But I have heard Laurence Poh report good success using eyepiece projection (scope uses an eyepiece but no camera lens is used). And he reported better sharpness than with the scope used alone as a lens.

The Minolta 7i is also not optimal due to its lens requiring atypically long eye relief from the scope eyepiece. It can be made to work, but it would hardly qualify as a "top of the line" solution.

The concensus opinion is that the Nikon CP4500 is the best camera to use. The CP990 might be as good or better depending on who you listen to, but it can only be obtained second hand ( the CP4500 is getting tough to find as well). I use a CP5000 which has advantages and disadvantages when compared to the CP4500 but it is certainly not the "standard" and is also difficult to locate.

If you want a "top of the line" setup, I suggest starting with the generally preferred camera. Then you can get everyone's opinion about the best scope. Although you could hardly go wrong with any of the top brand scopes with the better (HD, ED etc.) glass.

[Dave B Smith]

I'm not a digiscoper but I have a scope I think is great. I have the Nikon Fieldscope III 60 ED and can't imagine it getting much better. I do have a camera adapter for it and use it with my Nikon F5 and get good results but it doesn't have the flexibility of a regular camera lens.

For digiscoping, I would go up to the new Nikon Fieldscope III 80 ED. It retails at about 1100 USD plus eyepiece.

[Geoff Brown]

SJPRG
For a lot less dollars also look at the very compact Nikon spottingscope RAII + eyepiece available in the UK for around £300. For the money it is a great scope and of course official Nikon adaptors are readily available to mount the Coolpix 4500, THE digiscoping camera of the moment. If you go the Canon 10D route + scope it will be a lot bulkier and weigh far more than my above suggestions which is a considerably more manageable setup. Hope these comments helps a little.

[GR Triever]

I'm in the minority here, but I highly recommend the Zeiss Diascope 85T*FL. The price difference between it and the Leica or Swarovski scopes makes it, for my money, the best scope on the market.

As far as adapters go, a $3.00 piece of PVC end-cap and an $8.00 step ring to fit your camera make a fine DIY adapter.

Regards,

GR