Home
Up

Digiscopy

Digiscopy is loosely defined as using a digital camera to photograph the image exiting a scope (binoculars, spotting scopes, telescopes, etc.) Here is a great resource for learning about practical digiscopy. My first goal is to be able capture a digital image of Jupiter and its four largest moons. Along with photos of the moon, this will be my first introduction into astrophotography.

Two instruments for digiscopy use:

  1. Konus 20X x 80 mm binoculars (Model 2110 Giant 80)
  2. Barksa 20-60X x 60 mm Blackhawk weatherproof spotting scope (Model AD10350)
  1 2
The spotting scope looks like it will be the easiest to couple with one or more of my digital cameras especially since Barksa already has two different methods for mounting cameras to the scope;
  1. Barksa digiscoping adapter (Model AF10540)
  2. Barksa SLR digiscoping adapter (Model AF11286)
  1 2

The binoculars have and exit pupil of 3.83 mm but I don't know the eye relief. Their eye piece is also very short which makes it difficult to mount a camera adapter.

The spotting scope looks like it will be the easiest to couple with one or more of my digital cameras. The spotting scopes exit image specifications are:
@ 20X magnification, 3 mm exit pupil with 18 mm eye relief
@ 60X magnification, 1 mm exit pupil with 15 mm eye relief.

After some searching on the web, I decided that my first attempt at digiscopy would be with an adapter that I could use on my binoculars and my spotting scope. I chose a Baader Microstage II clickstop adapter. This adapter allows me to:
  •  probably use more than one camera,
  •  use it one my binoculars due to its small size and
  •  swing the camera out of the way when spotting and then have it swing perfectly bak into proper adjustment when ready to shoot photos.

Purchased from Agena AstroProducts for $57.25 total.