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Gadget Brando Did you order their red dot sight?

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ireno

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-I've been looking at the options for a red dot sight and am wondering if any of you did order it from Gadget Brando? I know I could get a sight online and a photosolve mount, but this looks cheaper and easier. None of our gun stores here seem to carry cheap sights (including Walmart). So I would be so happy if you would share your experience. Thank you. (I want to mount it on my Panny FZ150)-
ireno
 
On a small camera, you need a small scope. The large red-dots are too large. Also, you don't want one that's magnified. When you look through the scope, especially when tracking a moving target, you keep both eyes open and position the camera/red-dot so the dot is visible to your dominant eye. The difference in magnification will make it more difficult to find and lock on to what you're looking for.

Dealextreme com has the one I use for $29.50 (part number 21959) freight free, but it takes 3-4 weeks to get one shipped in from Hong Kong or China. They have another small red-dot for $30 (#102710). They may now have a US warehouse. Most domestic stores have the exact same thing for nearly double the price. I saw the one you are referring to. It's not bad, but a little larger.

I took some shots of Mars last week. It's almost impossible to find it and get it centered using a 600mm lens+TC in the LCD screen without a red-dot. With the scope, 1 to 2 seconds to get it on the screen even at 5x magnification.

If you get one, let us know how it works for you.
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Tymevest
 
ireno said:
-I've been looking at the options for a red dot sight and am wondering if any of you did order it from Gadget Brando? I know I could get a sight online and a photosolve mount, but this looks cheaper and easier. None of our gun stores here seem to carry cheap sights (including Walmart). So I would be so happy if you would share your experience. Thank you. (I want to mount it on my Panny FZ150)-
ireno
Click to expand...
Yes. Even though I was happy with my Barska sight on a Photosolve mount, the sight from Gadget Brando was cheap enough that I wanted to try it out. It arrived about a week ago. I really like the sight. It can display multiple patterns, in either red or green, and at three different brightness levels each. It's small, light and is quite easy to use.

The mount is not quite as good. I like it, except for the windage adjustment. It has a little wood screw for locking down the adjustment. It's a poorly designed and executed means of locking the position. I think a drop of super glue on the mount might do a better job of locking it in place once you have it properly aligned. I have not actually tried that yet. I've also contemplated replacing the screw with a different screw with a washer on it. I also think this might be an improvement, but have not tried that either. For now, I just moved it over to the Photosolve mount.

All in all, I really think I like this sight better than the Barska that I have. It is much smaller and lighter. That would certainly be an advantage on a small camera. But, be prepared to modify or replace the mount. It is the weak link.

Steve
 
Your replys have all been SO helpful and I want to thank you for taking the time to respond! I will let you know what I decide to do. I really expect it to be helpful for BIFs. Its a bummer that the mount with the Gadget Brando unit is not very good.
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ireno
 
The mount is a loose fit in the hot shoe. What I do is to apply a little pressure bias it to one side when I tighten it. Doing the exact same the next time makes it repeatable.





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Tymevest
 
i agree with the comments about the gadget brando red dot sight.
The sight is good, but the mount is too wobbly.

I ended up doing like the second poster and fixed it to a flash bracket. I drilled and tapped the weaver rail to fit the 1/4" screw on the flash bracket.
 
tymevest said:
The mount is a loose fit in the hot shoe. What I do is to apply a little pressure bias it to one side when I tighten it. Doing the exact same the next time makes it repeatable.

Click to expand...
I meant to say the Photosolve mount does have side to side movement in the hot shoe. Once tightened with the thumbwheel, it is solid and doesn't move. It is possible to tighten it and have it pointed slightly to the left or right. That's why I pull it to one side when tightening. I've checked it after having it on and off several times and the scope is still zero'd in with the camera's center focus point. This mount is made of aluminum and steel.
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Tymevest
 
How long did it take you to get used to using the sight? I haven’t used one for much time (just one afternoon) but during that time I found it to be very cumbersome but then I find shooting off a tripod to be cumbersome as well. The sight just seemed to complicate things more. This is for bird photography by the way, I haven’t tried it for astrophotography.

Greg
 
Not only do you risk disturbing the behaviour of the birds but you could also get laser reflections in your pictures or those of other photographers around you. I have been with birders and guides that use laser pointers and they are a menace.

The other problem is that its faster without a laser sight once you learn how to do it correctly - and using the laser will prevent you learning the correct technique.

I recommend one of the courses with Jim Neiger of flight school photography. After a few days on his boat, hand holding long lenses and aquiring birds in a fraction of a second will be second nature. I now hand hold my 800mm with a 1.4x for BIF.

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Dave Peters
http://www.dpphotoimages.com
 
We are not talking about a laser sight. We are discussing the use of a red dot sight. There is no laser or projected beam involved.

Steve
Dave Peters said:
Not only do you risk disturbing the behaviour of the birds but you could also get laser reflections in your pictures or those of other photographers around you. I have been with birders and guides that use laser pointers and they are a menace.

The other problem is that its faster without a laser sight once you learn how to do it correctly - and using the laser will prevent you learning the correct technique.

I recommend one of the courses with Jim Neiger of flight school photography. After a few days on his boat, hand holding long lenses and aquiring birds in a fraction of a second will be second nature. I now hand hold my 800mm with a 1.4x for BIF.

--
Dave Peters
http://www.dpphotoimages.com
Click to expand...
 
Dave Peters said:
Not only do you risk disturbing the behaviour of the birds but you could also get laser reflections in your pictures or those of other photographers around you. I have been with birders and guides that use laser pointers and they are a menace.

The other problem is that its faster without a laser sight once you learn how to do it correctly - and using the laser will prevent you learning the correct technique.

I recommend one of the courses with Jim Neiger of flight school photography. After a few days on his boat, hand holding long lenses and aquiring birds in a fraction of a second will be second nature. I now hand hold my 800mm with a 1.4x for BIF.

--
Dave Peters
http://www.dpphotoimages.com
Click to expand...
A red- dot sight does not contain a laser and does not project out a beam of light.

It seems many people don't understand how a red-dot sight works. It does not emit a laser beam out of the front. The light source is usually an LED and it reflects back from the rear surface of the lens into the user's eye. It is not bright enough to damage anyone's vision.

Most "red dot" type sights are reflex. The term "reflex" refers to the fact that the aiming reticle (the dot, triangle, chevron, circle, etc.) is projected forward, from a point behind the objective lens, and is then reflected off the back of the objective lens assembly toward the shooter's eye. The objective lens is therefore a partial mirror. All other visible wavelengths will pass through normally when you look through the sight. Since the lens coating reflects exactly the color of the reticle, the reticle is very efficiently reflected back to your eye and is clearly visible against the target field. A reflex sight contains no laser, and no noticeable amount of light is emitted forward (toward the target) with this technology.



This is the view from the rear with the sight turned on. (the camera made the point of light look different) Normally a small bright red round sot.



As you can see, no light is projected to the white piece of paper directly in front.



Looking through the lens from the front you can only see a pin point of red light.



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Tymevest
 
Greg Lavaty said:
How long did it take you to get used to using the sight? I haven’t used one for much time (just one afternoon) but during that time I found it to be very cumbersome but then I find shooting off a tripod to be cumbersome as well. The sight just seemed to complicate things more. This is for bird photography by the way, I haven’t tried it for astrophotography.

Greg
Click to expand...
No time for me but I also use them on firearms. The mistake some people make is treating them like a rifle scope. With the red dot, keep both eyes open, hold the camera 12-15 inches away from your face with both hands, and position the camera so you see the dot in your dominate eye. Then it is nearly as quick as pointing your index finger at anything. You focus your eyes on the target, not the dot in the sight's lens.
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Tymevest
 
I find it pretty easy to use this type of device on a firearm as well but then you hold a rifle or pistol quite differently than you do a camera with a long telephoto lens mounted. The motion of operating the camera from a tripod while looking through the sight feels rather awkward and unnatural to me, very unlike using one of these with a rifle.

So far I have gotten my best results by just using the lens without any sort of focusing aid. After a little practice I got to the point where I could find and track the birds quite quickly and successfully. I believe the less gear you have involved in the situation the better your results will be.

Thanks for the input.

Greg
 
Thanks for the explanation. I think you will be much better off looking through the viewfinder and that will also put you in a better position to give the lens additional support. For birds in flight, it is actually easier in the long term to hand hold the lens - but it needs practice to perfect the technique.

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Dave Peters
http://www.dpphotoimages.com
 
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