Specs to look for when shopping for digital camera?

[jdlang]

In shopping for a camera, how do I know what will work and what won't, right off the bat. I know a large diameter lens to a small diameter eyepiece opening is a big clue. And I hear some people say that xx style of a brand won't work or xx style of a brand will work. Do you just know that from trying cameras or do you have specs you go by?(mm of lens?)

I just want to be be more efficient in time when trying cameras with my scope in a store? Most of the sales people are clueless and have never heard of digiscoping and aren't very helpful.

I have gotten LOTS of info from all your posts and have spent hours on this forum over the last months, so thank you all for such a wonderful job you do to help us newer digiscopers. |8)|
JD

[postcardcv]

the rule of thumb is that you need a 3x optical zoom (I've tried dozens of cameras with 3x optical zooms and all have worked fine for digiscoping) or sometimes a 4x is ok. Other than that I'd say just look for a camera that feels right to you.

A large, good quality screen is also a big help as you do all your focusing on the screen. A good quality lens is also a must, most proper camera brands are fine.

[jdlang]

the rule of thumb is that you need a 3x optical zoom (I've tried dozens of cameras with 3x optical zooms and all have worked fine for digiscoping) or sometimes a 4x is ok. Other than that I'd say just look for a camera that feels right to you.

A large, good quality screen is also a big help as you do all your focusing on the screen. A good quality lens is also a must, most proper camera brands are fine.

Thanks for the response, Postcard CV. I've tried some cameras in stores that I believe were only a 3x that didn't work in regards to lots of vignetting. I can't remember right off which ones they were. And some people say the "a" line or the "sd" line doesn't work (again, without looking at the forum specifics, I don't remember which styles).

Hence my question was if there are certain specs such as millimeters of the 3x zoom or focal length that I need to be aware of. Or if digiscopers just know which cameras work by trying myriads of cameras out at stores for a hit and miss, I guess that's what I'll have to do. Any other comments? JD

[postcardcv]

Thanks for the response, Postcard CV. I've tried some cameras in stores that I believe were only a 3x that didn't work in regards to lots of vignetting. I can't remember right off which ones they were. And some people say the "a" line or the "sd" line doesn't work (again, without looking at the forum specifics, I don't remember which styles).

Hence my question was if there are certain specs such as millimeters of the 3x zoom or focal length that I need to be aware of. Or if digiscopers just know which cameras work by trying myriads of cameras out at stores for a hit and miss, I guess that's what I'll have to do. Any other comments? JD

To be honest I'm not sure... like I say I have tried very many different cameras for digiscoping and have yet to test one with a 3x optical zoom that didn't work fine (you'll almost certainly need to use soem camera zoom to remove vingetting, though this is also affected by the eyepiece you use). A compact camera with a 3x zoom in about the 35-105mm range should work fine.

[Neil]

You should look at the way the lens behaves when you zoom it from wide to tele. Ideally you are looking at a lens that doesn't move too much (2.5 - 3 x zoom ) and doesn't move away from the scope eyepiece(into the camera) as you zoom. Then you should hold it up to the scope eyepiece and zoom from wide to tele to see what happens to vignetting. Preferably it should disappear by the time you are 1/3 into the zoom. Hopes this helps, Neil.

[jdlang]

You should look at the way the lens behaves when you zoom it from wide to tele. Ideally you are looking at a lens that doesn't move too much (2.5 - 3 x zoom ) and doesn't move away from the scope eyepiece(into the camera) as you zoom. Then you should hold it up to the scope eyepiece and zoom from wide to tele to see what happens to vignetting. Preferably it should disappear by the time you are 1/3 into the zoom. Hopes this helps, Neil.

Thanks for responding Neil. I'll try that and see differences. Good hints!
JD

[scampo]

The Fuji F30 offers a lot of advantages, most especially its unique ability to work in far lower light levels than other digital cameras. It also has the advantage of switching on almost instantaneously with ultra rapid precise focus and no discernible shutter delay.