TimD

Don’t see a specific forum so I’ll ask here-having become aware if digiscoping (connecting a cell phone or camera to a spotting scope), and already having a tripod and Bushnell Spacemaster scope I experimented just holding my iPhone X up to the eyepiece. Holding it just right, the image is ok but is just a small round circle, not a full screen view. Is this common, or will using an adapter make a difference? Also concerned about how secure the mount of an adapter to the eyepiece is. I sure don’t want the adapter to come off the eyepiece and my phone to drop to the ground. Helpful comments appreciated.

gvarner Loc: Central Oregon Coast

I’d be surprised if an adapter gave you anything more than a small round circle. You might go to amazon or B&H to see the reviews on the adapters that they offer.

JimH123 Loc: Morgan Hill, CA

I should mention first that I am not fond of digiscoping as it tends to offer inferior quality images as compared to prime focus where the camera body takes the place of the telescope eyepiece. But that option is only available for some telescopes that have sufficient back focus that the camera can achieve infinity focus. Most of the cheaper scopes do not support this mode of operation.

As for the circles, some phones have an option to use a camera with a greater focal length other than wide angle, and in that situation, the image will be the full screen. But with a wide angle camera view, you will always see the circle. If your phone has only one camera option, and that option is a wider angle, there is no solution.

In looking at the iPhone X specs, I see that it has a telephoto option. Using that option will likely give you full screen. But not necessarily great image quality. And the scope you use has a lot of impact on the captured image also. Some scopes have horrible chromatic aberration problems producing purple and green edges in the image. Some expensive scopes do not have this problem. I suspect that the Bushnell Spacemaster falls into the former category.

For my digiscoping experience, I have a Celestron Regal with a 100mm objective. With digiscoping I have tried, I have been very disappointed with the results. Much, much better results with my telescopes that support prime focus and mounting a camera body without a lens.

47greyfox Loc: on the edge of the Colorado front range

I have a digiscope adapter that I’ve used with a Canon P&S and Celestron spotting scope. The adapter clamps on the scope eye piece and the camera attaches to an adjustable little platform on the adapter. You then position the camera to get the best image through the scope eye piece. I’ve had mixed results. There’s a small (tiny?) sweet spot where I can get an image that isn’t round. There’s a reason why the adapter is in like new condition.

TimD

Great information-thanks for the reply!

gessman Loc: Colorado

Here's a digiscoping guru whose work I admire a lot. He uses both a phone and a camera. He loves to visit with folks about digiscoping and is as personable a person as you'll find online. He'll share information and can probably answer about any question you might have. Send him a message but more than than, have a look at his work. https://www.instagram.com/robertgwilson1215/ Oh, I forgot to mention, he represents Kowa scopes.

dougbev3 Loc: Pueblo, Colorado

My son , for Christmas last year, asked us to buy him these things that connected his cell phone to his spotting scope. I did not think much of it, but he gets some very nice pictures of Eagles, Elk, Turkey, bear, Lion. I don't remember the brand, but in ordering we had to know which phone he had. DIGISCOPE sounds right. but I'm sure when searching it will come up. I know it wasn't Amazon

bwana Loc: Bergen, Alberta, Canada

Whether you get a circle or just a vignetted image depends upon the camera sensor, the eyepiece and the scope being used. I've used a crop sensor camera (no lens attached) with a Baader 8-24mm zoom eyepiece on my Lunt 60 Solar scope with reasonable results. Of course, when you're shooting the Sun a little vignetting doesn't really cause a problem.

I also have a Bushnell spotting scope and its rear 'aperture' is too small to work with cameras having a sensor larger than about 1/2". Of course it will yield an image with a larger sensor camera but you will get severe vignetting, i.e.: a circle image. However, if I remove the eyepiece and use the scope as a lens, prime focus mode, it works much better but still has some vignetting.

You might want to read the wiki article: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Afocal_photography.

I hope my two cents worth helps...

bwa
.

Lunt 60mm, DS (BF1200), Baader 8-24mm eyepiece, T2 adapter, Kenko 1.4x, Canon 60D, liveview loupe, Porta II Tripod

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Spiney Loc: Reading, PA

There’s a solution I found to the small circle. I use my iPhone to digiscope for Astrophotography. Handholding it is very frustrated. I bought an adapter the Celestron NexYZ. Then use the App Camera Plus Version 2. There’s an Android equivalent. Use a Bluetooth shutter release about $5-6 on Amazon or eBay.

The App has a Macro Mode that brings the image from the eyepiece in tight and crystal clear in my experience.

Uuglypher Loc: South Dakota (East River)

Sounds like there just may be an interest and experience base right here in UHH that might support a new Section dedicated to the various aspects of Digiscoping!?

Dave

TimD

Thank you!

TimD

Thank you all!

TimD

Those pics are incredible-thanks again!

Uuglypher Loc: South Dakota (East River)

Hi,Tim,
Here are a couple of digiscoped images of some peonies from 30 yards shot with my iPhone11ProMax with an adapter to my Celestron Regal 100f-ED spotting scope.
These are my first images trying out the new adapter.
Best regards,
Dave

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JimH123 Loc: Morgan Hill, CA

I mentioned earlier that I prefer prime focus rather than digitizing in that the images are much sharper. The attached image was done using an AstroTech 60ED which is a small refractor telescope with a 2" focuser. It has plenty of back focus so that a camera with a T-Adapter can be used. And for this image, an Olympus EM5ii was used.

The scope has a focal length of 360mm at f6 and with the EM5ii with a crop factor of 2x, it makes this image be at 720mm effective FL. But this image has been cropped down to 1280 x 960 pixels. Normal size for this camera is 4644 x 3506, so you can see how much it has been cropped.

This scope is now discontinued, but you can see it here on this page: https://www.astronomics.com/products-old/telescopes/astro-tech.html

Newer versions have taken it's place, but what you should see here is that the prices are reasonable and much less than equivalent camera lenses. But prime focus will out perform digiscoping every time its tried. But you do have to manually focus. What I did here was focus on the flowers and then waited for a honey bee to visit.

I should also mention that there are many low cost telescopes for sale. But the majority do not provide sufficient back focus to achieve focus with a camera. But this one is designed to allow use with a camera. All that is needed is the appropriate T-ring for your camera and an appropriate T-adapter to go into the 2" focuser. And of course, a remote shutter release.

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