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I have hit a snag on organising the camera, telescope and digiscoping accessories. Each can be used alone or in combination. Which means that safe storage is required for each eventuality. It also means lots [and lots] of lens caps! I now have two sets of digiscoping adapters. One needs a camera lens and the other not. Which means safe storage for umpteen more bits and pieces. Mobile or not, depending on the circumstances. I need lots of containers which allow instant identification of the contents!
Using the much bulkier and much heavier camera [than my trusty, Lumix TZ7, pocket camera] on my morning walks is confused by the need for binoculars. I'd need a 400mm telephoto to match the binoculars for distant reach. Even then, the experience would not be remotely the same.
Using the much bulkier and much heavier camera [than my trusty, Lumix TZ7, pocket camera] on my morning walks is confused by the need for binoculars. I'd need a 400mm telephoto to match the binoculars for distant reach. Even then, the experience would not be remotely the same.
The camera viewfinder is a very poor relative of binoculars. Which are compact, lightweight, are instantly accessible and have a wide field of view. It has become second nature to home-in on any subject at any distance on the ground, in the trees or in the air. Adding a bulky camera to the mix adds very serious clumsiness. Crossing straps between the camera and binoculars would soon become extremely tiresome.
There are Q/R clips for cameras to fit on a variety of straps. Though it would add highly asymmetric loading onto the strap of a pair of lightweight binoculars. I can't see that being very practical. Better suited to heavy, rucksack-style, camera bags Or I would have thought.
There are Q/R clips for cameras to fit on a variety of straps. Though it would add highly asymmetric loading onto the strap of a pair of lightweight binoculars. I can't see that being very practical. Better suited to heavy, rucksack-style, camera bags Or I would have thought.
The pairing of camera and binoculars can work well in a fixed location when digiscoping. Simply because the telescope/camera unit is self-supporting on a tripod. No need for a camera strap. The binoculars can be arranged nearby to be quickly grabbed when required. Which saves moving the telescope onto another target and refocusing quite unnecessarily. There is no need to wear the binoculars continuously. If I did, they would swing about as I rock forwards, on my stool, to look through the viewfinder.
Which is a far more useful means of framing and focusing without glasses. Whereas the "tiny" screen on the G9 needs my strongest reading glasses and a close approach. Much like the Canon Ixus 117HS. These screens must also compete with bright daylight. Making image legibility and reading such tiny digits largely a waste of time and space.
Much the same can be said for the LCD information panel on top of the G9. It is strictly a young person's device for those with good, close vision. Septuagenarians, like myself, will usually suffer from age-related lack of visual accommodation. [The ability to instantly refocus the eyes is lost due to hardening of the eye lens.] Though in my case I was extremely fortunate to have developed fine distance vision in old age. Despite wearing spectacles for most of my adult life. Just to be able to read the clock on the office wall. Or, in particular, for driving.
Which is a far more useful means of framing and focusing without glasses. Whereas the "tiny" screen on the G9 needs my strongest reading glasses and a close approach. Much like the Canon Ixus 117HS. These screens must also compete with bright daylight. Making image legibility and reading such tiny digits largely a waste of time and space.
Much the same can be said for the LCD information panel on top of the G9. It is strictly a young person's device for those with good, close vision. Septuagenarians, like myself, will usually suffer from age-related lack of visual accommodation. [The ability to instantly refocus the eyes is lost due to hardening of the eye lens.] Though in my case I was extremely fortunate to have developed fine distance vision in old age. Despite wearing spectacles for most of my adult life. Just to be able to read the clock on the office wall. Or, in particular, for driving.
Conversely, I find the camera viewfinder does not work with glasses. So I have learnt to prop my glasses on top of my head when digiscoping. [Hollywood style.] Otherwise I can't see the lake's inhabitants through my reading glasses when I look up.
You never know when an interesting arrival might make an entrance onto the stage provided by the lake. Particularly when completely engrossed in capturing a subject through the viewfinder. Water birds are often highly mobile for no obvious reason. A tour up and down the lake is perfectly commonplace. As are new birds flying in. Or moving out of cover after a nap. The camera largely blocks one's view of all this unless they cross the very narrow field of view seen through the viewfinder.
You never know when an interesting arrival might make an entrance onto the stage provided by the lake. Particularly when completely engrossed in capturing a subject through the viewfinder. Water birds are often highly mobile for no obvious reason. A tour up and down the lake is perfectly commonplace. As are new birds flying in. Or moving out of cover after a nap. The camera largely blocks one's view of all this unless they cross the very narrow field of view seen through the viewfinder.
The camera viewfinder is a comparative revelation in ease of use compared with the screen. Though it greatly increases the chance of shaking the camera. The wireless shutter release works wonders in this sense. I can withdraw my head slightly, after the half click for the camera to work its computing magic. Then release the shutter only when the subject "poses" nicely for the camera. Which can be easily monitored without directly resting one's head against the camera.
Head turning, for avoiding potential threats, is a very common behaviour in birds. A photograph of the back of a bird's head is not usually considered of general interest. Birds tend to preen and groom themselves at lightning speed too. Meaning that one has to hone one's ability to anticipate a pleasing aspect before actual shutter release.
Multiple [burst] exposures are now a common feature of digital cameras. Sadly, abuse of this handy feature will often lead to huge files. Not to mention ending up with far too many images to easily cope with. I am still waiting for AI software to manage the vast number of images I have accumulated over the years since "going digital!" None of the present, storage and cataloguing softwares, pretends to be useful in that respect. Some of them don't even have an ignore duplicates when downloading button! What idiocy!
Multiple [burst] exposures are now a common feature of digital cameras. Sadly, abuse of this handy feature will often lead to huge files. Not to mention ending up with far too many images to easily cope with. I am still waiting for AI software to manage the vast number of images I have accumulated over the years since "going digital!" None of the present, storage and cataloguing softwares, pretends to be useful in that respect. Some of them don't even have an ignore duplicates when downloading button! What idiocy!
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