Canon DSLR with Opticron Photo adapter

[Malcolm Stewart]

Opticron do a small range of Photo adapters which push fit on to their eyepieces, and via a T2 thread, screw to a T2 mount on a (D)SLR. There are times when I'm out without my long birding lenses, but I nearly always have some sort of DSLR with me. I'm wondering whether anyone has experience of them, and just how secure is the push fit, bearing in mind that I might have a 5D mounted on it.

(Yesterday I called in at two well known dealers who both advertise these items, and both were out of stock of the one which would fit my SDL eyepiece, the #41113.)

Many thanks

[hollis_f]

Opticron do a small range of Photo adapters which push fit on to their eyepieces, and via a T2 thread, screw to a T2 mount on a (D)SLR. There are times when I'm out without my long birding lenses, but I nearly always have some sort of DSLR with me. I'm wondering whether anyone has experience of them, and just how secure is the push fit, bearing in mind that I might have a 5D mounted on it.

(Yesterday I called in at two well known dealers who both advertise these items, and both were out of stock of the one which would fit my SDL eyepiece, the #41113.)

Many thanks
Never tried the push-on adaptor (didhn't know there was one). Tried the screw-in type that replaces the eyepiece. Focussing was very difficult (needs an extraordinarily stable tripod). But it's probably easier nowadays with LiveView.

[Chris Galvin]

Malcolm because you have the SDL eyepiece you need the Push-fit Opticron stock code 41113. All the push-fit type adapters do have compression rings that you tighten around the eyepiece and it can be very secure, though I would not advocate that you carry your tripod over your shoulder with the camera attached. I have used the 41113 on an SDL with the new HR80 GA ED with a 1DMKIIN attached. Whilst it will never compete with prime lens it does over a solution and alternative to digiscoping with a P&S compact. Frank is right though you do need a very stable platform, such as the Manfrotto 701 RC2 head. When using mine I used my wimberly.

[Malcolm Stewart]

Chris, many thanks.

That's precisely the information which I wasn't able to get from either of my two dealers on Saturday. What I found somewhat worrying is that both dealers (who I think would like to describe themselves as "professional") seemed to be in some disarray in this area (i.e. Opticron), in that the boxes didn't seem to be labelled, and they didn't seem to have any experience of the items and usage. After some serious rummaging in the warehouse, one adapter was offered to me, but it was without instructions etc., was a loose fit on my eyepiece, and I had no hesitation in not buying it.

I wonder what would have been sent in response to an internet order! Seems as though it will be best to make a trip to Opticron at Luton.

[Chris Galvin]

This is a bit of a specialised area and most dealers would not have the expertise nor the stock of these type of photo adapter. I would suggest that if visiting any dealer for this type of product that you stick with the specialist optics dealers such Focus Optics, Focalpoint, or Infocus. But as you live so close to Luton, then I'm sure that the guys there will be more than happy to help

[Malcolm Stewart]

Hi Chris,
Thanks for the pointers.
I phoned my nearest In Focus outlet, and drew a blank there as my eyepiece is the rarer SDL. They keep the adapter for the HDF eyepiece.

I pass the Coventry area quite frequently, so I'll probably drop in on the people at Focus Optics, if I haven't been to Luton. (The Focalpoint website looks as though it's lost content - busy front page, and no backing.)