Manfrotto 701HDV Videoscoping Test Footage

As noted earlier, since 11 February I've been using a Manfrotto 701HDV tripod head to support my 80mm Opticron scope and Nikon Coolpix P5100 camera for digiscoping and - to a lesser extent - videoscoping.

 

I Intend to write a review of this kit once I've accumulated enough experience in the field. As an interim measure I've included here some video clips taken over the past few days, which I'll perhaps add to in the near future.

 

The main purpose was to test/demonstrate how easily a subject could be framed at high magnification using the 701HDV head. This is something which I found extremely difficult - and often impossible - to do using my previous tripod set-up.

 

Preliminary tests showed that it wasn't possible (for me, anyway) to smoothly track a moving subject at typical videoscoping magnifications (70x plus) and so I've not attempted to do this here.

 

The scope was set in a balanced position and the footage shot without locking either pan or tilt functions. In each case the camera was set at maximum zoom (3.5x) and a range of scope magnifications used:

 

MALLARD (seen across the River Eden near Rickerby, 24 February 13):

 

Scope at 40x, total magnification at 140x

Scope at 60x, total magnification at 210x

 

RINGED PLOVER (seen on the shoreline from Bowness Railings, 27 February 13):

 

Scope at 20x, total magnification at 70x

Scope at 30x, total magnification at 105x

Scope at 40x, total magnification at 140x

Scope at 60x, total magnification at 210x

 

More to follow...

 

27 February 13

 

(This photo forms part of a summary of my experience of using the Manfrotto 190CXPRO4 tripod and 701HDV tripod head for digiscoping with my Opticron ES80GAED scope.)

Done