[rogerscoth]

Does anyone have any predictions re. the suitability of the newly announced Canon Powershot G6 for digiscoping. With 7.1 Mp and f2.0 lens, it seems quite interesting.
There is a description on "Steve's Digicams" web-site:- http://www.steves-digicams.com/diginews.html#g6

Roger

[Jay Turberville]

Originally Posted by rogerscoth

Does anyone have any predictions re. the suitability of the newly announced Canon Powershot G6 for digiscoping. With 7.1 Mp and f2.0 lens, it seems quite interesting.
There is a description on "Steve's Digicams" web-site:- http://www.steves-digicams.com/diginews.html#g6

I'm not willing to predict, but I am intrigued. If someone gets to look at this camera, please zoom the lens while looking into it and report whether the iris seems to sink deeply back into the camera or not.

This camera has some focusing options that seem like they would be very digiscoping friendly (focus bracketing, manual mode 2x magnification area, flexipoint AF area, faster AF). It has the flip and twist LCD that I love. It even has the ability to invert the LCD image electronically - something I wouldn't mind having for when I digiscope without an erecting prism.

[rogerscoth]

I had a look at the "Digital Camera Resource Page" review of the G6 camera today, and the reviewer, Jeff Keller, states that the lens is exactly the same as the one used on the G5 and G3 cameras. Some Birdforum members have had some success with these cameras in the past - maybe they can give their opinions (good and bad)?
This G6 camera has now appeared on Pricerunner.com with (UK) prices from 9 dealers, the cheapest being £468-98 (plus P&P). Do you know of any prices in North-America Jay.T.?

Roger

[digi-birder]

Roger,

I must have missed this thread, being at the Birdfair when you posted it. Just coming to it now as a result of your PM.

The G6 certainly looks like a good camera. The G3 I had was reasonable for digiscoping, although a little less convenient than the Coolpix series due to there being no commercial adapter to attach it to the scope. I presume you've seen my THREAD about digiscoping with the G3?

I thought the focus bracketing sounded like a good idea, but didn't really give it that much of a test. The best feature was the remote release - I found that very useful to avoid camera shake.

I see from the review that they're now including the battery charger - there wasn't one with my G3 and I had to buy a universal charger from Jessops to avoid having to charge the battery in the camera.

I didn't find vignetting to be that much of a problem. It was easily cropped out in-computer if the subject wasn't taking up too much of the frame.

I used to leave the Lensmate adapter in place instead of the supplied lens surround, then it was easier to attach my home-made digiscoping adapter and slip it over the scope eyepiece. I didn't carry it around like this, though, as there were no screws holding it in place.

The manual mode 2x magnification area, mentioned below by Jay, was very useful. A small square in the centre of the LCD becomes magnified to enable more accurate focusing on the subject. I used that most of the time.

I found the picture quality to be better than the Coolpix 995 that I had, and I did get some better digiscoped results with the G3. In fact, I sometimes wish that I hadn't sold it now, but I upgraded to the 10D at the beginning of this year and gave up on digiscoping, as the results were not as good as I had hoped after two years of trying. This was probably more my fault - not the camera.

[Gerd Rossen]

Please send me the money, and I will test the camera for you ;-)

I think it could be indeed an interesting digiscoping camera, maybe I'll buy one the next time and test it.

[rogerscoth]

Originally Posted by Gerd Rossen

Please send me the money, and I will test the camera for you ;-)
I think it could be indeed an interesting digiscoping camera, maybe I'll buy one the next time and test it.

Gerd,
Firstly, if I have a good win on the (UK) Lotto, I will buy you a camera!
I have just had a look at your web-site, and it is very good, with some nice pictures. Well done! You have no need to apologise for your spelling - your English (and associated grammar) are far in advance of my (and I am sure of most others) small vocabulary of German.

Roger

[Gerd Rossen]

I just had a look at some Canon G5 digiscoping examples.

Have a look here and search for G5 in his pics :

http://www.birdforum.net/pp_gallery/...00&ppuser=1175

There seems to be a big vignetting problem with this cam...

But what about the Canon A95. I think that camera should be a good
digiscoping camera ?!

[Andy Bright]

Originally Posted by Gerd Rossen

I just had a look at some Canon G5 digiscoping examples.

Have a look here and search for G5 in his pics :

http://www.birdforum.net/pp_gallery/...00&ppuser=1175

There seems to be a big vignetting problem with this cam...

But what about the Canon A95. I think that camera should be a good
digiscoping camera ?!

Hi Gerd, all the Canon 'A' series cameras seem to be ble to digiscope well without vignetting being a problem. I'm not too convinced on the G6 if it has the lens characteristics of the previous 'G' types, but I'm sure we'll find out soon enough as these Canons do sell in good numbers and someone with a scope will buy one.
regards,
Andy

[rogerscoth]

Originally Posted by Gerd Rossen

But what about the Canon A95. I think that camera should be a good digiscoping camera ?!

Originally Posted by Andy Bright

Hi Gerd, all the Canon 'A' series cameras seem to be ble to digiscope well without vignetting being a problem. I'm not too convinced on the G6 if it has the lens characteristics of the previous 'G' types, but I'm sure we'll find out soon enough as these Canons do sell in good numbers and someone with a scope will buy one.
regards,
Andy

Gerd and Andy,
The reason that I took an interest in the G6 was the higher pixel count at 7.1 compared to the 5MP of such cameras as the A95. I realise that high pixel count does not necessarily equate to better pictures, but it gives the potential to perform well. In the "Steve's Digicam" review of the A95 it states that it is "the 5MP big brother of the A80 and includes many of the features found in Canon's 'G' series cameras". Ideally, I would prefer a camera with the SLR style EVF (as on the 8MP 'prosumer' cameras), but "Steve's Digicam" G6 review states:- "Its "vari-angle" 2.0-inch LCD works great. When shooting outdoors, I had no problem framing with it even with the bright Florida sun directly behind me".
Some members use the 'A' series cameras (e.g. Alan Rymer with the A80) quite successfully.

Roger

[Flandrien]

I am using a Powershot G5 for digiscoping.
I am convinced more pixels will not give better images.

[rogerscoth]

Originally Posted by Flandrien

I am using a Powershot G5 for digiscoping.
I am convinced more pixels will not give better images.

Flandrien, May I ask what telescope and eye-piece do you use, and at what camera zoom setting/range does any vignetting disappear?

Roger

[Doug Greenberg]

Originally Posted by rogerscoth

Does anyone have any predictions re. the suitability of the newly announced Canon Powershot G6 for digiscoping. With 7.1 Mp and f2.0 lens, it seems quite interesting.
There is a description on "Steve's Digicams" web-site:- http://www.steves-digicams.com/diginews.html#g6

Roger

In another digiscoping forum there was a brief discussion of the promising nature of the hot-off-the-presses Nikon Coolpix 8400, an 8 megapixel camera that apparently looks very promising for digiscoping. I know that Jay Turberville commented that it appears to have a lens similar to the Coolpix 5000, which he uses successfully.

[Flandrien]

Originally Posted by rogerscoth

Flandrien, May I ask what telescope and eye-piece do you use, and at what camera zoom setting/range does any vignetting disappear?

Roger

I use Swarovski ATS-80HD with 20-60 zoom piece.

This is what vignetting looks like on the G5 (zoomed in to almost maximum)

[Jay Turberville]

Originally Posted by Doug Greenberg

In another digiscoping forum there was a brief discussion of the promising nature of the hot-off-the-presses Nikon Coolpix 8400, an 8 megapixel camera that apparently looks very promising for digiscoping. I know that Jay Turberville commented that it appears to have a lens similar to the Coolpix 5000, which he uses successfully.

Nikon shows the TC-E3ED as an accessory for the new Coolpix 8400. This add-on lens is also compatible with the "classic" CP99x/4500 series and the Coolpix 5000. The Coolpix 5400 which will not work well with most eyepieces also is not listed as compatible with the TC-E3ED with standard Nikon adapters. So this camera look very promising at this very early point. It sure seems like it should perform at least as well as the Coolpix 5000 though.

[Gerd Rossen]

Hi Jay,

where do you have red about the TCE3-ED ?? If this lens really can be used with this cam without vignetting, the camera should be ok for digiscoping, too.

But I only red about a 3x Converter called : TC-E3PF . Is that almost the same as the TC-E3ED ??

[rogerscoth]

Originally Posted by Doug Greenberg

In another digiscoping forum there was a brief discussion of the promising nature of the hot-off-the-presses Nikon Coolpix 8400, an 8 megapixel camera that apparently looks very promising for digiscoping. I know that Jay Turberville commented that it appears to have a lens similar to the Coolpix 5000, which he uses successfully.

Yes, Doug, I saw that on "Steve's Digicams" web-site. It does look interesting, and hopefully does not suffer (in digiscoping terms) from the same problems as other 8MP cameras.
Leading up to Photokina, there are few new cameras being announced - the choice is widening (potentially digiscoping compatible!)
Following on from the Canon 7.1MP camera, Olympus have announced the 7.1MP C-7000 Zoom, 5x optical (38-190mm, - 35 equiv.) that is quite a small camera.
Incidentally, the Nikon 8400 zoom range is 24-85mm, - 35 equiv.

Originally Posted by Flandrien

I use Swarovski ATS-80HD with 20-60 zoom piece.
This is what vignetting looks like on the G5 (zoomed in to almost maximum)

Thanks Flandrien, I also have the same 'scope and eye-piece.

Roger

[rogerscoth]

Originally Posted by Gerd Rossen

Hi Jay,
where do you have red about the TCE3-ED ?? If this lens really can be used with this cam without vignetting, the camera should be ok for digiscoping, too.
But I only red about a 3x Converter called : TC-E3PF . Is that almost the same as the TC-E3ED ??

Gerd,
Ref TCE3-ED :http://nikonimaging.com/global/produ...erter/tc-e3ed/
Ref TC-E3PF :- http://nikonimaging.com/global/news/2004/0916_07.htm

Hope this helps.

Roger

[Jay Turberville]

Originally Posted by Gerd Rossen

Hi Jay,

where do you have red about the TCE3-ED ?? If this lens really can be used with this cam without vignetting, the camera should be ok for digiscoping, too.

But I only red about a 3x Converter called : TC-E3PF . Is that almost the same as the TC-E3ED ??

The Nikon .pdf on the 8400 lists both 3x adapters as compatible.

Jay