Digibinning

[Dave Smith]

Has any one tried taking digital photos through binoculars ?
When on holiday I have tried but have suffered from too much camera shake. I was wondering whether any of the digiscope adapters would fit on a binocular (or do I mean monocular?). If one did fit would handheld be steady enough? I am thinking about when I'm on holiday without the scope.

Attached is a photo I took on holiday last year through binoculars. I regret it not being clear. This could be another puzzle. What is the bird and what location?

[IanF]

I've experimented with my Leica 8x32's. It's better than nothing but not too good either. It may be better with 10x or 12x even.

[Andy Bright]

I started digibinning about 4 years ago..... I spent ages trying to get a half-decent photo before realising that I had a big kowa scope to do the job far better (I still can't work out why I missed the obvious for so long!)
I have tried with an adapter on my Swaro' EL's but it's a bit wobbly as the area around the bino eyepiece is non-linear.... so a fair bit of vignetting.
I've often wondered about the Swaro' 2x bino booster, as an adapter should fit to this o.k. but would put a bit of strain on the device if not held correctly.
Andy

[ariddle]

I've done it hand held with mediocre results. But be careful if you try it hand held! I scratched the lens on my camera because the it touched the bino eyepiece. Didn't realize it until it was too late. :( But I guess that was OK, because it gave me an excuse to upgrade my camera! :)
Alicia

[Colin]

Dave,
Take a look in the 'Binoculars and other Equipment' forum with a thread entitled 'Digibinning/Digibinoing' Here I have described a way of holding the binnies and the camera steady without tripod etc.

Colin

[Dave Smith]

Thanks all for your replies.

I've had a look at the post you mentioned Colin. Your method may be useful under very particular circumstances and I will give it a try. I really would like something more stable.

The problem of a tapered eyepiece you had Andy may well apply to mine as well. I have Opticron 8 x 42 BGA bins.

I am hoping to go to the Bird Fair at Fishers Green, Lea Valley at the end of next week. Maybe someone will be selling adapters that I can try out.

BTW does anyone want to know the name of my digibin bird?
The location is a bit of a cheat as that bird is an exotic there.
When there I did take a photo of a very rare and endemic bird, the pink pigeon, without aid of scope or bins. I will post it to the gallery in the near future. That should certainly give the location away.

[MikeMules]

Isn't it a Red-whiskered Bulbul?

[Dave Smith]

That's the one. Do you get them in Australia?

[MikeMules]

We do. They were introduced in the nineteenth century, and there are a few small populations in Melbourne, and in urban areas along the eastern seaboard. There are a few pairs in a reserve about 2km from my place.