Detail that defies description, excellent contrast and image qualities: The Zeiss Diascope spotting scopes are impressive in every respect. They combine a first-class optical system with a particularly robust design and strong mechanics.
A class by itself.
The Zeiss Diascope spotting scopes are naturally water and dustproof as well as nitrogen-filled. An extendable sunshade keeps interfering stray light away, and provides a notch site that facilitates the locating of objects. The Zeiss Diascope 85mm provides the best image quality and extremely high detail recognition. Also available in a smaller, more compact 65mm version, its lower weight and shorter body than the 85mm and therefore ideal for the mountains and travel. Both are light weight and compact enough for the field, day in and day out.
Three eyepieces for the Diascope models.
Eyepieces are not included with the Zeiss Diascope spotting scopes, you are presented a choice of three different eyepieces. Wide Angle, Wider Angle, and Variable Zoom. Two wide angle fixed magnification and one zoom eyepiece are available for the Diascope 65 and 85. the wide fields of view may also be fully appreciated by eyeglass wearers thanks to the special long eye relief eyepieces and sliding eyecups.
Quick changing magnifications - The three eyepieces feature a bayonet-type connection with safety snap for a simple and quick exchange.
The Zoom Eyepiece offers, even at higher powers, above average viewing fields. With a low magnification, the object is found quickly and then you can zoom in to see the fine details. The vast majority of Zeiss Diascope owners choose the Zoom eyepiece as their first eyepiece, followed by a fixed power eyepiece.
An Overview of Digiscoping
Every birder, every hunter, every observer of wildlife of any kind, has thought at one time or another "I wish I had a camera that could take a picture or video of what I am seeing right now!"
The magic of digiscoping is that you can bring home sharp, correctly exposed, frame filling images of birds and wildlife, with a minimal extra investment beyond the scope you are already going to carry for observation, with minimal extra weight and equipment, and from such relatively great distances that you barely intrude on the creature's life. With practice and a well-developed eye for composition and for the behavior of birds and wildlife, you can bring back images to rival any ever taken: cover shots.
The Zeiss Diascope FL spotting scopes are ideal digiscoping tools. The provide a visual images that is second to none. Their exceptional color correction (due to the FL glass in the objective) makes for crystal clear, intensely colorful images. They are relatively light-weight so that adding a camera and adapter to your gear still leaves you with a rig you are willing to carry in the field.
At Zeiss, they realized the digiscoping potential early on, and were among the first to provide a dedicated digital camera adaptor. The Zeiss design, which allows the birder to switch almost instantly between visual observation and image capture, and which accepts the widest variety of camers, is still relatively unique on the market. And, of course, the Wuick Camera Adapter is Zeiss quality..and appropriate match for our award-wining Diascopes.
Which Camera?
The cameras the work best with the Zeiss Diascopes are:
Compact digital cameras, pocket sized to as large as the average 35mm compact.
Cameras with a 3 to 1 zoom range, to increase the likelihood that you will get a full-frame, unvignetted (shadowed) image: some 4 to 1 zoom cameras work for a portion of their range
5-8 megapixel. For image quality and the ability to crop when necessary.
Cameras with a large, bright, wide-angle LCD display for composition and, rarely, focusing.
Cameras with a "program" setting, as opposed to full auto only. You may need to be able to control ISO settings directly and to adjust the exposure point for back lighted situations.
Cameras with the quickest start-up times and the shortest "shutter-lags". Quick start up so that you can go from observation mode to image capture quickly. Short shutter lags so that you have a better chance of capturing particular poses or behaviours of the birds or wildlife.
Necessary features unique to the Zeiss Quick Camera Adapter
With a Zeiss Diascope, the Quick Camera Adapter, a suitable digital camera or video camera, you can take a picture of what you are seeing "right now". You can bring back images of the birds and wildlife you see in the field: images that will provide lasting satisfaction.
