Digiscoping is defined as the practice of shooting digital photos or videos with a camera attached to a spotting scope. A Malaysian birdwatcher William Poh began the practice and was officially named by another birdwatcher, Frenchman Alan Fosse in 1999. In the beginning it consisted of homemade adapters to attach low res digital cameras to not very good scopes. Advancements in scope and camera technology now allows for excellent photographic results. Focal lengths of 1,000mm to 3,000mm and more with 1.6 scope extenders are possible.
I discovered digiscoping accidentally after retiring from a 30 year career as a staff photographer for Lockheed Martin and became instantly enamored. I was fascinated by the extreme focal length and the detail it provided me for capturing birds and wildlife, my newfound interest in retirement. It is now my preferred method of photographing. Phonescoping has now made it even easier and enhances the use of a scope. Half the pleasure of owning a scope is sharing your view of distant grizzly bears with cubs high up on mountaintops or a wolf den with pups a mile and a half away or a bald eagle nest with chicks. Adding a phone to your scope allows you to share these views right on the back of the phone screen while taking photos or even 4K video. It brings me great delight to see the faces of kids and their parents light up with joy followed by “Wow! That’s amazing!”, while viewing distant wildlife not visible to the eye.
I use a Panasonic GH4 camera. The GH4 offers focus peaking which is very helpful for critical focus. I use a 20mm 1.7 lens with the camera. It attaches to the scope with an adapter which slips over the scope eyepiece. I also use a Zucoto viewing loupe which attaches nicely to the back camera screen. This offers a very nice view of my subject and aids in critical focus. I use an iPhone x and am very pleased with the results. It attaches to my scope with the Novagrade double gripper adapter. I prefer this adapter as it is universal and attaches any phone to any scope. You only need to buy one even as you upgrade your phone. It allows you to keep your phone case on unlike most others. I would have lost a million bet that I would be using a phone for image capture but in my current role as US Brand Ambassador for Kowa Sporting Optics it helps greatly in demonstrating the power of a scope at my workshops. Also, everyone has a smart phone so why not attach it to your scope to enhance it’s capability?
I equate digiscoping to fly fishing which I also enjoy. It is very deliberate and requires great concentration but is actually very easy if you practice some very simple techniques. A very stable tripod is required. With the extreme focal lengths any wind or vibration will minimize the focus. Critical focus is the toughest part due to minimal depth of field. I prefer a micro four thirds cameras with focus peaking. These cameras are lighter than DSLRs and the focus peaking, while not perfect gives you a good starting point on focus. It is all manual focus. I lock the focus on my phone so it does not search. A remote shutter release is essential. You do not want to touch the camera or phone as it will effect critical focus.
Digiscoping minimizes impact on wildlife and allows for much more natural behaviors from my subjects as I’m so much further away. I’m appalled at how close some photographers get to nests or large mammals that can injure them. I also enjoy seeing behaviors of animals I have been observing since I was a little boy that I never noticed before. The view through a good spotting scope is crystal clear and one I have never seen with any other lens in my 35 years of photographing. With a scope you can see every feather on a bird while photographing. You will need a top quality scope to get good results but compare a $3,000 scope which provides 1000mmm – 3000mm focal lengths to a 500 0r 600 prime lens for $6,000 - $12,000. I prefer the Kowa 883 scope which Audubon deemed the best In a major scope shootout last year. It uses Fluorite crystal in the front element which minimizes chromatic aberration the main weak point of any scope. I love the detail you get using a scope. While not for everyone, I highly recommend giving it a whirl. Think of it as just another tool in your photographic kit.
Happy digiscoping everyone!