Subject: thru-the-scope photography
Date: Feb 3 12:09:56 2002
From: Denny Granstrand - osprey at nwinfo.net


I have attempted to take photographs of birds through my spotting scope in
the last year and have reported the details to Tweeters several times.

I have finally found success. I have the new Pentax PF-80ED spotting scope.
Recently, my wife and I bought an Olympus Stylus 140 point-and-shoot camera.
With the camera zoomed out just a little, about 1/4 of an inch, the shaft of
the lens fits almost perfectly into the end of the scope eyepiece. I can
hold the camera against the scope with one hand and hit the button to take
the photo with the other.

I took most of a roll of film the last two days and got some very good
photos. They are not magazine-quality photos but are pretty good.
Certainly good enough to confirm a sighting. One photo of a Bald Eagle with
the scope zoomed to about 40 power is just slightly out of focus but still
pretty darn good. Photos yesterday of several Emporer Geese and Barnacle
Geese that are wintering in the Yakima area are even better.

Actually, the geese are resident at a private aviary north of Selah. Along
with the two mentioned are three subspecies of White-fronted Geese,
Red-breasted Geese, Mandarin Ducks, two Trumpeter Swans, Wild Turkeys,
several species of pheasant and a splattering of other birds. If anyone is
passing through Yakima and would like to stop there, call or e-mail me
before hand and I can make arrangements for a visit. The guy who owns the
place is very friendly and is excited to share his birds with others.

Denny Granstrand
Yakima, WA
* * * * * * * * * * *
* Denny Granstrand *
* Yakima, WA *
* osprey at nwinfo.net *
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