spotting scope use as lens

[high country]

I have this new camera sitting here (d3000) and was thinking, what about using the spotting scope as a lens? I remember my pf80ed had an attachment I could use in place of the eyepiece that attached to a t adapter and finally to the camera.....but I never had a dslr then to try it and I offed the scope. so.....what can I expect if I were to use a, say nikon fieldscope ed as a lens.

BTW, keep it in non photog english. I am still in the kill stuff part of my life, not a photog yet.

thanks.

[GWP]

My wife and I do both. We are amature birders, and we hunt upland and waterfowl. The birders have been doing exactly what you are talking about for some time. There are camera adaptors for some of the spotting scopes, but most have to be removed to use it as a spotting scope again. I made a simple plastic piece that slips into the spotting scope eyepiece that the camera lens centers in. It also keeps it square to the lens. It works good, but it did take a little of trying to get good pictures. I also made one for our good binoculars, and I think it actually works better (easier) then the spotting scope. Mostly because the scope has a finer focus adjustment. You have to play with most camera's as well, as they will try and autofocus, which can make the picture blurry, even though it looks great while you are shooting the pic. Hope this helps! It is great fun, particularly if you have some bird feeders around to watch. 

[400out]

My wife and I do both. We are amature birders, and we hunt upland and waterfowl. The birders have been doing exactly what you are talking about for some time. There are camera adaptors for some of the spotting scopes, but most have to be removed to use it as a spotting scope again. I made a simple plastic piece that slips into the spotting scope eyepiece that the camera lens centers in. It also keeps it square to the lens. It works good, but it did take a little of trying to get good pictures. I also made one for our good binoculars, and I think it actually works better (easier) then the spotting scope. Mostly because the scope has a finer focus adjustment. You have to play with most camera's as well, as they will try and autofocus, which can make the picture blurry, even though it looks great while you are shooting the pic. Hope this helps! It is great fun, particularly if you have some bird feeders around to watch. 

Share some pics with us! I would like to see how it works

[jackelope]

http://www.nikon.com/products/sportoptics/lineup/dsystem/index.htm

[400out]

Thanks Jack I will have to check into some of those attachments 

[high country]

I get the "how to" part, but if you tell me it is "500mm f 2.8" it would be like me telling a kid working at dairy queen to hold 3 minutes into the wind minus the spin drift.....I el speako no camera lingo.

bottom line, am I going to be able to take pics similar to what I see through the scope using my eye and the scopes eyepiece?

[400out]

I get the "how to" part, but if you tell me it is "500mm f 2.8" it would be like me telling a kid working at dairy queen to hold 3 minutes into the wind minus the spin drift.....I el speako no camera lingo.

bottom line, am I going to be able to take pics similar to what I see through the scope using my eye and the scopes eyepiece?

He said spin drift! 

[jackelope]

I get the "how to" part, but if you tell me it is "500mm f 2.8" it would be like me telling a kid working at dairy queen to hold 3 minutes into the wind minus the spin drift.....I el speako no camera lingo.

bottom line, am I going to be able to take pics similar to what I see through the scope using my eye and the scopes eyepiece?

similar yes, exact...no.

[high country]

what can I say, I am a thing shooter, considering becoming a picture taker.

[jackelope]

Charles from Zen-Ray I believe is a pretty avid digi-scoper. Maybe he'll chime in. I know there's some photo's he took on his site with their setup. It works pretty well with the right setup.

Based on that link I  posted, it looks like it depends which fieldscope you have whether or not you can get a good adaptor for your DSLR.

[GWP]

I will try and get some pictures up in a few days. Another problem with a scope is the field of view is pretty small. At closer ranges it is a pretty small picture. With the set up I made, I have to hold the camera into the adaptor and snap the picture, which is easier then it sounds, particularly if you are using a tripod. With the binocs, I can look through one lens and hold the camera up to the other. Probably looks real silly, but I can't see myself while I am doing it.  Don't choose between taking pictures and taking critters, do both! I used to carry a camera with me all the time while hunting, but just use the cell phone camera these days. Crappy picture, but handy. 

[Gopher]

HighCountry, you may have some problems with a D3000 in that the lense is much bigger than the rear eyepiece of the spotting scope.  I've had some pretty good luck with smaller point and shoot cameras and a spotting scope because I can hold the lens of the camera right up to the eyepice.  With a window mount on the scope it's not too difficult to hold the camera steady enough to get a fair photo.  There are adapters for those bigger lens cameras but they're not cheap.

[klickriverchromer]

I have a Nikon D5000 and a Nikon Sp. scope and am saving for my adaptor. You can get a dslr to sp.scope attachment that is straight from the camera to the scope.  The adaptor attaches to the camera body and the scope body. Its going to be awesome.. Nikon.com or @ CameraLandNY.

[high country]

I have a Nikon D5000 and a Nikon Sp. scope and am saving for my adaptor. You can get a dslr to sp.scope attachment that is straight from the camera to the scope.  The adaptor attaches to the camera body and the scope body. Its going to be awesome.. Nikon.com or @ CameraLandNY.

exactly what  I am taking about....but I am corious about actual pics.  hurry up and get some so I can see the results!

[7mag.]

I do it all the time. The pics usually turn out good, and I am using a cheap point and shoot camera. I will post some when I get a chance, I'm at work now. I even take video through my spotter.