Optical Hardware, Binoculars, telescopes, spotting scopes, digiscoping

Optical Hardware | FAQ's - Freqently asked questions about DIGISCOPING

This pageis for frequently asked questions about digiscoping. If your question is not about digiscoping, click here

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1/ What is Digiscoping ?

Digiscoping is the art of attching a camera to a telescope so that the telescope acts as a very long focal length telephoto lens allowing you to take close up shots from a distance. Digiscoping is very popular with birdwatchers.

For background information and guidance on digiscoping, visit www.digiscopediary.co.uk

this is one of the best sites on the net.

2/ Does the camera have to be digital ?

No it doesn't have to be digital, but digital can be more convenient. You have to be able to see the image through the camera. A 35mm SLR camera can be used through a telescope but 35mm compacts cannot as there is no way to view the image.

Digital SLR's can be used, and most digital compacts have an image screen on the back, so these are usable too.

If you are using a 35mm film SLR camera, click here for for our guidance notes

3/ I have an Olivon T80 scope, which digiscope adaptor should I use ?

There are TWO olivon camera adaptors - the standard adaptar ( Standard DCA ) and the Universal adaptor ( U-DCA ) Which one you need depends on your camera.

SLR Cameras ( digital and film ) require a STANDARD DCA

Digital compact cameras with afilter thread also Require a STANDARD DCA

Digiital compact cameras without a filter thread require the U-DCA

For full information about these adaptors, click here

4/ Which cameras will fit your Illusion range of telescopes ?

The current ( 2008 ) range Camera adaptors for our Illusion scopes are designed for SLR cameras. We may introduce compact camera adaptors later this year.

Check out the illusion range here

5/ My camera is autofocus, how do I focus the camera with the scope attached ?

Focus the scope as normal, viewing the image through the camera viewfinder ( on a SLR ) or on the screen ( diital compact ) make sure the image appears sharp and in focus before you shoot the picture. have a look at www.digiscopediary.co.uk for more information

6/ How do I get correct exposure ?

The camera's built in auto exposure system should take care of this for you, make sure you are set to automatic. On the more sophisticated cameras ( usually SLR's ) with several exposure modes, we suggest you set to aperture priority auto mode.

7/ I have a Nikon SLR and the light meter doesn't work when I attach the scope ?

We undersatnd that some Nikon SLR models will not allow there metering systems to be used when anything other than their own make lenses are fitted to the front.
For such models, you will still be able to attach a scope but getting the correct exposure is very difficult. As far as we know this only applies to a small number of Nikon SLR's, and all Nikon compact digitals should be OK. Refer to your camera's user manual if in doubt.

An alternative strategy is to connect via the filter thread on the camera lens and leave the lens in place on the camera ( ie - use the SLR like a compact camera ) but if you do this BE VERY CAREFUL, the filter thread is not designed to hold the full weight of an SLR camera, you could damage the thread, or worse, the camera itself. You have been warned !

Keep us informed - if you have metering problems with other cameras, please let us know

8/ I'm using an SLR but the image is very dark through the viewfinder and difficult to focus, is this normal ?

Yes, this can be a problem with SLR's. By using a telescope as a lens it acts like a very long focal length telephoto, and so the image as viuewed through the viewfinder can be dark. Focussing takes practice. This isn't so much of a problem with digital compacts because the electronic system can increase the brightness on the screen so the image apperas reasonably bright.

9/ I have an Olivon T80 scope, which digiscope adaptor should I use ?

There are TWO olivon camera adaptors - the standard adaptar ( Standard DCA ) and the Universal adaptor ( U-DCA ) Which one you need depends on your camera.

SLR Cameras ( digital and film ) require a STANDARD DCA

Digital compact cameras with afilter thread also Require a STANDARD DCA

Digiital compact cameras without a filter thread require the U-DCA

For full information about these adaptors, click here

10/ I'm having problems connecting to the Olivon DCA

There Olivon DCA will accept SLR cameras ( via a T2 mount )

and compact cameras with a filter thread ( via a stepping ring )

In the box with the DCA is a small ring - sometimes this is already screwed onto the DCA when it is supplied, sometimes it is sepearte inside the box.

SLR's - If you are using the DCA with an SLR camera. ATTACH THIS RING then add the T2 mount to match your camera

Compact cameras ( with filter thread ) REMOVE THE RING, the the hread on the DCA is 52mm filter thread. This fits quite a number of cameras. If yours is not 52mm, you need to add a stepping ring xx-52mm.

If your compact camera does not have a filter thread, use the UDCA instead of the DCA

For full information about these adaptors, click here

11/ Which cameras will fit your Illusion range of telescopes ?

The current ( 2008 ) range Camera adaptors for our Illusion scopes are designed for SLR cameras. We may introduce compact camera adaptors later this year.

Check out the illusion range here

12/ My camera is autofocus, how do I focus the camera with the scope attached ?

13 /How do I get correct exposure ?

14/ I have a Nikon SLR and the light meter doesn't work when I attach the scope ?

Keep us informed - if you have metering problems with other cameras, please let us know

15/ I'm using an SLR but the image is very dark through the viewfinder and difficult to focus, is this normal ?

16/ Is it true that if I buy an eyepiece with a larger exit pupil this will make digiscoping easier ?

YES - BUT that's only part of the story !

The exit pupil is the area of brightness seen on the eyepiece, the bigger it is, the brighter the image will be. But the size of the exit pupil is directly related to the size of the telescope (or binocular) objective lens and the magnification, not the price or make or model of the instrument. The exit pupil size is approximately the sixe of the objective divided by the magnification, so an 80mm scope with 20x magnification gives an exit pupil of about 4mm (80/20=4 ) At 40x magnification the exit pupil is 2mm ( 80/40 = 2 ) so the only way to increase exit pupil is either to accept lower magnification, or have a scope with a bigger objective lens, and it isn't practial to carry a scope or binocular with objectives any bigger than around 80mm to 100mm.

For normal viewing with the eye, 7mm is as big as a binocular or telescope exit pupil ever needs to be because a human eye can only open up to around 7mm even in the lowest light. For some cameras you could have a bigger exit pupil but as we've seen above this would probably reduce the magnification too much, or make the telescope too big to be carry.

more info about this on our regular FAQ page, click here

.... and you'll find a more detailed explanation of many matters optical by clicking here

17/ The Image appears cut off at the corners, what can I do ?

This is because camera is not quite aligned with the lens, it needs to get a little closer to the telescope. If this isn't possible because of the shape and design of the camera body, just tweek the camera zoom lens to slightly more telephoto and this should correct the problem.

18/ My images appear dark and lack contrast, what can I do ?

This can often be the case when taking digital images through a telescope, especially in low light conditions. Photo image software is the answer, we use 'Photoshop' but there are many other good packages available, all of which allow you to quickly and easily touch up images and bring them to life. www.digiscopediary.co.uk has some good advice.

.... and you'll find a more detailed explanation of many matters optical by clicking here

19/ Will Visionary scopes take camera adaptors ?

YES. We have a range of camera adaptors for our Visionary scopes click here for full details

20/ Will the Olivon U-DCA fit any other make of scope ?

The Olivon U-DCA is designed to work with the Olivon T80 / T80ED / T90 / T90ED series of scopes. In it's standard form it is not designed to fit other makes and types of scopes. It's title "universal" is to indicate that it is compatible with just about all cameras. Some customers have told us that they have been able to use it on other types of scope but this is more by luck than design.

As it happens though, the U-DCA connects to the Olivon scopes by means of a tube around the eyepiece, and we are looking at designing different fittings of tubes for some other makes of scope. We should be introducing some during 2008.

21/ Will the U-DCA fit an Olivon T55 ?

Not yet, sorry ! The Visionary Bracket S and Visionary Universal bracket L will fit the Olivon T55 click here for full details

22/ Will the Visionary camera adaptors fit any other make of scope ?

Yes, the Visionary Bracket S and Visionary Universal bracket L will fit many other types of scope click here for full details

23/ I have recently purchased a camera adapter L to use with my Carl Zeiss 65 straight scope and my Nikon coolpix 8800 camera. I have not found it possible to adjust the adaptor to get the camera low enough to line up with the eyepiece of the telescope.

If the scope is a straight one and with a very low eyepiece, you can remove the angle adaptor section from the camera holder part of the bracket, this will allow the camera to sit lower down.

If this still does not allow the camera to sit low enough, then you can use the angle adaptor section on the scope holder part of the bracket to raise the height of the scope. click here to see diagram

I think the above should solve the problem, I don't know the CZ65 scope but we've not come across any camera/scope combinations (yet) which the L bracket can't cope with, but If that still doesn't work, you can raise the scope even higher using a ball head adaptor. The Olivon TRB22 ball head is ideal.

24/ The picures I take are blurred or shakey, what can I do ?

There are 3 causes for this :-

(1) The scope isn't focussed correctly, see answers above

(2) The subject moved during the exposure. The powerful magnification produced by the scope means that any movement of the subject will cause a blurring. It's not easy to ask a feeding bird to sit still while you take his photo, you have to be patient, shoot ots of photo's

(3) The camera moved during the exposure. This is the most common cause, the powerful telephoto makes each shake and movement of the camera appear as a blurred and shakey picture. You need a good solid tripod ( click here for details of our Olivon range ) and try to avoid jabbing at the shutter release, a cable release can be useful.

.... and you'll find a more detailed explanation of many matters optical by clicking here

25/ I'd like to fit a SLR camera to an astronomical telescope, do you make an adaptor ?

Yes, Optical Hardware makes lots of adaptors and convertors for astronomical instruments. Our specialist instrument side of our business builds one-off's scopes and we have a range of eyepieces and adaptors available from stock. check our list or visit a stockist

( This is something we don't make a big shout about, although our business was originally set up to manufacture specialist instruments, and we are still involved in it, over the last couple of years we have become so involved in making consumer optics that our build to order side has not been able to grow. Sorry, if you were thinking of asking us to make you a new 10" reflector, at the moment our waiting lists are too long for us to take on any more jobs. However eyepieces, adaptors and convertors for astro scopes are standard fitting, and we have many available from stock. Click here for more information

26/ my main interest is taking pictures of the moon know the obvious advice is buy a telescope but I'm really attracted to a spotting scope like Olivon T90 for ease of carriage as well as
the fact that it is digiscope friendly Can you advise

The moon is actually a very bright object in the night sky so is relatively easy to photograph. For the moon and close/bright objects a spotting scope is generally a better choice than an astronomical telescope because spotters are so much more versatile. 80mm, 90mm or 100mm spotters offer good night sky viewing and of course can be used for normal day viewing to. For digiscoping, an Olivon T90 will give you quite high magnification and you should be able to push this further with the zoom on the camera. The T90 isn't the smallest and lightest of spotting scopes, but is still very portable.

As for photographing details, the main problem you will encounter is vibration. Because the moon is so bright, shutter speeds will be fairly fast so movement of earth/moon isn't really an issue ( it is when you photograph dimmer objects in the sky ) but movement of the scope/camera on the tripod is a big problem. The higher the magnification the bigger the "shake" and you will need to have a very stable tripod or support on a solid base.

Another issue is air pollution, you are photographing through several miles of atmosphere which reduces resolution of your image, and there's nothing you can do about this ( until Richard Branson starts his space tourist trips ) You'll need to photograph on really clear nights and as far away from ambient lighting as you can.

Click here for more information

.... and you'll find a more detailed explanation of many matters optical by clicking here

27/ I work in education and would dearly like to find a way of connecting a scope or binocular / camera set-up to a tv screen to allow kids to see what we see through binoculars. (As you may know, most kids are incapable of using optical equipment, as they are garden spades!)

Most modern digital cameras have an output port which allows the stored images to be viewed on a tv screen via an AV cable. If the lead is plugged in to the TV while the camera is used in the normal viewing mode, the image (which is normally displayed on the screen on the back of the camera) is actually displayed on the TV - just what your man needs to do.

So all you need is a digital camera suitable for digiscoping, put it onto a telescope (just like normal digiscoping using the appropriate adaptor or bracket) then plug into a TV and the jobs done. Use a good compact digital with on an Olivon T80 or T90 and a UDCA ( or on a Visionary V60, V70 or V80 with the S bracket ) should do the trick quickly easily and at minimal cost. As always, the zoom will need tweeking to stop the cut off at the edges. Once it's set up, it can be left and just switched on when needed.

You can also couple to binoculars. I'd suggest use a good 10x50 or 12x60 ( that's enough magnification and quite bright ) and one with long eye relief usually makes digiscoping easier - our Visionary HD 10x50 or Visionary HD 12x60 would be a good choice. Couple these to an L-bracket via a normal tripod adaptor and then put the camera up to one of the eyepieces. Quick and easy, and the youngsters will see the image through the TV screen.

28/ I'd like an adaptor to fit a nikon scope to a samsung digital slr can you help please

Our digiscope adaptors and brackets are made for our own scopes, though the Visionary camera bracket-L will fit many other makes of scopes too. Full details are on our webiste.However I would strongly suggest using a camera adaptor specifically made for the Nikon, you should contact Nikon for more information.

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