Digiscoping with binoculars

[CliffMartin]

Hello
I have been digiscoping for about 6 months now using a Nikon CP4500 attached to a very inexpensive pair of Pentax UCF 10x binoculars. I am happy with many of the photos I have taken, but sometimes I wish I had more magnification. I would like to upgrade my binoculars. Does anybody have any experience using binoculars for digiscoping(cp9xx,4500)? I would really prefer to purchase half a pair of binoculars. I know that sounds crazy, but do binos ever get broken or have factory defects that would make this possible?

Thanx,
CliffMartin

[jourdaj]

Before I was finally able to purchase my spotting scope I used my binoculars quite a bit for digiscoping. I used a Fuji Finepix 4800 with my Nikon Venturer LX 10X42's. The Fuji's camera lens was a perfect fit for the Nikon eyepieces with the eyecup slightly turned out. Though I would never win any awards w/ this setup, it worked great for getting those memory shots. I was able to photograph a Sharp-shinned Hawk eating a dove in my back yard this winter, and got this photo of a Night Heron earlier this spring.

I'm sorry I cannot reply to your inquiry about 1/2 binocs. I'd invest in a good pair of binoculars and adjust your digiscoping to them (see betterviewdesired.com for their recommendations for binocs in your price range). Good luck!

Jerry

[Rufus]

CliffMartin - Have you tried looking for a monocular? I had one at one time. It is effectively half a binocular, but made to be singular.

[CliffMartin]

Thank you for the feedback.
As far as monoculars go, I haven't had much luck finding any. Perhaps someone knows of a manufacturer of high quality monoculars and could let me know.
How about cutting a pair of binos in two? Would it be possible to rig a focus wheel on both halves? Anyone with a pair of Swaros who wants to be a guinea pig, let me know. I have a hack saw.

[jourdaj]

CliffMartin - you might try the folks at Swarovski directly to see if they would give you a pair to cut in half. I'd ask them myself, but some stupid little restraining order prevents me from doing so.
Good luck!