Got my digiscoping stuff together

The scope is a Vortex 20-60x80. The camera is a Nikon Coolpix 5100.

The attaching device is made my Vortex, too.

The tripod is a Velbon DF40, but I've ordered a better one from Olivon, a TR189 with a TRH-11 head.

Here's another view of the rig.

Here's a house finch (no, it is a house sparrow, UncleDave corrected me, thx) I digi-scoped with the rig.

This message was edited Sep 5, 2009 7:08 PM

And juvy cardinal.

and a Mourning Dove

I reckon the next thing I need to get is Photoshop so I can touch up my digi-pics, but dang that software is expensive.

Bye, Bye
Hack

Sorry but your house finch is a female house sparrow.

Hack, Many other photo editing software programs, including Photoshop Elements where you can do the basic editing you need. Not necessary to have a full-blown version of PS. Looks like a nice set up for you. Is it easy to come apart so you can use it for viewing only?

CousinDave - oops, I just realized what I typed - I can't believe I called a house sparrow a house finch - I know better!. Thanks for the correction.

Mrs_Ed, if your look again at the very first pic, you can see a chrome/silver screw on the very top, just below the camera. Unscrew that and the camera comes right off. Then you can use the spotting scope or the camera separately.

And thanks for the advise on Photoshop. I, just a moment ago, downloaded a free software program called PhotoPlus SE and it did what I had in mind. Lighted the colors, adjusted colors, added contrast, really improved the original digi-pic.

Hack

Cool. Everyone on DG seems to like the free Google Picasa too. I haven't messed with it much so can't comment.

glad the camera to scope conversion seems easy enough!!

Nice rig you got there Hack, glad its a simple conversion with the camera and scope. Dont know how long your shot's were but they look pretty good.

Hummm, I didn't know Goodgle's Picasa existed. I gonna download it and compare it with PhotoPlus SE.

Thx, Mrs_Ed

Yeah, the camera to scope conversion is simple.

Hack

Thx Burd, its the one I got because of your thread about digiscoping - it is really addicting. I used to reload ammo all the time and then go to the range and plink away. But now I've "gone to the birds".

All the shots were from my garage to where my feeders are, with my range finder it measured to be 26 to 30 yards, depending which feeder I aimed it at. I can tell you one thing, about the most challenging part of digiscoping, to me, is getting a sharp focus before I snap the shutter. Oh, yeah, I found that using the self-timer is great - no camera shake that way. I also taped a letter to my feeders and that makes it a whole lot easier to sharpen the focus.

I can't remember, are you a digiscoper? I know you had an interest.

Hack

I was just curious if anyone used it here at DG and what kind of performance they got. I will have one in the future though for those longer shots... some of the places I visit you can only stay on the path or boardwalk. Lot's of bird's I had to pass up for an ID because they were to far away. But since the first thread I know Ive learned quite a bit, which will make it easier when I do decide to give it a go.

I did the comparison, here it is: http://davesgarden.com/community/forums/t/1035089/

Hack