Benefits
- You get more from your spotting scope because you can take photographs in addition to simply observing
- You can take high-quality pictures of distant subjects thanks to large focal lengths of 800 mm to 4500 mm
- It helps you to be considerate of nature by observing and taking photographs from a respectful distance
- There is less to carry because digiscoping accessories are lighter and cheaper than SLR cameras with telephoto lenses
- Images can be inspected and viewed immediately after taking
- You can use your computer to edit, archive, present, copy and e-mail your digital photographs
Special features
Taking photographs of stationary and moving subjects
| Until recently, digiscoping was generally accepted to be most suitable for photographing stationary objects. However, the recent technological advances that have brought about full-frame SLRs, extended ISO ranges and improved shutter release mechanisms mean that it is now possible to achieve excellent results from handheld digiscoping with SLR cameras. |
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Taking photographs over long distances
Digiscoping is perfect for taking photographs of very distant objects. If the object under observation is only a few metres away from the observer, the spotting scope's close focus may be too short or parts of the subject may already take up the entire photo.
Vignetting
A spotting scope’s main function is to present a magnified image to the eye of the observer. Light enters the large objective lens at the front of the spotting scope and exits through the eyepiece as a circular column of light, which is referred to as the ‘exit pupil‘. Since this column of light is photographed by the camera, it must be centred exactly over the camera’s lens. If this is not the case, the image suffers from vignetting (shadowing) that can affect image quality.
When digiscoping, vignetting occurs if the camera’s field of view is greater than that of the eyepiece on the observation spotting scope, or if the camera is not positioned exactly against the eyepiece. When used in conjunction with a suitable compact camera, digiscopers can eliminate vignetting with the aid of the camera’s optical zoom. Vignetting does not occur with SLR cameras that have a 50 mm lens or are used in conjunction with camera adapter TLS 800.
Dependency on external conditions
As with standard telephotography, digiscoping results are highly dependent on weather conditions. Good light and a lack of wind are essential for top quality photos. However, air quality and temperature can also have a decisive influence. You must always remember that air is made up of a mixture of different gases, and that dirt particles or heat distortion will impact on the quality of the images you take.
Long focal length - small depth of field and high risk of camera shake
The extremely long focal lengths involved in digiscoping result in a relatively small depth of field. It is therefore not usually possible to focus sharply on several subjects or on a subject which fills the entire frame. The high risk of camera shake when digiscoping is also attributable to the long focal length. Even a light wind, pressing the shutter button or small movements made by an animal under observation may be enough to rob the photograph of its sharpness. Lower zoom factors on both the camera and spotting scope reduce the focal length and can make it easer to take photographs.
