[ralph]

I was a little miffed that my new digital camera couldn't be attached to anything to give me a close-up of distant objects, so here's the ultimate balancing-job using the camera (Nikon Coolpix 775) held again the right optic of my Leica 8x42BA's. The Leica's were held in the left hand (and believe me they were quite heavy) while I juggled the camera with the right hand, all the time having to crane my neck to make sure the shot was lined up. I think a picture of me attempting to carry this one off would have been more interesting. Anyway, I present six Collared Doves Streptopelia decaocto sat atop the tree at the end of the garden, some ninety feet away.

Another Close Encounter of the Blurred Kind, unfortunately!

[reg]

someone else who does this technique
i like the photo.
i think this will start to catch on. its like extreme digiscoping

[ralph]

Cheers Reg!

I might use this process during my week sat on the Hayle Estuary, Cornwall, at the end of September.

[lutz6lucker]

Hi Ralph!
I still don't understand why, but my attempts at digibinning with my Leitz 10x40 and 8x32 glasses have also been a bit disappointing.
The good news: they (the OLD LEITZ type bins!) have a 28mm eyepiece thread (for their rubber protection rings) and thus can be screwed onto my coolpix 885 without any adapters.
BUT the photos are alway a bit on the "soft" side, even though there should be more light + depth of field than when digiscoping with my Kowa 20ww or 30WW telescope!!!
Of course, it is essential to rule out shaking of handheld cameras, so try using a homemade device screwed or attached to a tripod using rubberbands...
Then try to use the 3-second shutter retarder (even if the bird might turn to the wrong side... or fly away!
AND always try to shoot as many photos as possible. There may abe a good one among them!
Cheers
Lutz

[ralph]

Hey Lutz, thanks for the reply.

The other annoying thing about the Coolpix 775 is that when you press the shutter, there's a delay of a second or so before the pictures is taken. Do you know if there's any way that I can turn this off and have an instant picture, like an SLR?

Thanks in advance!

[Colin]

Hi Ralph,
I started digiscoping a couple of months back and have tried with the binnies without much success. My Nikons are like a brick (see useful note later). There are times when out with the scope and you know that the subject will not be there long and having to put the adaptor on the camera, then the bracket for the remote release , then the remote etc and whoosh the subject has gone. I have just thought, maybe a record shot at least could be had by using your method and resting the binnies across the top of the scope on its tripod. i.e., the scope is at right angles to the normal viewing method. My scope has a permanent cover on it which makes it less round and slippery. It might just work. I will try it soon.

One advantage of really heavy binnies or camera is as folllows. If you are ever caught out in the open with a leopard bearing down on you or maybe a lion or hyena, there is one last resort which just might save the day. I have been told that just as the beast strikes, shove the binnies in it mouth. Might just distract it enough to escape (don't climb a tree in the case of a leopard - they are good at that)!!!



Colin
<-------said leopard!!

[ralph]

Thanks Colin,

I'll certainly remember the 'bash it with the bins' approach next time I'm out searching for 'The Beast of Bont' - a famed big cat of the 70s and 80s in these local parts of Swansea!