Thanks Ernie. It certainly will make a big meal for the family. Neil.
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Nikon P5100 (1 Viewer)
- Thread starter Neil
- Start date
Thanks Ernie. It certainly will make a big meal for the family. Neil.
jason stannage
Well-known member
hi neil, does the swarovski dca fit on to the swarovski 30 x eyepiece, tried to test it last week with the camera but had problems with the dca and eyepiece cheers jason.
Jason,
Most people have the DCA Zoom which is a bit loose on the fixed eyepieces. I use tennis racket grip tightly wound around the camera end of the eyepiece to make the DCA collar a tight fit. Problem solved. Neil.
I placed a provisional order with my dealer for Nikon P5100, Nikon UR-E20 adapter and Kowa 28mm adapter. I want him to ship the lot together to save postage. He is still waiting for Nikon UR-E20 adapter.
I am now considering a different route. I can buy a substitute for the Nikon UR-E20 adapter at http://www.srb-griturn.com/28mm-adaptor-sleeve-for-coolpix-50005100-1374-p.asp as already posted above.
My query is:
The adapter described at srb-griturn has a 28mm thread at the front end. The Kowa scope adapter TSN DA1 has a 28mm thread (as close as I can measure). Do I still need to buy a Kowa 28mm adapter ring?
If I do, does anybody know of a cheaper adapter ring that will do the same job? At £50.00 the Kowa 28mm adapter is a real rip off.
I am now considering a different route. I can buy a substitute for the Nikon UR-E20 adapter at http://www.srb-griturn.com/28mm-adaptor-sleeve-for-coolpix-50005100-1374-p.asp as already posted above.
My query is:
The adapter described at srb-griturn has a 28mm thread at the front end. The Kowa scope adapter TSN DA1 has a 28mm thread (as close as I can measure). Do I still need to buy a Kowa 28mm adapter ring?
If I do, does anybody know of a cheaper adapter ring that will do the same job? At £50.00 the Kowa 28mm adapter is a real rip off.
Hi
My friend has a Kowa scope & is using the P5100 with a home made adapter (he is a metal worker) but the results are not sharp. What is the process i.e
1. We focus the scope on the bird/object. (He has a 20 x - 60x Eye piece & has it set on 20x)
2. Add the camera (Uses AF & 100 ISO, he also zooms in to get rid of the vignetting)
3. View the image on the camera & take pic (which I find hunts a bit, before taking the pic. I'm used to using a SLR)
Can someone help us with regards to our settings are we using the right ones, what do you do? Do you have the camera AF area mode set to CENTER FOCUSING?
If the object is sharp in the scope would you expect to get a reasonible decent photo? I wonder if we are getting some movement somewhere which is being magnified resulting in a poor images.
Philip
My friend has a Kowa scope & is using the P5100 with a home made adapter (he is a metal worker) but the results are not sharp. What is the process i.e
1. We focus the scope on the bird/object. (He has a 20 x - 60x Eye piece & has it set on 20x)
2. Add the camera (Uses AF & 100 ISO, he also zooms in to get rid of the vignetting)
3. View the image on the camera & take pic (which I find hunts a bit, before taking the pic. I'm used to using a SLR)
Can someone help us with regards to our settings are we using the right ones, what do you do? Do you have the camera AF area mode set to CENTER FOCUSING?
If the object is sharp in the scope would you expect to get a reasonible decent photo? I wonder if we are getting some movement somewhere which is being magnified resulting in a poor images.
Philip
blueflame2007
New member
Hi Neil, I'm a big Nikon fan and presently have the d70s, the d200 and d300 plus a bag full of varying lenses. A few months ago I bought the p5100 for no other reason other than not to be luggin a big dslr around all the time. It was only when reading reviews after I purchased that I became aware of its use in digiscoping. I was not aware of, nor knew anything about digiscoping prior to this. Since then having done a considerable amount of research on the web I have learned a little bit and have purchased a Kowa TSN 883 scope with three eyepieces the 25LER, THE 30X and the 20-60 zoom. My main crib at the moment is the poor quality of view through the screen of the 5100 while attempting to focus on the target. I have ordered a hood with a magnifier attached, have you any experience of these. I am awaiting a remote cable from SRB also, they sent the bracket and forgot to include the cable. I,ve also ordered from them the swing out system for the 30x eyepiece, not sure if this will be a sucess as I have not seen too much talk about it. Are many guys using the swing outs. Have you considered putting a tutorial for posting on the p5100 on the various settings and techniques for beginners like myself. Sure would be much appreciated, keep up the good work.
Are many guys using the swing outs. Have you considered putting a tutorial for posting on the p5100 on the various settings and techniques for beginners like myself. Sure would be much appreciated, keep up the good work.[/QUOTE]
Welcome to the Digiscoping Club. You've dived straight in to the quality end so you're learning curve will be shorter. I must admit to being a bit of a Nikon junkie myself, going back to the F3 .
For adapters, I like the Kowa DA adapters (similar to the Swarovski DCA ). They are very well made and easy to take on and off. I just hang the camera by it's strap over the scope while I focus the scope first. I've found with the P5100 that it's screen is bright enough (best of all my digicams ) to achieve focus quickly. I don't use a remote control with this camera but occasionally use the Self-timer. I've recently bought a hoodman to make the camera easier to use in bright light , but I normally like to sit in the shade as it's very hot and humid here for 8 months of the year.
http://www.hoodmanusa.com/prodinfo.asp?number=H-LPP
Most of the points you raised are normally covered in the threads here. This P5100 thread is one of the better ones and most of the settings and techniques should have been covered. No one person has all the answers and I'm still learning from the wealth of knowledge shared in this forum. I even went over to the "canon side" after reading experiences here ( the Canon A640 is one of the best digiscoping cameras ever with the worst screen). It will work very well with the Kowa 25x.
These are the sort of tips that are strewn throughout the thread
"For my mudflat digiscoping I use a small Slik tripond at it's lowest setting with the legs spread wide and jammed into the sand ( I sit on the sand for this type of digiscoping ). I have the Manfrotto 501 Video Head with the arm turned up so that I can hold the arm and the shutter with the same hand while focusing with the other."
Keep us updated on your progress, Neil.
Welcome to the Digiscoping Club. You've dived straight in to the quality end so you're learning curve will be shorter. I must admit to being a bit of a Nikon junkie myself, going back to the F3 .
For adapters, I like the Kowa DA adapters (similar to the Swarovski DCA ). They are very well made and easy to take on and off. I just hang the camera by it's strap over the scope while I focus the scope first. I've found with the P5100 that it's screen is bright enough (best of all my digicams ) to achieve focus quickly. I don't use a remote control with this camera but occasionally use the Self-timer. I've recently bought a hoodman to make the camera easier to use in bright light , but I normally like to sit in the shade as it's very hot and humid here for 8 months of the year.
http://www.hoodmanusa.com/prodinfo.asp?number=H-LPP
Most of the points you raised are normally covered in the threads here. This P5100 thread is one of the better ones and most of the settings and techniques should have been covered. No one person has all the answers and I'm still learning from the wealth of knowledge shared in this forum. I even went over to the "canon side" after reading experiences here ( the Canon A640 is one of the best digiscoping cameras ever with the worst screen). It will work very well with the Kowa 25x.
These are the sort of tips that are strewn throughout the thread
"For my mudflat digiscoping I use a small Slik tripond at it's lowest setting with the legs spread wide and jammed into the sand ( I sit on the sand for this type of digiscoping ). I have the Manfrotto 501 Video Head with the arm turned up so that I can hold the arm and the shutter with the same hand while focusing with the other."
Keep us updated on your progress, Neil.
pinussen
Well-known member
Hi Philip,
I use two Kowa scopes with the P5100. My TSN-821 and dads TSN-883 when I can. I never get a focused pic by focusing the scope first and then attaching the camera, the focus is always off. I guess it can depend on several things like your eyesight, your eyes ability to "correct" some bad focusing (try to look att different parts of the view in the eyepeace without changeing the focus and you will see that your eyes can compensate for not correct focus), distance of camera to the eyepeace (does that effect focus?anyone know?).
The method I use are
-attach camera using my homemade Delrin adapter. Just a slide on with set screw.
-slide it down or up until the edge of the vigenetting circle is sharp and fasten with the set screw.
-zoom in on the subject.
-halfpress camera trigger.
-focus scope.
I also vary between autofocus or "landscape" mode (infinity focus), not sure which works best. I guess autofocus is good when it's hard to judge the sharpness on the screen due to sunlight. Focus is really hard to get perfect, I always keep one hand on the focuser and the other on the trigger. I don't think I have one perfectly focused pic yet, I've only been doing this for a couple of months
Regards Björn
I use two Kowa scopes with the P5100. My TSN-821 and dads TSN-883 when I can. I never get a focused pic by focusing the scope first and then attaching the camera, the focus is always off. I guess it can depend on several things like your eyesight, your eyes ability to "correct" some bad focusing (try to look att different parts of the view in the eyepeace without changeing the focus and you will see that your eyes can compensate for not correct focus), distance of camera to the eyepeace (does that effect focus?anyone know?).
The method I use are
-attach camera using my homemade Delrin adapter. Just a slide on with set screw.
-slide it down or up until the edge of the vigenetting circle is sharp and fasten with the set screw.
-zoom in on the subject.
-halfpress camera trigger.
-focus scope.
I also vary between autofocus or "landscape" mode (infinity focus), not sure which works best. I guess autofocus is good when it's hard to judge the sharpness on the screen due to sunlight. Focus is really hard to get perfect, I always keep one hand on the focuser and the other on the trigger. I don't think I have one perfectly focused pic yet, I've only been doing this for a couple of months
Regards Björn
notatwitcher!
Registered Gadget Freak
Im getting some better (slightly) success now with focussing my Kowa then using the DA adapter to bayonet on the P5100, but using centre spot focus - on the legs as Neil suggested earlier. 400 ASA, centre exposure, aperture priority. Just need to get closer and persuade the bird not to move!
Mike
Mike
Hi,
For those of you experienced digiscopers...question about tripods...I have a pretty good Swarovski tripod...when I have the picture in view that I want to photograph...the camera is attached, and I'm looking through the LCD on the camera...I go to lock the tripod to take the pic...the camera drops down quite a bit and I lose the image....I almost have to position the tripod head up a lot higher than the image and hope that when I lock it, it will drop into the image range...what am I doing wrong?
For those of you experienced digiscopers...question about tripods...I have a pretty good Swarovski tripod...when I have the picture in view that I want to photograph...the camera is attached, and I'm looking through the LCD on the camera...I go to lock the tripod to take the pic...the camera drops down quite a bit and I lose the image....I almost have to position the tripod head up a lot higher than the image and hope that when I lock it, it will drop into the image range...what am I doing wrong?
Feathered one
Well-known member
You need to be able to balance the scope on the tripod using one of these, you can then move the scope forwards and backwards on the tripod head to achieve balance.
http://www.swoptics.co.uk/view.asp?key=2242&link=froogle
Malc
http://www.swoptics.co.uk/view.asp?key=2242&link=froogle
Malc
I've just bought the Nikon P5100. Still getting familiar with it. I can't digiscope due to following problem.
I bought the srb-griturn 28mm adaptor sleeve (the substitute for the Nikon URE-20).
I wish to fit to a Kowa TSN 883 with 20-60x zoom. I have the Kowa scope adapter TSN-DA10. Measuring with a callipers, the male thread of the TSN-DA10 is 29.5mm. The female thread of the srb-griturn 28mm adaptor sleeve is 27.4 mm.
Will the Kowa 28mm adapter ring connect the two?
Is the thread of the srb-griturn 28mm adaptor sleeve identical to the thread of the Nikon URE-20?
Can anybody tell me if they have successfully connected the srb-griturn 28mm adapter sleeve to the Kowa TSN-DA10. If so, what adapter did you use?
Is there a cheaper alternative to the Kowa 28mm adapter ring?
I bought the srb-griturn 28mm adaptor sleeve (the substitute for the Nikon URE-20).
I wish to fit to a Kowa TSN 883 with 20-60x zoom. I have the Kowa scope adapter TSN-DA10. Measuring with a callipers, the male thread of the TSN-DA10 is 29.5mm. The female thread of the srb-griturn 28mm adaptor sleeve is 27.4 mm.
Will the Kowa 28mm adapter ring connect the two?
Is the thread of the srb-griturn 28mm adaptor sleeve identical to the thread of the Nikon URE-20?
Can anybody tell me if they have successfully connected the srb-griturn 28mm adapter sleeve to the Kowa TSN-DA10. If so, what adapter did you use?
Is there a cheaper alternative to the Kowa 28mm adapter ring?
rb_stern
Richard stern
I think I'm also about to purchase a P5100 and UR-E20 adapter. I too have a Kowa (773) and a DA-10 adapter. At the present time I use a Sony W5 with a Sony 37mm. adapter, that needs a 37mm. Kowa adapter to screw into the DA-10. I asked a couple of people if I would need an adapter to fit the UR-E20 to the DA-10, and got the following answers - Both parts should have 52mm threads so there will be no problem. (Neil, in the Kowa thread), Yes,33mm (dpReview) and yes - 28mm. (dpReview).
Can anybody who actually uses a P-5100/ UR-E20/ Kowa DA-10 tell me which answer is correct?
Thanks,
Richard
Can anybody who actually uses a P-5100/ UR-E20/ Kowa DA-10 tell me which answer is correct?
Thanks,
Richard
notatwitcher!
Registered Gadget Freak
Richard, as earlier post,I use exactly that - P5100, UR-E20, Kowa 773 (with zoom eyepiece), Kowa DA10 which screws on the eyepiece instead of the eyecup - and the Kowa 28mm adapter. The adapter is basically what they call a step-up (or -down, depending which way you look!) between the DA10 and the UR-E20. Unfortunately there appears to be no 3rd party replacement for the 28mm Kowa adapter- the Kowa thread is a proprietary size - or 52mm? - or at least I've not found one - which is sad as the Kowa one costs c.£40 now in the UK - so probably $40 your side of the pond.
The UR-E20 is not 52mm, it is 28 mm so you need the Kowa 28mm (in the same way as you use the 37mm on your Sony set-up now )as I say which steps to to whatever the DA10 thread is. I usually keep the 5100, UR-E20, Kowa 28mm adapter and outside (camera side) of the DA10 asemmbled for quick action if I intend to digiscope, with the eyecup replacement side of the DA10 on the scope - then it bayonets on perfectly aligned . . . .
There is the SRB-Griturn replacement for the UR-E20 but its still 28mm!
Good luck, Mike
The UR-E20 is not 52mm, it is 28 mm so you need the Kowa 28mm (in the same way as you use the 37mm on your Sony set-up now )as I say which steps to to whatever the DA10 thread is. I usually keep the 5100, UR-E20, Kowa 28mm adapter and outside (camera side) of the DA10 asemmbled for quick action if I intend to digiscope, with the eyecup replacement side of the DA10 on the scope - then it bayonets on perfectly aligned . . . .
There is the SRB-Griturn replacement for the UR-E20 but its still 28mm!
Good luck, Mike
Richard,
I obviously haven't connected the lot together yet, but I spoke with Mark of Ace Cameras, Bath this morning and he gave the following advice (He has never given me wrong advice in the past):
The adapter you need is the Kowa 28mm adapter ring. The Kowa reference no. for 28mm Kowa adapter ring is DA1-AR28.
This ring fits both the Kowa TSN-DA10 (770 & 880 series scopes) and the Kowa TSN-DA1 (820 and other older Kowa scopes) digital adapters.
Look here for more info on connecting the lot together:
www.acecameras.co.uk/content/infopages/digiscoping/digiscopingP5100.htm
I hope the great Nikon URE-20 shortage has not spread to Nova Scotia. If it has you may need to contact www.srb-griturn.com/ for a camera adapter.
I hope to take delivery of the Kowa 28mm ring this Friday. I will confirm (or otherwise) that it works. If no delivery by Friday I am away on hols for 2 weeks.
Good luck with your search.
I obviously haven't connected the lot together yet, but I spoke with Mark of Ace Cameras, Bath this morning and he gave the following advice (He has never given me wrong advice in the past):
The adapter you need is the Kowa 28mm adapter ring. The Kowa reference no. for 28mm Kowa adapter ring is DA1-AR28.
This ring fits both the Kowa TSN-DA10 (770 & 880 series scopes) and the Kowa TSN-DA1 (820 and other older Kowa scopes) digital adapters.
Look here for more info on connecting the lot together:
www.acecameras.co.uk/content/infopages/digiscoping/digiscopingP5100.htm
I hope the great Nikon URE-20 shortage has not spread to Nova Scotia. If it has you may need to contact www.srb-griturn.com/ for a camera adapter.
I hope to take delivery of the Kowa 28mm ring this Friday. I will confirm (or otherwise) that it works. If no delivery by Friday I am away on hols for 2 weeks.
Good luck with your search.
Update to my post of last Wednesday:
I received the Kowa 28mm adapter today. (Hols postponed due to bad weather).
It works. It connects the srb-griturn 28mm adapter sleeve (the substitute for the Nikon UR-E20) to Kowa DA-10 scope adapter.
I took a few shots through my open front door in dark, wet, windy weather. I am very impressed with this camera already. Now I must read the 176 page manual and apply some of the settings advocated on this thread. Hopefully that will bring about even better results.
I received the Kowa 28mm adapter today. (Hols postponed due to bad weather).
It works. It connects the srb-griturn 28mm adapter sleeve (the substitute for the Nikon UR-E20) to Kowa DA-10 scope adapter.
I took a few shots through my open front door in dark, wet, windy weather. I am very impressed with this camera already. Now I must read the 176 page manual and apply some of the settings advocated on this thread. Hopefully that will bring about even better results.
steve wood
Well-known member
my P5100 + Griturn adaptor + cable release bracket arrive tomorrow....can't wait.
All this will be attached to my Leica 77mm APO ( Angled)
All this will be attached to my Leica 77mm APO ( Angled)
