The Howland Nikon Gear Page

Page by Royce
Last update: $Date: 2003/06/22 05:53:24 $ (UTC)

Digiscoping is half scope, half camera, half "accessories" for either or both, half messing about with all the pieces especially if you build any yourself, and half a bunch of things that I probably don't yet know about. While I have not spent any time on "do it yourself" pieces, that still adds up to at least 150 - 200%. Well, I'm sure you know about that effect. Is it a hobby or an addiction? You be the judge...

We try to avoid religious wars of most varieties, so despite the fact that the camera gear listed here is Nikon, don't read anything into that. It just so happened that when it was time to purchase, Nikon had the kickingest camera available, particularly in terms of its native lens. It is not without its minor annoyances but as a general purpose digital camera, without spending several kilobucks for a digital SLR, I think the CP 5700 is great.

Our camera, tripod and associated widgets include the following:

• Nikon CoolPix 5700 camera
  • ~5 megapixels, 2560 x 1920
  • Nikkor ED lens, optical zoom range 8.9 - 71.2mm (35mm equivalent 35 - 280mm), f/2.8 - f/4.2
  • Several external moving lens elements, threading on the main camera body
  • Relatively large diameter objective lens for a consumer camera
  • All the electronic trimmings
• Nikon MB-E5700 extended battery / grip unit
  • Takes 6 AA-size batteries (we use mostly 1800 mAh Ni-MH) for extended shooting
  • Makes for better balance and grip as well
• Nikon TCE15ED 1.5X teleconverter
  • Takes optical zoom up to ~107mm (~420mm in 35mm equivalent)
• Nikon MC-EU1 electronic remote
  • Allows remote shutter release and zoom control
  • Also has a few other functions such as timed automatic exposures
  • This unit is annoying, lots of people report trouble with it; for us it often triggers endless continuous exposures or completely locks up the camera
• Manfrotto 190 series (PROB and CLB) tripods
  • Manfrotto 357 universal sliding plate (to improve balance of scope and camera on the head)
  • Manfrotto 222 ball grip head (not suitable for digiscoping)
  • Manfrotto 700RC2 fluid head
  • Both heads share a common quick release plate type, although rotated 90 degrees from each other (which is annoying)
  • These tripods are a bit light and short for digiscoping

When used for digiscoping with the 90mm Maksutov-Cassegrain scope mentioned on the ScopeTronix Gear page, the Nikon CoolPix 5700 produced mixed results -- mostly unsatisfactory images with very occasional useful ones. This combination of scope and camera is a challenge, despite the fact that both produce excellent on their own. See the Digiscoping Experiments (Round 1) page for details.

When used for digiscoping with the Pentax PF-80EDA scope, the CoolPix 5700 started producing much better results. See the Digiscoping Conclusions page for further info.

Resources where you can find out more:

• www.nikon.com for information about Nikon cameras
• www.manfrotto.com for Manfrotto tripod and head details

Copyright Notice

Unless stated otherwise, all photos and other content on these pages is copyright © 2002 - 2003 by Royce Howland.

Please don't steal anything for your own purposes, in particular if you have a plan for making fabulous stacks of cash in so doing. If you would like to use a photo or other content you find here, or just want to contact us about something, please send email to royce@3ge.com.