Thread: Spotting scope or camera?

Howsit,

So im looking at spending $750-$1000 on a spotting scope, was wondering if it worth getting a camera instead for that money? Anyone have a decent camera under $1000? Then i can record our hunting trip as well.

Cheers, Marshall

I use a Panasonic video recorder with bloody good results

Got it from Harvey Norman ....... Good zoom and video quality, cheap as chips too.

Digital Camera, Sony Camera, Video Camera, Video Recorder | Harvey Norman New Zealand

Cheers
Pete

Originally Posted by P38

I use a Panasonic video recorder with bloody good results

Got it from Harvey Norman ....... Good zoom and video quality, cheap as chips too.

Digital Camera, Sony Camera, Video Camera, Video Recorder | Harvey Norman New Zealand

Cheers
Pete

What sort of distances do you get decent zoom pete, do you have any vids or pics?

Originally Posted by XBoltstalker

What sort of distances do you get decent zoom pete, do you have any vids or pics?

I videoed a hind at 1.1kms the other week.

Worked out pretty good.

Got some vids on you tube, like this one

https://youtu.be/YPvJCQIWXRw

Cheers
Pete

$500 will get you a camera with 50 optical zoom, take a photo using the tripod and then digital zoom from there. Good to around a km

Great thread topic. I was also in this position 3 years ago and went down the camera route, but I don't then also have a spotting scope to compare resolution. Though very pleased to have a zoom camera for trip photography and its versatility over a scope, I have my doubts now that the resolution is as good, even for budget spotting scopes of equal cost around $500. As an example of resolution I can use the camera (Canon SX50) to see 6.5mm bullet holes at 200m on a target, by taking a photograph and then inspecting the image on the LCD with zoom, but for me at least it doesn't work beyond 200m.

Maybe if you have both camera & scope you could let us know which models these are, and what each is capable of please ? At the OPs $1000 price point is the situation the same as at the low end, and what about for the top end scopes around $5000 vs top camera optics ?

For me it is simply a matter of portability. I have a camera I take hunting to take photos with and it can double as a spotter (long range magnifier) if need be. It is not ideal in this role but then I don"t use it enough for that purpose to warrant carrying another couple of kgs of spotting scope with me. I already carry enough crap around on my back that I don't use.

what do you do with your cameras on the damp days?

Originally Posted by bigbear

what do you do with your cameras on the damp days?

@bigbear

I use a custom designed high tech polymer covering similar to this one




Cheers
Pete

Yep Canon SX50 for me, does the job beautifully for me.

Heres some footage from 1155 yards, didnt have the tripod with me, just rested over my knee. https://youtu.be/y7srE77cJWk

Originally Posted by Shearer

For me it is simply a matter of portability. I have a camera I take hunting to take photos with and it can double as a spotter (long range magnifier) if need be. It is not ideal in this role but then I don"t use it enough for that purpose to warrant carrying another couple of kgs of spotting scope with me. I already carry enough crap around on my back that I don't use.

Me too. Cost is a big factor too. You need to spend some big $$$ to get a decent spotting scope, my Cannon SX60HS does a fair enough job.

Originally Posted by GWH

Yep Canon SX50 for me, does the job beautifully for me.

Heres some footage from 1155 yards, didnt have the tripod with me, just rested over my knee. https://youtu.be/y7srE77cJWk

Yeah sx50 is the one I got. As your video shows can tell a hind from a stag at a km, maybe not tell how many points but gives you a good idea

Just under 1500 yards cannon sx60hs
While we couldn't be certain how many points, where you maybe able to with a 5k spotter we could see enough to warrant more walkies...
If your budget is 1k then definitely camera.

1000 yards with a 4k spotter and phone adapter



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I use a Nikon p900. Was $800, put a tripod under it and she's sweet as a spotter. Filmed out to and past a km no worries

Yep just found myself a nikon p900 that im gonna purchase and use as a double. 83x zoom. Theres some pretty impressive vids on youtube of the camera zoom. Thanks guys.