[Nick-on]

Need some advice, please.

I was all set to buy a Nikon CP4500 (especially as they are really cheap now at Pixmania, are Pixmania any good?) to take up digiscoping when a thought occured to me....dodgy eyesight!
At present I have Nikon autofocus SLR sysytem and the reason it is an AF system is because my eyesight is not 100%. So the problem with digiscoping would be that although the bird appears in focus to me would it be in focus to the camera, not sure if you focus first and then attach camera or focus with camera on scope?
Would I be better off getting a camera with a big optical zoom and then putting on the Eagleye 5x converter, thus maintaining autofocus and bypassing my less than perfect eyesight??
All thoughts, abstract or pertinent, welcome.

[Andy Bright]

Hmmm, tough one. Digiscoping does rely upon the user being able to judge when the image on his camera's monitor is perfectly in focus (best results usually obtained when focusing the scope onto subject via the monitor)... the camera doesn't usually see the same as the human eye through the scope anyway.

Even the Eagle Eye 5x requires some manual focussing, the lesser powereful 3x Nikon teleconverter doesn't...and nor would a 10x zoom camera with a normal (1.5x - 2x) teleconverter.
Hope that helps.
Andy

[Fuchsia]

If you do go for the 4500, I got mine through Pixmania (France) and it was delivered to me in 48 hours. Great stuff!

Jen

[Ruby]

Hi Guys,

Andy - re: your earlier quote....

"Hmmm, tough one. Digiscoping does rely upon the user being able to judge when the image on his camera's monitor is perfectly in focus (best results usually obtained when focusing the scope onto subject via the monitor)... the camera doesn't usually see the same as the human eye through the scope anyway"

....this is something that has been exercising my mind for a little while now on and off...

With my current camera, I have no choice but to hand hold it up to the eyepiece and so focussing method is to focus the scope as best as can, and then let the auto-focus of the camera take it from there.

Now... my eyesight is pretty good for distance work but I do have to wear reading glasses.

I've noticed a significant difference in focussing the scope either with/without my reading glasses but (interestingly enough) little difference to the finished pics - I guess the camera's auto-focus is just compensating for what I''ve done.

I'm guessing though, that if I buy a Coolpix and revert to Andy's method above ( ie use the scope to focus through the camera monitor) that I will probably need to wear my reading glasses to get the job done properly.

This is all too complicated for me (too many optical issues!!)..... any ideas anyone??


Rgds... Ruby

[Andy Bright]

Hi Ruby,
Yes, certainly many people have success using your method and it's down to the camera having a certain amount of latitude when it comes to auto-focusing onto the image presented by the scope, though it's often not as reliable in getting the very best shots.

Unfortunately the monitors on the cameras are not particularly large (and often cluttered with various icons) so it's never that easy. Digiscoping is a method full of compromises and not an exact science :-(

[IanF]

I've got to admit that my eyesight is pretty dodgy too. Close distances 18" or so and I'm fine, anything more then I struggle.

For me at least digiscoping is the way to go as Andy says, as I simply forcus using the camera LCD.

I'd steer clear of the EagleEye 5x in these circumstances as whilst you can get decent results you will ahve to be a lot closer to the subject and it can be fiddly to use as in addition to using the LCD you will likey have to turn the barrel focus before using the camera focus system whether manual/auto.

[Ruby]

My best photos using my Finepix are just about acceptable - I reckon that I need to change cameras to one that can be mounted to the scope to get any really good ones.

I had a look at Pixmania and they don't seem to have availability on the 4500 at the moment...

[Nick-on]

Thanks for the info. Still a bit unsure but think I am going to take the plunge anyway with a CP4500 and see how I get on.
Hi Ruby,
just spoke to Pixmania and they said do have them in stock but they are listed under 'clearance Items' as it has been discontinued! they also said it was UK spec apart from the plug on the charger which is 2 pin. does sound a bit strange (but it is £76 cheaper than anywhere else I can find).

[Adey Baker]

A couple of points:

This week's 'Amateur Photographer' magazine has a 'Nikon' digital camera booklet inside which still contains the 4500 so even if they're going to discontinue it I would imagine they ought to have enough stock to meet the extra demand generated in the UK by the booklet.

I think that the focussing of the eye on a digicam's LCD screen is not the same as on a SLR's focussing screen. I believe that focus is set at something like 1 metre (effectively, via the viewfinder optics) on an SLR to cover age-related focussing problems, though most good cameras will also have a dioptric adjuster as well.

With the LCD screen what you see is what you get so if you need reading glasses, say, then you'll have to use them to see the screen even if the image is of an object in the distance.

I use reading glasses, normally, but with my digicam I can use the Eagle-eye viewer OK on its own. I need to hold it close to my eye and hard up to the screen, whereas others looking through it often hold it slightly away from their eye.

Adey

[Ruby]

Hmmm....Thanks Adey

This is very interesting.... One of the big pluses of digital cameras is that you can take a number of test shots, plug into your PC and see the results straight away. May be able to find the best set-up for my own particular brand of dodgy eyesight that way!!


Ruby

[Ragna]

Nick-on ,i use the Eagleeye extenda view on the 4500 it velcro's on to the screen,gives 2x magnification and makes focusing fairly acurate,dont need my glasses.Pixmania are a French company .Nikon uk may not honour your warrenty. soif it need repair it'll have to be returned to Pixmania.Try www.pricerunner.co.uk they'll give you thje cheapest price.