• Welcome to BirdForum, the internet's largest birding community with thousands of members from all over the world. The forums are dedicated to wild birds, birding, binoculars and equipment and all that goes with it.

    Please register for an account to take part in the discussions in the forum, post your pictures in the gallery and more.
ZEISS DTI thermal imaging cameras. For more discoveries at night, and during the day.

Search results

thxpress_search_the_forum Search Opus
  1. opticoholic

    Hazy or foggy images when using astro telescopes for birds

    Hello, I have noticed that when I use my triplet APO telescopes for bird photography, the images I get, while incredibly sharp, often have a noticeable milky or hazy quality. I will attach an example. Is this normal and is there anything I should think about changing to help it? I can usually...
  2. opticoholic

    Need long extension tube

    Hello, I have a new telescope with a 630mm focal length that I'd like to use with my Olympus E-M1 II, but it looks like I will need a much longer extension tube, ideally ~5.5" or 5.75"... That's a full 2 inches longer than the one I use on my 480mm scope. Darn. Do any of you astro-scopers...
  3. opticoholic

    Opticron 6x32 Traveller BGA Mg

    I just ordered a pair of these for my 85 year old mother to use watching birds at the feeders right outside the window. She wears glasses all the time and told me she couldn't easily use any binoculars. So I wanted something hopefully easy for old eyes with glasses, good sized exit pupil, good...
  4. opticoholic

    Olympus E-M1 MarkII: OH MY!

    It is only a "pre-announcement" with no price or release date, but I must say I was very impressed. Dpreview article here 43 Rumors coverage here Recording of announcement "press event" at Photokina You will need to fast forward to where the presentation actually starts, and there may be...
  5. opticoholic

    Swarovski TLS APO 23 adapter for micro-4/3

    I could not find a thread about this, so I thought I would start one. I see it was just announced less than a week ago, but Neil already has one, so maybe it is not so new? http://www.swarovskioptik.com/jaeger/press/TLS_APO_23_mm_ENG...
  6. opticoholic

    New firmware for E-M1 & E-M5II

    Big new firmware update coming for the E-M1. Read about it here: http://www.olympus-global.com/en/news/2015b/nr150915omde.jsp Several new features are potentially helpful to bird photographers. I'm especially happy that they are adding an electronic shutter mode and enhanced focus peaking...
  7. opticoholic

    mystery whistle

    Can anyone help identify the bird singing with a melodic whistle in the following poor recording? You will hear the whistle at about 3 seconds into the recording, then later after the rooster crows, near the end it gives more of a 2 part song with 1 or 2 introductory notes. Try to ignore the...
  8. opticoholic

    Digiscoping vs. "Astroscoping"

    Hello, About 10 years ago I started my bird photography hobby digiscoping with my old Coolpix 990 on a Leica 62mm scope. Gradually I moved away from digiscoping to using a DSLR and long lens. I think one of the limitations of digiscoping is the slow focal ratios and diffraction. Usually about...
  9. opticoholic

    Too good to be true?

    Maybe there is another thread about this. Over on Cloudy Nights I ran across a thread about the possible savings to US customers if you purchase expensive optics from Europe, due to the favorable Euro/dollar exchange rate (currently 1 Euro = ~1.05 US dollars). The savings is apparently quite...
  10. opticoholic

    Olympus EE-1 Dot Sight for OM-D E-M5 Mark II

    Just saw this: http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1116753-REG/olympus_ee_1_dot_sight_for.html I can't count the number of bird photos I've missed because I've been too slow to acquire my target. I've tried a few different sighting methods on my camera and spotting scope, but so far nothing...
  11. opticoholic

    New Nikon 300mm f/4 VR

    It's only a rumor from the same site that told us a D9300 was in the works, but the language seems rather certain that "Nikon will soon introduce" an update to the 300mm f/4 with VR. So what the heck, I'll start a new thread and maybe it will last a while. The new lens will have some BIG SHOES...
  12. opticoholic

    NEW Nikon EDG Objective Covers & Nikon Customer Support

    This is a funny story. At least I think it's funny. Okay, here we go. Some of you may recall I bought a Nikon EDG 7X42 new in the box for a very good price a while back. I will eventually post a review with my impressions, and comparing them to other 7X42's I have tried, but I'm taking my...
  13. opticoholic

    Florida bird photography in mid April

    Hello, I'm sure you get a million posts like this, and I WILL spend time digging through the old threads, I promise, but that's a bit overwhelming so thought I'd start my own little thread anyway. I recently found out I'm headed for Florida during the 2nd-3rd week in April. I'll be stuck in...
  14. opticoholic

    Eagle Optics to stop carrying Nikon ?

    I was just on the phone with Eagle Optics, asking about replacement objective covers for my Nikon EDG II (haven't been able to make the rubber band solution work). Anyway, I expressed mild frustration over having to mess around with it and then I was very surprised when the sales rep told me...
  15. opticoholic

    Describe your Dream Binocular that Doesn't Exist

    My tastes run to larger exit pupils and 7 or 8X. So let's try this: 7.5 X 45 Premium Porro Prism highest quality optics, coatings, HD large oculars with field flattener - but no/little "rolling ball" effect edge sharpness near/equivalent to Swarovision wide field of view ~8 degrees or so, 400...
  16. opticoholic

    A Report on the Swarovski TLS-APO Adapter with the Olympus OM-D

    Last Tuesday I received my Swarovski TLS-APO adapter. This is a report on my first experiences using it with the Swarovski ATS 80 HD scope, 25-50X eyepiece, and my Olympus OM-D E-M5 camera. I got the Olympus earlier this year right when they came out, as a smaller camera that would be easier...
  17. opticoholic

    Brightness vs. Resolution and "wasted exit pupil"

    While shopping for astronomy binoculars for myself and my father, both of us "no spring chickens," I found myself really wanting to answer the question: If my maximum fully dilated pupil is only 5 mm, is a 10X50 binocular really "effectively" identical in terms of brightness and resolution to a...
  18. opticoholic

    Garrett binocular telescopes?

    Hi, I'm considering different binoculars for astronomy, as a gift for a senior citizen. I'm pretty sure we will use them tripod-mounted whatever we get. I ran across the Garrett 70mm binocular telescope, which appears to be a new item on the market...
  19. opticoholic

    Bring Back Premium Porros! Please respond only once

    Please respond below only if you would really like to see some new premium quality porro prism style binoculars on the market. Please reply only once and keep your remarks brief. I'm curious how many people might sign onto this thread. Who knows, maybe the binocular makers will consider it...
  20. opticoholic

    New Press Release for Swarovision EL

    Thought some of you might like to know, Swarovski's web site recently posted details on the upcoming new EL's, here: http://www.swarovskioptik.com/en/press-releases/80# You can see close-up virtual 360 views, with cut-away showing the internal design, etc. There's even a heart-warming movie...
  21. opticoholic

    Swarovski SLC and Close Focus

    Hello, I'm curious why Swarovski limited the close focus on the 7X42 SLC's to only 13 feet. The entire SLC line has pretty poor close focus. I *know* Swarovski must have done this on purpose. Anyone care to comment? I have read that as you improve close-focusing ability, depth of field...
Back
Top