ATC vs ATS 65 Digiscoping (1 Viewer)

[Sirpotato]

Hi all,

I'm looking at these two scopes at the moment and I'm tempted to sell off my Olympus 100-400 and just digiscope when I need too especially as that lens isn't really great in bad light anyway.

I'm going to have a look at the ATC soon when its in stock at my local shop but they advised they don't really get the ATS 65 in anymore, only the ATX and that isn't in very often either too.

I've not seen much online about Digiscoping with the ATC but it looks like a nice little scope that I could take out as well as my bins. Would there be much difference Digiscoping with either of these Swaro scopes?

I also currently have a Svbony SA401 85mm objective which weighs a tonne and I'm thinking of selling off too.

 

[Jason Bugay Reyes]

Hi all,

I'm looking at these two scopes at the moment and I'm tempted to sell off my Olympus 100-400 and just digiscope when I need too especially as that lens isn't really great in bad light anyway.

I'm going to have a look at the ATC soon when its in stock at my local shop but they advised they don't really get the ATS 65 in anymore, only the ATX and that isn't in very often either too.

I've not seen much online about Digiscoping with the ATC but it looks like a nice little scope that I could take out as well as my bins. Would there be much difference Digiscoping with either of these Swaro scopes?

I also currently have a Svbony SA401 85mm objective which weighs a tonne and I'm thinking of selling off too.

Both would produced decent images and videos but bigger 65mm has better details than the smaller scopes. I have those scopes and preferred the 95mm STX for better images. But for longer walk and a bit of digiscoping, I will take the ATC56 with the VPA 2 adapter...

 

[Sirpotato]

Both would produced decent images and videos but bigger 65mm has better details than the smaller scopes. I have those scopes and preferred the 95mm STX for better images. But for longer walk and a bit of digiscoping, I will take the ATC56 with the VPA 2 adapter...

Cheers Jason, I thought that might be the case! Do you happen to have any images or videos you've taken through the ATC and the 65 so I can see?

Do you use the VPA2 on the 65/95 too? Or do you adapt your camera to it?

I'd love the 80 and above but I don't think I could carry the weight anymore. I really struggle with my current one. The Olympus + 100-400 is around 1.5kg so the 65 would be about the max when I throw in my tripod.

Which tripod head do you use? I've got a carbon Benro which is very light but then the video head is what doubles its weight. I'm wondering if there would be something better I could use for that too.

 

[Jason Bugay Reyes]

Purple Heron with Swarovski Optik STX65 and TLS APO adapter on Nikon D3s




Large Frogmouth with Swarovski Optik ATC56 with VPA 2 adapter on smartphone




I used carbon fibre tripods with video and gimbal head

 

[Sirpotato]

Purple Heron with Swarovski Optik STX65 and TLS APO adapter on Nikon D3s

View attachment 1600085


Large Frogmouth with Swarovski Optik ATC56 with VPA 2 adapter on smartphone


View attachment 1600086

I used carbon fibre tripods with video and gimbal head

The result from the 65 looks better than what I'm getting from my Olympus 100-400 😅

I noticed someone is also selling a Kowa 554 nearby to me for a really good price. I wonder how that compares to the ATC too.

 

[Jason Bugay Reyes]

The X systems allows you to interchange the objective lens sizes and between straight or angled eyepiece in the future. But if getting the scope is not primarily for digiscoping, ATC56 would be the best!

 

[Sirpotato]

The X systems allows you to interchange the objective lens sizes and between straight or angled eyepiece in the future. But if getting the scope is not primarily for digiscoping, ATC56 would be the best!

View attachment 1600274View attachment 1600275

Yeah I'd be pretty much getting it to replace the big scope I can't really carry so that I can use it alongside my binoculars on shorebird counts with the occasional Digiscoping incase I see a rarity or something worth documenting. I'd also be using it for whale watching.

There's not much difference in price here with the ATS 65 with the 50x and ATC. The ATS being slightly cheaper.

 

[Jason Bugay Reyes]

Yeah I'd be pretty much getting it to replace the big scope I can't really carry so that I can use it alongside my binoculars on shorebird counts with the occasional Digiscoping incase I see a rarity or something worth documenting. I'd also be using it for whale watching.

There's not much difference in price here with the ATS 65 with the 50x and ATC. The ATS being slightly cheaper.

If size and weight of the 65mm are not a problem for you, go for it. Better details for digiscoping too. But if portability and weight are your main concern, get the ATC56...

 

[Sirpotato]

If size and weight of the 65mm are not a problem for you, go for it. Better details for digiscoping too. But if portability and weight are your main concern, get the ATC56...

I did some research on the Digiscoping groups on Facebook earlier on and it seems the Kowa 883/884 and the ATS 80 also produce some really nice results...I think any scope I get is going to be lighter than the one I've currently got 😂

I'm going to go test the ATC first though and see how I feel about it I reckon.

I had my scope out earlier on before too and I'd love to have something that doesn't have fringing at the long end. I was watching a goshawk in the tress across a lake near me but as soon as I get to the max zoom I lose most of the details. At the short end its very sharp though. I did also notice that compared to my NL Pure there is an issue with colour rendition in the scope when the bird is lit by the sun from a certain position which is frustrating too. The NLs give me the true colour which definitely make ID easier.

 

[PatR]

I did some research on the Digiscoping groups on Facebook earlier on and it seems the Kowa 883/884 and the ATS 80 also produce some really nice results...I think any scope I get is going to be lighter than the one I've currently got 😂

I'm going to go test the ATC first though and see how I feel about it I reckon.

I had my scope out earlier on before too and I'd love to have something that doesn't have fringing at the long end. I was watching a goshawk in the tress across a lake near me but as soon as I get to the max zoom I lose most of the details. At the short end its very sharp though. I did also notice that compared to my NL Pure there is an issue with colour rendition in the scope when the bird is lit by the sun from a certain position which is frustrating too. The NLs give me the true colour which definitely make ID easier.

The ATC is a cracking bit of kit and I have been flabbergasted that such a diminutive scope can produce such a superb view. Add a NL Pure 10x42mm to scan and target and then home in with amazing clarity from 17-40mm with the ATC is, for me, the perfect combination.

I will likely get the VPA2 to digiscope in due course but at the moment use 150-600mm lenses on a Fujifilm X-H2s and a Lumix S5 IIx.

 

[Sirpotato]

The ATC is a cracking bit of kit and I have been flabbergasted that such a diminutive scope can produce such a superb view. Add a NL Pure 10x42mm to scan and target and then home in with amazing clarity from 17-40mm with the ATC is, for me, the perfect combination.

I will likely get the VPA2 to digiscope in due course but at the moment use 150-600mm lenses on a Fujifilm X-H2s and a Lumix S5 IIx.

Nice! Have you owned any other scopes before the ATC? If so how do you find it compares?

 

[PatR]

Nice! Have you owned any other scopes before the ATC? If so how do you find it compares?

Yes, I have the Opticron MM4 70 with the SDL V3 eyepiece and a small Hawk Endurance straight scope.

Both are excellent scopes, not just for the money but optic IQ and build quality wise. The Swaro is on another planet though, and so it should be as the price differential is considerable.

I used to drag the heavyish Opticron around on an equally heavy Gitzo Systematic tripod but age, and my back, has caught up with me and they are for use only in a static position at home or close to the RV when travelling. Great bits of kit though.

The ATC is mounted directly on a Gitzo carbon monopod with yours truly as the human fluid head. I have tried ballheads and small fluid heads but frankly they were a hinderance and added nothing, apart from weight and size. I have tried the ATC on a Legende traveler tripod with a small ballhead but quickly realised that the monopod suited my purpose better.

I wasn't going to get a scope and had decided to buy an NL 14x52 for that extra bit of reach over my 10x42's. I have the excellent Meopta 15x56 but that is a heavy bugger and it too needs a tri/mono pod so I wanted the lighter 14x for its extra reach. But I couldn't keep it steady and, by sheer chance, the ATC and the new Kowa TSN 55 were set up as I decided that lovely though it was, the 14x was not for me. I stress for me as it is a quite superb bino.

Tested both scopes back to back, was more than impressed with both of them (fag paper twixt the two, ATC suited me better with its rubber armour, build quality, ergonomics and importantly, dashingly svelte good looks) and reasoned that if I needed a tri/mono pod on anything over 14x, why not get a scope and get a superb view out to 40x rather than 14x?

I prefer two oculars but have trained myself to keep both eyes open using a scope and whilst I fully appreciate the pro's and con's of scopes v bino's, I am delighted with the ATC and have zero regrets.

As I said, coupled with my NL 10x42's I feel that I have the perfect combination for yomping.

But like all things, best if you can physically test them to see if they suit you. I am more than confident that your first view through either of these optical wizards will amaze you.

Good luck!

 

[Jason Bugay Reyes]

Yes, I have the Opticron MM4 70 with the SDL V3 eyepiece and a small Hawk Endurance straight scope.

Both are excellent scopes, not just for the money but optic IQ and build quality wise. The Swaro is on another planet though, and so it should be as the price differential is considerable.

I used to drag the heavyish Opticron around on an equally heavy Gitzo Systematic tripod but age, and my back, has caught up with me and they are for use only in a static position at home or close to the RV when travelling. Great bits of kit though.

The ATC is mounted directly on a Gitzo carbon monopod with yours truly as the human fluid head. I have tried ballheads and small fluid heads but frankly they were a hinderance and added nothing, apart from weight and size. I have tried the ATC on a Legende traveler tripod with a small ballhead but quickly realised that the monopod suited my purpose better.

I wasn't going to get a scope and had decided to buy an NL 14x52 for that extra bit of reach over my 10x42's. I have the excellent Meopta 15x56 but that is a heavy bugger and it too needs a tri/mono pod so I wanted the lighter 14x for its extra reach. But I couldn't keep it steady and, by sheer chance, the ATC and the new Kowa TSN 55 were set up as I decided that lovely though it was, the 14x was not for me. I stress for me as it is a quite superb bino.

Tested both scopes back to back, was more than impressed with both of them (fag paper twixt the two, ATC suited me better with its rubber armour, build quality, ergonomics and importantly, dashingly svelte good looks) and reasoned that if I needed a tri/mono pod on anything over 14x, why not get a scope and get a superb view out to 40x rather than 14x?

I prefer two oculars but have trained myself to keep both eyes open using a scope and whilst I fully appreciate the pro's and con's of scopes v bino's, I am delighted with the ATC and have zero regrets.

As I said, coupled with my NL 10x42's I feel that I have the perfect combination for yomping.

But like all things, best if you can physically test them to see if they suit you. I am more than confident that your first view through either of these optical wizards will amaze you.

Good luck!

I brings the 12x42 NL with ATC56 and 10x32 NL with STX95/BTX95. Great combos for me!

 

[John Fleet]

Hi all,

I'm looking at these two scopes at the moment and I'm tempted to sell off my Olympus 100-400 and just digiscope when I need too especially as that lens isn't really great in bad light anyway.

I'm going to have a look at the ATC soon when its in stock at my local shop but they advised they don't really get the ATS 65 in anymore, only the ATX and that isn't in very often either too.

I've not seen much online about Digiscoping with the ATC but it looks like a nice little scope that I could take out as well as my bins. Would there be much difference Digiscoping with either of these Swaro scopes?

I also currently have a Svbony SA401 85mm objective which weighs a tonne and I'm thinking of selling off too.

I’m in a similar position. Looking to sell my Oly 100-400 and the rest of my camera gear. For me the image quality isn’t there and I hate the weight and bulk of the combination. I’m giving digiscoping another go now that I have an iPhone 15 Pro to mate to my ATS 65. Trying out various adapters which can be remarkably expensive and/or fiddly to set up. I’m also continuing to get good use out of my trusty Canon Powershot SX720. Did some comparison shots last week: first = digiscope, second Canon Heron was about 100 ft away. Neither would win any awards but good enough for me. And just for reference Jackdaw digiscoped at about 300 yards - not much more than a black blob to my naked eye!

 

[Jason Bugay Reyes]

I’m in a similar position. Looking to sell my Oly 100-400 and the rest of my camera gear. For me the image quality isn’t there and I hate the weight and bulk of the combination. I’m giving digiscoping another go now that I have an iPhone 15 Pro to mate to my ATS 65. Trying out various adapters which can be remarkably expensive and/or fiddly to set up. I’m also continuing to get good use out of my trusty Canon Powershot SX720. Did some comparison shots last week: first = digiscope, second Canon Heron was about 100 ft away. Neither would win any awards but good enough for me. And just for reference Jackdaw digiscoped at about 300 yards - not much more than a black blob to my naked eye!View attachment 1601015View attachment 1601016

All looks ok for me

 

[Sirpotato]

I’m in a similar position. Looking to sell my Oly 100-400 and the rest of my camera gear. For me the image quality isn’t there and I hate the weight and bulk of the combination. I’m giving digiscoping another go now that I have an iPhone 15 Pro to mate to my ATS 65. Trying out various adapters which can be remarkably expensive and/or fiddly to set up. I’m also continuing to get good use out of my trusty Canon Powershot SX720. Did some comparison shots last week: first = digiscope, second Canon Heron was about 100 ft away. Neither would win any awards but good enough for me. And just for reference Jackdaw digiscoped at about 300 yards - not much more than a black blob to my naked eye!View attachment 1601015View attachment 1601016

Thats my thoughts too, why keep the lens when you can enjoy the view through the scope and take photos as and when. I guess the main point for the camera lens is BIF as thats something that would take a lot of skill with a scope.

I'm thinking of just using my camera for macro only now tbh!

Have you tried the move shoot move adapter? I have it and its relatively ok. Although I imagine the offerings from Swarovski/Kowa are a lot better.

Attached is an image through my chinese made sa401 at 60x - which has fungus in after just over a year I noticed!!! Imagine was sharper than my Olympus from the same distance too and has better colours.