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  1. Eagle Owl (Bubo Bubo) Adult Bird

    Eagle Owl (Bubo Bubo) Adult Bird

    This is a follow-Up from two days ago. I went back to the quarry, and this time I found both adult birds and a young owl that has successfully climbed the steep rocks up to the rim of the quarry. The first picture shows one of the adult birds that was sitting on his own about 5 meters away from...
    • paperweight
    • Media item
    • bubo bubo eagle owl
    • Comments: 1
    • Category: Britain & Europe
  2. Eagle Owl (Bubo Bubo) Adult Bird and Young Bird

    Eagle Owl (Bubo Bubo) Adult Bird and Young Bird

    This is a follow-Up from two days ago. I went back to the quarry, and this time I found both adult birds and a young owl that has successfully climbed the steep rocks up to the rim of the quarry. The second pictures shows a parental bird and a young owl next to it; there were two young owls, and...
    • paperweight
    • Media item
    • bubo bubo eagle owl
    • Comments: 2
    • Category: Britain & Europe
  3. P

    Comment by 'paperweight' in media 'DSC01679.JPG'

    Thanks for your warm and encouraging comments. I mostly use a DMF in manual mode to really tweak focus as much as possible.
  4. DSC01679.JPG

    DSC01679.JPG

    Had been watching the two young owls for a couple of weeks, but now they have started their career as pedestrians in the quarry 4 miles from my home. Just by chance did I find the adult bird in the day hide. I guess he (or she) found me a lot earlier than I found him (or her). I had to use full...
    • paperweight
    • Media item
    • eagle owl
    • Comments: 6
    • Category: Britain & Europe
  5. P

    Which App to Control and Work With iPhone 13 Pro Max Camera?

    My digiscoping system consists of a Kowa TSN-99a and three eyepieces (TE-10 25 to 70x), TE-11 (30 to 70x), TE-80 (40x) plus two Kowa 1,6x extenders. I have kept the older TE-10 because, even if it is not as rich in contrast as the TE-11 and offers a narrower FOV, it is overall sharper. This was...
  6. P

    Smartoscope Adapter vs Novagrade - Has anybody compared them side by side?

    I have had a look. Phoneskope offer an interesting custom tailored "suit" for your phone. My idea behind trying a Novagrade or Smartoscope is to use both my iPhones (6s and 13 Pro Max) in turns and to have a digiscoping adapter for later smartphone generations. The twin grip Novagrade will most...
  7. P

    Smartoscope Adapter vs Novagrade - Has anybody compared them side by side?

    Thanks, Mike, will have a look at your choice.
  8. P

    Comment by 'paperweight' in media 'Little Owl.'

    Highly impressive and expressive picture of one of my favourite birds. Well done, Keith.
  9. P

    Smartoscope Adapter vs Novagrade - Has anybody compared them side by side?

    Both smartphone adapters are not cheap, but look sturdy and reliable. Have you tested them side by side? IMHO, the Novagrade looks a bit easier to handle.
  10. P

    Comment by 'paperweight' in media 'Reed Bunting'

    A picture like a painting. I love the composition and the colours. Well done, Ove!
  11. P

    Comment by 'paperweight' in media '16aaa.jpg'

    Now this is what I like to call visual poetry. There's everything to this picture: composition, colour contrast between fieldfare and fruit, motion of snow captured with the right shutter speed. Very inviting and a lot of fun to watch. Tfs to both of you.
  12. Bunch of Long-Tailed Tits

    Bunch of Long-Tailed Tits

    They often come in groups to our feeding place in winter. This time, there were about twenty of them altogether (hard to count because they were always in motion more or less). I love these regular, but rare guests
    • paperweight
    • Media item
    • aegithalos caudatus long- tailed tit
    • Comments: 6
    • Category: Britain & Europe
  13. P

    Big Brother of my Kowa TSN-99a

    Thanks @andy79 for the valuable and welcome information.
  14. P

    Big Brother of my Kowa TSN-99a

    I don't think the 99a is sharper than the 883. There have been numerous discussions here and in the net which of the two scopes is sharper or "better". My decision for the 99as was mainly based on the fact that it lets in more light. Before buying it, I compared the 99a thoroughly to the 883...
  15. P

    Big Brother of my Kowa TSN-99a

    @countryman george: That will be for you to decide. I have never regretted investing that money. I had the 883 before I bought the 99a and have never been disappointed. Concerning astronomy, I think magnification is not as important as I thought before I started. Most nights you will find me...
  16. P

    Big Brother of my Kowa TSN-99a

    I was positively surprised about the performance of both extenders stacked.
  17. P

    Big Brother of my Kowa TSN-99a

    @countryman george : the 99a works absolutely fine with the TSN-EX 16 extender on both my eyepieces (TE 11 and TE 80). Even if I stack both my extenders I find the result very satisfying. If I'm too lazy to carry my TOA 130 outside or if I just have an hour in between at night, the extenders...
  18. P

    Big Brother of my Kowa TSN-99a

    For a while, I had been asking myself if I needed both instruments, the 99a and the TOA 130, and the answer is ......definitely yes. Meanwhile, I have acquired a s/h AOK Swiss AYOdigi II with built in encoders and an Argo Navis computer and can honestly recommend this mount for anyone who is...
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    Big Brother of my Kowa TSN-99a

    @Binastro : thanks for the detailed list. With my Kowa 99a, I might go up to 200x, but, as you pointed out, the beauty of nebulae and other objects beyond our galaxy will only come alive with hours of exposure to digital cameras. I think there's huge difference in approach between people who...
  20. P

    Big Brother of my Kowa TSN-99a

    @countryman george : no, quality does not degrade. The quality of the lenses is superb. Of course the exit pupil gets smaller just as it will with a 3.5mm eyepiece. I would not sell my extenders if I did not have those astronomic eyepieces that can be used on the scope with adapters. Concerning...
  21. P

    Big Brother of my Kowa TSN-99a

    Thanks @wllmspd . I guess it will make more sense to invest in adapters (cheap) for my eyepieces (Pentax XW and Televue Panoptic) because I will be able to use them in turns and screw them in. I'm looking forward to comparing the TE-80 (40x) with 80° FOV to my Televue Panoptic 41 (25x on my Tak)...
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    Big Brother of my Kowa TSN-99a

    @countryman george : yes, it's easy. You screw off the plastic collar of the first extender you have placed in the scope and screw in the second one. Since I'm waiting for my new mount for the Tak at the moment I did some observation with my Kowa 99a and the TE-80 40x. In the first session two...
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    Big Brother of my Kowa TSN-99a

    Since I sold the AYOdigi II mount and am waiting for the same model with encoders and an Argo Navis controller to arrive next week, I concentrated on putting the 99a to a series of tests with both eyepieces (TE 11 and TE 80). At daytime, I felt the TE 80 delivers a bit more contrast than the TE...
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    Big Brother of my Kowa TSN-99a

    Still rehearsing and trying to get some routine with the Kowa 99a and the TOA 130. There are so many things to take care of and to have in mind when working in the darkness. I have just done two pictures of the 99a and the TOA. It's not that I really want to judge, I'll keep both instruments...
  25. P

    Big Brother of my Kowa TSN-99a

    I felt the Kowa was superior because of colour and contrast. But this is very individual and spontaneous judgement that will have to be verified yet. Today, at about 40° C I preferred staying indoors to putting the two candidates to the test.
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