Here are the new modular Swarovski scopes (1 Viewer)

[horukuru]

I've tried everything with the STX 95 Jason but nothing works. As you found all you can do is have the lens at wide and crop.
This is why I used to like the Kowa 25x LER eyepiece as it could handle cameras like the P7000 and the Canon G Series very well with limited/no vignetting. I have two of them that now can't be used on the new scope.
Neil.

Neil,

Would it be possible if 20x LER can eliminate vignetting ? Why they built 25x LER instead of 20x LER ?

 

[horukuru]

Oriental Pied Hornbill

The same pair nesting on the same tree every year at local beach without bothering picnickers around

Digiscoped with STX 95 + TLS APO + Nikon V1 at 2430mm !

 

[Mike Penfold]

Jason,

Nice shot.

Mike

 

[Neil]

Neil,

Would it be possible if 20x LER can eliminate vignetting ? Why they built 25x LER instead of 20x LER ?

Unfortunately it wouldn't make a difference. I've tried it on the Kowa 20-60 with similar results. For power it's best on a fixed 30/45x eyepiece but you will still need to crop a bit and you still have to have the lens at wide.
Neil

 

[Neil]

Oriental Pied Hornbill

The same pair nesting on the same tree every year at local beach without bothering picnickers around

Digiscoped with STX 95 + TLS APO + Nikon V1 at 2430mm !

View attachment 429700

Impressive.
Neil.

 

[Pasquier]

Oriental Pied Hornbill

The same pair nesting on the same tree every year at local beach without bothering picnickers around

Digiscoped with STX 95 + TLS APO + Nikon V1 at 2430mm !

View attachment 429700

Very impressive indeed - wish my results were as good - guess I have a lot to learn.

 

[horukuru]

Nikon Coolpix P310 and Swarovski STX 95 mm Scope and Sw DCB 11 (using a Manfrotto Sliding Plate for balance )

Neil,

Care to show which Manfrotto Sliding Plate you are using with the STX 95 ?

I was using the Wimberley Head with the STX 95 and thinking to try it with the Manfrotto 502 video head.

 

[Neil]

Neil,

Care to show which Manfrotto Sliding Plate you are using with the STX 95 ?

I was using the Wimberley Head with the STX 95 and thinking to try it with the Manfrotto 502 video head.

This is the one I'm using
http://www.manfrotto.hk/rapid-connect-adapter-with-sliding-mounting-plate-357pl
Neil

 

[horukuru]

This is the one I'm using
http://www.manfrotto.hk/rapid-connect-adapter-with-sliding-mounting-plate-357pl
Neil

One more Neil, can balance the scope with the sliding plate when using TLS APO with Nikon D3 or Nikon D300s plus battery pack ?

Thanks !

 

[mooreorless]

Horukuru, Do you have the extra long sliding mounting plate for your Manfrotto 502?

http://www.adorama.com/BG504PLONG.html

Excellent Hornbill image!

 

[horukuru]

Horukuru, Do you have the extra long sliding mounting plate for your Manfrotto 502?

http://www.adorama.com/BG504PLONG.html

Excellent Hornbill image!

Steve,

I sold the 501 video head last time but retain the 501 Long Plate. Then I got the 502 video head and the plate that came with it exactly the same length like the 501 Long Plate hehehe :king:

I will try tomorrow morning (here) to see if the STX 95 + TSL APO + Nikon D300s is well balance with the 502 video head. If not, I might be buying the Nikon V1 for the STX 95 and keep the D300s for sports photography with my other lenses

Not sure if the 504 Long Plate can fit onto the 502 video head ...

 

[mooreorless]

Horukuru, I should of read the specs on the 502 head, now I see that plate comes with it. That plate is sort of expensive. So you have two of these plates. The 502 head would be cheaper with this plate included, looks the 501 and 502 are about the same weight.

After looking some more, I am not sure what the difference is between the 504 long plate and the 501 Long plate. Have you tried your 501 long plate from your old head in the 502?

 

[horukuru]

Horukuru, I should of read the specs on the 502 head, now I see that plate comes with it. That plate is sort of expensive. So you have two of these plates. The 502 head would be cheaper with this plate included, looks the 501 and 502 are about the same weight.

That plate is the same, at least the numbers are the same and would fit 502 head.

My Nikon EDG85 + Nikon D300s with the 501 long plate on 501 video head still back heavy, that's why I sold the head. When the 502 came out with the long plate, I cannot resist from buying hahaha :king:

 

[mooreorless]

I guess I was editing my post while you were writing. I am not sure why the 502 head works better for you, but I am glad. My 501 can still work for a 100mm refractor, of course I can balance using the rings and that is a big difference.

http://www.birdforum.net/attachment.php?attachmentid=291192&d=1288573985

http://www.birdforum.net/attachment.php?attachmentid=336333&d=1310594787

The picture of the doe, the light levels were getting very low and was about 125 meters away.

 

[horukuru]

I guess I was editing my post while you were writing. I am not sure why the 502 head works better for you, but I am glad. My 501 can still work for a 100mm refractor, of course I can balance using the rings and that is a big difference.

http://www.birdforum.net/attachment.php?attachmentid=291192&d=1288573985

http://www.birdforum.net/attachment.php?attachmentid=336333&d=1310594787

The picture of the doe, the light levels were getting very low and was about 125 meters away.

I like that silvery plate Steve :king: and nice pic too considering the distance

To be honest, I was looking for 501 head after found out the 502 head weight load is less than the 501. But my friend told me the 501 has been discontinued and only 502 head were available at that time.

After using it for a while, I realized the 501 is much better overall in balancing the Nikon EDG85 and there was a bit of jerking when panning with the 502 ...

 

[mooreorless]

Two screws up into that silver plate through the sliding plate. Home made rig. I was surprised that picture turned out as good as it did. The doe had a little one with her, but it was hidden by all the leaves etc. I have one picture that shows some of the fawn, you just barely see a sort of brown with white spots.

 

[proudpapa56]

As much as I'm familiar with the scopes, I'm just beginning with cameras.
So, Jason took a shot with an STX 95 / TLS APO / Nikon V1 at 2430mm.
I have the ATX 95 / TLS APO / and Nikon V1 and am asking what setting the 2430mm correlates with? Or, in other words, what does that mean?

Thanks

 

[RJM]

Nikon has alot of practical info on the art of digiscoping starting here, http://nikon.com/products/sportoptics/how_to/digisco/

Including the graphic below for calculations of effective focal length and F ratio.

The TLS APO is a dumb camera "lens" with a fixed focal length of 30mm. So using the formula in the attachment you calculate the effective focal length as:

ATX eyepiece mag (30x in this case) x 30 = 900mm TRUE lens focal length

But because the Nikon V1 is in not a standard 35mm camera, you must compensate for it's sensor size. This is called "EFFECTIVE focal length". The Nikon 1 sensors have a "crop factor" of 2.7x

So effective fl= 900mm x 2.7 = 2430mm

The lens system F ratio is calculated with the true lens focal length (900mm) divided by the scope aperture of 95mm, so ~ F10. It is not much use for our purposes other than a point of trivia.

 

[Neil]

One more Neil, can balance the scope with the sliding plate when using TLS APO with Nikon D3 or Nikon D300s plus battery pack ?

Thanks !

NO. I tried the D3 and the D800 and it wouldn't balance.
I think the "mirror slap" vibration from these cameras would would be too much using this method. I think you would need a way to stabilise the front of the scope and the camera. One option is to use a short elastic strap over the front of the lens attached to the tripod legs with a light tension on it, just enough to keep the setup balanced and damp vibration. I do this when shooting at 50/60/70 zoom and there is a breeze blowing.
Neil.

 

[proudpapa56]

RJM, thanks for the answer (I think) and the link. I'm glad to be soaking some of this in during the cold months, might be just about ready when the weather is better for more outside time.