Are you guys taking pics with the spotter on the lowest power?.. Then use the camera's optical zoom to get in close, or a combination of the two?
Question About Digiscoping
- Thread starter Elkoholic307
- Start date
Backtracking a little bit...that's right, I upgraded from the Zeiss to the Vortex.
My hunting partner has the Leupold 12-40X60HD. Because of this we have had both spotters side by side over and over again. And over and over, my partner comes over to the Razor when he wants the best view. So much so he is currently selling his Leupy and buying the Razor HD, only the straight version.
Don't just take my word on the Razor HD. Talk to the scope's owners. Read the reviews. Birdwatching magazine tested all of the top scopes and put the Razor HD as the equal to the Swaro, Leica, and Kowa 77. They also noted the superiority of the Kowa 88. Cabelas has a pretty detailed Razor HD review where the buyer went from a Leica to the Razor. Vortex has the best warranty in the business ... the best.
Consistently, people love their Razor HD spotters ... me included. Also take a look at Tines Up's videos and see what spotter they are using.
I saw that you said you upgraded on a different thread and meant to ask you about it. It floored me! That statement pretty much says everything, but like you said I'm not taking your word for it. I've been reading reviews and everything I possibly can on the Razor and have not come across anything negative about the scope. The one and only bad thing I have read is the cover for it is flimsy. But, I noticed Tines Up had a King's Desert Shadow cover on theirs, just like King's sells but only for Swaro scopes.
I'm glad you mentioned the Gold Ring; it reinforced my thinking. I currently have the non-HD version and have been pretty pleased with it. After reading up on digiscoping I learned that I will definitely need some sort of HD glass. So, I was either thinking Gold Ring HD or Razor HD. 40x isn't quite enough for me but it works very well for it's weight and size; which is why I liked it. I have been teeter-totting between the two but have always been leaning toward the Razor. I think I just need to man up and start packing the bigger and better Razor, haha.
Bitterroot Bulls
Veteran member
I try to use as low of a magnification as I can with the spotter, then zoom the camera up to 5x. The best quality pics and video I get are at the lowest magnification on the spotter eyepiece, and the camera zoomed just enough to remove vignetting. If you need more magnification, and are out of camera zoom, you can always turn up your scope a little bit.
It is all about getting as much light as you can to the camera sensor.
It is all about getting as much light as you can to the camera sensor.
Bitterroot Bulls
Veteran member
That camera looks like a great digiscoping value, Grantman! The 4x max zoom is just about right.
Yes it is a good value.
One thing I will add to this thread is to get a camera with a good view finder. The Panasonic has a nice view finder, before I got that camera I was using an older Kodak camera with a small view finder and the image would get washed out in the sunlight which made it very difficult to focus on the subject.
One thing I will add to this thread is to get a camera with a good view finder. The Panasonic has a nice view finder, before I got that camera I was using an older Kodak camera with a small view finder and the image would get washed out in the sunlight which made it very difficult to focus on the subject.
I got some video this last weekend using the Panasonic camera and Vortex Razor spotting scope.
Here is the link
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=08oKOGQAjqI
It was taken about 500 yards out with 20x on the scope and the camera has no zoom for the video.
It turned out much better than I anticipated. I also got a bunch of pictures of antelope about 1300 yards but the mirage and wind blowing vibrating the tri-pod degraded the quality a bunch but I was still able to zoom in enough on the computer after downloading to confirm my field scoring.
Here is the link
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=08oKOGQAjqI
It was taken about 500 yards out with 20x on the scope and the camera has no zoom for the video.
It turned out much better than I anticipated. I also got a bunch of pictures of antelope about 1300 yards but the mirage and wind blowing vibrating the tri-pod degraded the quality a bunch but I was still able to zoom in enough on the computer after downloading to confirm my field scoring.
Drhorsepower
Veteran member
Sorry about bringing an old topic up but this is a great place to ask opinion.
I have a leupold gr 12x40. Non hd.
Camera set up Nikon dslr with 18-55 lens and 70-300 lens.
I am interested in digiscoping. I am wondering if buying the adapter for my cameras small lens would be worth it or should I spend the money on a teleconverter. I do not know what will produce a better photo considering i do not have the hd version of spotter. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks.
An no I'm not going to buy a razor hd as much as I would like to
I have a leupold gr 12x40. Non hd.
Camera set up Nikon dslr with 18-55 lens and 70-300 lens.
I am interested in digiscoping. I am wondering if buying the adapter for my cameras small lens would be worth it or should I spend the money on a teleconverter. I do not know what will produce a better photo considering i do not have the hd version of spotter. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks.
An no I'm not going to buy a razor hd as much as I would like to
Bitterroot Bulls
Veteran member
I don't think that setup is going to work too well with a big camera/lens and a small spotter. I know Leupold makes an adapter for point and shoot cameras and the 12-40. I think going the point and shoot route would be better.
Teleconverters are generally awefull.
I also see Tines Up is making one for Leupold Gold Ring spotters:
http://www.tinesup.com/catalog/item/7381735/7696183.htm
Teleconverters are generally awefull.
I also see Tines Up is making one for Leupold Gold Ring spotters:
http://www.tinesup.com/catalog/item/7381735/7696183.htm
C'mon, everybody's doing it...An no I'm not going to buy a razor hd as much as I would like to
Drhorsepower
Veteran member
What is your setup elkaholic? What did you end up going with?C'mon, everybody's doing it...
Maybe one day I'll fork out the cash
Bitterroot. As far as lens choice for digiscoping, I would use the smaller lens. I dot know if i made it clear. This whole thing was brought on by googling 18-55 digiscoping. Alot of people said it was a great way and produces a better photo then point and shoot but you have to manually set aperture and such. Also the leupold adapter kit comes with a 52 mm screw on adapter for that lens. I looked at the tines up product you mentioned and it would be a great product if I had a point and shoot. That is the downside. I would be all over it if I did but do not wan to buy another camera. I appreciate your advice and am seeking further guidance.
I guess my ? Is the standard gr spotter adequate for taking a decent photo? Here are my two options basically
Digiscoping with standard golden ring, with 18-55 lens.
Or
70-300 lens with teleconverter 1.5 or 2x?
What do you think would produce a better photo?
Next time I go to town I am going to go by the photo shop and talk to them about it. I am sure they have stuff I can look at.
Bitterroot Bulls
Veteran member
I tried the teleconverter with a similar lens (canon). Simply awefull.
Many accomplished digiscopers use a compact point and shoot. You could get the video scope cam adapter in 58mm, a 52mm to 58mm step ring, and thread the setup to your 18-55 lens.
My concern is your heavy camera setup is going to be hanging out unsupported, putting its full weight on the eyepiece.
I have used a dslr for digiscoping, but I used a big tripod, big spotter, and sturdy adapter.
If I was using the Leupy, I wouldn't even consider a dslr.
The Leupy should do OK for digiscoping, but remember you are starting with a small aperture (60mm), and the key to digiscoping is getting the most amount of light you can to the camera's sensor.
Many accomplished digiscopers use a compact point and shoot. You could get the video scope cam adapter in 58mm, a 52mm to 58mm step ring, and thread the setup to your 18-55 lens.
My concern is your heavy camera setup is going to be hanging out unsupported, putting its full weight on the eyepiece.
I have used a dslr for digiscoping, but I used a big tripod, big spotter, and sturdy adapter.
If I was using the Leupy, I wouldn't even consider a dslr.
The Leupy should do OK for digiscoping, but remember you are starting with a small aperture (60mm), and the key to digiscoping is getting the most amount of light you can to the camera's sensor.
I sold the Gold Ring and followed Bitterroot's advice and got the Razor and the Tines Up adapter.
The two are not even in the same league. I have been using the Razor nearly every evening and am still blown away every time I look through it. It's amazing. I don't get to use it much when my wife is with me though. She doesn't even use her Nikon binos any more; she's glued to the spotter.
Drhorsepower
Veteran member
Thanks bitterroot. That's sheds a little more light on the subject.
Hey elkoholic, was your Leupold an hd? How much did you sell it for? And how did you sell it?
Hey elkoholic, was your Leupold an hd? How much did you sell it for? And how did you sell it?
No, it wasn't. I actually sold it to my dad for about half the price of a new Razor.
You can move one of those spotters fairly easily. I see them sell all the time in various classifieds. A lot of die hard Leup. fans out there.
You can move one of those spotters fairly easily. I see them sell all the time in various classifieds. A lot of die hard Leup. fans out there.