Robert L Jarvis
Robert L Jarvis
I use the A95 for digiscoping and find it a very good camera but:-
1) The autofocus could be faster.
2) The processing could also be faster.
3) In burst mode you cannot see the pictures being taken yet you can in A620 and A640, the later generation.
I have always thought that the LCD at 1.8 to be small but did you know this screen has more pixels than the A620 and A640 whose screens are larger i.e. 2 inch and 2.5 inch respectively.
There have been several threads/posts enquiring as to the optimum settings and replies given. Invariably it has always been suggested that Aperture Priority is the way to go and save this to the C setting. Of course there are tweaks to this such as AWB auto, etc, etc etc. Frankly I use many of these tweaks, Exp -1/3, but set images as large and fine and so on. But I do not set the camera to macro mode as some suggest, because I find this just does not work well with autofocus and neither do I find working well is setting it to infinity.
Here is the big "IF" I use my A95 on the sport setting which means the iso is set at auto. I have consistently found that this setting is faster than AP across the range of other settings and/or tweaks than any other thus providing consistently better photos. Sometimes I think people are too bogged down with the technicalities of ISO, Aperture etc instead of just getting on with it and taking your pictures. In the later models this corresponds to pets and children mode.
I recently put a picture of a Long-tailed Tit in the gallery which was taken in sport mode, -1/3, ISO auto(which in fact from the exif data was 100) and auto focus together with the usual tweaks of centre weighted etc. I would not have achieved the quality of that photo using AP of that there is no doubt IMO.
Other views on this would be welcome but what I am trying to say to many is experiment with your camera, see what works best for you, do not without thought accept third party suggestions.
I also think that the best way for digiscoping is a swing away adapter especially if you are a birder as well as a photo taker. If you are not a birder but like to take photos dump your scope and compact and get a dslr with a good lens.
On the subject of the later Canons whilst some vignetting is experienced this is not the anathema that is being portrayed, in fact it is quite wrong. I have tried for myself using the A620 and have to say it works fine for digiscoping. It is a matter of how the equipment is being used and adapter together with the way that is set up.
For a digiscoping camera for the future let me tell you now, have a look at the Canon ixus 900ti, external 3x zoom, 10 mp, Digic 3 processor, 2.5 lcd of 230000 pixels, the only thing is I am not sure if it does bursts or has a mounting screw socket, take a peek for yourself.
Look forward to hearing from you guys.
1) The autofocus could be faster.
2) The processing could also be faster.
3) In burst mode you cannot see the pictures being taken yet you can in A620 and A640, the later generation.
I have always thought that the LCD at 1.8 to be small but did you know this screen has more pixels than the A620 and A640 whose screens are larger i.e. 2 inch and 2.5 inch respectively.
There have been several threads/posts enquiring as to the optimum settings and replies given. Invariably it has always been suggested that Aperture Priority is the way to go and save this to the C setting. Of course there are tweaks to this such as AWB auto, etc, etc etc. Frankly I use many of these tweaks, Exp -1/3, but set images as large and fine and so on. But I do not set the camera to macro mode as some suggest, because I find this just does not work well with autofocus and neither do I find working well is setting it to infinity.
Here is the big "IF" I use my A95 on the sport setting which means the iso is set at auto. I have consistently found that this setting is faster than AP across the range of other settings and/or tweaks than any other thus providing consistently better photos. Sometimes I think people are too bogged down with the technicalities of ISO, Aperture etc instead of just getting on with it and taking your pictures. In the later models this corresponds to pets and children mode.
I recently put a picture of a Long-tailed Tit in the gallery which was taken in sport mode, -1/3, ISO auto(which in fact from the exif data was 100) and auto focus together with the usual tweaks of centre weighted etc. I would not have achieved the quality of that photo using AP of that there is no doubt IMO.
Other views on this would be welcome but what I am trying to say to many is experiment with your camera, see what works best for you, do not without thought accept third party suggestions.
I also think that the best way for digiscoping is a swing away adapter especially if you are a birder as well as a photo taker. If you are not a birder but like to take photos dump your scope and compact and get a dslr with a good lens.
On the subject of the later Canons whilst some vignetting is experienced this is not the anathema that is being portrayed, in fact it is quite wrong. I have tried for myself using the A620 and have to say it works fine for digiscoping. It is a matter of how the equipment is being used and adapter together with the way that is set up.
For a digiscoping camera for the future let me tell you now, have a look at the Canon ixus 900ti, external 3x zoom, 10 mp, Digic 3 processor, 2.5 lcd of 230000 pixels, the only thing is I am not sure if it does bursts or has a mounting screw socket, take a peek for yourself.
Look forward to hearing from you guys.
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