Help Me Find Birds In My Viewfinder

[Lawts]

Does anyone have any tips for helping to find birds in the viewfinder when digiscoping. Often if it's a ploughed field or on the sea, or a lake and there are no obvious features, I can be ages trying to find the bird, only for it to have moved by the time I might have been in the right place - e.g. where a duck keeps diving. I seem to totally misjudge distance.

I find in desperation I ditch my bracket, use the scope as I would when just looking through it, which always seems more successful for some reason, and then use the camera hand held with still usually an unsatisfactory outcome.

At the same time I'm always amazed at how the big lens guys seem to lock on to a bird immediately, whereas I'm still searching round with my scope.

Thanks.

[glynnsmith]

Have you tried a foldaway bracket? I have one in the post...as soon as I get to try it I'll let you know how it works for me.

Some scopes come with a 'sighting ' tube attached which aids in aiming the scope... it would be fairly easy to fabricate one if you have the skills.... it would need to have some adjustment. Spot something through the scope then adjust the tube to aim at the subject. Once adjusted you would aim through the tube and the scope should be very close to looking at the same point. Nikon think it's a good idea.

Glynn

[John P]

Have a look at this, (http://www.birdforum.net/showthread.php?t=99084&highlight=sighting+device) see if it's any use to you.

[h14nha]

Hi
Are you using a scope with an angled eyepiece ? If so its always tricky to aim accurately.
Try leaving your camera zoomed out until you locate your target bird and then zoom in to eliminate vignetting and focus on your target all in one go.
Have fun practising
Ian

[JGobeil]

You could also use a red dot sight - inexpensive and very helpful.

See this thread:
http://www.birdforum.net/showthread.php?t=107929

[Derry]

as Jules mentioned, you might try a red dot finder,,

I have been using one now for a couple years and it works very well,, the eye relief is non existent and when you know the birds location you just place the red dot on the bird and it will be in the viewfinder,,

takes good alignment on the red dot after attaching to the scope (very easy) and once on target you will know the camera is also on target,,

have included a photo of my scope and red dot finder, a Simons 42mm,,

after using I certainly would never go back to the old way of aligning,,

Derry

[glynnsmith]

Forget my suggestions and check the link posted by John P.....simple is good.

[Lawts]

Thanks for your ideas. Much appreciated.

[JGobeil]

The sight made with a tie wrap is quite innovative but has a serious flaw IMO. How do you store your scope ? You will have to realign the sight each time you put your scope in its case !! However, you can't beat it for price ! Quite clever.

[Lawts]

Have you tried a foldaway bracket? I have one in the post...as soon as I get to try it I'll let you know how it works for me.

Some scopes come with a 'sighting ' tube attached which aids in aiming the scope... it would be fairly easy to fabricate one if you have the skills.... it would need to have some adjustment. Spot something through the scope then adjust the tube to aim at the subject. Once adjusted you would aim through the tube and the scope should be very close to looking at the same point. Nikon think it's a good idea.

Glynn

Glynn is your bracket a universal one? For other reasons I'm thinking of changing to one of these so I can flick between scope and camera.

What was the cost?

Thanks.

[Keith Dickinson]

The sight made with a tie wrap is quite innovative but has a serious flaw IMO. How do you store your scope ? You will have to realign the sight each time you put your scope in its case !! However, you can't beat it for price ! Quite clever.

It takes seconds to check alignment and all that is needed usually is to rotate the cable tie slightly. I have found this method invaluable with my angled scope.

[JGobeil]

It takes seconds to check alignment and all that is needed usually is to rotate the cable tie slightly. I have found this method invaluable with my angled scope.

I tried it with my scope and backpack and not only did I have to rotate the tie wrap but I also had to straighten it. But, like I said, you can't beat it for the price !!!!

It also has other advantages over a red dot sight: IMO it is faster and you don't have to replace batteries when you forget it ON as I often do.

[Keith Dickinson]

Same here Jules, but it only takes a few seconds. Once it gets too twisted etc I take it off and put a new one on.... total cost per cable tie...less than 3 pence. So I'd have to renew it an awful lot of times to find a red spot cheaper...LOL

[JGobeil]

Same here Jules, but it only takes a few seconds. Once it gets too twisted etc I take it off and put a new one on.... total cost per cable tie...less than 3 pence. So I'd have to renew it an awful lot of times to find a red spot cheaper...LOL

I am trying to make a V. 2.0 version of the sight. I want to attach a folding sight to the tie wrap. I'm sure I will find something that will do the job. Anybody has an idea ?