Kowa DSLR Adaptor or Not?

[AndyB]

So, we made the plunge to get a Digital SLR camera as it was getting a bit frustrating trying to take photos of the baby with a point and shoot (very slow and you missed the quick smiles and giggles). We got the Pentax K20D as it looked like that would double up as a good digiscoping camera (http://aves.team-forum.net/galeria-f13/rolieiro-t968.htm). To raise some funds, sold a pair of binoculars and was about to sell the Coolpix until I saw the cost of the Kowa DSLR adaptor TSN-PZ (to attach the Pentax to the scope) was over $500!

http://www.eagleoptics.com/external/photos/products/kw_tsn_pz_200.jpg?1231571085

The Pentax we bought came with a 52mm lens. What would be the reasons for not getting a 52mm ring for the Kowa TSN-DA10 (which I already own) and setting the camera to manual focus and attaching it to the scope using the DA10?
http://www.eagleoptics.com/external/photos/products/kowa_TSN-DA10_200.jpg?1231571086

Is the weight of the camera going to be too much for the thread of the rings of the DA10, although presumably I could get some sort of mount which I would need to do anyway?

As the 52mm ring is just a few bucks compared to the $500, wonder if it would be worth my time trying it that way or is this just crazy and a waste of time?

[Two Jugs]

AndyB:

I tried this with my K10D. I cemented a 52mm filter sans glass to a plastic tube that fitted over my scope eyepiece. The whole thing was just way too unwieldy. The heavy camera on the end of the scope makes it virtually impossible to use and my tripod head would just creep off the subject. From what I've seen P&S make a much better job as they are so light.

Although its nowhere near long enough, I have the DA*300mm lens and can crop some quite good shots from it. Its as heavy as I can tote with me in the field, especially when flying anywhere. Not sure how to cope with a 500mm or 600mm lens on a plane?

Hope this helps.

Tony

[AndyB]

Many thanks Tony. I'll hold on buying a big lens for the camera and might see if I can get it to work with a 52mm threaded ring for the DA10. I'm sure I'll need to support the camera but, for now, this is for occasional digiscoping. I guess I'll find out how good the Pentax image stabilization is!

[AndyB]

I went ahead and bought the Kowa 52mm ring for the TSN-DA10. The Pentax K20D was a good fit and wasn't too unwieldy (or much more so than the Coolpix).

Attached is how the set-up looks.

I also posted a few shots in the critique section (http://www.surfbirds.com/forum/showthread.php?p=15215)

By the way, anyone interested in digiscoping with a DSLR, I found this Italian website (http://www.digiscopingitalia.it/dsrl1.html) useful (you can get google to tanslate it for you)