DIGIBIRDING INFORMATION
The following information on digibirding has been kindly provided by EagleEye OpticZooms from their current brochure. With the current thirst for digibirding knowledge amongst birders we thought this was a useful addition to the surfbirds site. For further information contact EagleEye OpticZooms at www.eagleeyeuk.com or directly on 01474-871219.
The Digital Advantage....
Bird Photography is being revolutionised by simply attaching a digital camera or camcorder to the eyepiece of your scope. 'DigiBirding' makes bird photography easy for any birder who owns a telescope and digital camera or camcorder.
Digital cameras and camcorders are much more sensitive to light than standard film cameras and are therefore ideally suited for this application, even in relatively low-light conditions.
No Heavy Lenses to Buy or Carry....
There is no need to buy a huge, expensive camera lens when your scope will do the job for you.
Attach the digital camera or camcorder over the eyepiece of your scope using the DigiMount Adapter and you can zoom into the image produced by the scope magnifying it even further. For example, the Nikon Coolpix
995 camera zooms at x4 onto the image produced by your scope. This means that with a x30 eyepiece you can take photographs at x120 magnification @ f5.1, which is equivalent to a 4500mm lens on an SLR camera! The size, weight and cost of an SLR lens capable of providing less than 25% (i.e. 1000mm @ f5.1) of this awesome power would be phenomenal.
With a digital camcorder e.g. Sony PC100 it is perfectly possible to take images at magnification of x300 or higher!
To achieve this awesome power the only extra equipment the 'DigiBirder' needs to carry is the camera/camcorder and a few pocket-size, lightweight accessories.
No More Film to Buy....
A digital still camera uses 'film' just like any other camera with one very important difference and that is, the film is completely re-useable. Digital still camera 'film' comes in the form of a memory card that fits inside your camera or camcorder. The most common types are known as Compact Flash Cards, Smart Media Cards and Memory Sticks (mainly used by Sony digital camcorders), they all come in various storage capacity sizes described for example as 64mb / 128mb etc. etc. The more memory capacity the card has the more images it will hold, for example used with most cameras a 128mb card will hold over 150 images at normal quality.
The images can be viewed in the field via the LCD screen on the camera. Any images you are not happy with you simply trash there and then and re-use the space for further images. Once back home, all saved images may be transferred onto your PC or video tape and once transferred the whole 'film' is ready to use again and again. In other words you have no more film to buy...ever!
Moving Footage...
A digital camcorder records moving footage directly onto digital tape in much the same way music is recorded onto an audio cassette tape. The difference is that the image is recorded digitally. The footage produced can either be left on the tape or transferred on to normal VHS tape. It can be edited on your PC into quite professional Birdy 'movies' by using the software provided with the camcorder.
In addition to moving footage many of the camcorders can also record still images onto memory cards in the same way as a digital still camera does or take videograbs straight form the moving footage. Videograbs can be edited, stored, e-mailed etc exactly as with digital still images.
Camera or Camcorder..??
There are advantages to both methods. A still camera does not have the larger zoom capability offered by the camcorder and of course produces stills, although some do also have the facility to record short movie clips as well. So if its moving footage or videograbs of very distant birds that you require then a camcorder is your first choice though the much higher magnifications mean that vibrations can lead to camera shake and be a bit of a problem.
On the other hand the images produced by a digital still camera are of the highest quality and compare extremely favourably with images produced by traditional SLR film cameras.
Editing video footage requires a fairly powerful PC compared to editing still images.
No need to intrude on the bird..
Because of the magnification being used with 'DigiBirding' there is not the need to get right up close to get a good image of the bird. This makes 'DigiBirding' far less stressful for the bird (and photographer!) and lessens the time needed to get a good shot.
See your shots on TV, PC, e-mail, in your records...
Once you have taken your bird images it couldn't be simpler to view them on either a TV or PC. Your camera or camcorder will come with special leads that enable you to transfer images direct to the TV or PC. Once your images are on TV you can record them onto a normal video tape as a permanent record.
If you have a PC, the images are stored direct onto your hard drive or onto a CD-ROM and a whole range of additional possibilities are open to you.
The digital darkroom...
Your camera will come with software that will enable you to edit your images or footage. Though you can never turn a bad image into a good image, the software provided can undoubtedly help improve the final quality of an image in exactly the same way as traditional darkroom methods are capable of enhancing 'normal' film based photographs.
Most digital images can be improved with less than half a dozen 'clicks' with a mouse. The software also enables you to zoom in, crop, enlarge, rotate etc. etc. and prepare your images for e-mailing or printing.
Enhance your Records and Create Virtual Albums
If you don't have a PC there are an increasing number of high street outlets that will print the images out for you so that you can include them in your written records. If you keep your records on a PC already it will be child's play to include images of the birds you have recorded.
The software that comes with the camera will enable you to group your images together in albums that suit your particular interests or holidays e.g. Gulls and Terns, Arizona 2001 trip, local patch birds and so on. It is also easy to produce 'slide shows' for the PC and even to make your own birdy CD-ROMs.
E-mailing your images around the world couldn't be easier and with a moderately powered PC and a little skill you can even turn your footage into 'Bird Movies'.
Printing Images....
The Coolpix 995 digital still camera is capable of producing perfectly satisfactory prints at sizes of 10 inches by 8 inches and higher. Even inexpensive, fairly basic printers these days are able to produce quality prints of this size provided the recommended paper is used.
THE BASIC EQUIPMENT
Scope and tripod....
Any scope is capable of being used for 'DigiBirding' but as with most things, you get what you pay for. The wider the objective lens of the scope, the more it will be suited to 'DigiBirding'. Wide-angle, low power eyepieces also produce better images than high powered or zoom eyepieces.
It is worth remembering, the higher the magnification you work at, the more prone the set up is to vibration and camera shake. The sturdier the tripod the easier it will be to obtain good, steady, sharp images.
Digital Camera and Camcorder...
The current digital still camera of choice for serious 'DigiBirding' is the Nikon Coolpix 995. If your budget won't stretch this far then take your scope along to your local retailer and simply try holding suitable digital cameras over the eyepiece of your telescope until you find one that works well.
In general a digital still camera should have at least two million pixels ( essentially the number of dots that make up the digital image. The more pixels the camera can produce, the better the image quality will be ), a 2x optical zoom capability and an internal thread around the objective lens to take the Digimount Adapter.
Avoid cameras where the camera lens extends out of the main camera body when the camera is switched on or zoomed in or cameras with large diameter lenses.
PC and/or TV....
Any Pentium II or higher PC running at 200Mhz or above will handle and edit still images or videograbs. A 4Gb hard drive or above will hold many thousands of digital still images. If you have a CD Rewriter you will never run out of memory! For editing of video footage you will need a slightly more powerful PC e.g. one with a 20Gb hard drive and a Pentium II 400Mhz processor or better.
Recommended Digital Cameras and Camcorders
Most camcorders and digital still cameras can be used for 'DigiBirding' but as with most things, some will perform better and produce superior results than others. The equipment that is currently most widely used for serious 'DigiBirding' is the Sony PC100 or PC110 digital camcorders and the Nikon Coolpix 995 digital still camera.
THE ESSENTIALS
The DigiMount Adapter
The DigiMount Adapter attaches the camera to the eyepiece of your scope. It holds the camera very close to the eyepiece and over the centre of the eyepiece image. It is an essential piece of kit for cameras or camcorders. The DigiMount Adapter is custom made to fit virtually all the commonly used eyepieces provided the correct Insert and Step-Ring is used. It is possible to buy different Inserts if you own more than one eyepiece. Visit our website or telephone us to determine the correct Insert and Step-Ring for your eyepiece and camera combination
DigiMount Adapter Quick-Fit Instructions
Nikon CP995 with an Xtend-a-View Pro ( LCD Sunshade & Viewer ) attached. Some images are pre-production parts, the production units are anodised black.©2001 EagleEye OpticZooms
The Wing Support and Accessory Bracket
This accessory is available either as the Mk1 for the Nikon Coolpix 950 or as the Mk2 for the Nikon Coolpix990 and CP995. It provides a quick and easy mounting point for the optional Shutter Release Arm and a mounting point for the optional Xtend-a-View Pro LCD Viewer and sunshade ( wing version ). It is quickly and easily attached or removed and being small and lightweight can be left on the camera during normal hand held use.
Xtend-a-View Pro
The LCD screen on Digital cameras can become difficult to see in bright conditions. The Xtend-a-View Pro acts as a sunshade and also slightly magnifies (x2) the LCD screen so that bright sunlit conditions are no longer a problem. The Xtend-a-View Pro fits onto the appropriate Wing Support and Accessory Bracket (Mk1 or Mk2 ) for Nikon Coolpix 950, 990 and 995 cameras and most other digital cameras using a simple Velcro attachment.
Shutter Release Arm
Because of the high magnifications employed, any vibrations can be a problem when 'DigiBirding'. The Shutter Release Arm fits onto the Wing Support and Accessory Bracket and when used with the Shutter Release Cable enables you to take pictures without needing to touch the camera. Images taken using the Shutter Release Cable definitely have the edge over those taken by manually depressing the camera shutter button.
Shutter Release Cable
The Shutter Release Cable fits into the Shutter Release Arm significantly reducing any vibrations compared to manually depressing the camera shutter button.
Rechargeable NiMh Batteries
Digital cameras are very heavy on battery use. Normal alkaline batteries therefore become expensive and so it is a good idea to have a couple of sets of rechargeable NiMh batteries. They will very soon pay for themselves. Far better still, for a worry free, long lasting power source purchase our exclusive Dual- Force Pro PowerPack described below.
Dual-Force Pro PowerPack
This extremely powerful rechargeable NiMh PowerPack gives unrivalled power, providing as good or better performance at a full 6volt output, than 20 conventional 1100mAh NiMh Batteries ( a set of 4x 1100mAh Nimh Batteries only output 4.8volts ). With a fully charged Dual-Force Pro PowerPack, you need never worry about running out of battery power.
For example, a fully charged Dual-Force Pro powered the Nikon Coolpix 995 for over 6 hours with the LCD screen switched on all of the time and over 1500 photos were taken. Enough to satisfy even the most enthusiastic DigiBirder!
Charge State Indicator for Dual-Force Pro PowerPack
Used to check how much power there is in the PowerPack.
Pouch for Dual-Force Pro PowerPack
A convenient pouch. It has a belt loop which is useful to attach the PowerPack either to your belt, camera bag strap or onto your tripod.
EagleEye OpticZooms 5x Lens
The EagleEye OpticZoom Lens is perfectly suited for use with a camcorder in those situations when the bird is too close for use with a scope or when conditions do not allow a more conventional DigiBirding set up ( for example birds in-flight ). W hen used on a camcorder with a 10x optical zoom the result is a 50x optical magnification, ideal for most situations. You will be amazed at the superb images that such a small, lightweight ( weighs just 317gms ), high quality lens can produce. It also works well with most digital still cameras for photographing birds that are close or in-flight. When used in conjunction with an inexpensive Close-Up Lens it allows for non-intrusive Macro photographs at 20x magnification ( when used with a camera such as the Nikon CP995 ).
Additional Lenses
The power of the OpticZoom 5x Lens can be increased even further. This is done by attaching an additional teleconverter lens into the front of it. Any teleconverter lens can be used ( may need a step-ring to match the 37mm thread size on the front of the OpticZoom lens ) however we have found that the Olympus B300 1.7x Teleconverter Lens produces the very best results.
Image Locating Sight
Finding a small bird or high-flying raptor can be difficult enough at any time. This is especially true with angled scopes or when DigiBirding, particularly at greater magnifications.
The Image Locating Sight makes finding birds much easier. It is simple, quick and easy to fit. Once you have used it you will never know how you managed without one for so long.
Close-Up Lens Set
When used in conjunction with a 4x zoom camera and screwed in to the font of the EagleEye OpticZoom 5x Lens, they enable Macro photographs to be taken at 20x magnification and at a much more comfortable and far less intrusive distance than is normally the case. Close focussing distances can be varied from a few inches to several feet, and all at 20x! For example, you could fill an entire photograph with say a butterfly or bee from 5 feet away - with no need to hold the camera right up to the subject.
CamMount
Ideal for camcorders. The CamMount provides a means of attaching cameras that do not have lens threads to your scope and can also be used to provide extra support for heavier camcorders.
Xtend-a-Slide Pro PLUS
If you have a collection of slides, why not use the Xtend-a-Slide Pro PLUS to photograph them and turn them into digital images. You can then store these on your PC or on a normal CD. It is very simply done. Connect the camera to one side of the Xtend-a-Slide Pro PLUS. Insert your slide into the slide holder, make a few simple adjustments to the Xtend-a-Slide Pro PLUS and voila, a high quality digital image of your slide.