My Digiscoping Gear (STS80HD scope + 8400 camera) (1 Viewer)

U

uvw

Active member

• Jul 6, 2009

• #1

My Digiscoping Gear o

- STS80HD scope + 30X eyepiece + DCA (Digital Camera Adaptor)
- 8400 camera
- 501 tripod head
- 055 tripod
- red dot sight

To connect them together, three parts have been DIYed.

1. A long balance rail to connect the scope to the tripod head.
2. An angle plate to connect the red dot scope to the balance rail.
3. A adaptor to connect the camera to the DCA.

On the other hand, I bought a shutter release bracket for the 8400 camera.
I do have an electronic remote control.
But I like the half press focusing function of the mechanical one.

 

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U

uvw

Active member

• Jul 6, 2009

• #2

As I like to put the gear over my shoulder and fool around in the countryside,
I want these parts to be light and sturdy.
And so, I tried to avoid the adjustable parts as possible.

- Long balance rail
It is made out of a 10mm x 50mm x 320mm solid aluminium bar.
It is in fact an elongated version of the quick release plate on the 501 tripod head.

 

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U

uvw

Active member

• Jul 6, 2009

• #3

- Angle plate
It is made out of a 3mm aluminium plate.

 

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U

uvw

Active member

• Jul 6, 2009

• #4

- Long balance rail + Angle plate

 

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U

uvw

Active member

• Jul 6, 2009

• #5

Three pieces of rubber have been put on the balance rail.
The aim is to reduce the vibration in between the balance rail and the scope.
And here the red dot sight has been mounted on the angle plate.

 

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U

uvw

Active member

• Jul 6, 2009

• #6

- Long balance rail + Angle plate + STS80HD + red dot sight

 

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U

uvw

Active member

• Jul 6, 2009

• #7

- Adaptor
It is made out of a PVC tube + a stepping ring + a adaptor ring of the 8400 camera。

The adaptor ring I bought for the 8400 camera can be connected to the DCA directly. But the inside diameter of it is so small that I have to remove the rubber ring from the 30X eyepiece. As I want to keep the rubber ring on the eyepiece for bird watching, I made my own adaptor with bigger inside diameter.

 

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Last edited: Jul 7, 2009

U

uvw

Active member

• Jul 6, 2009

• #8

And finally, some birds taken by this gear.

 

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Jason Bugay Reyes

Well-known member

• Jul 6, 2009

• #9

Excellent shots of the Yellow Bittern !

Thanks for the DIY part of the red dot sighter. When I get my straight scope, I will do like this too :king:

 

N

Neil

Well-known member

• Jul 14, 2009

• #10

Very nice setup. The new 25-50x zoom eyepiece works well with the 8400.
Neil.

 

U

uvw

Active member

• Jul 14, 2009

• #11

Neil said:

Very nice setup. The new 25-50x zoom eyepiece works well with the 8400.
Neil.

Click to expand...

Thanks Neil.
And after went through your posts for the G1, I am planning to get a G1 in the second hand market.
The speed of the 8400 is just too slow.
Here a peacock in the shadow. Only 1/4 sec shutter speed even in a fine weather.

 

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W

wings

Well-known member

• Jul 16, 2009

• #12

uvw, those photos, especially that of the peacock and bittern (2nd one) blows my mind! And thanks for posting the very nice step-by-step construction of your setup. I have a question on the red dot sight. I meant to get one but am still not sure as to how it helps tracking (not focusing). Since I am not talented enough to fabricate all those angles and rails, can I just use velcro straps to attach the red dot to the scope? Does it have to be perfectly parallel to the barrel of the scope?

 

U

uvw

Active member

• Jul 16, 2009

• #13

wings said:

uvw, those photos, especially that of the peacock and bittern (2nd one) blows my mind! And thanks for posting the very nice step-by-step construction of your setup. I have a question on the red dot sight. I meant to get one but am still not sure as to how it helps tracking (not focusing). Since I am not talented enough to fabricate all those angles and rails, can I just use velcro straps to attach the red dot to the scope? Does it have to be perfectly parallel to the barrel of the scope?

Click to expand...

Thx Wings.

Red dot sight is basically a laser pointer plus a piece of glass.
The laser pointer casts a laser beam to the glass.
A red dot is thus formed on the glass surface.
And this red dot is used as an reference to align the scope.

Step to set up the red dot sight :
1. Locate an object (may be a bird) at the center of the scope.
2. Adjust the red dot of the red dot sight,
so that the red dot is at the center of the object.
3. And that's it. Next time when you locate a bird by the red dot,
the bird will be at the center of the scope.

BTW, if you mount the red dot sight on the scope permanently,
it is not necessary to redo the set up when you use the scope next time.

I saw in the internet that someone uses velcro straps to attach the red dot sight to the scope. Look like it also works.

And it is not necessary to be perfectly parallel to the barrel of the scope. The red dot is adjustable.

As the red dot sight gets bigger view angle (no lens basically),
it is more easy to locate the birds.
For an experienced bird watcher, may be it is not necessary to have a red dot sight, but it is really helpful for me.

 

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