I have been playing around with my Olympus C-700. It is a digital with 10X
optical zoom, 2.1 MP. I haven't figured out yet exactly what the
magnification is, maybe around 6-7 power, but it doesn't reach out quite as
far as the 400mm lens I use with the SLR. When in the image acquisition
mode the lens is out about 1 1/2", and it happens to fit very nicely in the
eyecup of a Swarovski AT80. It always has tunnel vision through the scope,
but the maximum camera magnification produces the least amount, and I can
crop the pictures.

We're talking in the 120-140 power range. The scope focus is critical
because any little bit off is magnified fuzziness. My biggest problems have
been with getting the camera lens exactly flat and centered on the scope
eyepiece, and with the auto focus on the camera that doesn't always lock in
where I want it to. But I have had a few pretty nice pictures (still not
SLR with telephoto quality), and it is great for documenting rarities,
although it can require a bunch of shots to get a good one. The advantage
is being able to look at the shot immediately and taking another or 10 more,
deleting and having more opportunities. I change NIMH batteries about half
as often as I would otherwise change film (last summer in AZ I got close to
100 shots of constant shooting on one set of batteries), and a 128 MB
Smartmedia card is good for about 270 shots before needing to download or
change memory cards. And the camera by itself is still good without a scope
if the bird is close enough. It is much better in the shade and low light
conditions, but back lighting is still a challenge.

Bob Flores recently got a Minolta digital with 3.3 MP and a larger diameter
lens, although it may not have quite as much magnification. It doesn't fit
in the eyecup, but it may have interchangeable lenses. He did a big search
for features and prices, so may have some opinions also.

Randy Hill
Othello

----- Original Message -----
From: "Denny Granstrand" <osprey at nwinfo.net>
To: <TWEETERS at u.washington.edu>
Sent: Sunday, February 03, 2002 12:09 p
Subject: thru-the-scope photography


> 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 *
> * * * * * * * * * * *
>
>
>