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Message: <blockquote data-quote="bartolli" data-source="post: 1242004" data-attributes="member: 66963">Thanks for the comments.IanF: My tripod is a velbon, I will try 10sec release next time I venture forth and see if this has any effect.Maxxx: Could you try to explain what you mean by optical match?I've spent the last 2 afternoons running off loads (approx 1000 in all) of shots in the garden, range about 10m. Approx 80% of the shots I took with no zoom on the camera were ok for focus, whether I used 9 pt or centre focus. When I zoomed the camera, this rate dropped to about 20%. This would be acceptable if I could replicate this in the field where range is usually a lot more than 10m. But I guess if I'm getting 20% at only 10m range then I have no chance at higher ranges!I also tried zooming the scope a bit (but not the camera) and again was getting ok results for focus. This seems to go against general advice to leave the scope unzoomed, I guess maybe I was fortunate that it was light enough.I think I will have to live with not zooming the camera if I'm to get any half-decent shots, and if conditions allow I can zoom my scope a little bit.The attached greenfinch was taken yesterday with the camera unzoomed and handheld to the scope.The first photo was actually one of my first efforts (before I realised you could remove vignetting by zooming the camera!), since then my photos have generally been "a bit poor"! This photo shows 2 canada geese protecting their chicks from a couple of angry lapwings, meanwhile our recent celebrity black winged stilt watches on.Thanks for your time, I will keep you informed of progress (or otherwise!)</blockquote>

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