Chuck A Wulla
Member
I've been using a Harbortronics (Digisnap 2000) device for three months now and am well pleased. One key advantage it has for Digibirding is that you can extend the cable for hundreds of feet. I've only tried it to about 10 m but their literature claims over 200 m. I set the camera next to a feeder and just wait for a bird to show up. With the Nikon 4500 you can see what's in the view screen remotely via an inexpensive extension cable hooked up to a TV set, again at least to 10 m.
The Digisnap works as advertised right out of the box, however, it is programmable and you can extend its usefulness. One function of interest is that it can access the Nikon's half shutter position. By pressing the button the camera goes to half shutter and only snaps the picture immediately after you release the button. This could be especially useful if you are having trouble with shutter lag.
I also have digital video software and have used it for making time lapse movies. It can be preprogrammed via computer or field programmed out of the box.
In the bulb position, the Digisnap will hold the shutter open for up to 5 minutes. This might come in handy for nesting birds at night or in getting some really different landscape shots by moonlight. This feature must be programmed using a computer or handheld.
You can also zoom with it.
Bad features:
1 It can fall out of the serial socket too easily.
2 Occasionally the camera will lock up for no good reason and you might have to pull the battery out and start camera over (rare).
3 It has its own battery, which is good because it doesn't draw down on the camera but bad because its one more thing to go wrong.
4 Its one more thing you get to keep track of.
5 It requires it's own startup sequence.
a First you plug in the Digisnap.
b then turn on the camera
c press any button in the Digisnap so it can introduce itself to the camera after which the camera finally comes on.
This is very time consuming and makes an external battery a virtual necessity. After setting my camera on the scope I turn it on and leave it on.
The Digisnap works as advertised right out of the box, however, it is programmable and you can extend its usefulness. One function of interest is that it can access the Nikon's half shutter position. By pressing the button the camera goes to half shutter and only snaps the picture immediately after you release the button. This could be especially useful if you are having trouble with shutter lag.
I also have digital video software and have used it for making time lapse movies. It can be preprogrammed via computer or field programmed out of the box.
In the bulb position, the Digisnap will hold the shutter open for up to 5 minutes. This might come in handy for nesting birds at night or in getting some really different landscape shots by moonlight. This feature must be programmed using a computer or handheld.
You can also zoom with it.
Bad features:
1 It can fall out of the serial socket too easily.
2 Occasionally the camera will lock up for no good reason and you might have to pull the battery out and start camera over (rare).
3 It has its own battery, which is good because it doesn't draw down on the camera but bad because its one more thing to go wrong.
4 Its one more thing you get to keep track of.
5 It requires it's own startup sequence.
a First you plug in the Digisnap.
b then turn on the camera
c press any button in the Digisnap so it can introduce itself to the camera after which the camera finally comes on.
This is very time consuming and makes an external battery a virtual necessity. After setting my camera on the scope I turn it on and leave it on.
Last edited: