digiscope-what camera?

I want to buy a camera for digiscoping. Here are some of my needs:

1) Husband will use the camera in March on a trip abroad, as a point and click (easy to use as he never takes photos...I do it all).

2)Some birdwatching will take place so zoom over 6x would be better? Camera needs to be easy to handle.

3)upon his return, the camera will be used for digiscoping, hopefully.

4)He has a scope, Bauch & Lombe Elite, and we are not currently interested in replacing it so it will have to make due- camera/scope sets wanted.

5) Nikon Coolpix 4500 have been highly recommended but are not longer made and yes they can be picked up used but I don't have the time to shop around for one, would rather just get something new. How about the current coolpix models?

6)I own a Panasonic FZ20 and love it and so have been leaning toward the LZ & TZ cameras...do they work well with a scope?

7)price range...up to $250 and anything less would be better!

I have been looking around online for advice, but everything points to either fantastice scope & camera outfits costing $2000-3000 or are reviews for cameras that are no longer available or 2 year old models. Digital cameras have come a long way and I'm sure that there must be decent current cameras for under $300 that will do the job. Samsung Digimax S700 7.2mp is on sale at Circuitcity for $149, and wonder if this would work??? Price is right........
THanks for any suggestions.
--
Thanks,
TalksWithDoodles

talkswithdoodles said:

I want to buy a camera for digiscoping. Here are some of my needs:
1) Husband will use the camera in March on a trip abroad, as a
point and click (easy to use as he never takes photos...I do it
all).

2)Some birdwatching will take place so zoom over 6x would be
better? Camera needs to be easy to handle.

3)upon his return, the camera will be used for digiscoping, hopefully.

4)He has a scope, Bauch & Lombe Elite, and we are not currently
interested in replacing it so it will have to make due-
camera/scope sets wanted.

Click to expand...

The Elite is a good scope, ED glass so decent for photography.
I recommend they go to this site as it is the best for adapters, advice, etc.
http://www.scopetronix.com/
-Rich
Olympus E-1 and lots of lenses
CANADIANS using UPS: Beware hidden brokerage charges!



http://www.pbase.com/andersonrm/

talkswithdoodles said:

2)Some birdwatching will take place so zoom over 6x would be
better? Camera needs to be easy to handle.

Click to expand...

I don't know of any camera that I would consider good for digiscoping that has a lens over 4x. I think the Olympus C7070 and the Nikon Coolpix 8400 were the two best scopes overall for digiscoping that were ever made. There are some new ones that are OK, but they all have their downsides.

talkswithdoodles said:

3)upon his return, the camera will be used for digiscoping, hopefully.

Click to expand...

Well that's a big factor. Because the best digiscoping camera isn't necessarily the best travel camera.

talkswithdoodles said:

4)He has a scope, Bauch & Lombe Elite, and we are not currently
interested in replacing it so it will have to make due-
camera/scope sets wanted.

Click to expand...

It will be important to know what eyepieces he has for the scope and what their eye reliefs and AFOVs are. Finding good camera/eyepiece combos are huge factors in getting a rig that works well.

talkswithdoodles said:

5) Nikon Coolpix 4500 have been highly recommended but are not
longer made and yes they can be picked up used but I don't have the
time to shop around for one, would rather just get something new.
How about the current coolpix models?

Click to expand...

The Coolpix 8400. But while the CP8400 has a sharper lens than the C7070, the C7070 will be eaiser to adapt to a wider range of eyepieces and has a bit longer zoom range. I'd look for a C7070 if I were going to look for a used camera.

talkswithdoodles said:

7)price range...up to $250 and anything less would be better!

Click to expand...

FWIW, I used the Coolpix 5000 for quite some time and it works quite well also. I'll bet there are some bargains on it out there. But the C7070 is better in about all ways.

talkswithdoodles said:

I have been looking around online for advice, but everything points
to either fantastice scope & camera outfits costing $2000-3000 or
are reviews for cameras that are no longer available or 2 year old
models. Digital cameras have come a long way and I'm sure that
there must be decent current cameras for under $300 that will do
the job.

Click to expand...

There may be. But keep in mind that the better "prosumer" compact digitals have thinned out a lot. This all started about a year and a half ago when affordable DSLRs became more available. The Coolpix line that spawned the (legendary among digiscopers) 99x/4500 line and then the CP5000 and then CP8400 are gone in all but name. There is no replacement for the C7070.

I can't vouch for these personally, but they were recently mentioned as good choices by someone I trust.

Canon A540 + Canon Adapter LA-DC52F
Fuji Fine Pix E900 + Fuji Adapter AR-FXE02

talkswithdoodles said:

Samsung Digimax S700 7.2mp is on sale at Circuitcity for
$149, and wonder if this would work??? Price is right........

Click to expand...

It might. But I don't think there is a tube adapter for taking accessory lenses for it. While not strictly necessary, a tube adapter is the best overall approach. You want a camera that is designed to accept accessory lenses and has such an adapter made for it.

--
Jay Turberville
http://www.jayandwanda.com

Thanks for the responses; I'll look into the suggestions. Anyone else have any input or does anyone know of a site with current info on current cameras?
--
Thanks,
TalksWithDoodles

Jay Turberville said:

But I don't think there is a tube adapter for taking accessory lenses for it.

Click to expand...

You mentioned the TZ, which is a fine travel camera.

As to tube adaptors, do check the Panasonic forum for tube-type adaptors being home-made for the TZ with great results for Teleconverters. (Try searching "TC" or "Teleconverter", I don't think the term "Tube" has been used much.)

Check for the great work being done by doctordave and John Reed as to both constructing and using adaptors.

Their ideas can of course be adapted to other cameras, although the TZ does have a nice, solid lens surround to support tubes.