red dot site
Mar 25, 2015 13:48:59 #
Mar 25, 2015 14:25:10 #
htsmith wrote:
Is a red dot site worth getting?
Yes. There are two long topics on the subject. One is about a week ago.
Before anyone else posts, I want to ask where there is an easy place to buy the hotshoe adapter to hold the usual Weaver mount site.
Thanks.
Mar 26, 2015 06:04:27 #
Mar 26, 2015 06:42:33 #
bsprague wrote:
Yes. There are two long topics on the subject. One is about a week ago.
Before anyone else posts, I want to ask where there is an easy place to buy the hotshoe adapter to hold the usual Weaver mount site.
Thanks.
Before anyone else posts, I want to ask where there is an easy place to buy the hotshoe adapter to hold the usual Weaver mount site.
Thanks.
Yes. Got mine from Photosolve.com. Reasonable, fast and seems to be the only place on line they are available. Red dot is accurate if you take the time and trouble to sight it in properly. Did mine yesterday. It's worth it. PM me for the procedure I used.
Mar 26, 2015 10:36:39 #
aaciolkowski wrote:
The needed part seems to be called an "Xtend-a-Sight" and that does not bring up anything on Amazon.Got mine from Amazon
Mar 26, 2015 10:38:28 #
edgorm wrote:
Yes. Got mine from Photosolve.com. Reasonable, fast and seems to be the only place on line they are available. Red dot is accurate if you take the time and trouble to sight it in properly. Did mine yesterday. It's worth it. PM me for the procedure I used.
Thanks!
Apparently, that is the only place to get an "Xtend-a-Sight". I always balk at giving my credit card to small, unknown and online only merchants. Even with eBay there is some security.
Mar 26, 2015 10:52:23 #
bsprague wrote:
Thanks!
Apparently, that is the only place to get an "Xtend-a-Sight". I always balk at giving my credit card to small, unknown and online only merchants. Even with eBay there is some security.
Apparently, that is the only place to get an "Xtend-a-Sight". I always balk at giving my credit card to small, unknown and online only merchants. Even with eBay there is some security.
I understand your reluctance. I've found Phil, at Photosolve to be quite reliable.
Mar 26, 2015 11:08:53 #
I have also worked with Phil at Photosolve for some digiscoping adapters. He is indeed very reliable.
edgorm wrote:
I understand your reluctance. I've found Phil, at Photosolve to be quite reliable.
Mar 26, 2015 22:02:44 #
B&H has the adapters and sights. Call them to make sure you get a sight that fits the adapter. A very worthwhile investment for long lenses and moving objects. Remember to adjust the aim.
Mar 27, 2015 11:16:07 #
amfoto1
Loc: San Jose, Calif. USA
These sights are used with really long telephotos to make target acquisition easier. Some big telephoto lenses come with an external sight of some sort for this purpose, and it's common to see something similar on stargazing telescopes.
The actual name for this type side is ACOG or Advanced Combat Optical Gunsight. It's essentially a small rifle scope, with low-power 1X to 4X magnification and an illuminated (usually, but not always red) dot or other type of targeting reticle in the center. These are popular for use on AR15 and AR10 type rifles and the smallest are roughly 4 inches long and around 1.5 inches in diameter. The prices range from under $30 for a BSA, and up to $500 or even more than $1000 for a top-of-the-line Trijicon.
RED DOT ACOG:
http://media.midwayusa.com/productimages/880x660/Primary/537/537764.jpg
There are also red dot "reflex" sites, which are smaller, lighter, have little or no magnification and a more open design, that aren't as precise but allow for quicker target acquisition. Reflex red dots sell for a similar, extremely wide range of prices as the ACOGs.
RED DOT REFLEX :
http://media.midwayusa.com/productimages/880x660/Primary/194/194879.jpg
Above reflex type has minimal mounting ring to intrude on one's vision as little as possible. There are also more hooded designs that are a little better protected, though there's a little more intrusion on your vision.
HOODED RED DOT REFLEX:
http://media.midwayusa.com/productimages/880x660/Primary/786/786781.jpg
Having used both types of red dot sights on rifles and shotguns, I'd recommend one of the Reflex type as more than adequate for photographic purposes, faster and easier to use, as well as and smaller and lighter than the ACOG style sight. The reflex type have unlimited eye relief, meaning that they you don't have to have your eye positioned carefully at a certain distance to see clearly through them. With the ACOG type, eye relief is typically more limited (and even more limited with higher magnification, and/or more limited with less expensive optics).
Both types of sight most typically use standard Weaver/Picatinny type mounting systems. They clamp onto a slotted rail, that first needs to be installed on the rifle (or camera's hot shoe in this case). The special rail needed to mount one of these sights in a camera's hot shoe is what Photosolve is selling for about $27.
After mounting, both types of sight have to be "zeroed" in with elevation and windage adjustments. How this is done varies a little from one brand or model to another. But it's usually pretty simple.
Most of the more affordable of both types of sights use a standard lithium battery (often CR2032 or similar) to power the illuminated red dot. There are some passive models that don't need a battery, but they tend to be considerably more expensive.
One thing I'd suggest is some caution when using these. The protruding sight on top of the camera would be easy to catch on a branch, possibly doing damage to the camera's hot shoe.
Also note that you won't have use of the hot shoe for flash, while using one of these sight systems.
The actual name for this type side is ACOG or Advanced Combat Optical Gunsight. It's essentially a small rifle scope, with low-power 1X to 4X magnification and an illuminated (usually, but not always red) dot or other type of targeting reticle in the center. These are popular for use on AR15 and AR10 type rifles and the smallest are roughly 4 inches long and around 1.5 inches in diameter. The prices range from under $30 for a BSA, and up to $500 or even more than $1000 for a top-of-the-line Trijicon.
RED DOT ACOG:
http://media.midwayusa.com/productimages/880x660/Primary/537/537764.jpg
There are also red dot "reflex" sites, which are smaller, lighter, have little or no magnification and a more open design, that aren't as precise but allow for quicker target acquisition. Reflex red dots sell for a similar, extremely wide range of prices as the ACOGs.
RED DOT REFLEX :
http://media.midwayusa.com/productimages/880x660/Primary/194/194879.jpg
Above reflex type has minimal mounting ring to intrude on one's vision as little as possible. There are also more hooded designs that are a little better protected, though there's a little more intrusion on your vision.
HOODED RED DOT REFLEX:
http://media.midwayusa.com/productimages/880x660/Primary/786/786781.jpg
Having used both types of red dot sights on rifles and shotguns, I'd recommend one of the Reflex type as more than adequate for photographic purposes, faster and easier to use, as well as and smaller and lighter than the ACOG style sight. The reflex type have unlimited eye relief, meaning that they you don't have to have your eye positioned carefully at a certain distance to see clearly through them. With the ACOG type, eye relief is typically more limited (and even more limited with higher magnification, and/or more limited with less expensive optics).
Both types of sight most typically use standard Weaver/Picatinny type mounting systems. They clamp onto a slotted rail, that first needs to be installed on the rifle (or camera's hot shoe in this case). The special rail needed to mount one of these sights in a camera's hot shoe is what Photosolve is selling for about $27.
After mounting, both types of sight have to be "zeroed" in with elevation and windage adjustments. How this is done varies a little from one brand or model to another. But it's usually pretty simple.
Most of the more affordable of both types of sights use a standard lithium battery (often CR2032 or similar) to power the illuminated red dot. There are some passive models that don't need a battery, but they tend to be considerably more expensive.
One thing I'd suggest is some caution when using these. The protruding sight on top of the camera would be easy to catch on a branch, possibly doing damage to the camera's hot shoe.
Also note that you won't have use of the hot shoe for flash, while using one of these sight systems.
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