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Sony NEX5 for digiscoping (1 Viewer)

I picked up the zoom for my Sony Nex 5 today as the 16/2.8 P lens is
a bit wide for some applications and I was hoping it be ok for
digiscoping.
Unfortunately it is a bit too recessed for digiscoping with a
conventional eyepiece ( 17 - 20 mm of ER ) , even on a Balance Bar,
so I tried it with the Kowa 25x LER eyepiece. Good results from 27
mm ( manageable vignetting) to 48 mm ( no vignetting ). This gives a
range of 675 - 1200 mm with Auto Focus on a Balance Bar. This is a
good range for garden digiscoping. It does seem to be internally
focusing but I haven't tried it with a conventional adapter yet .
I will test it out in the field tomorrow.
Neil

Hong Kong,
China.
Oct 2010
 

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DRodrigues said:
Neil, thank you for the info and experience also with this camera.
It potentially interests me but as I never found a store with one with battery I ask if you can help me with some questions, that might be similar to the new Sony SLT A55. As I'm also interested in using it also in astro-telescopes, as well as with the Nikon FSA-L2, I ask you if this camera work with lens without chip for measuring light - don't know if you have old lens without it or you could test it with the Swaro DSLR adapter.
If it works how easy is to change ISO in the Shutter Priority or Manual Positions?
Also I suppose that the autoISO don't work with these lens, right?
How is your experience with the 7fps option?

Thanks.
Click to expand...
David,
Sorry I missed this question.
I haven't tested with older lenses as I only have a Nikon to Sony adapter and am using Nikon AF lenses ( although only in MF mode ). I'll test the TLS adapter tomorrow.
The 7 fps is fast but you only get one burst before the camera has to process these 7 images. There is no Exposure adjustments during this.
Neil.
 
Neil, have the firmware upgrades made an improvement in the camera's handling for digiscoping?
 
Steve Dudley said:
Hi Neil. The vignetting was far worse than what you experienced. I was really surprised as the 20mm pancake on the Panasonic Gs gave a brilliant image when held up against the Leica 25-50 eyepiece and I expected something similar from the Sony 16mm.
Click to expand...
The 16mm NEX5 combo is a 24mm (35mm eqiv) and the 20mm on 4/3rd's is a 40mm so that is why there is more vignetting using a WA lens compared to a normal 40mm FOV. The NEX 5 has a larger sensor than the Canon 7D DSLR and much larger than the 4/3rd's sensors.
 
Last edited:
RJM said:
Neil, have the firmware upgrades made an improvement in the camera's handling for digiscoping?
Click to expand...

I've upgraded the firmware. It looks like it's mainly about accessing menus faster by programming function buttons. I'll try it out tomorrow.
Neil.
 
I shot with the Nikon 24/2.8D and 35/2.0D lens today on the Sony. Both lenses do a good job.
Neil

Sony NEX-5 plus Nikon 35/2.0D lens and Swarovski STS80HD scope and Sw30x eyepiece and Balance Bar

Hong Kong,
China.
Nov 2010
 

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Glad you're getting great results Neil.

Will be moving to the A55 soon - not sure how it'd deal with 'scoping, but the improved AF should help with the 200-500mm.

Carl
 
I was forced to use iso 1600 today as the light levels dropped after 4.00 pm when the sun went over the hill. This was the time that the robin and the flycatcher decided to come to the water. Even so light levels meant shutter speeds around 1/20th second.
Neil

Sony NEX-5 plus Voigtlander 35/2.5 and Swarovski STS80HD scope and Sw20x eyepiece and UCA adapter

Hong Kong,
China.
Nov 2010
 

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I got the nex-5. Great little camera. tried today using a Rokkor lens (28mm f2.8). ISO 800 1/80 sec. Hopefully will get a bird soon to share. this pic is @f4.
 

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I'm off tomorrow. Planning on taking pics in am. will post some more (also have a rokkor 40mm f2 that gives no vignetting at all with my pentax XW20)
 
ISO 1600, F5.6 1/80sec, using burst mode (have to be carefull or i will fill the card in 5 minutes!!).
Nex-5, Rokkor 28mm f2.8, pentax Xw20, Pentax PF80A.
Uncropped, distance~20 meters.
 

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