Hello Peter Thanks for your reply, much appreciated. That model cannot unfortunately connect either Leica APO Televid 62 or 82 to a camera, only the later models of scope. Best regards David
-- Edited by dave broome on Tuesday 19th of May 2020 07:18:19 AM
Afternoon Dave.
Please excuse my ignorance to the age of the scope.
Would suggest the issue then is at the eyepiece end? Thinking outside of the box. How many mm across & long is the eyepiece? The camera has a 46mm screw thread so that's a starting point. You could get a camera extension tube that would be a couple of mm bigger than the eyepiece diameter as an example 65mm , get a 46mm to 65mm camera step up ring and screw the extension tube into the step up ring . Instant adaptor. Depending on how pragmatic you feel you are. You could also then drill and tap screw threads if you required any retention screw's. The principal is sound, Iam on my third adaptor, and the current one is a custom made to fit using the above workaround with a few tweaks.
Hi Dave, maybe of interest to you, I had trouble couple years back trying to get exact digiscope adaptor for my opticron to my iPhone, never mind my Lumix FZ-72 bridge camera.
In the end, I opted for a universal phone adaptor (less than £10 on eBay) that you could alter for your phone size and that opened wide enough to grip the correct eye-piece width on your scope. Never had a problem with it. Until I misplaced it when we had a house rewire a few months ago.
I remember reading somewhere that the older Leica scope models are difficult to digiscope with when using a smartphone as there wasnt a specific adaptor for it (there might be now?). So based on that, I would imagine its harder to find a camera adaptor for digiscoping than for a smartphone.
So rather than look for something specific, you might be better trying for a universal camera to scope adaptor if there is one available. I know, info a bit sketchy, but Im trying to relate to what I ended up doing and ended up being lucky! Hope this helps.
Hello Peter Thanks for your reply, much appreciated. That model cannot unfortunately connect either Leica APO Televid 62 or 82 to a camera, only the later models of scope. Best regards David
-- Edited by dave broome on Tuesday 19th of May 2020 07:18:19 AM
Is there a particular digiscoping adaptor which would fit a LUMIX LX5 to a Leica APO Televid 62 ? I ended up none the wiser and baffled on a quick search
-- Edited by dave broome on Monday 18th of May 2020 10:00:00 AM
Evening Dave, there is a Leica specific adaptor.
Leica D-Lux 5 (part # 42332).
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/193192241870
Regards Pete.
-- Edited by Peter Nolan Woolley on Monday 18th of May 2020 11:31:16 PM
Is there a particular digiscoping adaptor which would fit a LUMIX LX5 to a Leica APO Televid 62 ? I ended up none the wiser and baffled on a quick search
-- Edited by dave broome on Monday 18th of May 2020 10:00:00 AM
Oli, you could always go "old school" my solution ,using a swarovski with the 20 60 eyepiece and a samsung S1065 compact camera ,I lower the scope to waist level and then just hold the camera free hand and take numerous shots.A few hours in the garden practicing will improve your chances of getting the shot whilst actually birding.
Thanks for all your replies, both options of Panasonic and using my existing iPhone sound good. Where is focal point biased, if its not the other side of Manchester I will call in and look at options.
Regards Oli
Hi Oli we are between Warrington & Northwich in a farm unit in a small village called Higher Whitley, pop WA4 4QW into streetmap.co.uk to see where that is!! Possible a little far for you, but if something good breaks in Manchester I will pop the adaptor in my car & see if I can meet you & show it to you
Thanks for all your replies, both options of Panasonic and using my existing iPhone sound good. Where is focal point biased, if its not the other side of Manchester I will call in and look at options.
Dennis is right, the Meopta Meopix adaptor does a great job attaching an iPhone to a scope & the results can be absolutely stunning. I have been digiscoping 10 years & now regularly get published shots after years of trying, but the iPhone/Meopix set up has made digiscoping a lot easier than when I started!! We have just one left in the shop at Focalpoint, pop in & try it without any obligation. If you ring beforehand & come out when I am in I can talk you through digiscoping (as well as doing it a long time I have had expertise handed on from Paul Hackett, a founder in the art, and from another mate who teaches photoshop techniques)
I would say the easiest and cheapest solution for you is the meopta adapter, there is now an scope adapter just for the iphone, and for swaro scopes too, i dont think there to dear, forgot the price, saw them at the bird fair, nice idea if you already have an iphone, photos of it below on this link
Oli, I suspect your problem is trying to use a smart phone. When using a compact camera I find my old Nikon which has a lens which sticks out of the body of the camera is much easier to use. In extremis it's possible to stop the camera moving around too much simply by extending the eye-cup. I have also had some success using an old loo roll inner as this holds everything firmly together and excludes extraneous light. Trial and error is the way forward - it costs nothing to delete rubbish digital images. Good Luck
I'm a keen birder and already own a Swarovski ATS 80 HD, with a 20-60 zoom. I've tried using my iPhone camera with mixed results as its almost impossible to keep the camera in the correct place. Could anyone advise me which is the best camera and set up. The Nikon 1 seem popular however I'm open to any suggestions regarding camera or how it attaches to the scope.
I have just been looking into this for my own set up. Leica APO 82 with 25-50 zoom.
After much deliberation I ended up with a Panasonic LX5. A superb little compact which has (almost) the same build and exactly the same lens, sensor etc as the highly rated, but hugely expensive, Leica De-lux 5 (not surprising because Panasonic also manufacture for Leica).
The LX5 has recently been superceded by the LX7 but it can still be bought new.
The LX5 (and its predecessor the LX3) have a blank ring around the lens, which can unscrewed, exposing a male thread. (N.B. The LX7 does not have this feature).
For Leica scope users: A Leica digiscoping adapter can be bought which screws onto the camera and fits snugly around the scope eyepiece. I only took delivery this week so haven't yet had a chance to use this set up in the field.
Be aware that the LX3 and the LX5 have different sized threads. This is because the LX3 has a 60mm zoom whereas the LX5 has a 90mm zoom. This means the LX5 lens barrel is very slightly wider. Hence, Leica make 2 digiscoping adapters with different threads to suit so you must buy the appropriate one.
This set up is illustrated in Ian's review article "REVIEW OF THE NEW LEICA 82mm". (Found by clicking top left 'Back to the Manchester Birding Website Homepage', then 'Articles, Identification Issues, Reviews', then 'Reviews').
For Swarovski scope users: Swarovski also make a similar 'eyepiece-collar' type digiscoping adapter but I am unsure of the direct compatibility of the thread size. But I do know it is adaptable to the LX5 via step up/down rings, however, does this introduce vignetting problems? I think this digiscoping adapter is supplied with step up/down rings in the box.
An alternative is the 'swing away clamp' system. Many different sizes of compacts can then be used but these swing-aways are more expensive.
I'm no expert and others on this forum will have more knowledge.
Cheers, John
-- Edited by John Rayner on Wednesday 14th of November 2012 04:38:16 PM
.A few hours in the garden practicing will improve your chances of getting the shot whilst actually birding.