Just when I thought that there was no need to get any more digiscoping cameras after Panasonic G1/GF1 , Sony has thrown down the gauntlet to Panasonic and Olympus with a new APS-C sensor based mirrorless sytem.
I was in my favorite camera store yesterday talking cameras ( as I do most Saturdays after brunch ) thinking that I was most likely to get a Panasonic/Casio 10/12x compact zoom. After much discussion the quality from the new Sony was the only one likely to compete with the G1/GF1 and my Canon G10/S90. I also liked the some of the new features that Sony has included, like the Sweep Panorama .
The fixed 16/2.8 P lens is internally focusing too with a 49 mm filter thread which is useful for digiscoping. The frame rate can be up to 7 fps too which is useful for fast action eg birds bathing (2.3 fps normally ).
I did a quick test on the scope in my living room and the 16 mm lens ( equal to 24 mm on the APS-C sensor ). Unfortunately vignetting with the 25 - 50 zoom and the 30x fixed using the DCA adapter and without it. The kit zoom might be the better way to go but I couldn't buy it separately yesterday .
The attached composite shows the vignetting on the 25 - 50 zoom (DCA adapter ) at 25x and 50x. I'll have to get used to cropping again.
The camera is menu driven so a bit more fiddly than the Panasonic G1/GF1 and Canon S90 but it has a flip up screen which is useful to angle for low level shooting. There is a remote available but I didn't get it yet.
I'm looking forward to adapters coming out to fit other lenses as I would like to use my Zeiss 28/2.0 on it.
I hope to get out in the field this afternoon for further testing.
Neil
Sony NEX5 16/2.8 lens on Swarovski STM80HD scope and Sw 25 - 50 zoom eyepiece and DCA adapter
I was in my favorite camera store yesterday talking cameras ( as I do most Saturdays after brunch ) thinking that I was most likely to get a Panasonic/Casio 10/12x compact zoom. After much discussion the quality from the new Sony was the only one likely to compete with the G1/GF1 and my Canon G10/S90. I also liked the some of the new features that Sony has included, like the Sweep Panorama .
The fixed 16/2.8 P lens is internally focusing too with a 49 mm filter thread which is useful for digiscoping. The frame rate can be up to 7 fps too which is useful for fast action eg birds bathing (2.3 fps normally ).
I did a quick test on the scope in my living room and the 16 mm lens ( equal to 24 mm on the APS-C sensor ). Unfortunately vignetting with the 25 - 50 zoom and the 30x fixed using the DCA adapter and without it. The kit zoom might be the better way to go but I couldn't buy it separately yesterday .
The attached composite shows the vignetting on the 25 - 50 zoom (DCA adapter ) at 25x and 50x. I'll have to get used to cropping again.
The camera is menu driven so a bit more fiddly than the Panasonic G1/GF1 and Canon S90 but it has a flip up screen which is useful to angle for low level shooting. There is a remote available but I didn't get it yet.
I'm looking forward to adapters coming out to fit other lenses as I would like to use my Zeiss 28/2.0 on it.
I hope to get out in the field this afternoon for further testing.
Neil
Sony NEX5 16/2.8 lens on Swarovski STM80HD scope and Sw 25 - 50 zoom eyepiece and DCA adapter