Hi John,Hi folks,
Is a “fast” (f/5-6) refractor unsuitable for bird photography because of its shallow depths of focus and field? Does focus peaking or other camera focusing aids mitigate focusing problems with fast scopes?
Thanks, John
Look into the many versions of the Synta scopes, like the Skywatcher 80/600mm doublet. Marketed under many different names. Light, cheap, and sharp, extremely so if you get a really good one. They are usually in the range of 0.92-94 Strehl. Lots of bang for the buck. Just make sure it has Ohara FPL-53 glass in it. If you want to spend more, get a 90/600mm triplet in a carbon tube. Same weight but better optics.
Mine is 0.97-98 Strehl. 1.0 is theoretically perfect.
Hi John,Hi Tord,
Thanks for your comments. I currently use a spotting scope for afocal bird photography (f/21, ~1800mm). I have a 4 inch refractor for visual astronomy, but at 14+ lbs and over 36 inches it is larger than I can handle for birding. I am interested in a lighter, compact scope with 75 to 85 mm aperture. Based on your comments I will probably try to find something in the f/7-8 range.
Thanks, John
John,Thanks everyone for the comments and suggestions. Tord, I just last week started using an Olympus Air/iPhone 6 with my spotting scope. I will probably try this with whatever scope I purchase.
John
John,
Then you would be using an afocal system, which is something completely different from what we are discussing in this section of the forum - prime focusing, i.e. coupling the camera body directly to the scope, no lens, no eyepiece in between. Afocal systems are capable of high magnifications, but I am afraid you will be disappointed by the image quality delivered by an (expensive) F/6 refractor, eyepiece and camera lens (e.g. Air) compared to what the scope alone coupled directly to the camera sensor will deliver.
/Tord
The Olympus Air is effectively an Olympus EM-5 without the EFV, screen and mechanical controls. The iPhone is used to view the image and control the camera remotely. It will be used at prime focus on the telescope.
http://www.imaging-resource.com/PRODS/olympus-air-a01/olympus-air-a01A.HTM
John,The Olympus Air is effectively an Olympus EM-5 without the EFV, screen and mechanical controls. The iPhone is used to view the image and control the camera remotely. It will be used at prime focus on the telescope.
http://www.imaging-resource.com/PRODS/olympus-air-a01/olympus-air-a01A.HTM
John,
You cannot use the Olympus Air for prime focusing.
What you need is a camera body, e.g. E-M5, and attach it to the scope with an adapter (2" - micro 4/3). In between the scope and the adapter you will need a 2" extension tube in order to support focus at close distance. 80mm length is what most people here use, it should allow close focus distance of some 4-6 meters while still being able to focus at infinity. How close is depending on the design of the scope and the camera used.
Does it have an eye piece? That is the question.