[yossi]

As being involved for several years in digiscoping, my natural tendency was to use one of my P&S cameras for digiscoping.
My first DSLR (D100) was not suitable for digiscoping without using a very stable tripod, an additional support for the camera and so on.
The D2X was not very good either - as the mirror flap shook the camera so hard that even when using the MLU function, it took many seconds till the system stopped vibrating and I could trip the shutter.
So P&S - let it be.
The D200 however, changed the rules, especially with the scopes DSLR adapters.
With the Leica Apo 77 and the scope adapter I've achieved a ~800mm focal length, becoming 1200mm after the crop factor. With the Swaro 80 HD, focal length became 1100mm (1650mm after the crop factor). This is very close to the 1700mm I've obtained with the CP8400 and the EP set to x20.
With the SLR adapter the scope behaves like an SLR lens, eventually.
I've purchased recently the MC-36, Nikon's new remote control. It's was very difficult to find it in the stores (Nikon...) However, it allows me to fire the camera 2 seconds after the mirror was raised. Two seconds are enough for the system to stop vibrating.
Most pictures are tack sharp. I've started liking it more and more.
The regular formula should still be used - a stable tripod and head.
The only precaution needed is to avoid light leakage from the viewfinder, confusing the meter, as exposures are fairly long.
It is for me a good compromise - at least for now, between focal length and ease of use.
Here's a shot I've taken through the Leica with the SLR adapter. Not bad for an effective 1200mm.

[Neil]

Yossi,
Last time I did some resolution tests using the Nikon D100 and the Swarovski SLR adapter I didn't seem to be able to get the focussing right which is probably a problem with my eyes. A good test is using the back of a DVD (with a lot of black and white ) at a distance of about 7 meters. I'd be interested if the D2x beats the 8400. Neil.

[yossi]

Neil,
The D100 was indeed inappropriate as there's no MLU. Stabilizing the camera and the scope is extremely difficult. The D2X is not perfect either, as I've said above. The D200 changed the rules. It is a relatively quite camera with no fierce mirror flap.
The issue is not resolution - the CP8400 has very good resolution.
I'm excited over the fact that I can use one camera for both standard photography and digiscoping.
And over the fact that I can shoot at Iso 800 with minimal noise, that I can add a teleconverter to the system (which I did) and obtained very satisfactory results. Being involved in photography for almost 40 years (oh boy, time flows...) made me biased towards SLRs.
I'll try to shoot more samples today.