Budget Digiscoping

[pdpbrown]

Hi,
Anyone got recommendations for budget digiscoping cameras? I have a Pentax PF-65EDA scope if that makes any difference. I don't want to spend more than $150 if I can get away with it.
Thanks,
Phil Brown

[mayoayo]

Hi,
Anyone got recommendations for budget digiscoping cameras? I have a Pentax PF-65EDA scope if that makes any difference. I don't want to spend more than $150 if I can get away with it.
Thanks,
Phil Brown
Hi there..i use the same scope,and my camera is a KYOCERA finecam sl400...you can get one on ebay for under/around 100$....i use to have the nikon cp5000 ,but i think the little kyocera is a good choice for digiscoping......take a look at forums here mentioning the camera,and check ebay .....is a nice camera!..really short battery life though :eek!: so you would need an external pack...you can also one find on ebay for 20/30$......

[jekatz]

hi Phil, I use a Sony DSC-W5 on a Zeiss 85, I like the camera and it takes great pictures through the scope. It is now discontinued I believe and originally cost $250-$300, but there may still be a used one for $130 at www.Cameta.com (in the used stuff listing). I have bought from them before and they are a very professional outfit from Amityville, NY.

Just so you understand how much I like this camera, I'll say this: I considered buying the used one myself just so I would have a spare when it eventually crashes, and thus avoid the stress of what to replace it with. I decided to take my chances and hope that there will always be a good camera for the purpose available on the market...

to summaraze the camera, its 5 megapix w/3x zoom and has available screw on adapter tube (30mm with a sony tube or 37mm through a 3rd party). it is built like a brick and sports a zeiss lens, it has no aperture priority (but does have a similar program mode), it has a fully manual option, it has one of the largest LCD screens available (although the same resolution as many smaller screens: 115000 pixels), and it seems to turn on in a jiffy compared to an older nikon I owned. The rechargeable AA batteries they give you with it last and last; I have taken 200 pictures over 5 days on a single charge (I never use the flash but always use the LCD). spares are available at sony's website too, or you can use regular AA's.

I think it works well with any scope that offers at least 16mm of eye relief; i think on my zeiss I am near the lower limit, as the adapter tube is almost touching the eyepiece lens. I have used it on scopes with 20mm eye relief too, it fit just as well there.

for more details look at reviews by yelvertoft (duncan); note that the w1, w5, w7, w12, and w17 cameras are all very similar.

good luck,
Jon