Continuing Konuspot 80 Digiscoping adventures

Since the last post on the Konuspot 80 I have purchased and received a T-ring adapter for my Olympus OMD-EM1. Now I can mount the camera directly on the scope. This immediately makes life easier. The next thing I did was to mount the scope on my best tripod/ballhead combination. This greatly improved the steadiness of the image.


Sadly, it seems the Rose Breasted Grosbeaks were just passing through and now that I am ready to take their picture they are gone. Oh well. To test out the new setup I tried some flower shots. The biggest problem here is that our climate in SC has changed. Now we have day after day of dry air with lots of wind, unlike the usual humid and still days. While absolutely beautiful weather, it makes capturing flower images at high magnification challenging.


I did take some test shots. Most were soft. I bumped up the ISO to get a higher shutter speed. Even so, focusing on a moving target is near impossible.


The results were mostly soft as I said. There was movement is some which I liked – kind of a dreamy artsy look. Nonetheless, I am waiting for calmer days.


One thing I did not expect was that I cannot use Live View on the EM1 when it is attached to the scope. I was hoping and assumed it would work. I guess since the camera does not recognize a lens is attached it will not do Live View. A perusal of the manual is in order.


In the meantime I have ordered T-ring adapters for my other cameras, the Olympus E30 and Pentax K30. With these adapters I can leave a camera on the scope all the time.

My digiscoping experience with the Konuspot 80 so far

I purchased a Konuspot 80 about a year ago with the intention of doing some digiscoping.  Eagle Optics defines digiscoping as:

Digiscoping is a unique kind of photography using a digital camera and a field spotting scope. Now you can expand your ability to photograph the wonders of nature by putting your digital camera to work with any spotting scope.

On this past Sunday, I finally got around to trying out the Konuspot 80 as a digiscope. I was not following a particular tutorial or procedure, I was basically just remembering the steps from what I had read in the not too distant past.

The Konuspot 80 is a 20X-60X x 80 scope. Mine came with a T type camera adapter and a small tripod.

First thing I noticed is the tripod is too flimsy to be of much use. Of course it didn't helpl that I was using a makeshift table constructed of deck rail, deck chairs, and large books. But I think it's safe to say a better tripod is in order. There is a lot of droop in the supplied tripod. At the magnifications we are dealing with the droop is a major problem.

My suggestion is that whatever tripod you use, get it mounted on a solid surface.

Next, I attached the camera adapter. I had planned on using my Olympus SH-1 point and shoot. There would be no mechanical connection between the camera and scope. I was unable to get a decent shot by hand-holding the camera up to the eyepiece. The fact that I had an unstable tripod setup didn't help the situation, nor did the fact that one hand was always on the camera, leaving the other to adjust the position of the scope, focus of the scope, and magnification of the scope. I quit using the SH-1 without a single image.

I got my Olympus OMD-EM1 and fitted it with a 50mm F2 macro lens. It was easier to hold this camera/lens combination up to the scope eyepiece. Using live view on the camera, I was able to get a few shots - all of which were not as sharp as they might have been. Again, the issue was having enough hands to do everything required. I gave up pretty quickly.

I came in to regroup. I realized I needed someway to attach the camera to the scope. I ordered a T to micro 4/3rds converter for the EM-1. This way I will have the camera mechanically connected to the scope and will have both hands free for other things like positioning, focus, and magnification.

So, if the adapter gets here this week I will try again this weekend.

Other issues/comments.

1. The images in the scope are sharp and bright. I think they will make good photos.

2. I was working in the shade, which required a high ISO for the photos. The brighter the view the better.

3. The bokeh with the scope was interesting.

The Fig Tree.

In my mother-in-laws' yard is a yellow fig tree. I have been watching this tree for two reasons. One is to eat some figs when they are ready. The other is to observe the abundance of activity from insects, birds and other animals. I am amazed. For starters the rotting figs provide food for numerous insects such as bees, wasps, hornets, and flies. I have seen butterflies, like the red spotted purple, southern pearly eye, question mark, and hackberry emperor. At night, numerous species of moths come to the figs, drawn by their sweet fermenting juice. Squirrel s enjoy the fruit as well. So do cardinals and bluejays. The ruby throated hummingbird enjoys the juice as well. I am sure there are other things drawn to the tree that I have not seen. One ancient tree, providing antioxidants for so many. Nature at her best.

Wild Turkey in Upstate South Carolina

I went on a photo safari last week. A photo safari is a ride to somewhere in hopes of making some interesting images. On this safari, I was headed to Spartanburg to take some pinhole images of the train trestle at Converse Mill/Pacolet River. I always take my DSLR as well and as I was hunting for the trestle, I spotted this turkey right off Hwy 221 in a grain field. What a beauty. What amazing colors.

Blue Heron

I photographed this blue heron at a nearby creek on Saturday. Finally I got a shot of one in the sun. I took 125 photos of this bird. He was magnificent and a joy to watch.