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Author Topic: Best phone scope for spotter?  (Read 5062 times)

Offline pickardjw

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Re: Best phone scope for spotter?
« Reply #15 on: January 08, 2023, 04:42:14 PM »
I have the MagView and like it. You lose the ability to surface charge because of the metal plate on the back of your phone/case but not an issue for me. I like that it acts as an eye piece cover as well. I don’t take vertical photos/video so that’s not an issue. Indexing is a little tough at first but you get the hang of it.

I was thinking about the Ollin but saw the Hushin guys marketing it and can’t stand them so…MagView was the better choice for me.

Pathfinder - have you looked into the PhoneCam (skopecam) universal? I almost went for that one. It might fit a gold ring. https://scopecamadapter.com/product/universal-phonecam-kit-includes-universal-adapter/

I watched the video.  Looks like a solid system, but I don't think it would work any better than any of the other ones I have tried.  The eyepiece on a Leuopold GR is just too skinny.  Doesn't provide enough of a base to hold the "clamp" part of the phone scope tight on the eyepiece.

If it's worth it to ya, the owner responded directly to me when I had questions about it. I imagine he might have some experience testing it on a gold ring. Might be worth an email or two if you currently don't have a setup that works.

I have an iPhone 12 case that will works with it if you want it. Bought my spotter second hand and it came with the older adapter, so I bought the phone case only to realize I need the new universal piece for the phone case to work. Down the rabbit hole I go, ended up with the Magview but still have the ScopeCam case.

Online Threewolves

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Re: Best phone scope for spotter?
« Reply #16 on: January 08, 2023, 05:34:08 PM »
1st  phone skope did not line up with my phone. Called them, and while waiting for the replacement to come I was removing the phone skope from my phone and broke my phone. The 2nd phone skope did line up, but now my phone was broke case cracked more like shattered, could not talk, could text and take pictures. Ended up having to get a newer updated phone. Talked to the phone skope folks and they sent me some kind of universal adaptor I think its called the popsicle, you kind of got to mess with it and it kind of works, but not really satisfactory. 

The whole process of dicking around with it pretty much soured me on even using it. I thought it would be cool to take pictures off my scope Swarovski 20/60 HD, now I just don't care.
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Offline millerwheeler

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Re: Best phone scope for spotter?
« Reply #17 on: January 08, 2023, 05:50:22 PM »
Taggin , I have a phone scope . Not a fan never lines up on my swaro with iPhone pro max 12

Offline Stein

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Re: Best phone scope for spotter?
« Reply #18 on: January 08, 2023, 07:24:43 PM »
Some day someone will make one that is either much better and worth the crazy prices or at least sell it for a price commensurate with $0.40 worth of injection molded plastic.

It seems like the $$$ spotters would figure out how to throw a $100 bluetooth camera into the thing from the factory and be done with it.  I would imagine hunters and birders would be appreciative.  I think the iPhone camera is about $50.

Offline pickardjw

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Re: Best phone scope for spotter?
« Reply #19 on: January 08, 2023, 08:54:11 PM »
The good thing about the Magview is you don't have to rely on a case or attachment to line up your phone lens with the optic. That comes with the trade off of having to fiddle with it each time, but once you get the feel for it - not a big deal.

Here's a link to footage of my buck this year taken with an iPhone 13 on a Kowa TSN-602 + Magview this past fall. I usually start with the scope on lowest power, attach the phone on 1x or barely zoomed to ensure it's on the lens I want, then zoom until the vignette is gone. Then I don't touch the phone and use the spotter to magnify as needed.

Side note: on the Kowa TE-11z eyepiece, the thickest adapter for the Magview is barely tight enough to fit. I threw 3 wraps of electrical tape around the eyepiece to get a snug fit.


Offline highside74

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Re: Best phone scope for spotter?
« Reply #20 on: January 08, 2023, 09:15:55 PM »
I'm really digging what I'm seeing from the Ollin magnetic digiscoping system. It has a self alignment magnetic case and adapter that just clicks into place.

Offline huntnnw

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Re: Best phone scope for spotter?
« Reply #21 on: January 08, 2023, 10:18:13 PM »
ollin looks slick. Phoneskope and similar ones are going to be obsolete soon

Offline Pathfinder101

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Re: Best phone scope for spotter?
« Reply #22 on: January 09, 2023, 04:56:11 PM »
Pretty sweet footage pickard.   :tup:
Before you criticize someone, you should walk a mile in their shoes.  That way, when you criticize them, you're a mile away and you have their shoes.

 


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