Minox DCM 5.0

ColoradoOak · Jul 12, 2009

Has anyone used one of these for digiscoping? I'd like to hear some reviews, and maybe see some sample photographs.

http://www.cameralandny.com/digiscoping/digiscoping.pl?page=minoxdec5

fatrooster · Jul 12, 2009

Colorado, I've also been looking into this same monitor. Some of the things I am not sure I like about it are....it is always 40x power, only 128mb(but external card slots make up for that) and only 5 megapixels for pictures. What I do like....it fits really nice on the scope, no dignetting(black ring around picture), conveinience. I wonder what this nifty little unit will be in 5 or 10 years? fatrooster.

time2hunt · Aug 19, 2009

Just started playing with mine this buck was about 150 yards out.I put a bigger memory card hold like 130 pictures know.

time2hunt · Aug 19, 2009

Foreman4x4 · Aug 19, 2009

What spotter?

ColoradoOak · Aug 19, 2009

timetohunt, thanks for posting the photos. I'd love to see some more if you get the time. I'd like to see what the thing can produce at longer range. I'm not so much interested in frame-quality photos. I'd like to use it for things like judging antelope at a distance. If it would take photos at 400-500 yards that would allow me to accurately estimate a score when I load them on the computer, that would be fine with me.

fatrooster, here are some things I found interesting. The zoom level actually depends on the objective size of your scope. For instance, a 62mm scope produces 40x zoom, but a 77mm scope would be 60x (Leica example). Just like eyepieces...I just hadn't given that a thought. Also, it only has a 3.2 megapixel sensor, but achieves the 5mp through interpolation. So in that respect, it's even worse for you. Read this for more info:
http://reviews.digitaltrends.com/first-look/196/minox-digital-eyepiece-camera-5-0

I only found three consumer reviews for it, and they were generally not really impressed. Probably mostly caused by excessive expectations, but who knows. Cameraland currently has them for only $200. I'm sorely tempted to give it a try and throw it on Ebay if it's crap.

Thanks again, timetohunt. Post some more photos if you get time.

time2hunt · Aug 19, 2009

I'm have the swarovski 65 H.D, I been looking at the cows in the field at about 400-500yards and can read ear tag #s. I will keep you posted.

ColoradoOak · Aug 19, 2009

That sounds pretty good for my needs.

fatrooster · Aug 20, 2009

LAST EDITED ON Aug-20-09 AT 01:48PM (MST)[p] I read a story in the Western Hunter magazine about digiscoping and the pro's and con's about using slr's, point and shoots and the minox DCM and the Zeiss digiscoping camera. I called the guy who wrote the story and he was not impressed with the minox DCM and preferred an SLR camera over anything else. But reading cow ear tags at 400 to 500 yards sounds pretty good to me too. Please post some pictures of 400 to 500 yard distances. fatrooster.

By the way, that story about digiscoping in the Western Hunter Magazine was in Volume 8 issue 1 which was last months issue or see www.westernhuntermagazine.net . The guy who wrote the story also put his phone number at the end of the article for people who had questions.
Clay Taylor, 401-965-9064.

ColoradoOak · Aug 20, 2009

Thanks for the info, rooster. I saw that Zeiss camera and was briefly interested because I have a Diascope 85, but I lost interest as soon as I saw the price. Can't justify $1,900 for a camera exclusively for digiscoping.

I don't have a true SLR except for my film dinosaur. I thought about the bracket that Zeiss makes to hold any camera, but over 400 clams still seems pretty steep.

I'd like to see some photos at 400-500 yards with the Minox. It sounds like it would be good enough for what I want.

Kayak_to_hunt · Aug 26, 2009

I just got one for my Zeiss 85 spotter and here are some pics from tonight. All these pics were taken between 7 and 7:45pm... It seemed to zoom in well but next time I need to use the remote as pushing the button to take a pic shaked the set up to where a remote is needed..

Also the battery life is kinda short it only lasted about 45 min.

I tried to shoot at sevral zoom levels to give you a idea of how it works.

This buck was about 1500 to 1800 yds away..

This cow elk was a loooong way off pry just about a mile..

It was easy to take on and off I am looking foward to taking some more pics on the higer res setting to see how they come out. I am also going to get the card so I can take more photos..

ColoradoOak · Aug 27, 2009

Thanks for the photos, kayak. That seems pretty good at that great range.

You said that you took photos at different zoom levels. I thought that the zoom is fixed at one level, and depends on the objective size of your scope? Do you mean that you just took photos at different distances?

Please feel free to share any other photos.

Kayak_to_hunt · Aug 27, 2009

I also thought that it would be a 40x fixed as well but the camera does have a up and down arrown (digital zoom) that zooms in on whatever you are looking at. Not sure how much but zooms in quite a bit. It actually impressed me how much it zoomed in.

I live in colorado so archery deer starts for me on sat but I will try and get some more pics tonight and post them of the levels of digital zoom that this camera offers.

Overall it has been fun to play with.

fatrooster · Aug 30, 2009

Kayak, I'm impressed with your pics and can't wait to see more. If possible I would like to see some from the 700 to 1100 yard range. Thanks, fatrooster.

Kayak_to_hunt · Sep 6, 2009

This little bull was 500 - 600 yds out..

And this group of elk was 5+ miles away on a day when we had smoke in the air.

The digital zoom works well and my only complaint now is the very short battery life. They do not last long and need to be charged every time you take it out.

fatrooster · Sep 7, 2009

Kayak, thanks for posting the pictures. I'm impressed with the quality at such long distances. Keep the pics coming. fatrooster.

ColoradoOak · Sep 7, 2009

Yep, thanks Kayak. Might have to give it a try.

Kayak_to_hunt · Sep 28, 2009

Here are a few more elk pics. I left for the hills and only had one card that I used for another camera so the pics are on the low res setting.

All these photos are at 500 - 700 yds

ColoradoOak · Sep 28, 2009

Thanks for more examples!

fatrooster · Sep 29, 2009

Thanks for the pictures kayak. Looks like the DCM is working out great for ya. fatrooster.

alaska_lanche · Sep 29, 2009

Looks like I might need one for my 65mm diascope. Great pics!!! I'll have to drop a hint to Santa.

Keep the pics coming.

Kayak_to_hunt · Oct 7, 2009

Here are a couple of a bull and buck that came down behind the house the other night. These were at 300 - 400 yards and the bull was chasing cows around so it was hard to get a still shot..

And the buck.. Not the biggest but the big guys should be showin up any day now.. I will post up some pics of the big guys when they come down!!

ColoradoOak · Oct 7, 2009

LAST EDITED ON Oct-07-09 AT 10:11AM (MST)[p]I appreciate you continuing to post the example photos here. Only thing you forgot was to tell me where that bull is located. ;-)

Edit: Does the camera have a "burst" mode?

HardcoreOutdoor · Oct 7, 2009

Regarding battery life. I turned mine on and left it on until it ran out of juice. It lasted more than 8 hours.

I like the DCM. I only have one issue with it. The screen resolution does not allow me to see when I am focused in exactly on the subject. I can get close but not perfect.

Wade
www.HardcoreOutdoor.com

Kayak_to_hunt · Oct 7, 2009

That is great battery life! Mine seems to have gotten better but I am not getting 8 hrs out of it.

I also hear what you are sayin about the small viewfinder. It is hard to get the focus spot on 100% of the time and I end up with quite a few fuzzy photos. The small viewfinder can also make it hard to find your game as your view is what you see in the pic... Or very small. I have gotten better with it but sometimes it is still takes a bit to find the game in the viewfinder.

Overall as I have said for me it has been fun and worthwile addition to my spotting scope.

HardcoreOutdoor · Oct 7, 2009

I set the tripod up on the counter, turned the unit on, trained it on the Thompson Peak radio towers, took a picture, left it on and walked off. I would check it about every half hour or so, zoomed in and out and then snap another picture. I did that all day.

I was surprised it lasted that long too and so were the guys at the Outdoorsmans.

The Zeiss Photoscope allows you to focus with the eyepiece independent of the LCD screen so it is probably easier to really dial in the fine details but for $6000 less, The DCM will work just fine for me.

Wade
www.HardcoreOutdoor.com

Kayak_to_hunt · Nov 28, 2009

Here are some pics I got the other day after all the rifle seasons were over.

This first buck is the one that got the sip on me in archery. I was glad to see no one got him! Maybe next year..

I hope to get better pics of this guy and next year he should be about to over 30" from sticker to sticker. I think he has the chance to be a brute!

Foreman4x4 · Nov 28, 2009

Is that as good of quality pictures as one can expect with the Minox 5.0?

HardcoreOutdoor · Nov 28, 2009

Looks to me like there is a little vibration from either the wind or touching the shutter button. Using the remote will get rid of a lot of that.

Wade
www.HardcoreOutdoor.com

desertbucks · Nov 29, 2009

I recently purchased this camera for my swarovski scope and had a problem with the sreen just showing a grey color with no picture. I sent it to Minox and within a week they contacted me and said to pick a new one up where I originally purchased the camera with no charge. Talk about great customer satisfaction!!!

REDDOG · Dec 25, 2009

what power do you set your scope on? can it be adjusted while the DCM is on?

ColoradoOak · Jan 4, 2010

Reddog, I think the camera replaces the eyepiece, so you can't adjust the power of the scope. I do believe the camera has some sort of magnification adjustment.

NDMuley · Jan 21, 2010

i am taking pictures 1to 2 miles away it is awsome i love it dont know how to post so dont ask lol. not that good with puter. im still learning its fun.