PCPhoto
Trade Tricks: DigiscopingAchieve high magnification with a digital camera and spotting scope |
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Page 2 of 2 Besides lens magnification, consider the resolution of your camera. Virtually any current digital camera delivers good-quality 4x6 to 8x10 prints, even with a modest resolution of 3 megapixels. A higher-resolution camera allows you to make bigger enlargements, such as 11x14 or 13x19. Although digiscoping achieves very high magnification, the subject still may take up a small portion of the frame. In such photos, crop into the image so the subject fills the frame. Using a camera with 5 to 8 megapixels of resolution, you can crop the image but retain enough data to produce a good-quality enlargement. Focus and exposure are handled automatically via the camera’s exposure and focusing systems. The immediate playback feature confirms that both are accurate. A camera with a manual exposure mode or exposure compensation is a plus, particularly with a challenging subject such as a white egret whose color and tone could fool the meter into a severe underexposure. A solid tripod is a must. The slightest camera shake results in a soft image, even if you’re using a fast shutter speed. A tripod head that provides smooth movement, such as a fluid head designed for video, is advantageous, especially when tracking a moving subject. Many photographers also use the camera’s self-timer if the subject isn’t moving. Additionally, third-party manufacturers offer adapters that allow remote release with virtually any digital compact.
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