Question: Is Canon Powershot A630 ok for digiscoping?

[xacobo de toro]

Hi!
Does anyone tryed new canon powerhot a 630 for digiscoping?.
I was asking to myself, If it could be possible using it as also powershot a95 is suitable for Digiscoping.
And waht about Fuji Finepix E-900??
Greetings and thanks in advance
xacobo

[Neil]

Xacobo,
There has been a lot of discussion in the Digiscoping Forum on these cameras.The Fuji E900 is good , as is their new F30. The Canon A95 is good but the newer A630/640 lenses are not very suitable for digiscoping as there lenses behave strangely and are a bit long 35 -140 mm (although good cameras for normal use as I've found out).Neil.

[Robert L Jarvis]

I have to disagree with Neil the A630/640 can be used for digiscoping and the results are better than the A95. It comes down to what scope you are using, what adapter and how you set it up, but they can be used, arguably they need a bit more care setting them up.

But also have a little peep in a local shop at a Canon Ixus 900, I think this may be the next camera to have.

[Neil]

Robert, I would be interested in what gives the best results with the Canon A640 as it's a good camera. What equipment are you using with it and how are you setting it up? Neil.

[Robert L Jarvis]

Hi Neil, my son uses a A620 and he does get round the qualms mentioned and as the 630/640 really are identical in this dept, then they too can be sorted. He uses it with an Opticron 80, and an alignment collar which was made specifically but also with the opticron eyepiece the rubber ring can be pulled out as an adapter and fits the extended lens perfectly. Have a look at his gallery under Paul R Jarvis but also look at the gallery for Jourdaj, he uses the 620 with a Zeiss and he gets damn good results. My son suffers from his scope not quite being topnotch. I also think that iusing a swing away adapter whereby you can adjust the X and Y axis would mean that the camera could really be set up just right.

I like my A95, but focussing is slow as is processing, and when you do continuous shooting you cannot see the images but you can with the 620. Having said that I am really curious about the new Canon Ixus SD900 or 900ti. If you go near your friendly camera shop have a look at it but resist buying on impulse, just joking. If I can get to Hong Kong one of these days on a 5 day package, you will have to give the gen on the best places to go in addition to Mai Po.

[xacobo de toro]

Hi!thanks to Neil and Robert
The equipment i am using is Swaro 65 hd, 20-60C and DCA. So with this what do you asses me)?
Thanks in advance.

[iporali]

Have a look at his gallery under Paul R Jarvis but also look at the gallery for Jourdaj, he uses the 620 with a Zeiss and he gets damn good results.
Robert,

I think Neil and I keep talking about different issues than Paul and you when we complain about Canon's 4x zoom & vignetting - and you disagree ;). There is a fair chance that we all are right. One thing Paul and JourdaJ (Jerry) have in common is a "handheld" adapter collar, which allows them to bring the camera closer to the eyepiece than with fixed tube adapters - and thereby getting over most serious vignetting.

If you can find a high-end ED scope with a 30x wide angled eyepiece (Leica Swaro, Zeiss, Kowa, Nikon, Opticron - just pick any) and a Baader adapter, I'd like to suggest you to make a test with your A95 and your son's A620. Adjust the camera according to the instructions and take a series of pics with both cameras over the entire zoom range without readjusting the camera distance. Compare the vignetting.

If you digiscope at high powers the A620 works great, but unfortunately I haven't found a way to get over serious vignetting at close distances and fixed adapters. And that is my preferred digiscoping use. It is perhaps like saying I like a wide angled and you prefer a tele - both can be used to take fine pics, but a tele lens feels uncomfortably narrow for me.

Best regards,

Ilkka


ps. I think your Ixus SD900 suggestion was a good one. IMO the Canon's Ixus series have always been undervalued as digiscoping cameras. All the ones I have tried, have performed very well with "universal" adapters like the Baader bracket.

[Robert L Jarvis]

Thanks Ilkka for the comments and suggestions. Unfortunately we do not know anyone who uses a Baader adapter, we both use alignment collars with our respective cameras so yes that is perhaps why my son has been having less of a problem than you were experiencing. And of course it can be subject to the differing requirements we have in our digiscoping.

Must admit though, my preference is for a swing away adapter and I am waiting on details from SRB as to their new product. Not keen on fixed adapters as i like to "bird" and the hassle of removing the gear to do so and then put it back does not appeal.

As for the Canon Ixus I have not come across anyone using one or seen any end products from it's use. I waiting on my local shop to get one to ahve a real good look and hopefully a little tryout.

Look forward to hearing your views if you come across one.

[Neil]

Robert, I'm interested in the specs of the eyepiece on your son's scope because this would be the determining factor with vignetting. I did some tests again this week using the Scopetronix EZ-Pix 1 universal adapter on the Swarovski 30x and I could'nt find a spot without vignetting. I got the impression that this slowed down the focusing alot as well. When you set up the Fuji F30 on this adapter there is no vignetting at wide zoom and you can zoom to the tele end with no vignetting through the range without moving the camera. Very nice. I'm using the Canon for general photography and like it a lot so I would like to get to the bottom of it's digiscoping issues. Is the picture of the dove in your son's gallery full frame or a crop? Neil.

[stanacko]

Thanks Ilkka for the comments and suggestions. Unfortunately we do not know anyone who uses a Baader adapter, we both use alignment collars with our respective cameras so yes that is perhaps why my son has been having less of a problem than you were experiencing. And of course it can be subject to the differing requirements we have in our digiscoping.

Must admit though, my preference is for a swing away adapter and I am waiting on details from SRB as to their new product. Not keen on fixed adapters as i like to "bird" and the hassle of removing the gear to do so and then put it back does not appeal.

As for the Canon Ixus I have not come across anyone using one or seen any end products from it's use. I waiting on my local shop to get one to ahve a real good look and hopefully a little tryout.

Look forward to hearing your views if you come across one.

Hi Robert,
You asked if anybody was using the baader adapter I,m using it on a TSN 4 which I have had for a number of years, with the Fuji f11.At first I was using the 30x ep untill somebody said I would get better results using the 20xw ep
I then went and bought a used one but to be honest I dont think the results where any better may be worse I have since found out it is the new 20x wide ep I want has it lets in more light. Back to the adapter I have done a little modification to it and now it can be left on the scope and just swings out of way the only downside is you have to switch the camera off so the lens retracks which then enables you to use the scope as normal. See enclosed pictures.Regards.
Stan.

[Robert L Jarvis]

Must say your modification looks brilliant, but what we were discussing was would a swing away adapter or even a fixed one such as the baader help with a more ideal setting up for the Canon A620/640 to sort out the vignetting that seems to come with a 4x zoom more so than cameras with 3x.

I do like your mod though, it seems that you have made a metal plate to join both sections thus giving you the pivot, and is that a jessops remote release on the camera?

Robert

[stanacko]

Must say your modification looks brilliant, but what we were discussing was would a swing away adapter or even a fixed one such as the baader help with a more ideal setting up for the Canon A620/640 to sort out the vignetting that seems to come with a 4x zoom more so than cameras with 3x.

I do like your mod though, it seems that you have made a metal plate to join both sections thus giving you the pivot, and is that a jessops remote release on the camera?

Robert

Hi Robert,
Yes I cut the adapter in half and then used a piece of alloy I think it is about 2inches long and yes it is the jessops remote which I had from the nikon 995 days. Regards.
Stan.