New digital camera advice please.

[senatore]

I hope to upgrade my digital camera soon and would like to use it to take photos through my scope without using an adapter.

Do any of you do this.What camera do you use?

In a previous thread I was advised to go for a Kyocera camera but as these are no longer produced I am a little wary of this.What are the critera must be applied to a camera that is to be used in this way ie. no zoom facility ? small sized lens ?

Any advice would be appreciated as I do not want to make a mistake.

MAX>

[rka]

Hi,

Even if you don't use an adaptor, you should at least make a lens guide (e.g. bottlecap of a spice bottle with a hole in the middle) to allow for rapid alignment of the camera lens with scope eyepiece.

Digital cameras these days go out of production quite rapidly and I wouldn't be too worried about buying a camera no longer manufactured once service is available. Ideally, you want a camera with the following attributes:

Small Objective Lens
3x zoom
Fast autofocus
If available, shutter priority, aperture priority or manual settings
EV Comp adjustment
Standard batteries (AA NiMh)
Good LCD

Given that you will be handholding the camera, it is critical that the lens can easily fit into any lens guide you may make. Some of the new small cameras with 3x zooms that are internal (i.e. do not extend from the camera body) have no ring or other means on the camera body to allow for easy alignment of lens with guide.

Also, if handholding alone, using a camera with zoom lens that extends from the body can be a bit of a challenge.

The Nikon CP9xx or CP4500 series is still a good option since the 28mm ring allows for easy alignment. Unfortunately, these are now several years old, hard to come by and expensive to repair.

The Kyocera/Contax are good also but the 28mm ring is a separate plastic option. Many believe that these cameras perform consistently better than the Nikons and the newer technology shows in terms of performance.

I personally use the Pentax 43WR since it has a shallow ring around the lens that allows for alignment. However it lacks aperture and shutter priority features and required good light to get sharp pictures. On the plus side, it is water resistant and takes standard batteries.

If I had to buy a new camera now, it would be the Canon A95 mainly due to decent optics, decent price and standard batteries. However, due to the extending zoom lens, a digiscoping adapter may be required for adequate results.

[Andy Bright]

I hope to upgrade my digital camera soon and would like to use it to take photos through my scope without using an adapter.

Do any of you do this.What camera do you use?

In a previous thread I was advised to go for a Kyocera camera but as these are no longer produced I am a little wary of this.What are the critera must be applied to a camera that is to be used in this way ie. no zoom facility ? small sized lens ?

Any advice would be appreciated as I do not want to make a mistake.

MAX>
Hi Max, personally I would look for a camera with an internal focusing mechanism for handholding, you can then largely forget about any camera lens - eyepiece collisions... though with a lens thread adapter attached to some digital cameras (Canon 'A' series), the lens will not hit the eyepiece when zooming or focusing.
For handheld I prefer the smallest camera possible and with a very high rate of shooting... I know, this is all still leading up to Contax/Kyocera ;) Previously I had always had poor results handholding the traditional Nikons but using the Contax/Kyocera, the results seemed so much better... mainly due to the rapid shooting rate that generally picks up one sharp shot in a burst.

Maybe the Canon 'A' users can comment on their handheld experiences.

cheers,
Andy

[Keith Reeder]

I've used my Canon A95 a fair bit (eg http://www.birdforum.net/attachment.php?attachmentid=15797) without any real problems I can blame on the camera. This image could be a lot better, but I over-processed it to buggery on my PC because of a very dark monitor.

Issues like alignment and camera shake can happen no matter what you use.

It is a very capable camera (and it has a very usable "burst mode", albeit not quite as fast as that on the Contax/Kyocera items), but in truth it's a rare user that can consistently obtain really good hand-held digiscoping shots, regardless of camera - God knows, I can't...

[alan_rymer]

Whatever camera you end up getting ( I use both SL400r & A95 handheld ), don't be tempted to use maximum optical zoom, you'll invariably be disappointed with the end results. If you do submit to temptation, always take some at half maximum zoom!.

[senatore]

Thank you all for your advice.You have given me much to think about.

MAX.

[senatore]

Hi,

Even if you don't use an adaptor, you should at least make a lens guide (e.g. bottlecap of a spice bottle with a hole in the middle) to allow for rapid alignment of the camera lens with scope eyepiece.

Digital cameras these days go out of production quite rapidly and I wouldn't be too worried about buying a camera no longer manufactured once service is available. Ideally, you want a camera with the following attributes:

Small Objective Lens
3x zoom
Fast autofocus
If available, shutter priority, aperture priority or manual settings
EV Comp adjustment
Standard batteries (AA NiMh)
Good LCD

Given that you will be handholding the camera, it is critical that the lens can easily fit into any lens guide you may make. Some of the new small cameras with 3x zooms that are internal (i.e. do not extend from the camera body) have no ring or other means on the camera body to allow for easy alignment of lens with guide.

Also, if handholding alone, using a camera with zoom lens that extends from the body can be a bit of a challenge.

The Nikon CP9xx or CP4500 series is still a good option since the 28mm ring allows for easy alignment. Unfortunately, these are now several years old, hard to come by and expensive to repair.

The Kyocera/Contax are good also but the 28mm ring is a separate plastic option. Many believe that these cameras perform consistently better than the Nikons and the newer technology shows in terms of performance.

I personally use the Pentax 43WR since it has a shallow ring around the lens that allows for alignment. However it lacks aperture and shutter priority features and required good light to get sharp pictures. On the plus side, it is water resistant and takes standard batteries.

If I had to buy a new camera now, it would be the Canon A95 mainly due to decent optics, decent price and standard batteries. However, due to the extending zoom lens, a digiscoping adapter may be required for adequate results.
Hi rka,
I did not understand your reference to a lens guide.Could you explain please.
MAX

[Keith Reeder]

A few folk have improved their chances by knocking together a home-made alignment guide, so that the camera and EP lenses are where they need to be more quickly and accurately. I tried, but couldn't find anything suitable for the baked bean tin that is the Zeiss zoom EP!

So for example, something like a plastic 35mm film canister might be just the thing to fit inside the eyecup of the EP, aligning camera and scope in a fraction of the time it might otherwise take, and - more importantly - keeping things in place while you take the shot.

I believe that Alan up the page there is the "expert" in such DIY matters..!

;)

[rka]

I took the cap from a black pepper dispenser and made a hole in the centre of the cap marginally larger than the diameter of the metal ring that goes around the lens of my camera.

I then folded back the rubber part of the eyecup on my scope and fit the hollowed out black pepper bottle cap on the eyepiece. In my case, the fit of the cap o the folded back rubber of the eyepiece is perfect.

When ready to take a picture, I focus the scope and then insert the lens of my camera into the hole in the cap. The alignment is perfect.

[alan_rymer]

Max
You need something to help you get the camera lense in the ideal position in the scope eyepiece without the lenses touching and causing damage. With a camera with an extending lense, you need something that fits fairly snugly around the outside of the the camera lens, cut down to the correct length, with a hole in the bottom so the the camera can "see" through to the scope eyepiece. As Keith has said, a 35mm film canister fits my A95 like a glove, I then wrapped insulating tape around the outside of the canister until it fits snugly into the eyepice. Its bad enough focusing and trying to keep still without having to contend with keeping to camera centred.
A search around the kitchen cupboards or DIY stores should turn up something that will fit the bill!.

[Skean]

Take a look at the Nikon Coolpix 7900. I have just looked at the specs and it may a good camera for digiscoping. I am excited by the 7.1MP!

[senatore]

Thanks again everone for the advice.I think I am beginning to understand now.

MAX.