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ZEISS DTI thermal imaging cameras. For more discoveries at night, and during the day.

Opticron MM3 + IPhone 5S videoscoping in slow motion (1 Viewer)

Hi, Frank -

The videos look very nice. I recently acquired both pieces of your videoscoping equipment. Were these videos taken with the iPhone hand held?

Steve
 
Steve,

No, I don't have particularly steady hands. Until Opticron debuts their new digiscoping IPhone adapter in the next couple of weeks I opted to pick up a temporary alternative. The Carson Hookupz IPhone adapter. I use it without any of the internal rubber rings and it fits perfectly around the 18x wide angle eyepiece. I don't have the HDF zoom at the moment but I think it had a wider diameter so the Carson wouldn't work. For $11 it is hard to complain about. ;)

http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B00BTBPCWA?pc_redir=1409138939&robot_redir=1
 
Awesome. The youtube works but the first ones don't have video on my PC.
Maybe I need an Apple subscription ;-)

What do you mean that the first ones don't have video on your PC? Do you mean the other videos I posted to YouTube or something with the Great Egret video I linked above?
 
Frank, would you measure the inside diameter of your adaptor for me? Do you think it would fit the Celestron standard zoom eyepiece from an F-ED 80? Thanks,
 
Good point. I do have the HDF zoom so I won't be able to go that route. I do like to tinker though so it's down to the workshop to see if I can come close to replicating that setup.

Steve

Steve,
I don't have the HDF zoom at the moment but I think it had a wider diameter so the Carson wouldn't work.
 
Steve,

Something to consider, the Carson adapter is plastic and actually two pieces. The round section attached to the IPhone holder. I don't remember if it is an interlocking press fit design by itself or if there was a small amount of glue utilized in addition. I accidentally discovered this when I pulled a bit too hard and at the wrong angle when removing it from the spotter. A little bit of glue fixed it right up and I haven't had an issue since. Since you mentioned tinkering I wonder if you couldn't just remove the circular eyepiece section and reattach something of your own design.

Just a thought.

http://youtu.be/fvUlOaUFgKk
 
Thanks for the thought. I'll let you know if I can first put together something out of plywood and 2x4's. I promise not to put any patents on it!

Steve
 
My latest attempt. Great Blue Geron slow motion digiscoped video via the Opticron and the Ipgone 5 S. I was a little behind the bird as I was trying to videoscope a Belted Kingfisher when the Heron flew through the field of view.

http://youtu.be/N5w3uFiRVGU
 
My latest attempt. Great Blue Geron slow motion digiscoped video via the Opticron and the Ipgone 5 S. I was a little behind the bird as I was trying to videoscope a Belted Kingfisher when the Heron flew through the field of view.

http://youtu.be/N5w3uFiRVGU

That's excellent tracking! The video is pretty good considering
all those frames exposed. Not as ghostly as some other videos.
I think you had an excellent lighting angle. Awesome for 50mm!
 
Thanks ON. I will continue to refine the craft. There is always room for improvement.

Speaking of ghostly though, I went in the opposite direction (technique wise) and tried my hand at a brief time-lapse video. Same setup as previously mentioned. You can see what the conditions were at the lake yesterday morning in the video..... ;)

http://youtu.be/jdBQheMzMfY
 
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The time-lapse is fantastic!
The contrast is better with more exposure, and the movement of the fog actually helps the
optic cortex further improve the perceived saturation.

Egrets and herons are especially well suited for long-time views.
Like any fisherman they have to be patient. One way to find a heron far away
is to look for the stick that doesn't move in the wind.
 
Thanks ON and Steve. I am having a great deal of fun tinkering with all the new IOS 8 features on the Iphone. It is so easy and yet offers so many creative options. A "regular" video of the same bird can be found at:

http://youtu.be/M1_sn_Yfvrs
 
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