First pics with Canon A640 and Kowa 884

[Dave B]

These are some of my first attempts at digiscoping using the above-mentioned kit, attached using Kowa DA10 and DA4 adapters.

I am very happy with the sharpness, but have two queries:

1. The colour seems a bit odd on the second pic. I normally don't touch White Balance but wonder if I need to adjust it for d'scoping? Any suggestions?

2. Using AF, I focus on the bird with the scope, and half press the shutter. I then find I have to refocus with the scope. Using manual focus I avoid this problem, but find it very hard to judge sharpness on the LCD screen. Is there any way of tackling this?

Thanks in advance,

Dave

[erniehatt]

Dave nice clear images, the colour change certainly looks as if it could be WB. Most people set it on Auto, generally this is adequate, but it does get it wrong on the odd occasion. Normally I would focus with the scope, hold the shutter halfway then refocus the scope with the button still pressed.Ernie

[Neil]

Dave,
Nice work. Which eyepiece are you using? I'm having the new Kowa 25x LER modified for my Swaro scope at the moment and am looking forward to using it with my A640 and A650.
For focus I usually find the scope needs a tweak after the camera is attached. You could try it a couple of times so that you get the feel of how much to do and then just do it automatically . Get focus with your eye and then just give it a "tweak" more before putting the camera on. I use the Canon MF a lot which gives you the enhanced square in the middle to focus with. This makes it easier and then I switch back to AF and Macro. I also leave the Digital Zoom on so that you can zoom all the way into it and adjust the focus with the full screen and then back the zoom out again. I also do this with my Nikons.
The different look maybe just caused by a different exposure. One image looks about 2/3rds to 1 stop under-exposed.
Hope this helps and I'm looking forward to seeing more from this combo.
Neil.

[Dave B]

Hi Neil

I'm using the 20-60x eyepiece, the pics were taken at 20x. Here's one at 60x zoom.

Thanks for the tips on focusing. I'll have a go and let you see the results.

You may well be right about the under-exposure. I was trying to avoid burning out the whites in the strong morning light.

Thanks for your comments too Ernie. I will play about with the WB and see if it helps.

Dave

Dave,
Nice work. Which eyepiece are you using? I'm having the new Kowa 25x LER modified for my Swaro scope at the moment and am looking forward to using it with my A640 and A650.
For focus I usually find the scope needs a tweak after the camera is attached. You could try it a couple of times so that you get the feel of how much to do and then just do it automatically . Get focus with your eye and then just give it a "tweak" more before putting the camera on. I use the Canon MF a lot which gives you the enhanced square in the middle to focus with. This makes it easier and then I switch back to AF and Macro. I also leave the Digital Zoom on so that you can zoom all the way into it and adjust the focus with the full screen and then back the zoom out again. I also do this with my Nikons.
The different look maybe just caused by a different exposure. One image looks about 2/3rds to 1 stop under-exposed.
Hope this helps and I'm looking forward to seeing more from this combo.
Neil.

[erniehatt]

Dave nothing wrong with the focus or exposure here, well done Ernie

[Paul Jarvis]

Like ernie said, there is absolutly nothing wrong with these. I my self digiscope with the same set up as you except i use the P5100 and love it.

[Dave B]

Like ernie said, there is absolutly nothing wrong with these. I my self digiscope with the same set up as you except i use the P5100 and love it.

Thanks for the positive comments everyone.

Now to some which are less satisfactory. These were taken in overcast light and were not particularly close (hopeless at estimating distances, but say 50-100m??). I had hoped for more feather detail and a lot less noise. To me these are quite soft (they have been cropped quite a bit and resized).

I had hoped that digiscoping would get me decent pictures which are beyond the reach of my DSLR and 400mm lens, but I am disappointed with the quality.

These are some of the very few 'keepers' I got yesterday. I wonder if a Nikon coolpix P5100 or 6000 (or any other camera) would do a better job? Or maybe a different cameraman!

Thanks

Dave

[Cactusdave]

I think light (not enough) and distance (too far for the conditions) are your problems, rather than the camera. Under low light conditions the camera will bump up the iso setting if it is on auto, and up will go the noise. Also it's more difficult to achieve exact focus under such conditions. When the subject is too far away the temptation is to compensate with in camera zoom, and that is not good for picture quality either. Ideally in camera zoom should be barely more than that needed to eliminate vignetting. Btw I don't think the Nordmann's greenshank pic. is half bad. As to the spoon billed, well just seeing one would fulfill a lifetime's ambition! :eek!:

[Neil]

I agree on the subjects. A Nordmanns and Spoonbilled Sandpiper in one day is fantastic. I've been chasing the Spoonbilled Sands in HK for 4 seasons now and haven't got a photo as good as that. The Greenshank photo is not bad and good for the conditions. You can't expect much better at distance in poor light. I had a quick look at it and would say that no other camera would do better at the distance.
Look at the Exif for the greenshank photo and take a note of the zoom and iso.
The distance would be the max where you could expect to get a good image.
Neil