Thinking about digiscoping

[PhilW]

Hi all

I'm looking for advice. After recently getting back into serious birding again (now the family are a bit more independent) I' looking for advice on digiscoping.

I recently purchaes a second hand Swarovski ATS 80HD and have an Olympus C-3000 digital camera (3.3 Megapixel & 3 x zoom).

Is it possible to use this camera with my 'scope. I read a thread recently whre some one was asking the question about the use of camera's with extending lense but can't seem to find it!

Can anyone offer help?
B (: B (:

[digi-birder]

Phil,

On behalf of all the Moderators and Admin, let me welcome you to Bird Forum.

On the subject of your camera's suitablity for digiscoping - as it has an external zoom, it is impossible to attach it to your scope with the widely available adapters made primarily for the Nikon cameras. However, other than hand-holding it, you can get a lens thread adapter for that particular camera and fit it to your scope using a different method.

If you take a look at the following thread (http://www.birdforum.net/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=6128) you will see how I have set up my Canon G3 with a home-made adapter. You should be able to do something like this with your camera using the Olympus thread adapter.

[IanF]

Hi Phil,

I used to have a C2000Z which was of similar design to your C3000Z. Olympus do a CLA1 adapter also referred to as 'lens armour'. Other brands are available and sometimes a lot cheaper, but they all do the same job. You just need an adapter then to connect the camera to the scope. My CLA1 had a 46 mm thread. The C2000 had a fairly large lens on it which used to give a good bit of vignetting with the scope - that would be my only reservation about using the C3000Z. With more megapixels it should give better results and you can always use the zoom to reduce/remove vigneting. Obviously a scope with a wider eyepiece would be better - which from what I've seen, the Swarovski have. I'd say go for it !

As for digiscoping adapter, for trials you could hand hold the camera to the scope. Plenty of people still do and get excellent results - best on a bright sunny day. Else look at the threads as Diane says. I use a home made one too or else if getting good results, go for a commercial one such as the LCE.

[PhilW]

Di / Ian

Many thanks for your replies. I'll certainly try Di's solution first before spending to much money on a custom adaptor.

I've seen a number of people hand-holding their cameras against their scopes but the results are very hit & miss.

I'll let you know how I get on.

Thanks again.

[Alastair Rae]

I've had reasonable results hand held (CP 995 + Swaro 65). To be honest, I can't be bothered with fiddling around with adapters, cable release etc. I don't go out to digiscope but I always carry the camera when I go birding.