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Camera-Eyepiece Zeiss DC4 (1 Viewer)
- Thread starter filipek
- Start date
SteveClifton
Well-known member
I've just read it through again, and these are some of the disadvantages:
Slight shutter lag when operated by the remote control (but this is partly compensated for by the 5 shot burst rate at 0.3 second intervals)
Only 4 mega pixels, but we all know the pixel count isn't everything
Large and cumbersome
Expensive at £990
Heavy at 795g
fastest shutter speed is 1/200 second
Limited to 40x fixed on the 85mm scope (30x on the 65)
My own opinion is that this is a nice idea, but not quite so successful in practice-a bit like Kowa's TD-1 which had technology which was obsolete by the time it hit the market.
I personally would think you would get better performance and flexibility for considerably less than half the price of the DC4, by buying a modern compact camera and adapter. Perhaps in another 5 years they will have perfected the design, but then again....
Steve
Slight shutter lag when operated by the remote control (but this is partly compensated for by the 5 shot burst rate at 0.3 second intervals)
Only 4 mega pixels, but we all know the pixel count isn't everything
Large and cumbersome
Expensive at £990
Heavy at 795g
fastest shutter speed is 1/200 second
Limited to 40x fixed on the 85mm scope (30x on the 65)
My own opinion is that this is a nice idea, but not quite so successful in practice-a bit like Kowa's TD-1 which had technology which was obsolete by the time it hit the market.
I personally would think you would get better performance and flexibility for considerably less than half the price of the DC4, by buying a modern compact camera and adapter. Perhaps in another 5 years they will have perfected the design, but then again....
Steve
For me these are the big problems... though as I understand it Zeiss have sold all of the units they produced so you'd struggle to buy one anyway.
Paul Hackett
Well-known member
Hi Marcean
Taking into account the points raised above,
the DC4 does what it says it does, it observes and takes pictures of your subject in a very simple way
I dont think you can honestly compare it to newer camera models due to improvements?
Zeiss have sold the majority of the 1000 units that were manufactured
Here is as a link to Stephen Ingrahams website showing many pictures taken with the DC4
http://flickr.com/photos/1stcoastdigiscoping/sets/72157600149829960/
Also Mike Mcdowells review on his website
http://www.birddigiscoping.com/2007/01/dc4-review.html
If you look in my BF Gallery there a few pics taken with the DC4?
Regards
Paul
Last edited:
I'd not realised that there were any left to sell. Do you know if you'll be bringing one along to the Zeiss day at Cley at the end of the month? I'd like to have another play with one.
steadybirder
New member
Hi folks..
I have one of these units and an 85 diascope and I wouldnt be without it, like Paul says you cant compare the DC4 to a cumbersome camera and adaptor set-up, the ease of use and the flexibility of the unit is amazing. The only issue I have with it is that the unit needs to be detached from the scope body every time the batteries need replacing, however I leave it on standby and it will last a good session of birding when out and about and then springs to life at the touch of the remote when you need it.
I'm no photography expert and leave everything on automatic and I assure you I have taken some "very" nice photos thorugh this, IMOH its well worth the money, LCE still have a second hand unit in apparently excellent contion for sale at around 700.00 odd pund and I think SW optics still have one new.
All in all I guarantee anyone that can get there hands on one of these wont be dissapointed, oh the only other problem is be prepared to be the centre of attention in every hide
I have one of these units and an 85 diascope and I wouldnt be without it, like Paul says you cant compare the DC4 to a cumbersome camera and adaptor set-up, the ease of use and the flexibility of the unit is amazing. The only issue I have with it is that the unit needs to be detached from the scope body every time the batteries need replacing, however I leave it on standby and it will last a good session of birding when out and about and then springs to life at the touch of the remote when you need it.
I'm no photography expert and leave everything on automatic and I assure you I have taken some "very" nice photos thorugh this, IMOH its well worth the money, LCE still have a second hand unit in apparently excellent contion for sale at around 700.00 odd pund and I think SW optics still have one new.
All in all I guarantee anyone that can get there hands on one of these wont be dissapointed, oh the only other problem is be prepared to be the centre of attention in every hide