Digiscoping with Swarovski 80HD (1 Viewer)

I am looking to get a cheap digiscoping set up.
I have been recommended the Lumix FS10.

I am currently using a Swarovski 80HD with 20-60 zoom eyepeice. I notice that there is a swarovski DCA zoom adaptor (http://www.acecameras.co.uk/asp/web...words//recor/1/SearchFor//PT_ID/1/product.asp) and am wondering if i get this camera and dca adaptor will i need to get a lense adaptor for the camera so it fixes on the DCA? or will those just fit together easily?

Alternativly is there any other good set up which you would recommend with my scope.

Thanks in advance

Mike

myoudale said:

I am looking to get a cheap digiscoping set up.
I have been recommended the Lumix FS10.

I am currently using a Swarovski 80HD with 20-60 zoom eyepeice. I notice that there is a swarovski DCA zoom adaptor (http://www.acecameras.co.uk/asp/web...words//recor/1/SearchFor//PT_ID/1/product.asp) and am wondering if i get this camera and dca adaptor will i need to get a lense adaptor for the camera so it fixes on the DCA? or will those just fit together easily?

Alternativly is there any other good set up which you would recommend with my scope.

Thanks in advance

Mike

Click to expand...

Mike, you will need an adapter of some kind to connect camera to DCA unless your compact camera has either a a bayonet or screw thread around the base of the lens, in which case a tube type adapter will work. This utilises one of the 3 or 4 threaded rings that are supplied with the DCA, depending on the thread size on the outer end of the tube.

Some larger DSLR type cameras might screw directly to the DCA adapter via the lens' filter thread, but this can cause excessive stress to some modern plastic lenses that have moving inner focus barrels.

Thanks Steve for getting back to me, i dont suppose you would know what adaptor i would need to attach the two set ups?
Or could you recommend any other set up which would be good for my scope. I very much am a complete novice with photography and digiscoping

Mike

I think it something like http://cgi.ebay.ie/Universal-Adapte...raphy_DigitalCamAccess_RL&hash=item563306c8d5 I got one for a fs11 before I got a coolpix p6000. Ger.

myoudale said:

Thanks Steve for getting back to me, i dont suppose you would know what adaptor i would need to attach the two set ups?
Or could you recommend any other set up which would be good for my scope. I very much am a complete novice with photography and digiscoping

Mike

Click to expand...

You can find links to my adapter in post 4 of this thread.

http://www.birdforum.net/showthread.php?p=2033363#post2033363

There are pictures of it with a Fuji F31fd in the first link in that post, though it does work with the S95 too.

Unfortunately that particular adapter isn't available anymore, but I've recently also started using the one in the final link in post 4, which arrived the other day. I reckon that one could be adapted to use with any compact point and shoot camera, and the Swaro DCA. However a few minor modifications will improve it. Namely: remove all the rubber facing on the metal surfaces (it's only attached with double sided tape) and replace the bolt that holds the two pieces together with a 10mm nut and bolt, and tighten it down really tight with a spanner once set up on the scope, to prevent it from moving out of alignment.

I might post some pics of it on the S95 thread, when I get around to it.

squidge said:

I think it something like http://cgi.ebay.ie/Universal-Adapte...raphy_DigitalCamAccess_RL&hash=item563306c8d5 I got one for a fs11 before I got a coolpix p6000. Ger.

Click to expand...

That's the one!

However, see my notes above about how to modify it for digiscoping. The reason for removing the rubber facing is that with it left on, it becomes impossible to tighten the black bolt sufficiently by hand to prevent flex/movement between the two main metal pieces of the adapter.

This is important because the S95 inner lens barrel has very little clearance inside the tube part of the adapter (about 1mm on each side), meaning that even a small amount of 'slippage' could lead to the lens catching against the inside of the tube leading to potential damage.

Mike could also consider either the Swarovski DCB or UCA adapters, but both are around £300. Both good, but too much for me! Both should work with a wide range of cameras, especially the UCA.

http://www.birdnet.co.uk/sawrovski_uca.html


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=inx7hI3whUg

One thing to check Mike, before you buy an adapter, is that your choice of camera really is digiscoping friendly. A 5x optical zoom isn't considered to be the optimum for digiscoping (3x-4x is better), and could lead to some significant vignetting, unless of course you know someone that can confirm this is not going to be a problem.

Mike - I have the same Swarovski 80HD with 20-60 zoom eyepiece and use a UCA on my newly purchased (thanks Steve) Canon S95. I have switched off the digital zoom and with the optical zoom at max I have no vignetting at any scope zoom.

oggbad said:

Mike - I have the same Swarovski 80HD with 20-60 zoom eyepiece and use a UCA on my newly purchased (thanks Steve) Canon S95. I have switched off the digital zoom and with the optical zoom at max I have no vignetting at any scope zoom.

Click to expand...

Rod,

How do you find the UCA adapter? Happy with it? I also digiscope with a Sony Camcorder as well as a Compact Digital Camera and am considering the UCA as it will accommodate both.

Cheers,

Bill.

WCA said:

Rod,

How do you find the UCA adapter? Happy with it? I also digiscope with a Sony Camcorder as well as a Compact Digital Camera and am considering the UCA as it will accommodate both.

Cheers,

Bill.

Click to expand...

Bill
The UCA is fine......... but it will not readily slide over the eyepiece rubber and will split the rubber when you try and slide it off again. I found that out by doing it but when I explained it to Swarovski they sent me a new eyepiece (free) so now I have two, one I use on the scope and the other that I have cut all the rubber off I use with the UCA.
I use both my cameras on it depending on the distance and size of bird. Once you have set it up it is fine but you will need to spend a bit of time getting it all lined up before the birds dance in. The UCA is versatile and very usable. Dale Roberts from Swarovski http://www.youtube.com/user/digiscopingvideos shows how to configure the UCA on P&S and DSLR cameras
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pocgGlTiWdU&feature=mfu_in_order&list=UL
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mRbVDSsrHyE&feature=mfu_in_order&list=UL

My final thought on the UCA versus AN other connector is this: If you are going to stick anything with any weight onto the back of the eyepiece using only lens threads you are risking damage to the lens. If you cannot attach it on the threads you have a few other choices. You can make adapters such as tubes that fit over the lens and over the eyepiece or you can make an adapter that holds the camera weight and transfers it to the tripod without using the lens. Or you can buy an adapter which will do that job. If you are using Swarovski products it can make life easier to buy their solution. It won't necessarily be as cheap or as satisfying as making your own but not everyone has the skill set to design and build (or use one of the designs that the engineers here have already made) your own.

I use the DCB...it words well and I have a Canon S90, Canon 1200 and a Fuji30... I think all point and shoots would work with this adapter. The best thing about it is that you can 'swing' the camera and DCB up and out of the way to view an focus the birds. Then when you want a shot, just 'swing' back down and viola, you have a shot. Easy to use...well worth it.

Now if you are getting into using DSLR's such as a Lumix G1 or 2, etc...the DCB will not work.

WCA said:

Rod,

How do you find the UCA adapter? Happy with it? I also digiscope with a Sony Camcorder as well as a Compact Digital Camera and am considering the UCA as it will accommodate both.

Cheers,

Bill.

Click to expand...

Bill,
I've been using my Sony recently on my Kowa and I use the Swarovski UCA adapter on the Kowa eyepieces. I've been screwing the Sony straight into the Kowa DA adapter (39 mm) but haven't used it on the UCA adapter. I'll try it next week.
As added support for the cameras when shooting video I have used the arm of my Manfrotto 501 head. Just rotate it up under the camera and tighten. Works a treat.
Neil