Anyone digiscope here??

CAT-THE-FIFTH · 19 Dec 2012 at 18:06

I was wondering if any one uses a spotting scope with a compact or SLR?? How is it practice and what are the pitfalls of using such a setup. I already have a Sigma 135-400MM which I use for a few things.

I am looking at taking pictures of a few birds,etc??

Looking at perhaps picking up a spotting scope in he £200 to £300 range. Any brands or models worth considering?

footman · 20 Dec 2012 at 08:58

I got a second-hand Nikon spotting scope earlier this year and did a fair bit of research into digiscoping.
I decided that by the time I'd bought a suitable compact camera and connection kit I'd be better off using the photo gear I already had.
Admittedly I have made a considerable investment in wildlife photo gear and after looking at the quality of the digiscoping images I saw on the web I decided not to get into digiscoping.

It makes sense to me to keep bird photography and scoping separate from each other, I can enjoy each activity better that way.
If however you feel that your present photo gear would not give you the image quality you desire then maybe digiscoping is something you'd enjoy.
Slightly OT I bought a Kenko Lens2Scope just to see how it would work and when used with my longer lenses is good fun. At just over £100 I felt it was good value, YMMV though.

CAT-THE-FIFTH · 20 Dec 2012 at 13:47

Thanks!

Ultimately,I would like to pick up a Sigma 150-500MM or 50-500MM,as I do take pictures of aircraft too. However,I would want to invest in a new body too,so that won't be happening at least for the immediate future.

I managed to pick up a Acuter ST22-67X100A for a low price(it costs around £210 on WEX but I got it much cheaper),and put the money saved towards the telephoto lens budget. I will probably adapt my Canon S95 then and see how it goes. It should be a bit of relatively inexpensive fun!!

ianh · 20 Dec 2012 at 16:25

I'm not entirely sure whether you'd want to use one as they're more for point and shoots but when I used to hunt these were very popular on the hunting forums for attaching a camera to a rifle scope -

It's a Seben DKA2 and costs around £25-30.

CAT-THE-FIFTH · 20 Dec 2012 at 16:38

Thanks!! That looks a good way of attaching a compact to the scope.

TheAnimus · 21 Dec 2012 at 11:41

CAT-THE-FIFTH said:
Ultimately,I would like to pick up a Sigma 150-500MM or 50-500MM,as I do take pictures of aircraft too. However,I would want to invest in a new body too,so that won't be happening at least for the immediate future.

Don't do the 50. Get the 150. For the price difference is very large. £350 today, but also the 150 is slightly sharper at the higher end.

What is interesting is a lot of people saying the IS in the 150 isn't worth choosing it over, as at around the 300mm the 50-500 is sharper is concensus. But if you want a sharp 300mm, you can get lighter, sharper, faster options! In fact, this is what I noticed with the help of the guys at SRS when playing with the 50-500. When you think it would cost 'only' £200 more two get the 150-500mm sigma & a DA* 60-250mm...... Thou I've not found I'm disapointed really to want the 60-250mm yet......

CAT-THE-FIFTH · 21 Dec 2012 at 16:07

TheAnimus said:
Don't do the 50. Get the 150. For the price difference is very large. £350 today, but also the 150 is slightly sharper at the higher end.

What is interesting is a lot of people saying the IS in the 150 isn't worth choosing it over, as at around the 300mm the 50-500 is sharper is concensus. But if you want a sharp 300mm, you can get lighter, sharper, faster options! In fact, this is what I noticed with the help of the guys at SRS when playing with the 50-500. When you think it would cost 'only' £200 more two get the 150-500mm sigma & a DA* 60-250mm...... Thou I've not found I'm disapointed really to want the 60-250mm yet......

Thanks!! £350 would be a decent chunk of a wide angle standard lens,which would still probably be the main lens on whatever system I eventually get.