What is Digiscoping? 

By Mike McDowell

“Digiscoping” refers to a revolutionary method of photography using a digital camera connected to a field spotting scope mounted on a tripod.  With the combination of high magnification through the spotting scope’s eyepiece, plus the zoom of the digital camera, a long focal length can be achieved.  This is precisely what is needed to get “close” to wildlife in order to capture great nature photographs.  Additionally, the digital format can render extremely high-resolution detail. 

If you have ever researched prices on long focal length telephoto lenses, chances are you were mortified at their high price tag.  Depending on the manufacturer, you can expect to pay five thousand to twenty thousand dollars or more on a quality telephoto lens.  Getting started in digiscoping will still require an initial investment, but chances are you may already own some of the equipment. 

What kind of investment in equipment am I looking at to digiscope? 
 

Spotting Scope

The field spotting scope is essential.  This is your light gathering / telephotographic instrument.  The disparity in price generally reflects the quality of glass, but I have digiscoped with spotting scopes at each end of the price spectrum and have achieved great results. 

Field / Camera Tripod 

A sturdy field tripod is also essential.  Many spotting scopes weigh 40 ounces or more and cannot be hand held.  Because of the weight and high magnification, the unsteadiness is too extreme to control for photography without a tripod. 

Digital Camera 

Just about any digital camera can be used, but many digiscopers favor the Nikon Coolpix series, specifically the 995 model.  It has 3.34 mega (million) pixels to offer extremely high-resolution shots, and perhaps its best feature is the swivel LCD monitor so you can rotate it away from sunlight in order to focus your shot.  Another useful feature is its internal zoom that helps make it easier to connect to a spotting scope via a digiscoping adapter. 

Images are stored on small memory discs (Compact Flash, Smart Media Cards and Memory Sticks).  While a single memory card is usually included with the digital camera, carrying extra larger storage capacity cards in the field is recommended. 

Digiscope Adapter / Mount 

Digiscoping under bright lighting conditions means you can obtain a fast enough shutter speed that even holding the camera against the scope’s eyepiece with your hand is possible.  But eventually, you will want to photograph in other lighting situations that require slower shutter speeds.  In this case, holding the camera with your hand will create too much unsteadiness and your photograph may be blurred.  The solution is to use an adapter that connects your camera to the spotting scope.  Additionally, the adapter can make tracking a photography subject more convenient as you pan the scope. 

Personal Computer 

A personal computer isn’t absolutely required, as you can bring your compact flash discs to a local photo developer who can make prints directly from the disc.  However, with a personal computer you can upload your images and post-process them with software.  This will give you the freedom and ability to make enhancements in color saturation, brightness and contrast, sharpen or blur, even crop and re-size your images. 

Digital cameras generally connect to a personal computer via a Universal Serial Bus (USB) port.  All new computers have these, and computers up to four years old most likely have one. 
 

What are some advantages of digiscoping over telephoto/film setups? 

Perhaps the greatest advantage of digiscoping is receiving immediate feedback on the picture you’ve just taken.  You can tell right away if you captured the moment or not, deleting undesirable shots.  You can make any necessary adjustments and fire off another salvo of shots without the worry of wasting film. 

Digital cameras are much more sensitive to light than standard film cameras. 

Generally, you can capture more images on a single compact flash memory card versus a roll of film. 

Your spotting scope can be used as a great observational tool as well as a telephoto lens – dual functionality. 

Digital pays for itself over time by eliminating or reducing cost of film and processing.  For example, I’ve taken nearly 3,000 images with my digital camera in five months.  Dividing by 24-exposure roll of film and multiplying $8.00 processing fee is $1,000.00 I didn’t have to spend on film developing! 

What are some disadvantages of digiscoping? 

Digiscoping doesn’t work well for capturing fast action shots.  The magnification is generally so high that it is fairly difficult to aim the spotting scope and digital camera at a moving object. 

Although it varies from one digital camera model to another, there is often a slight delay between the time you press the shutter button and the shutter actually trips.  This can lead to an odd photograph of a twig with nothing perched on it as the bird has since flown away! 

If you own a personal computer you understand that technology rapidly becomes obsolete.  With the advent of digital cameras, a veritable computer, we can expect frequent “new and improved” camera models to hit the market. 

The rechargeable battery can run out in several hours of heavy use.  Solution:  Buy a back-up battery!