Plagued By Vibration problems

[DODGER]

After a Opticrom & Velbon starter kit I developed into a Leica APO 77 and Manfrotto 128 but am plagued with vibration problems.
Is it the 20x-60 eyepiece being expected to give too good resolution?
I even weight it down with my rucksack or is this a hinderance?
What am I doing wrong ? I have experimented with all different modes in the field with limited success

[Steve]

Welcome to BF Dodge, I dont know the answers to your post But it wont be long before you get help.

[digi-birder]

Dodger, on behalf of admin and all the moderators, let me wish you a warm welcome to Bird Forum.

As Steve says, you are sure to get an answer pretty soon. Are you talking about digiscoping, or simply viewing through the scope?

[robinm]

Welcome to BirdForum Dodger.

I have a Leica APO 77 and the 20-60 zoom. Are you talking purely about vibration during digiscoping? If so do you have a remote cable release for you camera? What magnification are you using on the zoom? I think the answers to these may help solve your problem.

[Neil]

The cause of vibration is through the tripod/head combination. Most bird watchers like to fully extend the tripod and stand straight. For best results from digiscoping you should drop the tripod to it's lowest level and use the self-time/remote release. With magnifications of between 20 -60 x you would normally need a sturdier tripod than is normally used for bird watching. Do some tests in a windless environment ( I test from my garage shooting out) at various setting of tripod and zoom.
good luck,Neil

[pluvanut]

After a Opticrom & Velbon starter kit I developed into a Leica APO 77 and Manfrotto 128 but am plagued with vibration problems.
Is it the 20x-60 eyepiece being expected to give too good resolution?
I even weight it down with my rucksack or is this a hinderance?
What am I doing wrong ? I have experimented with all different modes in the field with limited success

Hi Dodger,

Take it you are digiscoping at the 20x end, which is demanding enough of the tripod. For higher mags everything is progressively more difficult: slower shutter speeds, all errors magnified etc.
Keep shutter speed up as much as possible and above all, do not extend the tripod centre column, keep it all the way down. Rigidity drops dramatically with even small extension. There is a limit to how much you can improve the basic stiffness of any tripod by loading it.
This problem improved dramatically for me when I bought Gitzo Explorer. Perhaps the bigger Manfotto's etc are as good.
In addition to the good advice given in other replies, there is a good extended article, some of whirch is useful for digiscoping, at:

http://www.birdforum.net/showthread.php?t=6551

also contains links to yet more info

[IanF]

Welcome aboard DODGER,

I don't think the problem is the tripod/head as that is the combo that I use. Two things spring to mind.

Firstly is the scope mounting plate seated firmly in the head? I find that every now and again I have to use the hexagonal key to tighten the nut in the top of the tripod head so that the scope is held firmly.

Secondly are you using a cable release or the self-timer? If you are using your finger on the shutter release button then that is likely where the vibration is coming from.

If you're not already doing so then always go for the widest aperture you can get in order to get the fastest shutter speed you can. I use the tripod at it's normal height and only ever lower it or weigh it down in strong windy conditions.

I hope this helps.