Digiscoping

What is digiscoping?

Using a telescope, record images of animals and people whom you observe, by using a DSLR, compact or mirrorless camera, better known as digiscoping. Attaching a camera to the eyepiece is done using a special camera adapter. By means of the zoom range of a telescope, it is possible to record faraway objects. However, it is important to work with sufficient light since the camera has to focus itself. Digiscoping is frequently applied as a technique amongst bird and nature lovers.

Advantages of digiscoping

A great advantage to digiscoping is that you can not only observe animals with a telescope, but you can also record them. With the arrival of adapters for connecting a camera to a telescope, it is also possible for beginner photographers to apply this technique. Due to the large focal length of the telescope, a considerable enlargement of objects can be achieved. A frequent problem for nature photography is that the animals are disturbed in their daily activities, however with digiscoping this will not be a problem since this method of photography works up to a distance of as much as hundreds of metres. As well as the advantages for photography, this possibility also offers an advantage for your wallet. With a compact camera, telescope and adapter you can record objects from a far distance, for which you would normally need an expensive telephoto lens and accompanying camera.

Focusing and zooming

Whereas normally focusing takes place via the camera and the accompanying lens, with digiscoping this is realized by altering the settings of the telescope. In this way, it is easy to zoom in on an object before you record it with the attached camera. It is handy to immediately view the result with a camera with a live view function before you record the photo. However, for focusing it is important that you have a proper understanding of the working of the telescope and can handle it manually.

Supplies

For digiscoping, you need to have a few pieces of equipment. Firstly, you need a telescope or spotting scope, which serves of course as the lens for recording faraway objects. In addition, you need a camera that can be connected to the telescope, the possibilites for this range from a DSLR camera to a mirrorless camera. If you use heavier cameras, it is advisable to purchase a tripod. Because in the combination of camera and telescope, it is important that you work from a stable position. The adapters which you see in our offer on this page are intended for connecting the camera to the telescope. For perfect stable images, working with a remote control unit can offer the solution. Because you do not have the problem of touching the camera while taking the photo.