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Lumix DMC TZ6 Advice (2 Viewers)
- Thread starter Dillybird
- Start date
John B (not the sloop)
Don't blame me I didn't vote for 'em
I'd better break the bad news... :-C
"Superzoom" cameras aren't really suitable for digiscoping. Ideally you need something with a 3x optical zoom with the zoom mechanism fully internal (so the end of the lens doesn't move in and out). It also helps if the camera lens diameter is pretty similar to the diameter of the telescope eyepiece.
I have tried digiscoping with an 8x zoom camera but, to be honest, got better results holding my mobile phone camera up to the telescope eyepiece.
You could try a teleconverter for the Lumix, but I'd be more inclined to buy a more suitable camera which probably wouldn't cost a lot more.
This is one of those occasions when I'd be delighted to be proved wrong...
"Superzoom" cameras aren't really suitable for digiscoping. Ideally you need something with a 3x optical zoom with the zoom mechanism fully internal (so the end of the lens doesn't move in and out). It also helps if the camera lens diameter is pretty similar to the diameter of the telescope eyepiece.
I have tried digiscoping with an 8x zoom camera but, to be honest, got better results holding my mobile phone camera up to the telescope eyepiece.
You could try a teleconverter for the Lumix, but I'd be more inclined to buy a more suitable camera which probably wouldn't cost a lot more.
This is one of those occasions when I'd be delighted to be proved wrong...
Chris Galvin
Well-known member
Not entirely true. You are correct though that you need to have a small optical zoom 4x mag ideally and upto 5x on some cameras such as the Panasonic Lumix FS-10.
You can have zoom lenses that move in and out if you have a suitable adapter., For some years now Opticron have sold digiscoping kits that have been based around such cameras eg: Samsung NV10 & NV15, Panasonic Lumix FS-7 amongst others. It all depends upon the type of adapter you use to affix your camera to your scope eyepiece.
Opticron will be selling digiscoping kits based around the Panasonic Lumix FS-10 early in May
clascronlund
Member
I have a Panasonic TZ3 that I use for digiscoping.
Not exactly the same zoom range as TZ6 though.
But it proofs that a long zoom range not always has to be wrong when digiscoping.
I use it handheld on a Zeiss 85, 20-60x.
It's more or less only the 20x that's useful.
I zoom the camera to about 2x (1-2 "clicks" after it shows 2x).
Unfortunately you can't control the camera to much so I use the standard or macro mode.
So just try it out and practise, and good luck!
Not exactly the same zoom range as TZ6 though.
But it proofs that a long zoom range not always has to be wrong when digiscoping.
I use it handheld on a Zeiss 85, 20-60x.
It's more or less only the 20x that's useful.
I zoom the camera to about 2x (1-2 "clicks" after it shows 2x).
Unfortunately you can't control the camera to much so I use the standard or macro mode.
So just try it out and practise, and good luck!
clascronlund
Member
And just to show how it could look like.
Here's one of my favourite shots:
http://www.artportalen.se/birds/gallery_imageinfo.asp?imageID=50743
Here's one of my favourite shots:
http://www.artportalen.se/birds/gallery_imageinfo.asp?imageID=50743
bogdweller
Member
tz6
i have just got one of these of ebay for a good price,opticron will have adaptors available early may as quoted,i assume that if they are making these adaptors ,then the camera will be fine with the adaptor,i rang opticron and spoke to pete,very helpful.awaiting delivery of camera,has bought my girlfriend the tz5 last yaer and was impressed with it.B .
i am going to try and make an adaptor in the meantime out of plastic pipe bits as seen on youtube.
i have just got one of these of ebay for a good price,opticron will have adaptors available early may as quoted,i assume that if they are making these adaptors ,then the camera will be fine with the adaptor,i rang opticron and spoke to pete,very helpful.awaiting delivery of camera,has bought my girlfriend the tz5 last yaer and was impressed with it.B .
i am going to try and make an adaptor in the meantime out of plastic pipe bits as seen on youtube.
Chris Galvin
Well-known member
@bogdweller
As mentioned earlier, because of the size of the zoom (12x Optical) you probably need to zoom all the way in to significantly reduce vignetting. This means that this camera (Panasonic TZ-6) is NOT suitable for genral digiscoping. When determining which cameras are suitable for digiscoping it is desirable that you minimise, (preferably zero) vignetting. This enables more light to reach the cameras sensor and so enable faster shutter speeds,
To be clear, Opticron are NOT making a camera adapter for the Panasonic TZ-6 but WILL be making one for the more suitable Panasonic Lumix FS-10
As mentioned earlier, because of the size of the zoom (12x Optical) you probably need to zoom all the way in to significantly reduce vignetting. This means that this camera (Panasonic TZ-6) is NOT suitable for genral digiscoping. When determining which cameras are suitable for digiscoping it is desirable that you minimise, (preferably zero) vignetting. This enables more light to reach the cameras sensor and so enable faster shutter speeds,
To be clear, Opticron are NOT making a camera adapter for the Panasonic TZ-6 but WILL be making one for the more suitable Panasonic Lumix FS-10
bogdweller
Member
thanks chris
yes you are right,they do make one for the fs7 but you have to buy the full kit,and the adaptors for the fs10 will be available in may.
yes you are right,they do make one for the fs7 but you have to buy the full kit,and the adaptors for the fs10 will be available in may.
clascronlund
Member
Chris, this maybe right but hasn't be that way.
Only a test will tell.
When I use my TZ3 on Zeiss 20-60 (set on 20x) and the camera zoomed in 2x there are no vignetting (or very little) at all.
If I zoom more or less, both on scope, and camera I get vignetting.
It really depends on how the lens and the ocular is build.
Don't ask me why or how ...
The TZ6, despite the relatively large zoom, is in fact excellent for disgiscoping. I've been using one with a 30X wide-angle eyepice on a Leica APO70 for the last year and it workings well with minimum vignetting.
The lack of a manual setting is perhaps a nuisance, but I just use the 'sports' setting and it is great as a point and shoot through the scope. I use no mount, I just want soemthing that is hand-held to the lens. Dead easy. The settings dial on the top of the camera is easy to change inadvertently but the camera does warn you if it is between settings on the dial
The lack of a manual setting is perhaps a nuisance, but I just use the 'sports' setting and it is great as a point and shoot through the scope. I use no mount, I just want soemthing that is hand-held to the lens. Dead easy. The settings dial on the top of the camera is easy to change inadvertently but the camera does warn you if it is between settings on the dial
rb_stern
Richard stern
Hi,
I used a ZS3 (TZ7 in the UK) and now a ZS7 (TZ10) for digiscoping for a while now. I like it as a general purpose pocketable p&s, so usually have it with me. I hate fiddling about with adapters etc., and like it if a camera is hand-holdable to the scope eyepiece. When fully extended, the lens on this camera fits nicely into the extended rubber cup of the eyepiece on my Kowa 30X WA, (on my 773 scope). So an adapter is almost un-necessary - provided the light conditions are reasonably good, and the bird is reasonably large and not too far away. There is serious vignetting at higher zoom levels, but at 2-3X optical zoom, there is none. Post processing cropping works well. Here are 3 recent examples.
Richard
I used a ZS3 (TZ7 in the UK) and now a ZS7 (TZ10) for digiscoping for a while now. I like it as a general purpose pocketable p&s, so usually have it with me. I hate fiddling about with adapters etc., and like it if a camera is hand-holdable to the scope eyepiece. When fully extended, the lens on this camera fits nicely into the extended rubber cup of the eyepiece on my Kowa 30X WA, (on my 773 scope). So an adapter is almost un-necessary - provided the light conditions are reasonably good, and the bird is reasonably large and not too far away. There is serious vignetting at higher zoom levels, but at 2-3X optical zoom, there is none. Post processing cropping works well. Here are 3 recent examples.
Richard
