digiscoping - anyone do it here?

i am toying with a digiscope set up using my pentax dslr and a scope - any tips?

paul

I tried it with an astronomical telescope (4.5" newtonian reflector). My biggest problem was getting a secure connection on the eyepiece with the camera. Most important tip is not to drop the camera (or knock the scope over) both of which are easier than you think.

Some digiscopes either come with (or have available) a T2 mount adapter. The issue is that the odd eyepiece angle for most them makes it tricky to stop the attached camera from pulling the scope over to the side.

To solve it I purchased a Manfrotto 293 lens support to help keep it steady and it worked! Also useful for long telephotos that don't have their own tripod attachment.

Having tried it though I didn't find the results as good as a dedicated camera lens, but it was only a fairly cheap scope so perhaps to be expected.

John

I've toyed with the idea and looked at digiscoping a lot over the years - mostly from a bird photography point of view. I've come to the conclusion that for that purpose the scope is far more critical than the camera. I have seen some stunning pictures with a very cheap compact and a very expensive Swarovski scope. Not many good ones with DSLR's. I also came to the conclusion that good results could be obtained while under certain specific conditions of good light and static birds at low level and great distance. I also concluded that it was too much hassle and expense for the limited use I would get. May be different for astronomy though. Just my opinion, others swear by it.

I've used a cheap Tasco scope, to photograph powerboats at over half a mile. Results were better than I would have got cropping a shorter lens but not by much. The images just looking through the scope being much better.
I suspect that the camera amplifies any errors in the scope - so as said above an excellent scope is required to get good results.
You'll also need a VERY sturdy tripod, & careful focusing - with no aperture control the focus varies considerably at distances most of my telephoto lenses would think were well into the infinity band.

I've had a little go at it using an Acuter 80mm. This has a T2 thread under the eyepeice rubber so was easy to mount a Pentax on to it.
Had mixed results and being honest the best was after making an adapter to fit over a Fuji compact digital. With the T2 fitting I fitted extention tubes to it and then the camera which gave a more adjustable zoom with different tubes.
These are a reasonable price scope if you just want to play. There is a difference in this and a £800 opticron but for £150 I think it aint half bad.

Here is a link to Fliker pictures taken with a 35mm film camera, Before I had Digital. The pictures across the sea are from Hunstanton across the Wash to Butlins at Skegness.

http://flic.kr/s/aHsjzr1ZpL

Patty