Voting Booth - October 2010 - Digiscoped Birds (1 Viewer)

IanF

Moderator

• Oct 24, 2010

• #1

We had just 13 entries to the competition this month so all have been included in the voting booth for members to cast their vote.

It's unlikely this theme will be repeated again with entires being so low.

Please cast your vote for your favourite 'Digiscoped Birds' entry.

Entries can be viewed -

1. Thumbnails

2. Slideshow

 

Akihaka

Registered Loser

• Oct 24, 2010

• #2

It´s really pity if this competition will be closed. I do understand it though if there wasn´t more pics posted. Some brilliant digiscopped images. I was thinking to have a scoping/coolpix day but then I had a break in photographing. Do you remember how many pics we had last year, Ian?

 

Jaff

Registered Member

• Oct 24, 2010

• #3

I tried to drum up some support in the digiscoping forum but to no avail. If you want to drop it and come up with a new category or 'birds and feeders' was always a laugh you'll not have any complaints off me.

Well done to those who entered. :t:

 

TheBirdGarden

I don't have the money

• Oct 24, 2010

• #4

It is disappointing on how many people entered, there are so many digiscopers as well

 

IanF

Moderator

• Oct 24, 2010

• #5

Akihaka said:

It´s really pity if this competition will be closed. I do understand it though if there wasn´t more pics posted. Some brilliant digiscopped images. I was thinking to have a scoping/coolpix day but then I had a break in photographing. Do you remember how many pics we had last year, Ian?

Click to expand...

The breakdown shows things were never great but this year shows a real decline in entries.

2006 - 33
2007 - 53
2008 - 30
2009 - 33
2010 - 13

 

D

David142

Well-known member

• Oct 24, 2010

• #6

I missed the deadline. Agree it would be a great pity if this digiscoping competition closed. I have a picture but have to comply with the rules.

 

rb_stern

Richard stern

• Oct 24, 2010

• #7

I wonder if this reflects a decline in digiscoping in general? With the lack of a single really good digiscoping camera (in the "old days" everyone used the Coolpix 4500 or 995, and since then the variety has been bewildering but they're all somehow less satisfacory or need more complex adapters etc.) and many people using dSLRs and relatively cheap big lenses (Sigma etc.) or Superzooms, is digiscoping on the decline?

Richard

 

TheBirdGarden

I don't have the money

• Oct 24, 2010

• #8

rb_stern said:

I wonder if this reflects a decline in digiscoping in general? With the lack of a single really good digiscoping camera (in the "old days" everyone used the Coolpix 4500 or 995, and since then the variety has been bewildering but they're all somehow less satisfacory or need more complex adapters etc.) and many people using dSLRs and relatively cheap big lenses (Sigma etc.) or Superzooms, is digiscoping on the decline?

Richard

Click to expand...

Na, People are just lazy 8-P

 

D

Dave Williams

Well-known member

• Oct 24, 2010

• #9

There are some stunning pictures to choose from but as the entry is so low it doesn't really justify keeping it going.Maybe it could run alongside one of the non bird competitions like "insects" ? Extra work for Ian but at least it would still have a final chance to prove worthwhile.
Personally I'd like to see some different catagories for next year, maybe suggestions could be put to the vote too ?

 

gambirder

Kev Roy

• Oct 25, 2010

• #10

Yeah, I was another who would've entered but missed the deadline - not a lot of time online in the last month due to work pressure.

I was intrigued by Ian's intro to the category which included the line "we still have quite a few members who practice digiscoping". Is it on the decline? presumably in favour of digital SLR's with big lenses?

I like the idea of continuing the category to reflect the unique challenges of digiscoping.

 

Last edited: Oct 25, 2010

R

Robin Edwards

Well-known member

• Oct 25, 2010

• #11

Three years ago and all my pictures were digiscoped until I bought a DSLR and 400mm lens and now I revert to digiscoping only where the DSLR can't cope.

I think in general, quality digiscping takes more patience and effort than modern day DSLRs with a lens can achieve and also only really returns favourable results if your optics are top-end which I know dissappointed birders I know whose equipment was good enough for birding but wasn't quite good enough for digiscoping

I think there is still a place for digiscoping although there is less need to take average record shots that can be surpassed with a DSLR instead.

Robin

 

Jaff

Registered Member

• Oct 26, 2010

• #12

Coming at this from the other direction though, if these things are just for fun then where's the harm in keeping it as a category for the future so at least what ardent digiscopers are left will still have their own competition where they don't have to compete with DSLR's. Maybe altering the rules slightly like having a 2 year limit on shots will yield more entries next time.

Maybe even the time is right for the whole concept of monthly photo comps to be overhauled and refreshed for next year and we could get a thread going now to see what suggestions members might have about future categories or for any changes in the structure of the competitions. :t:

 

Dr Manjeet Singh

Dr.Manjeet Singh

• Oct 27, 2010

• #13

Jaff said:

Coming at this from the other direction though, if these things are just for fun then where's the harm in keeping it as a category for the future so at least what ardent digiscopers are left will still have their own competition where they don't have to compete with DSLR's. Maybe altering the rules slightly like having a 2 year limit on shots will yield more entries next time.

Maybe even the time is right for the whole concept of monthly photo comps to be overhauled and refreshed for next year and we could get a thread going now to see what suggestions members might have about future categories or for any changes in the structure of the competitions. :t:

Click to expand...

Agree with Jaff...at least two years entry does give us some time to get the best picture..lol..:t:

 

Dr Manjeet Singh

Dr.Manjeet Singh

• Oct 27, 2010

• #14

Just voted people..yes i am sure you can guess...lol...Paul for me..:t:

 

IanF

Moderator

• Oct 27, 2010

• #15

It would be a shame to do away with Digiscpoing as a theme but really even 30 entries was barely enough to make it worthwhile, dropping to 13 definitely isn't worth running it on it's own. We may run it alongside another theme next year. I think myself the issue may well be that many people have swapped to using a DSLRs and compact cameras with longer lenses now - as I've done as well. I think digiscoping is definitely on the decline compared to just a couple of years ago. It never was an easy technique and for most obtaining a record shot is/was suffice rather than something to share/post online.

Any suggestions for additional themes will always be welcome. Really they need to be fairly broad and not too specific so many members with varying equipment/ability can enter.

 

Jaff

Registered Member

• Oct 27, 2010

• #16

Well it's certainly more easy to find the time to look through and vote on 13 entries as opposed to 50 or 60 which has been the case with some this year, I know I didn't vote on those simply because it was too exhausting to go through them all.

Instead of digiscoped birds we could make it into general digiscoping so any animal, bird or other can be included so long as it was digiscoped perhaps.

 

Tero

Retired

• Oct 27, 2010

• #17

Tough decision, I liked three, and did not vote for the best technical picture though I easily could have. Good job all.

 

christineredgate

Winner of the Copeland Wildlife Photographer of th

• Oct 27, 2010

• #18

It will be so sad if this section of the competions closes.My reason for joining BF was purely due to digiscoping.The site was recommended to me soley for this type of photography.But yes,13 entries are not very good,albeit I guess there are many more digiscopers on the forum than just 13!!!

 

Marmot

Well-known member

• Oct 28, 2010

• #19

Even the voting figures are going down as well, so far only 67 people have voted..they cant blame it on looking through a load of pictures this time.

 

Brian Du Bretagne

Brian McCombe.

• Oct 28, 2010

• #20

I am sure some people will criticise this post,However everyone is entitled to their opinion.This is mine and no pulled punches !!!
My point is this,
There are many brilliant digiscopers today with stunning images to share but unfortunately some of them (not all) are very "elitist" and "wrapped up" in their own little "what camera or lens can i buy next syndrome"."Photographic Snobs" if you like.Unwilling to share their images or knowlege except amongst their closest "cronies".There are also certain photographers (non digiscopers) who consider digiscoping to be a "lower form of photography" and are simply not interested in digscoped images. (look at the voting figures !!!).I don't agree with Robin Edwards earlier post that digiscoped images are "inferior" to Dslr's.He should check the net and he will find "incredible" digiscoped images,equally impressive as Dslr's
As a "novice" digiscoper,i digiscope for my love of birds and try very hard to improve my images day by day.
We need more people like Paul Hackett who is a "True Digiscoper".Always ready to give helpful and practical advise.
I'm so sorry that the level of entries was so low this year.
A round of applause to Ian F for trying.

 

Last edited: Oct 28, 2010