I saw guys in the field jury-rigging cardboard tube connectors to do the same thing with their digital cameras and spotting scopes, and it occurred to me that before long we'd see the optics manufacturers coming out with practical, convenient, lightweight "digiscoping" adaptors that hunters could easily use in the field. Because Nikon is a maker of both cameras and spotting scopes, it's natural the company is a leader in this area. And it's also no surprise that Nikon is out ahead in terms of compact utility and versatility.
This photo was taken through the ED50 Fieldscope. Actual distance was 350 yards. (Right) When digiscoping with the ED50 Fieldscope, the view is displayed live on the camera's screen.
My favorite Nikon digiscoping setup utilizes Nikon's newest and smallest spotting scope: the compact ED50 Fieldscope. This tidy little item combines all the proven performance of Nikon's full-size Fieldscope line at less than half the weight (16.1 ounces) of a typical-sized spotting scope. It's ideal for in-the-field performance when the field you're in is a long, long way from camp.
This new Fieldscope also uses Nikon ED (Extra-low Dispersion) glass, which gives it a sharp, clean, edge-to-edge clarity and resolution typically associated with much larger diameter, heavier optics. Lenses are fully multicoated for premium brightness. Available in an angled or straight body, this is a true field-useful spotting scope that hunters will actually carry with them instead of leaving on the sight-in bench at camp. The ED50 is a rugged piece of work; O-ring sealed and nitrogen-filled for proven waterproof and fog-proof protection. It's tripod and window mountable and comes as an outfit or as body only. Plus, it's compatible with six Fieldscope eyepieces (27X, 20X, 27X Wide, 40X Wide, 13-30X Zoom, and 13-40X Zoom).
Three digiscoping eyepieces (16X Wide, 24X Wide, and 40X Wide) are also available for the ED50 Fieldscope. These eyepieces are designed to fit with Nikon's inexpensive Fieldscope digital camera bracket, which will accommodate a Nikon pocket-sized P1 digital camera. The cool thing about the setup is that all three components are so small that the complete kit will easily fit in just one corner of a typical hunter's daypack.
I had never carried a spotting scope into the field. I preferred to use my riflescope if I needed to look at something. With the advent of Nikon's Digiscope packages, I now use a compact spotting scope all the time. In fact, I never take the camera and bracket off the scope because I can see everything I want to see through the scope on the camera screen--live. Snap an image, take it back to camp, and show the other guys and the outfitter what I actually saw without having to try to describe it. (Outfitter's response: "Naw, there's lots better ones out there. Wait.")
Nikon's DigiScope P1 Pro Wi-Fi System includes the new Nikon Coolpix P1 digital camera, Fieldscope digital camera bracket, waterproof 82mm Fieldscope ED straight body, and a 30X Wide DS digiscoping eyepiece.
Plus, if you really want to go whole hog and get into serious digiscope photography of wildlife (or your targets on the range), Nikon has just introduced the Nikon DigiScope P1 Pro Wi-Fi System, which can send images wirelessly to your laptop or printer for immediate results. Featuring a magnification far greater than any SLR camera with telephoto lens plus wireless image transfer, the Nikon full-size DigiScope P1 Pro system features the new Nikon Coolpix P1 digital camera with 8.0 megapixel resolution, 4X optical zoom, and built-in Wi-Fi connectivity for quick wireless image transfer either directly to PC or directly to printer.
The package also includes the precision-engineered Fieldscope digital camera bracket, Nikon's waterproof 82mm Fieldscope ED straight body, and 30X Wide DS digiscoping eyepiece. It's probably a bit heavy to pack on a mountain goat hunt like you would the ED50 setup, but it absolutely proves the rule that what you see is what you get.
I'll admit it. I used to think that most of this new-tech gadgetry was more trouble that it was worth. But now that companies like Nikon are putting all these capabilities into packages that are so small and so convenient, I've changed my mind. It's nice to come back to camp with a picture of what you saw on the mountaintop instead of just another campfire story.
