Print Page | Close Window

Need sight for Viper Spotting scope

Printed From: OpticsTalk by SWFA, Inc.
Category: Other Optics
Forum Name: Spotting Scopes
Forum Description: Big Eye Optics
URL: http://www.opticstalk.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=29735
Printed Date: March/28/2024 at 11:57
Software Version: Web Wiz Forums 12.01 - http://www.webwizforums.com


Topic: Need sight for Viper Spotting scope
Posted By: sleepyg
Subject: Need sight for Viper Spotting scope
Date Posted: July/22/2011 at 15:26
Okay well I finally bought a Viper 15-45 65mm angled spotting scope.  I was lucky enough to find the only one in my local Sportsmans Warehouse a few weeks ago.  I have to say I am very happy with the scope.  I took it camping that weekend and had a chance to use it plenty.  But now I want to get a red dot or some sort of small reflex sight for it. Since it has that picatinny rail on it.  I dont need any $100 and up sight, just something to point me in the right direction.  Something small and not so overbearing oh and cheap Bandito!  Any thoughts?



Replies:
Posted By: SVT_Tactical
Date Posted: July/22/2011 at 15:48
http://swfa.com/Firefield-1x33-Reflex-Sight-P47082.aspx">Firefield 1x33 Reflex Sight http://swfa.com/images/firefield_rgmultir_popup.jpg"> http://swfa.com/Firefield-1x33-Reflex-Sight-P47082.aspx - Firefield 1x33 Reflex Sight
Stock # - FF13004
  • Matte
  • Multi-Reticle (Red & Green)
  • Built-in Weaver Mount
$39.95 
javascript:__doPostBack%28ctl00$wpm$CategoryGrid$ctl04$ProductList$ctl01$Add2Wishlist$AW,%29 - Add to Wishlist
javascript:__doPostBack%28ctl00$wpm$CategoryGrid$ctl04$ProductList$ctl01$Add2Cart$AC,%29">Add Firefield 1x33 Reflex Sight to Cart
http://swfa.com/Firefield-1x33-Reflex-Sight-P47082.aspx - More Details »
http://swfa.com/BSA-Red-Dot-20mm-Scope-P46683.aspx">BSA Red Dot 20mm Scope http://swfa.com/images/bsa_redot_popup.jpg"> http://swfa.com/BSA-Red-Dot-20mm-Scope-P46683.aspx - BSA Red Dot 20mm Scope
Stock # - RD20
  • Matte
  • 5 MOA Red Dot
$39.95 
javascript:__doPostBack%28ctl00$wpm$CategoryGrid$ctl04$ProductList$ctl01$Add2Wishlist$AW,%29 - Add to Wishlist
javascript:__doPostBack%28ctl00$wpm$CategoryGrid$ctl04$ProductList$ctl01$Add2Cart$AC,%29">Add BSA Red Dot 20mm Scope to Cart
http://swfa.com/BSA-Red-Dot-20mm-Scope-P46683.aspx - More Details »
http://swfa.com/Tasco-1x30-Red-Dot-38mm-Sight-P4515.aspx">Tasco 1x30 Red Dot 38mm Sight http://swfa.com/images/tasco_5moa_popup.jpg">5 MOA Dot http://swfa.com/Tasco-1x30-Red-Dot-38mm-Sight-P4515.aspx - Tasco 1x30 Red Dot 38mm Sight
Stock # - BKRD30
  • Matte
  • 5 MOA Dot
  • Built-On Dovetail Rail to fit Standard Centerfire Weaver-Style Bases
$34.95 
javascript:__doPostBack%28ctl00$wpm$CategoryGrid$ctl04$ProductList$ctl01$Add2Wishlist$AW,%29 - Add to Wishlist
javascript:__doPostBack%28ctl00$wpm$CategoryGrid$ctl04$ProductList$ctl01$Add2Cart$AC,%29">Add Tasco 1x30 Red Dot 38mm Sight to Cart
http://swfa.com/Tasco-1x30-Red-Dot-38mm-Sight-P4515.aspx - More Details »


Posted By: sleepyg
Date Posted: July/23/2011 at 08:35
That reflex should work out pretty nice, anyone know how well the dot illuminates on sunny days?


Posted By: Bitterroot Bulls
Date Posted: July/23/2011 at 08:52
That is a nice feature for an angle scope!  I would like to hear more about the Viper, after you have some time with it.

Sorry, I can't help you with the reflex sight.


-------------
-Matt


Posted By: Klamath
Date Posted: July/24/2011 at 11:21
Are a couple of cable ties cheap enough?
 
http://www.birdforum.net/showthread.php?t=189743 - http://www.birdforum.net/showthread.php?t=189743
 
I use this arrangement on my ZEN ED 2 spotter and it works well.


-------------
Steve
"Everything that can be counted does not necessarily count; everything that counts cannot necessarily be counted". William Bruce Cameron



Posted By: sleepyg
Date Posted: July/24/2011 at 14:30
That is a really neat idea, very simple and it works. 

I really want to get into digiscoping but man those adapters are very expensive.  I'll have to wait till later to get one.  In the mean time I bought the vortex universal and it definitely does the job, but i don't like having to setup every time I take my point and shoot off of it.  Also you cant use the scope with that adapter on very well or in most cases at all.  


Posted By: Bitterroot Bulls
Date Posted: July/24/2011 at 20:04
Originally posted by sleepyg sleepyg wrote:

That is a really neat idea, very simple and it works. 

I really want to get into digiscoping but man those adapters are very expensive.  I'll have to wait till later to get one.  In the mean time I bought the vortex universal and it definitely does the job, but i don't like having to setup every time I take my point and shoot off of it.  Also you cant use the scope with that adapter on very well or in most cases at all.  


Google "Tines up Scopecam" for a digiscoping adapter.


-------------
-Matt


Posted By: sleepyg
Date Posted: July/25/2011 at 12:29
Thanks for the tip Bitter that is a perfect setup, cheap and it defiantly seems like a better constructed adapter versus the official ones.  Now I may just need a new camera.  I have a point and shoot, its a bit old its the Sony DSC-H50.  It has the threads but for the life of me I cant figure out what size adapter I need.  I have been looking at all kinds of sights but no luck.  The lens size is 35mm according to the specs, but from what I have read the thread sizes can vary.  Ill just have to take it into a camera shop today and see what they can tell me.  


Posted By: Bitterroot Bulls
Date Posted: July/25/2011 at 13:05
Originally posted by sleepyg sleepyg wrote:

Thanks for the tip Bitter that is a perfect setup, cheap and it defiantly seems like a better constructed adapter versus the official ones.  Now I may just need a new camera.  I have a point and shoot, its a bit old its the Sony DSC-H50.  It has the threads but for the life of me I cant figure out what size adapter I need.  I have been looking at all kinds of sights but no luck.  The lens size is 35mm according to the specs, but from what I have read the thread sizes can vary.  Ill just have to take it into a camera shop today and see what they can tell me.  


sleepyg,

It is unlikely that the DSC-H50 is going to work well.  With a 15x maximum zoom it is probably going to vignette (have only an image in a circle surrounded by blackness) significantly throughout the zoom range, or until it is near 15x, which will leave you with an extraordinarily long focal length, which is not great for digiscoping.

The best digiscoping cameras have a maximum magnification of 3x to 5x.  Tines Up sells a point-and-shoot setup that includes a Canon camera well-suited to digiscoping. Just google Tines Up Point and Shoot scopecam.

My Camera is a Sony WX-1, which works very well also, after I adapted it for 37mm filter threads with a Zeikos adapter.

Other tried-and-true digiscoping cameras include the Panasonic LX3(they have a dedicated filter thread adapter) and Canon s90/95.

Let us know how your digiscoping quest turns out!


-------------
-Matt


Posted By: sleepyg
Date Posted: July/25/2011 at 13:08
Will do thanks again for the info, it really helps!


Posted By: tompac
Date Posted: July/25/2011 at 15:07
Originally posted by Bitterroot Bulls Bitterroot Bulls wrote:

Originally posted by sleepyg sleepyg wrote:

Thanks for the tip Bitter that is a perfect setup, cheap and it defiantly seems like a better constructed adapter versus the official ones.  Now I may just need a new camera.  I have a point and shoot, its a bit old its the Sony DSC-H50.  It has the threads but for the life of me I cant figure out what size adapter I need.  I have been looking at all kinds of sights but no luck.  The lens size is 35mm according to the specs, but from what I have read the thread sizes can vary.  Ill just have to take it into a camera shop today and see what they can tell me.  


sleepyg,

It is unlikely that the DSC-H50 is going to work well.  With a 15x maximum zoom it is probably going to vignette (have only an image in a circle surrounded by blackness) significantly throughout the zoom range, or until it is near 15x, which will leave you with an extraordinarily long focal length, which is not great for digiscoping.

The best digiscoping cameras have a maximum magnification of 3x to 5x.  Tines Up sells a point-and-shoot setup that includes a Canon camera well-suited to digiscoping. Just google Tines Up Point and Shoot scopecam.

My Camera is a Sony WX-1, which works very well also, after I adapted it for 37mm filter threads with a Zeikos adapter.

Other tried-and-true digiscoping cameras include the Panasonic LX3(they have a dedicated filter thread adapter) and Canon s90/95.

Let us know how your digiscoping quest turns out!
 
 So that is why my Canon IS 12x does not digi scope very well. I had to zoom nearly full zoom to get rid of the vignette.


Posted By: Bitterroot Bulls
Date Posted: July/25/2011 at 15:49
Originally posted by tompac tompac wrote:

 So that is why my Canon IS 12x does not digi scope very well. I had to zoom nearly full zoom to get rid of the vignette.


Yep, that is why.  I sure wish they would come out with a dedicated, large sensor HD Camcorder with a max zoom of 5x!  Of course, that flies in the face of what the market wants.

We just need more digiscopers, and they would come out with a dedicated digiscoping camera!

Actually, the Panasonic LX3 and LX5 are pretty close to perfect for digiscoping, but a little pricey.



-------------
-Matt


Posted By: sleepyg
Date Posted: July/25/2011 at 15:52
How did you adapt the Sony WX-1 to accept a threaded lens adapter?  As far as I can tell there are no threads on that camera.

Well I went to a local camera store today and of course with no luck on finding out what size of threads I had on my camera.  Needless to say the people here don't know jack about digiscoping.  Most didnt even know what is was. 


Posted By: Bitterroot Bulls
Date Posted: July/25/2011 at 16:03
I use an inexpensive Zeikos filter thread adapter that mounts to the tripod socket on the camera:









Hope that helps!


-------------
-Matt


Posted By: sleepyg
Date Posted: July/25/2011 at 16:26
That defienitly helps looks like with that setup you can easily keep the universal adapter on the camera, and still take pictures without the scope.  And then when wanting to use the scope, install on the scope with out any adjustment to the universal adapter.  And both the ziekos and the tinesup adapters are for the 37mm right.


Posted By: sleepyg
Date Posted: July/25/2011 at 16:27
BTW sorry for all the questions, I just really want to get this setup right the first time.


Posted By: Bitterroot Bulls
Date Posted: July/25/2011 at 18:28
Originally posted by sleepyg sleepyg wrote:

That defienitly helps looks like with that setup you can easily keep the universal adapter on the camera, and still take pictures without the scope.  And then when wanting to use the scope, install on the scope with out any adjustment to the universal adapter.  And both the ziekos and the tinesup adapters are for the 37mm right.


Yes the Zeikos supplies 37mm threading.  Vortex also makes a similar adapter to the Zeikos.  Check their website.  The Tines up Scopecam comes in several different threadings.  The one I order is 37mm, for the Zeikos.  You order the tinesup adapter by threading (37mm) and spotter eyepiece (in your case Vortex Viper HD, zoom eyepiece).  If they don't have your spotter listed, just e-mail them, and they will try to work it out.  They are helping me in that way now for a scopecam adapter for a Nikon ED50.

Originally posted by sleepyg sleepyg wrote:

BTW sorry for all the questions, I just really want to get this setup right the first time.


No problem.  I wouldn't want somebody to go through all of the hit-and-miss I went through.  You should see some of the monstrous 2lb digiscoping contraptions I have.  Its OK, I got it right the 27th time.  Loco

BTW, the Vortex adapter system is actually really nice (I have the Razor HD one, but the Viper one looks extremely similar), and a bit sturdier than the Tines Up setup. the Vortex adapter is a little more hastle in the field, and quite a bit heavier.

You get all of this digiscoping help for free, on one condition:

Post pics of your setup, and some digiscoped pics when you get it all together.
Wink




-------------
-Matt


Posted By: sleepyg
Date Posted: July/25/2011 at 18:36
Hehe will do! 


Posted By: tompac
Date Posted: July/26/2011 at 12:44
Originally posted by Bitterroot Bulls Bitterroot Bulls wrote:

Originally posted by tompac tompac wrote:

 So that is why my Canon IS 12x does not digi scope very well. I had to zoom nearly full zoom to get rid of the vignette.


Yep, that is why.  I sure wish they would come out with a dedicated, large sensor HD Camcorder with a max zoom of 5x!  Of course, that flies in the face of what the market wants.

We just need more digiscopers, and they would come out with a dedicated digiscoping camera!

Actually, the Panasonic LX3 and LX5 are pretty close to perfect for digiscoping, but a little pricey.

 
Matt, that is more than I want to spend for just starting out. Can you reccomend any sub 200 dollar cameras? Dunno if it matters, but I have a Theron Mag 82 spotter.


Posted By: Bitterroot Bulls
Date Posted: July/26/2011 at 13:38
Originally posted by tompac tompac wrote:

Can you reccomend any sub 200 dollar cameras? Dunno if it matters, but I have a Theron Mag 82 spotter.


Just about any compact camera with a max zoom in that 3x to 5x range will work.  Some good ones in that price range are the Canon ELPH series, Panasonic compacts, and the Sony WX series.  I have seen the WX1 on a big auction site for under $200.  Make sure the camera does at least 720P video.  Doesn't matter what spotter.


-------------
-Matt


Posted By: tompac
Date Posted: July/27/2011 at 07:22
Thanks Matt.



Print Page | Close Window

Forum Software by Web Wiz Forums® version 12.01 - http://www.webwizforums.com
Copyright ©2001-2018 Web Wiz Ltd. - https://www.webwiz.net