help required, new to digiscoping

[dixy]

simple question i have a canon 450D just need to know what a good scope would be for this camera please???? or if anyone uses this camera for digiscoping what scope are you using???? i am new new to digiscoping and you got it i am clueless:stuck:

[Paul Corfield]

Adam, see my reply to your other post where I listed some links to stuff you would need for your current scope or any other astro type scope should you decide to change it. I use the Canon 450D with a 600mm Skywatcher Pro 80ED astro refractor telescope which is about the best scope around for the price (£235 at the moment from Sherwoods). Sample images below show that the Canon 450D is more than capable of great results.

Paul.

[sweisberg2]

Paul, I recently joined birdforum and have an intereset in digiscoping. I have a Canon 40D. Since you seem to be quite satisified with your Skywatcher, could you tell me how you are securing it to the Canon 450. Also, are you using it as a fixed lens or are you using a magnifying eyepiece.

[Paul Corfield]

Paul, I recently joined birdforum and have an intereset in digiscoping. I have a Canon 40D. Since you seem to be quite satisified with your Skywatcher, could you tell me how you are securing it to the Canon 450. Also, are you using it as a fixed lens or are you using a magnifying eyepiece.

I use a standard Canon T-mount and into that I screw a 2" T-mount scope adapter. This is the bit that mates the camera to the scope. For extra magnification I use a Kenko Pro 300 DG 1.4X teleconverter which is good and for a bit extra I use a DOI HQ7 teleconverter. I've tried pretty much every 7 element 2X teleconverter and the DOI HQ7 is way ahead in term of sharpness at long range. All the 7 element 2X teleconverters I've tried tend to drop off on sharpness after about 20-25m but the DOI HQ7 is good for a 100m and probably more for bigger birds. I tend to work in a range out to 80m. The DOI TC's don't tend to come in EOS mounts so they can be used via an adapter ring or by stripping them down and mounting the lens assembly in something else which is what I've done. The way mine is modified it gives me around 1350mm on the scope or 2160mm if you add in the 1.6X crop factor.

Paul.

[sweisberg2]

Paul, thanks for describing your setup. If I go with a fixed lengths, your setup would be great if all the accessories are available in the US

I don't know if it can be done and still get sharp, true color shots but have been told that I can use a 50 mm lens on the 40d and then with adapter(?) use a scope with an eyepiece (say 20-60x) so I have zooming capabilities through the eyepiece. At least that is what I understand is possible.

Any other thoughts you or anyone out there has, would be greatly appreciated.

[Neil]

Paul, thanks for describing your setup. If I go with a fixed lengths, your setup would be great if all the accessories are available in the US

I don't know if it can be done and still get sharp, true color shots but have been told that I can use a 50 mm lens on the 40d and then with adapter(?) use a scope with an eyepiece (say 20-60x) so I have zooming capabilities through the eyepiece. At least that is what I understand is possible.

Any other thoughts you or anyone out there has, would be greatly appreciated.

Kowa and Swarovski have full range of adapters and eyepieces for digiscoping with their scopes. A 35 or 50 mm lens would do fine with your Canon. A 20-60 zoom will give good results with a 50mm prime lens as they usually have a 52 mm thread which will match with the scope adapter.
Have a look at some of the threads here for more details.
Neil.