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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Hauksen" data-source="post: 3589458" data-attributes="member: 142861">Hi everyone,In the recent thread "Straight or Angled", Etudiant mentioned the advantages of using a shoulder stock to stabilize the view through a hand-held scope.<a href="http://www.birdforum.net/showthread.php?t=346479" target="_blank">http://www.birdforum.net/showthread.php?t=346479</a>Intrigued by the idea and aided by Sancho's feedback on his experience with commerically available shoulder stocks, I designed and printed parts for a simple shoulder stock to use with my Nikon ED50. As I have both a straight and an angled body, I thought this would be interesting to try out.Here is what it looks like:[ATTACH]633058[/ATTACH]To keep cost down, the length of the stock consists of a beech staff of 25 mm diameter and, presently, 220 mm length. Length adjustment is by means of a hacksaw <img src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7" class="smilie smilie--sprite smilie--sprite1" alt=":)" title="Smile    :)" loading="lazy" data-shortname=":)" /> I had planned to use PVC tubing, but as the hardware store didn't have it available in 25 mm, I went for wood, which looks nicer anyhow. It's a bit heavier though. The printed parts fit over the beech staff so well that it proved unnecessary to secure them with screws as originally intended.So far, I've tried the shoulder stock with my ...- Panasonic FZ1000 bridge camera with red dot/reflex sight,- Nikon ED50A (angled),- Nikon ED50 (straight).For the camera in conjunction with a reflex sight, the shoulder stock is great. While I didn't have any birds around for testing, the well-defined position of the camera clearly makes it (yet) easier to use the reflex sight for tracking.With the Nikon ED50A, the shoulder stock gives a very nicely stable view, from a fairly relaxed position. It's not tripod-stable obviously, but a clear improvment over using it hand-held. With the zoom eye-piece, I'm comfortable at 30x magnification, but I probably wouldn't regularly go to 40x.To my suprise, the shoulder stock does not feel as good with the straight ED50 as it does with the angled one. This is owed to the fact that one has to raise the arms higher to hold the scope, which isn't nearly as relaxed, and the steadiness of the image accordingly is not as good as with the angled ED50. The hand on the focus dial also has to be held a little higher, adding to the feeling of subtle inconvenience.(All these tests were made from the comfort of my living room while it was pouring outside, so I still have to test the shoulder stock in the field.)Regards,Henning</blockquote>

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