Muley Shots & Some Digiscoping Questions

SoleSearcher36 · Dec 5, 2011

Been wanting to get into digiscoping wildlife for reference photos for my artwork and for my own general enjoyment. Just started taking a few lately with mixed results. Crossing the learning curve can be frustrating as your target follows does over the ridge. I know I don't have the best outfit but got to believe some adjustments within what I have would make a difference....just don't know which ones to make. Focus seems to be my biggest challenge for now.....really struggle with getting clear shots. I am shooting a Canon A490 8megapixel camera through a Swaro 20-60x80mm scope. Here are a few from yesterday...
Willing to accept any pointers or suggestions you guys might have.

SoleSearcher36 · Dec 5, 2011

To add some info...all the above were cropped and "sharpened" the best I could using FSviewer. Distances ranged from 150yards to around 800yds.

JoshJ · Dec 5, 2011

Try using both your zoom on your camera and scope together. Focus your scope as best you can. The most important thing is to place the timer on your camera so there is a delay from the time you push the button untill it takes a picture. That way you are not touching anything when it goes off. this will allow any shakes to stop and your camera to refocus. Hope that helps.

marburg · Dec 5, 2011

>Try using both your zoom on
>your camera and scope together.
> Focus your scope as
>best you can. The
>most important thing is to
>place the timer on your
>camera so there is a
>delay from the time you
>push the button untill it
>takes a picture. That
>way you are not touching
>anything when it goes off.
> this will allow any
>shakes to stop and your
>camera to refocus. Hope
>that helps.

Good tip....

nfh · Dec 5, 2011

Nice bucks

SoleSearcher36 · Dec 5, 2011

Thanks JoshJ & Marburg. I actually am already doing both.....zooming camera to eliminate "vignetting" and using at least a 2 second self timer for a "hands-off" shutter release. My eyes really don't like the viewing screen on my camera I think....making it hard to see how close I am to being in-focus. Not sure what setting I should be using....sorta going by trial & error on that one. I have tried the "auto", landscape, and manual modes but admittedly don't know enough about the individual settings to really adjust it right I think. It is fun taking pictures of deer that I can have a chance to hunt next year if I want to.....cool to imagine what they will look like in a year if the poachers will leave them alone. One thing about this canon I do like is it gathers light well and can take shots quite late in the evening/early morning. I might need to get one with a bigger viewing screen that allows me to see whether I am focused better.

big6 · Dec 6, 2011

Hey sole searcher where are you located at i could show you rather easier then telling you also if you want something that really helps buy a ##### scope adapter i dont know if your camera has it but if it has th little flower (macro) as an option i use it and also if your camera has a manual focus i use that also i will try to post some of my pictures.

big6 · Dec 7, 2011

hunt4130 · Dec 7, 2011

good looking bucks! nice work!

GotBowAz · Dec 7, 2011

Solesearcher36, Not trying to be a jerk here as it seems your somewhat new but you may want to take this thread in its entirety and move it or at least ask the same questions in the Photography forum on this site. There are some really knowledgeable great guys there that can give you some big pointers to help you out. I'm not a photographer by any means so I am no use to you but I will say the photographs that those boys are putting up are just out of this world fantastic and a pure joy to go through.

GBA

bonepicker · Dec 8, 2011

+1 The only advice I have is get closer.

Try the Photography forum.

SoleSearcher36 · Dec 8, 2011

Thanks for trying to help a newbie out guys......I appreciate the suggestions. I have dug through the settings on the camera and learned a little about setting it to better work for me. Hoping to get back out soon and get some more shots taken. Learning that some of the limitations I'll just have to deal with for better or worse. Would love to get closer but not going to push it as I don't want to unduly pressure/interfere with the game so some stuff I'll just have to live with due to distance' sake. After all the shots are firstly for documentation sake and secondly for the photographic value particularly as reference photos for my artwork. Last but not least to share with you guys here as we all enjoy seeing photos of muley bucks!