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Digi-scoping with compact digital cameras
The nature of image capture with digital compact cameras means Opticron telescopes can be used
as high magnification telephoto lenses for wildlife photography. There are some limitations to this
conversion however as viewing eyepieces are not specifically designed for taking photographs
with digital cameras. As a result it is often difficult for a viewing eyepiece to project a large enough
dia. path of light into the camera lens and onto the CCD within. This results in a partial image being
created in the camera and a condition known as vignetting or circular image within the available
rectangular image frame. Vignetting can be 'cropped out' of the final image using photo editing
software but the final image will be equivalent to using a narrow field eyepiece.
To get the best results:
Choose a camera with a small lens diameter. The smaller the lens diameter the more of its' surface
area will be covered by light exiting from the eyepiece. Commonly camera lenses of diameter less
than 20mm give best results and camera lenses over 30mm in diameter will require at least 3x
optical zoom to attain a 'full frame' image.
Use the optical zoom function on the camera or camcorder to effectively reduce the aperture of
the lens to 'match up' with light exiting from the eyepiece. Remember the higher the optical zoom
setting, the higher the magnification of the final image.
E.g. 20x eyepiece plus 3x optical zoom = 60x [assuming 1x setting = 1x magnification.]
Note. In addition to eyepiece magnification and camera lens diameter, variables such as eyepiece eyerelief and field of view plus individual camera zoom-lens mechanisms all play an important role in achieving the best overall 'set-up' for this type of telephotography. There is therefore no substitute for individual testing.
Eyepieces As a general rule, the following eyepieces provide the best overall images with a wide
range of different compact digital cameras. To help they have been graded according to particular
requirement.
1. Overall image quality: Lowest magnification HDF eyepiece to suite you scope or Lowest magnification HR eyepiece to fit your scope
2. Flexibility across the widest range of different magnifications: SDL zoom or HDF zoom
3. Taking pictures at lower magnifications: HDF T 40937 or 40929 DTL
LOW MAGNIFICATION EYEPIECES HDF T 40937 · 40929 DTL (DIGITAL TELEPHOTOGRAPHY LENS)
These eyepieces are designed to maximise the diameter of the path of light exiting the telescope and being projected onto the lens of the digital compact camera/camcorder. As such they allow full frame photographs to be taken on more types of camera when used at their lowest magnification setting.
Eyepieces screw directly into current HR, GS and ES bodies as well as HR66, HR60MT, IMAGIC, CLASSIC IF-2 MT, IS** and MM2 models.
 |
Specifications |
40937 HDF T |
Eyerelief (mm) |
25 |
|
Eyelens dia (mm) |
28 |
|
Length (mm) |
45 |
|
Weight (g) |
115 |
|
Price |
£105.00 |
|
 |
Specifications |
40929 DTL |
Eyerelief (mm) |
38 |
|
Eyelens dia (mm) |
31 |
|
Length (mm) |
45 |
|
Weight (g) |
122 |
|
Price |
£65.00 |
|
| Models | 40937 |
40929 |
| HR 80 | 22x |
14x |
| HR 60 MT, HR 66 | 16x |
10.5x |
| ES 100 | 25x |
16.25x |
| GS 815, ES 80, IM 80* | 19x |
12.5x |
| GS 665, IM 65* | 15x |
9.5x |
| CLASSIC IF-2 75 MT * | 15x |
9.5x |
| IS 60 * [use ME/MT adapter]** | 14x |
9x |
| IS 50 * [use ME/MT adapter]** | 11x |
7x |
| IS 70 * [use ME/MT adapter]** | 15x |
9.5x |
| MM2 52 * | 11x |
6.9x |
The 40929 DTL cannot be fitted to the following Opticron models: HR 60/80 pre 1998, Classic IF, Classic IF MKII, Piccolo 60.
* Due to the large aperture of the DTL eyepiece, the image projected from it with some of the smaller prism scopes is rectangular and not circular as with normal viewing eyepieces. This condition does not affect the overall quality of the image for Telephotography purposes.
** ME/MT adapters for use with 40929 DTL and IS 50, IS 60 & IS 70 models are supplied free of charge on request.
DCC ADAPTER (digital compact camera adapter)
 |
 |
50065 DCC adapter £39.00 |
50064 SDL DCC adapter £49.00 |
The 50065 DCC adapter provides a secure direct connection between suitable compact cameras and selected HDF T, HDF an HR eyepieces. The 50064 SDL DCC is a larger version of the DCC designed for the 40935 SDL zoom eyepiece.
Suitable cameras are generally those that feature either a 'fixed position' camera lens with integral thread to accept a lens hood thread/tele-converter or a 'variable position' camera lens that is supplied with an optional lens hood or extension tube that covers the lens as it extends and retracts.
Step rings needed to connect a hood or tube to the 28mm external thread featured on both versions of the DCC adapter can be obtained separately from specialist accessory suppliers.
A 2 piece locking ring in aluminium combined with a flexible delrin insert. Camera side, the adapter features a 28mm screw thread connection to a suitable camera. Eyepiece side is a push fit connection over suitable HDF T, HDF or HR eyepieces with anti-clockwise lock down. Inserts are available in a choice of internal diameters;
-
50066 Ø51mm
-
50067 Ø45.5mm
-
50068 Ø41.5mm*
-
50069 Ø33mm**
* 50068 insert only fits in combination with 50067 insert.
** 50069 insert only fits in combination with 50068 and 50067 inserts
Model |
50066 |
50067 |
50068 (50067 also required) |
50069 (50068 & 50067 also required) |
Internal dia. |
51mm |
45.5mm |
41.5mm |
33mm |
HDF T 40862 |
HDF T 41810 |
HDF 40810 |
HR 40812 |
|
- |
HDF T 40937 |
DTL 40929 |
HR 40813 |
|
- |
HR2 40933 |
HDF 40809 |
MM2 40903 |
|
- |
HDF T 40872 |
HR2 40930 |
- |
|
- |
HDF T 40809 |
HR2 40931 |
- |
|
- |
HDF 40862 |
- |
- |
|
Price |
£8.50 |
£8.50 |
£8.50 |
£8.50 |
UNIVERSAL DIGITAL CAMERA ADAPTER (UDCA)
£95.00
The Universal Digital Camera Adapter is designed to allow you take high magnification photographs using Opticron telescopes and eyepieces in conjunction with most digital compact cameras and some digital camcorders using eyepiece projection.Many digital compact cameras do not have screw threads on the lens assemblies to allow for direct coupling, so the UDCA is designed as a three-way adjustable balance plate that fixes directly to the telescope eyepiece.The camera is fixed onto the UDCA and can be adjusted in three planes to enable correct positioning with respect to the eyepiece. The vertical position of the balance plate can be fixed in order to swing the camera + balance plate in and out of position. This feature allows you to alternate between taking pictures and viewing through the eyepiece in the normal way.Mounting the UDCA requires an eyepiece dia. less than or equal to 56mm and fixed (non rotating) eyepiece tube distance of 15mm.