Best phone to spotting scope device

[Slugz]

Team,

I'd like to contribute with pics from our scouting trips and I see the posted ones of "phones being connected to spotting scopes". I did the initial research and it looks like there is a small number of options. I have a Samsung note 3 (personal phone) and a Iphone 6 ( work phone) that I could use. Looking to get comments on the best device and any lessons learned. Thanks in advance.

 

[ScottR]

The S4 gear adapter is what I use. You could use both devices with it.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Ikeepitcold]

Phone Skope and a IPhone 6 for me. Works great.

 

[Slugz]

Looks like it would be easier to use a angle scope also? Thoughts on that?

 

[mntnguide]

Phone Skope works great. .choose the phone with best battery life and camera and use that one. ..my galaxy S5 with 16mp works great, and yes, I prefer having an angled scope anyway, but I think it makes digiscoping easier as well

Sent from my SM-G900V using Tapatalk

 

[Finsandtines]

I just got a free phone slope from HF and it works great for my iPhone 6 and new vortex spotter.

 

[7shot]

get the phone scope, it is small enough to leave on when in the mts. I like the angled spotter for that purpose also. If you call phone scope people, tell them your spotter and your phone, then you are set. Not cheap, but works great and is very durable.

 

[luckynv]

Phone Scope also has an electric trigger bluetooth device so that you don't goof up the photos by pushing the button, I have not tried yet but have heard it works well. Good luck and God bless

 

[M.Bird]

I know a lot of people like the Phone Skopes.They are made for a specific phone and scope: if you never plan on changing, if you upgrade plan on purchasing another set up.
I have changed phones since filming this video. and have the ability to use other spotting scopes and binoculars

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qmSTDPrL4Qw

V/R
M.Bird

 

[Slugz]

Apparently you can only get the S4 via internet sales......Cabela's in SD and Colorado don't have them.

 

[Horniac]

I've pretty much tried everything to get a camera or my IPhone to work with my Swarovski scope; Carson, S4, Swarovski, Tines-up, and Phone Skope. So far the best solution I have come up with is my IPhone 6 coupled to the Phone Skope as Ikeepitcold suggested. I wanted something that would work with my I-phone without having to take the case off the phone everytime I wanted to use it. None of the others would work with my phone in the case. The IPhone 6 also has a self-timer you can set for 3 seconds so you don't have to use a Bluetooth wireless shutter release to get shake free pictures...

Horniac

 

[7shot]

You are right, I don't have a case on my phone, so the phone scope works great. also great point on the delay. Go to settings in your camera mode, find timer and set it for 2 or 3 seconds and it will keep your pictures clear. I have the Samsung S5 phone / great camera and video.

This technology makes scouting so much fun, it is like hunting with your camera and you don't have to pack out the animal.

Took this pic a couple weeks ago from about 1 mile - with the 95 mm swaro spotter.

 

[sdriverbottom]

Another trick I learn for clear pictures with an iPhone without touching the screen is using the ear buds that come with the phone. Click the volume + or - and it'll take pictures.

 

[Bughalli]

Another trick I learn for clear pictures with an iPhone without touching the screen is using the ear buds that come with the phone. Click the volume + or - and it'll take pictures.

Thanks! Great info

 

[Slugz]

Thanks for all the great info and lessons learned. I relearned a few this past week! Of note the S4 doesn't fit some of the newer larger phones. I went with the S4 only because that's what I could get my hands on. I had to modify the S4 to work with my Samsung galaxy Note 3 due to not enough vertical/up/down adjustment by cutting off the lower bracket/frame to allow the phone to slide down farther. I can definitely see the utility/ease of use with the Phone Skope vice the S4. Biggest lesson learned for me was being able to see ears and small movement on a bigger screen easier. I don't think without the bigger viewer I would have found this guy bedded in the shadows.

 

[tdcour]

Thanks for all the great info and lessons learned. I relearned a few this past week! Of note the S4 doesn't fit some of the newer larger phones. I went with the S4 only because that's what I could get my hands on. I had to modify the S4 to work with my Samsung galaxy Note 3 due to not enough vertical/up/down adjustment by cutting off the lower bracket/frame to allow the phone to slide down farther. I can definitely see the utility/ease of use with the Phone Skope vice the S4. Biggest lesson learned for me was being able to see ears and small movement on a bigger screen easier. I don't think without the bigger viewer I would have found this guy bedded in the shadows.

View attachment 16968

Man, I'm right there with you. I'm using an S4 with an iPhone 6 and it doesn't work at all. I need about another 1/4 inch of adjustment to get my lenses to match up right. What I ended up doing is grabbing some expandable foam strips that are sticky on one side (similar to pipe insulation foam). I cut a chunck off and stuck it to the part where the eyepiece rests against the adapter. This allowed for the adapter to drop further down (lengthening my velcro strap) but still able to get tight. This fixed it, but I'm pretty sure I'm going to lose the foam somewhere in the hills. Next one I get will be a better one, but my issue is that I use two different scopes so I would have to have two adapters basically. Tried to cut corners and it didn't work so well. A scope with a bigger eyepiece than my leupold 50 mm scope would be just fine though.