DSLR or Digiscoping
Below was what I posted on India Nature Watch forum (www.indianaturewatch.net) quite sometime back when there was a discussion on Nikon vs. Canon. I am not pretty sure if my argument is really sensible. Posting this on my blog now in response to some discussion happening on "Bangalore Photography Club" (http://www.bangalorephotographyclub.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=12&t=3256)
Right now I don't have much time to refine the article. But, have plans of relooking into this over the weekend.
Here goes the write-up...
Canon or Nikon?
My version: Go Digiscoping
(http://gpitta.blogspot.com/2007/12/what-is-digiscoping.html)
All are talking about buying a good DSLR (ranging from D40X to D300 to D3X in Nikon / Canon 400D to Canon 40D to Canon 1D Mark III?).
At the end of it, you will have a dilemma what is good for photographing birds?
1. You begin with ordinary Canon 75-300 USM III (or Nikon equivalent)
2. Then shift to Sigma 50-500 for Canon or Nikon
3a. Then upgrade to Canon 100-400 IS (or something of that kind in Nikon)
3b. If not satisfied even after this, you buy a 500mm or 600mm prime Canon or Nikon lens, and start walking half-naked
(comment stolen from one of the comments my friend got when he purchased 600mm)
If one evolves in the above mentioned stages, let me calculate the money now (approx): Canon 40D + Sigma 50-500 + Canon 100-400 IS) would be around hmmm... 40K + 30K + 70K = 1.4 Lakhs and another 2 to 3 Lakhs if you end up with a 500 or 600 mm prime.
Let us come to Digiscoping:
You need: A Spotting Scope + A Digital Camera + Some method of fixing the camera to the scope.
Spotting Scope can be either Swarovski or Leica or any other good one, where the manufacturer of the scope has proprietary Digiscoping accessories. Usually a spotting scope will have two parts separately sold: body and eyepiece. I have a 30X eyepiece.
Digital Camera can be either a DSLR or an advanced non-SLR digital camera. Here one should be careful which camera goes well with the scope. Nikon Coolpix 8400 goes well with Swarovski scopes. As far as DSLRs are concerned, Canon 20D, Nikon D2X (and also other low end DSLRs) go well. More information on this can be found here:
http://www.birddigiscoping.com/2005/09/d-slr-options-for-swarovski.html
http://www.optics4birding.com/Media/Documents/PDF/Photography%20-%20Cameras%20&%20Adapters%20for%20Swarovski%208-2004.pdf
If you are going for Nikon Coolpix 8400, with Swarovski scope you need what is called a Digital Camera Base (This is what I use for Digiscoping: Refer http://gpitta.blogspot.com/2007/12/what-is-digiscoping.html) In this case, you fix the digital camera base to the neck of the scope and fix the camera's built-in lens in line with the axis of the eyepiece.
If you go for a DSLR, you need an adapter such as TLS-800 from Swarovski. In this case you are going to fit the scope body directly to the camera body, with the help of the adapter. You don't use the eyepiece or the camera lens here.
In anycase, expense sheet will be:
1. Swarovski scope + Digital Camera Base + Nikon Coolpix 8400 = 1 Lakh + 16K + 30K
2. Swarovski scope + TLS-800 + Canon 20D (20D should be sufficient) = 1Lakh + 22K + 25K
Disadvantage with option (1) is that coolpix 8400 takes 3 seconds to write a high-resolution JPG, and 8 seconds to write a RAW file. And you won't be able to take flight pictures.
Option (2) should be much easier to use and flight pictures can be taken.
Above everything, you will be standing far far behind (something like double the distance) than a person using 600mm prime lens, when taking full-frame of a tiny bird. That's worth the satisfaction
Right now I don't have much time to refine the article. But, have plans of relooking into this over the weekend.
Here goes the write-up...
Canon or Nikon?
My version: Go Digiscoping
(http://gpitta.blogspot.com/2007/12/what-is-digiscoping.html)
All are talking about buying a good DSLR (ranging from D40X to D300 to D3X in Nikon / Canon 400D to Canon 40D to Canon 1D Mark III?).
At the end of it, you will have a dilemma what is good for photographing birds?
1. You begin with ordinary Canon 75-300 USM III (or Nikon equivalent)
2. Then shift to Sigma 50-500 for Canon or Nikon
3a. Then upgrade to Canon 100-400 IS (or something of that kind in Nikon)
3b. If not satisfied even after this, you buy a 500mm or 600mm prime Canon or Nikon lens, and start walking half-naked
(comment stolen from one of the comments my friend got when he purchased 600mm)If one evolves in the above mentioned stages, let me calculate the money now (approx): Canon 40D + Sigma 50-500 + Canon 100-400 IS) would be around hmmm... 40K + 30K + 70K = 1.4 Lakhs and another 2 to 3 Lakhs if you end up with a 500 or 600 mm prime.
Let us come to Digiscoping:
You need: A Spotting Scope + A Digital Camera + Some method of fixing the camera to the scope.
Spotting Scope can be either Swarovski or Leica or any other good one, where the manufacturer of the scope has proprietary Digiscoping accessories. Usually a spotting scope will have two parts separately sold: body and eyepiece. I have a 30X eyepiece.
Digital Camera can be either a DSLR or an advanced non-SLR digital camera. Here one should be careful which camera goes well with the scope. Nikon Coolpix 8400 goes well with Swarovski scopes. As far as DSLRs are concerned, Canon 20D, Nikon D2X (and also other low end DSLRs) go well. More information on this can be found here:
http://www.birddigiscoping.com/2005/09/d-slr-options-for-swarovski.html
http://www.optics4birding.com/Media/Documents/PDF/Photography%20-%20Cameras%20&%20Adapters%20for%20Swarovski%208-2004.pdf
If you are going for Nikon Coolpix 8400, with Swarovski scope you need what is called a Digital Camera Base (This is what I use for Digiscoping: Refer http://gpitta.blogspot.com/2007/12/what-is-digiscoping.html) In this case, you fix the digital camera base to the neck of the scope and fix the camera's built-in lens in line with the axis of the eyepiece.
If you go for a DSLR, you need an adapter such as TLS-800 from Swarovski. In this case you are going to fit the scope body directly to the camera body, with the help of the adapter. You don't use the eyepiece or the camera lens here.
In anycase, expense sheet will be:
1. Swarovski scope + Digital Camera Base + Nikon Coolpix 8400 = 1 Lakh + 16K + 30K
2. Swarovski scope + TLS-800 + Canon 20D (20D should be sufficient) = 1Lakh + 22K + 25K
Disadvantage with option (1) is that coolpix 8400 takes 3 seconds to write a high-resolution JPG, and 8 seconds to write a RAW file. And you won't be able to take flight pictures.
Option (2) should be much easier to use and flight pictures can be taken.
Above everything, you will be standing far far behind (something like double the distance) than a person using 600mm prime lens, when taking full-frame of a tiny bird. That's worth the satisfaction
Also fully clothed:)
ReplyDelete-Mohan