Best Swarovski Scope setup for digiscoping (1 Viewer)

[nmerc_photos]

apologies if this is the wrong forum for this. I looked at the digiscoping specific options, and the subforum options didn't seem to match what I'm looking for

I am coming mainly from a photography background and have a Nikon Z9 + 600TC.

I was just out in Yellowstone and while watching one of the wolf pack 1-2 miles away, I was unsuccessfully trying to take pics when a guy next to me who I think had the ATX 95 + Ollin setup was getting great 4k video with his iphone attached. It got me interested in digiscoping.

It seems like a lot of the info is far and few between, and a lot of the posts I find are very old. I bet their general premise holds true, but technology also moves fast and I'm interested in the cutting edge.

if budget was no object - what would the ideal "best" setup look like?

I figured just going ATX 115 would be great. Then I did some reading and people mentioned that a lot of the "top" digiscopers prefer the ATX 85mm. Is this true? If so, why? Who are some of the best digiscopers? I'd love to see their work.

then I started learning about the BTX. it seems a better option overall for using the scope - but may make digiscoping specifically more difficult. but ollin does have an adapter that supposedly works for that.

my primary use would be wolves, mountain lions, and mountain goats in the Yellowstone ecosystem. a secondary may be scanning fields for Short Eared Owls here locally in Michigan. but all of these options may have too much magnification to be useful at the "short ranges" compared to miles out in Yellowstone.

any feedback, ideas, or links to portfolios, videos, other threads, etc. is greatly appreciated

 

[Jason Bugay Reyes]

If you want to watch comfortably with the scope and do digiscoping with it when you want, get the BTX 95 or 115 . Bigger glass will yield better details and faster shutter speed with your smartphone through VPA 2 adapter / Ollin or with your Z9 and TLS APO 40 adapter. I have these setup except the Ollin including STX module. But I preferred more on the former for my works etc

 

[DRodrigues]

You can use your Z9 to digiscopy with a X115, with auto-focus - see Digiscopy with X115 and a6000 but you probably will need another adapter (there is one produced in USA that I'm not remembering the producer name...), and a +- 50mm lens that is compatible with disicopy. I use the compact zoom of my a6000 but probably would have better results with a fixed lens, as also if would be using a a6700 - I'm waiting for a new model with higher resolution...
Regarding the digiscopy with the X85 - it's for those doing digiscopy at close distances, that is not your case - the minimum magnification is 25x and not 30x as with the X95/X115. The X85 also had better glass than the X95 but the X115 also has better glass and even more light!

 

[nmerc_photos]

If you want to watch comfortably with the scope and do digiscoping with it when you want, get the BTX 95 or 115 . Bigger glass will yield better details and faster shutter speed with your smartphone through VPA 2 adapter / Ollin or with your Z9 and TLS APO 40 adapter. I have these setup except the Ollin including STX module. But I preferred more on the former for my works etc

Thank you for the feedback Jason! I followed you on IG and looked at your blog, and love your stuff!

Do you have any issue with the BTX being a fixed magnification as opposed to the ATX zoom?

I'm thinking the BTX 85 or 95 may be the best all arounder for me. Seems the 115 will let in more light which would help in the morning and evening, but at a greater cost/weight trade off that might not be worth it. and no appreciable image quality increase.

You can use your Z9 to digiscopy with a X115, with auto-focus - see Digiscopy with X115 and a6000 but you probably will need another adapter (there is one produced in USA that I'm not remembering the producer name...), and a +- 50mm lens that is compatible with disicopy. I use the compact zoom of my a6000 but probably would have better results with a fixed lens, as also if would be using a a6700 - I'm waiting for a new model with higher resolution...
Regarding the digiscopy with the X85 - it's for those doing digiscopy at close distances, that is not your case - the minimum magnification is 25x and not 30x as with the X95/X115. The X85 also had better glass than the X95 but the X115 also has better glass and even more light!

I'm more so interested in phone digiscoping than trying to use my Z9. My Z9 will most likely always have the 600 attached to it.

If I could buy a cheap camera like an a6700 or something, that would be a good option. I'd need to research it more. Does using a camera add an appreciable amount of image quality?

And ahh I see. I didn't even consider that the "best" digiscopers might be getting pics at short distance. I imagined that everyone using the setup is trying to reach out to distances a normal camera and lens setup wouldn't excel at.

 

[The BulbMogul]

Thank you for the feedback Jason! I followed you on IG and looked at your blog, and love your stuff!

Do you have any issue with the BTX being a fixed magnification as opposed to the ATX zoom?

I'm thinking the BTX 85 or 95 may be the best all arounder for me. Seems the 115 will let in more light which would help in the morning and evening, but at a greater cost/weight trade off that might not be worth it. and no appreciable image quality increase.



I'm more so interested in phone digiscoping than trying to use my Z9. My Z9 will most likely always have the 600 attached to it.

If I could buy a cheap camera like an a6700 or something, that would be a good option. I'd need to research it more. Does using a camera add an appreciable amount of image quality?

And ahh I see. I didn't even consider that the "best" digiscopers might be getting pics at short distance. I imagined that everyone using the setup is trying to reach out to distances a normal camera and lens setup wouldn't excel at.

Your Z9 and 600MM TC F/4 is as good as it gets and sure you are well aware of itt.. I have the same kit along with the 400 TC..

 

[Jason Bugay Reyes]

Thank you for the feedback Jason! I followed you on IG and looked at your blog, and love your stuff!

Do you have any issue with the BTX being a fixed magnification as opposed to the ATX zoom?

Thanks Merc and I'm ok with the fixed magnification with the BTX because I rarely zoomed out while digiscoping with the STX module too from the eyepiece. I tried to get as close as possible to the birds etc and zoomed a bit on the phone to eliminate the vignetting with the STX/BTX scopes

 

[nmerc_photos]

Your Z9 and 600MM TC F/4 is as good as it gets and sure you are well aware of itt.. I have the same kit along with the 400 TC..

For camera gear yes, but I don't believe it can compete with digiscoping from what I've seen at the distances I'm interested in.

I used to be willing to try and shoot anything at any distance with my camera gear, but as I've gotten better - I've learned that no matter how good your camera gear is, if the subject is too far away - the results are gonna be crap.

when I saw the guy with the iPhone and ATX95, I was blown away at the quality he was getting in his video. we compared footage from his phone and my Z9 + 600TC (with TC's, at 600mm, 840mm, 1200mm, and 1680mm) and it was no contest. we were standing right next to eachother when we filmed it as well. speaking with others, perhaps it is the iphone doing in body edits, AI, manipulation etc. I am not sure.

so I'd like to get a setup with a scope for instances where I know the animal is too far away, I can't or won't get any closer, and I can have something to just film and observe from afar.

I suppose that is a bit different than what I was asking for in the OP... I feel like I've learned a lot just in reading and watching videos between the original post and now

Thanks Merc and I'm ok with the fixed magnification with the BTX because I rarely zoomed out while digiscoping with the STX module too from the eyepiece. I tried to get as close as possible to the birds etc and zoomed a bit on the phone to eliminate the vignetting with the STX/BTX scopes

Gotcha. that makes sense. I think your use case is a bit different than mine I might be leaning towards trying an ATX 95 just to save a little on cost. The BTX sounds really cool, but I don't imagine I'll be glassing for hours or looking for new animals. most of the time there will be other people around who have located the animal, and I'm just joining in on the fun

 

[Jason Bugay Reyes]

Gotcha. that makes sense. I think your use case is a bit different than mine I might be leaning towards trying an ATX 95 just to save a little on cost. The BTX sounds really cool, but I don't imagine I'll be glassing for hours or looking for new animals. most of the time there will be other people around who have located the animal, and I'm just joining in on the fun

Most digiscopers are using the 4k video through the scope and frame grab for still images. ATX/STX would be the best choice for you so you can zoom out a bit with the video. Get the VPA 2 phone adapter too.

Tara Tanaka Digiscoped Photography Tara Tanaka uses ATX85 for her images...

 

[ReinierB]

Most digiscopers are using the 4k video through the scope and frame grab for still images. ATX/STX would be the best choice for you so you can zoom out a bit with the video. Get the VPA 2 phone adapter too.

Tara Tanaka Digiscoped Photography Tara Tanaka uses ATX85 for her images...

Which tripod do you use for your ATX/BTX (85 or 95?) Is it the PCT carbon tripod from Swarovski? Do you like it and find it stable enough? Which head are you using?

 

[Jason Bugay Reyes]

Which tripod do you use for your ATX/BTX (85 or 95?) Is it the PCT carbon tripod from Swarovski? Do you like it and find it stable enough? Which head are you using?

I have the CCT and CTH for the ATC56 and PCT and PTH for the bigger scopes. So far so good

 

[ReinierB]

I have the CCT and CTH for the ATC56 and PCT and PTH for the bigger scopes. So far so good

May I ask, if you extend the legs fully without extending the center column, what is the length difference between the two tripods?
I am also curious what the difference in leg diameters is between the two.
If you don't feel answering those questions, no problem .

 

[Jason Bugay Reyes]

May I ask, if you extend the legs fully without extending the center column, what is the length difference between the two tripods?
I am also curious what the difference in leg diameters is between the two.
If you don't feel answering those questions, no problem .

I will measure it tomorrow 😍

 

[ReinierB]

I will measure it tomorrow 😍

That would be very kind. Thank you!

 

[snedker]

Hello
I just looked at videos from Tara tanaka and its beautiful ..... certain that most of them is pretty close distance ! And very long distance is most of the time not possible - heatwaves spoils any photo , regardless any gear
I`m using btx/95 ,pct tripod ,pth gimbalhead and iphone 13 pro and unless its short distance and the light is spot on ...... its only for dokumentation and could never beat a z9 + 600 tc
Best regards
Jan