ljclark
Active member
I’ve been running through a lot searches on these pages, but there seem to be few contemporary posts that address some specific questions I have.
Cameras: The cameras that I have available for digiscoping are the Fuji X100F and X-Pro2. I am not interested “full frame”, Four Thirds, or DSLRs. I’ve been shooting with Fuji X cameras since April, 2011. I’m interested in still photography only.
Scope(s): I have a Kowa TSN-601 (which I do not consider suitable for digiscoping primarily due to CA). The only eyepiece I have available right now is the TE-14WD, which I like very much. I also have a TE-9Z that is packed away with household goods and I don’t know when I’ll see it next.
Work so far: While TSN-601 is not suitable for digiscoping, it has been useful for testing the mechanics of camera mounting, coverage, etc. I have the TSN-DA20 and adapter rings to mount up Fuji lenses and to a T-mount Fuji adapter. The Kowa adapters are very solid.
-- Using the X100F: Mounts to the 14WD/DA20 like a dream and no vignetting (23mm fixed lens, f/2 to f/16). Focus peaking is brilliant. Fuji sensor and internal processing gives 24MP with roughly 2 stops over m43.
-- Using the X-Pro2: The most "suitable" lens I have now is the 35mm f/1.4. It picks up a narrower field than the X100’s 23mm lens and vignetting starts wide open, increasing significantly (a circle roughly ½ the height of the frame at f/16) as you stop down. Using the T-mount adapter instead of the 35mm lens, there is no vignetting, but there may be other issues.
The Challenge: I want to get a scope more suitable for digiscoping and I’m looking at the Kowa 770/880s. I like the reports I’ve seen for the TE-11WZ eyepiece, and that it has two ED elements (though that may have been a necessity with 11 elements in 6 groups).
Questions:
1. I understand that setups using only the scope’s eyepiece (no camera lens) do not project a flat field onto the camera sensor. Is that correct in the case of the TE-11WZ?
2. For anyone who has mounted an X100 camera (original, X100S, X100T, or X100F) to the TE-11WZ (using an adapter such as the TSM-DA10); is there vignetting? If so, is it across the entire zoom range or does it start at a certain “X”?
3. Regarding interchangeable X-Mount lenses mounted to the TE-11WZ (again, using a Kowa adapter); which have been successful? Across the eyepiece's full zoom range? I am especially interested in the Fuji 27mm f/2.8 and the 18mm f/2.
4. Has anyone had experience with a 600/660 series TE-14WD mounted on a 770/880 scope? Kowa offers the TSN-EC3 adapter, but warns of “…reduced performance compared to the TE series eyepieces designed for the TSN-880 and -770 series scopes.” True?
Thank you for your indulgence.
Larry
Cameras: The cameras that I have available for digiscoping are the Fuji X100F and X-Pro2. I am not interested “full frame”, Four Thirds, or DSLRs. I’ve been shooting with Fuji X cameras since April, 2011. I’m interested in still photography only.
Scope(s): I have a Kowa TSN-601 (which I do not consider suitable for digiscoping primarily due to CA). The only eyepiece I have available right now is the TE-14WD, which I like very much. I also have a TE-9Z that is packed away with household goods and I don’t know when I’ll see it next.
Work so far: While TSN-601 is not suitable for digiscoping, it has been useful for testing the mechanics of camera mounting, coverage, etc. I have the TSN-DA20 and adapter rings to mount up Fuji lenses and to a T-mount Fuji adapter. The Kowa adapters are very solid.
-- Using the X100F: Mounts to the 14WD/DA20 like a dream and no vignetting (23mm fixed lens, f/2 to f/16). Focus peaking is brilliant. Fuji sensor and internal processing gives 24MP with roughly 2 stops over m43.
-- Using the X-Pro2: The most "suitable" lens I have now is the 35mm f/1.4. It picks up a narrower field than the X100’s 23mm lens and vignetting starts wide open, increasing significantly (a circle roughly ½ the height of the frame at f/16) as you stop down. Using the T-mount adapter instead of the 35mm lens, there is no vignetting, but there may be other issues.
The Challenge: I want to get a scope more suitable for digiscoping and I’m looking at the Kowa 770/880s. I like the reports I’ve seen for the TE-11WZ eyepiece, and that it has two ED elements (though that may have been a necessity with 11 elements in 6 groups).
Questions:
1. I understand that setups using only the scope’s eyepiece (no camera lens) do not project a flat field onto the camera sensor. Is that correct in the case of the TE-11WZ?
2. For anyone who has mounted an X100 camera (original, X100S, X100T, or X100F) to the TE-11WZ (using an adapter such as the TSM-DA10); is there vignetting? If so, is it across the entire zoom range or does it start at a certain “X”?
3. Regarding interchangeable X-Mount lenses mounted to the TE-11WZ (again, using a Kowa adapter); which have been successful? Across the eyepiece's full zoom range? I am especially interested in the Fuji 27mm f/2.8 and the 18mm f/2.
4. Has anyone had experience with a 600/660 series TE-14WD mounted on a 770/880 scope? Kowa offers the TSN-EC3 adapter, but warns of “…reduced performance compared to the TE series eyepieces designed for the TSN-880 and -770 series scopes.” True?
Thank you for your indulgence.
Larry
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