Vortex PS-100 P&S Attachment

I recently addressed the problem of today's point & shoot digital cameras and popular DCA style digiscoping adapters. Because newer point & shoot digital camera models typically lack any kind of filter thread, they won't connect to a DCA. The Vortex Point & Shoot Attachment (PS-100) should eliminate this problem.



A type of platform adapter, the PS-100 will give just about any point & shoot digital camera a filter thread so it can be used with any of the various DCA adapters on the market. It's super easy to configure - the small platform attaches to the camera via the camera's tripod thread and the adjustable sight is centered with the camera's lens. This attachment will work with the Vortex Razor DCA, Swarovski DCA, and both Kowa DCA adapters (DA10 and DA1).

Note: The PS-100's thread size is 37mm.

Link: Vortex Point & Shoot Attachment

Question about Optical Zoom

Q: Most point & shoot digital cameras come with lenses that are 3x, 10x, 12x, etc., but most SLR cameras use telephoto lenses that are 100mm, 300mm, etc. What is the relationship between the two systems? In other words, a 12x digital point and shoot equals what in a telephoto SLR lens? What is the conversion factor?

A: Point & shoot digital cameras have 35mm equivalencies, but they cannot be derived from knowing just the optical zoom because every model can be unique. For example, each digital camera model below is listed with its maximum optical zoom and corresponding 35mm equivalency zoom range (focal lengths) provided by the manufacturer:

• Canon PowerShot SX10:  20x Optical Zoom / 28 - 560 mm
• Sony Cyber-shot DSC-H20:  10x Optical zoom / 38 - 380mm
• Nikon Coolpix 8400:  3.5x Optical Zoom / 24 - 85mm
• Nikon Coolpix P5000:  3.5x Optical Zoom / 36 - 126mm

Notice that each camera has a different 35mm equivalency at 1x optical zoom. The two Nikon cameras have the same optical zoom (3.5x), but different 35mm equivalencies. This is because digital camera manufacturers can put whatever configuration of lens elements they want into an optical zoom system and won't necessarily render the same 35mm equivalency. However, the optical zoom can be computed by dividing the maximum 35mm equivalency focal length by the minimum:

• 560mm / 28mm = 20x
• 380mm / 38mm = 10x
• 85mm / 24mm = 3.5x
• 126mm / 36mm = 3.5x

And that's where the optical zoom number comes from! Optical zoom is only regarded as magnification in the sense of how many times the minimum focal length in 35mm equivalency is being multiplied. If you want to calculate true magnification, simply divided focal length by 50 (from 50mm = 1x in 35mm equivalency).

Canon S90 for Digiscoping

The Canon S90 point & shoot digital camera appears to be an adequate choice for digiscoping, but it's not without a minor problem. Unfortunately, Canon doesn't make an accessory adapter to bring it out to a convenient filter thread to support Swarovski's DCA or Kowa's DA1. There is a third-party adapter (37mm) made by LensMate, but it attaches to the S90 via an adhesive of some type that seems a little risky and inconvenient to me. However, the camera will mount to bracket adapters like the Swarovski UCA or Kowa DA4. Kevin Bolton has been getting stellar digiscoping results with the S90 and his Kowa 88 scope!

Nikon Coolpix P6000

You just can't argue with Kevin Bolton's digiscoping results. Based on the fantastic images he's been able to capture over the past year, I think the Nikon Coolpix P6000 is the digital camera of choice if you own a Kowa or Swarovski spotting scope and you want to start digiscoping in style.

Kevin uses a Kowa 88 Prominar scope and the DA10 digiscoping adapter, which connects via Nikon's UR-E21 accessory adapter and a 43mm Kowa adapter ring. If you’re using a Swarovski spotting scope and want to use the P6000, you'll use their DCA, but the BOW-A4652N6 accessory adapter instead of the Nikon UR-E21. This is because the 43mm adapter ring included with the DCA isn't quite wide enough for the P6000's lens to fit through.



Have a great weekend!

Prairie Warbler © 2009 Kevin Bolton

Panasonic Lumix G1

Discussion and sample digiscoped images regarding the Panasonic Lumix G1 have been posted to the Yahoo tech group for digiscoping lately. Is this the next great camera for digiscoping? After obtaining his first results, digiscoping extraordinaire Neil Fifer of Hong Kong said it's a worthy successor to the Nikon Coolpix 8400. The kit zoom lens is internally focusing and has a 52mm thread, so it will connect to Swarovski's DCA and Kowa's DA1 and DA10 digiscoping adapters. I'm not sure I'm going to get one just yet, as I remain pretty happy with my 8400. However, if you're in the market for a digital camera for digiscoping, this may be one of the best options available at the present time.

Link: Digiscopingbirds on Yahoo

Link: Review of the Panasonic Lumix G1

Nikon Coolpix P6000

New Jersey digiscoper Kevin Bolton recently started testing the Nikon Coolpix P6000 with his Kowa 883 spotting scope. Given his preliminary result, it looks like the camera will make a fine successor to the P5100. The Nikon UR-E21 accessory adapter will bring P6000 out to a 43mm thread. This works fine with both Kowa DCA adapters, but the 43mm adapter ring included with the Swarovski DCA may require a modification. I'll try to report on this if I ever get my hands on a P6000.

Link: Kevin's comments on the P6000.

Link: His first result.