Tag Archives: Digiscoping

Review: Phone Skope C-1 iPhone 4s Case

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Phone Skope’s C-1 iPhone 4s Case undoubtedly trumps the C-2 Universal Setup I used previously with a Samsung Stratosphere. The adapter essentially acts as a case for the iPhone and is made out of Acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS) plastic. The case is slender and fits inside your pocket, which makes it convenient to carry. Here’s a shot of what the phone looks like in the case:

Phone Skope C-1 iPhone 4s Case. Photo by Tim Schreckengost.

I use Phone Skope’s C-3 Custom Optic Adapter to attach the C-1 iPhone 4s Case to my Celestron Regal 80 F-ED Spotting Scope (review to come). The C-3 is designed to fit specific spotting scopes or binoculars.

Phone Skope C-3 Adapter. Photo by Tim Schreckengost.

The C-3 locks into the C-1 case giving you a complete iPhone digiscoping setup. The C-3/C-1 connection is snug, allowing no play in the adapter. Here’s the complete setup:

A complete Phone Skope iPhone Digiscoping Setup. Photo by Tim Schreckengost.

I really like the Phone Skope setup. It makes digiscoping easy, fun, and more enjoyable. Prior to my acquisition of the Phone Skope case, I held my phone up to the scope (hand-held), which resulted in blurry photos at awkward angles. Now, I can take high quality videos and photos without even touching the screen. My iPhone sets nicely on the scope and vignetting is minimal, which seems to be a problem with some digiscoping adapters. After reading the iPhone Digiscoping Pro Tip from Drew at NemesisBird.com and the Digiscoping with an iPhone Tip from Sharon at Birdchick.com, I have been able to slam quite a few birds with my iPhonescoping setup. Check out those Pro Tips and you will not be disappointed.

Complete Phone Skope setup on a Celestron Regal 80 F-ED Spotting Scope. Photo by Tim Schreckengost.

I also have the setup for my binoculars. The setup works well, but is somewhat difficult to hold steady. I find that using the video option on the iPhone works best when using the binocular setup.

Phone Skope iPhone 4s setup on Celestron Granite 8×42 Binoculars. Photo by Tim Schreckengost.

With the iPhone setup, I have been able to document rare birds, nesting behavior, and just downright cool sightings. Be sure to check out www.phoneskope.com if you’re interested in digiscoping with your smart phone. They can make an adapter for most smart phone/optics combinations.

Here’s a little taste of a recent trip to southeast Arizona with my Phone Skope setup:

Rock Wren at Pena Blanca Lake on 2 June 2013. iPhone photo by Tim Schreckengost.

Good iPhonescoping,

Tim

Phone Skope – My Digiscoping Setup

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In January, I switched over to an iPhone 4s. The good folks from Phone Skope gave me an iPhone 4s Adapter to try my hand at digiscoping, or iPhonescoping if you must. Since then, I’ve been addicted to “Phone Skoping” and virtually do it every day. Here’s my setup:

iPhone 4s + Celestron Regal 80 F-ED & iPhone 4s Phone Skope Adapter mounted on a Manfrotta MK394-H Aluminum Tripod with 3-Way Head.

The only thing I’m lacking is a decent tripod (review of this one coming soon). The rest of my setup is awesome. The combination of the image quality of the iPhone 4s and the stabilization from the Phone Skope Adapter definitely gives you an upper hand when it comes to iPhonescoping. Be sure to check out www.phoneskope.com for your all of your iPhonescoping needs! If you have any questions feel free to shoot me an email (timschreckengost AT gmail DOT com) or ask me in the comments. Do you iPhonescope? If so, let us know your setup in the comments!

Good iPhonescoping,

Tim

Birding San Diego – Balboa Park

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Balboa Park in San Diego, CA on 2 May 2013. iPhone photo by Tim Schreckengost.

I arrived in San Diego shortly before 3:00 PM on Thursday, May 2, 2013. I was due to pick Kay, my fiancee, up from the airport around 7:00. I had a few hours to burn, or bird, so I drove to Balboa Park. As I stepped out of the car I was welcomed by several Bushtits, Anna’s Hummingbirds, and California Towhees. I took a nice two hour stroll through the park. This was my first time birding in San Diego, so I wanted to take my time and snatch up all the birds I could before picking Kay up. Migrants were somewhat abundant throughout the park: Western Wood-Pewee, Warbling Vireo, and Towsend’s and Hermit Warblers all made appearances. I took the opportunity to try my hand at Phone Skoping landbirds as I hiked around the park and was surprised at how well some of the shots turned out. I only saw 25 species, but had a darn good Phone Skope sesh.

Setup: iPhone 4s + Celestron Regal 80 F-ED & Phone Skope Adapter.

Western Bluebird at Balboa Park in San Diego, CA on 2 May 2013. iPhone photo by Tim Schreckengost.

Say’s Phoebe at Balboa Park in San Diego, CA on 2 May 2013. iPhone photo by Tim Schreckengost.

Black Phoebe at Balboa Park in San Diego, CA on 2 May 2013. iPhone photo by Tim Schreckengost.

I also found a Great Horned Owl nest. The adult and nestling were not super cooperative, but allowed for the following shot.

Great Horned Owl at Balboa Park in San Diego, CA on 2 May 2013. iPhone photo by Tim Schreckengost.

Balboa Park–general area, San Diego, US-CA
May 2, 2013 3:00 PM – 5:00 PM
Protocol: Traveling
1.5 mile(s)
Comments: Submitted from BirdLog NA for iOS, version 1.5.3
25 species

Red-tailed Hawk  1
Western Gull  1
Mourning Dove  1
Great Horned Owl  2
Anna’s Hummingbird  5
Western Wood-Pewee  2
Black Phoebe  3
Say’s Phoebe  4
Warbling Vireo  2
American Crow  1
Barn Swallow  3
Bushtit  4
House Wren  1
Bewick’s Wren  2
Western Bluebird  3
Townsend’s Warbler  1
Hermit Warbler  1
Spotted Towhee  2
California Towhee  10
Song Sparrow  1
Western Tanager  1
Hooded Oriole  3
Bullock’s Oriole  4
House Finch  15
Lesser Goldfinch  10

View this checklist online at http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist?subID=S13969305

This report was generated automatically by eBird v3 (http://ebird.org)

Be sure to check out Phone Skope on their website, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube, and Pinterest for all your smartphone digiscoping needs!

Phone Skope – Spotting Scope Giveaway!

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The good folks at Phone Skope and VIPOoptics.com are sponsoring a giveaway where you can win a Vortex Nomad Spotting Scope and a Phone Skope digiscoping setup! Click the photo below to enter!

The contest ends in a week, so sign up today!

Phone Skoping in the Southwest!

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I’ve been in the southwest for well over a month now conducting bird surveys on the lower Colorado River. Despite working many hours in March, I’ve had the opportunity to use my iPhone 4s to Phone Skope birds with a Celestron Regal 80 F-ED (I’ll be reviewing this scope in the near future). I’ve been using an iPhone Digiscoping Pro Tip from Drew Weber over at Nemesis Bird, in which he suggested using an app called StillShot, to take high resolution screen grabs from Phone Skope videos.

Here are some of my best results:

Vermilion Flycatcher at Palo Verde Cemetery in Blythe, CA on 21 April 2013. Photo by Tim Schreckengost.

Lesser Nighthawk at the Salton Sea Visitor’s Center, CA on 19 April 2013. Photo by Tim Schreckengost.

Long-billed Dowitcher at the Salton Sea (Rock Hill Trail), CA on 19 April 2013. Photo by Tim Schreckengost.

Say’s Phoebe feeding nestlings in Blythe, CA on 20 April 2013. Photo by Tim Schreckengost.

Vermilion Flycatcher nest in Blythe, CA on 21 April 2013. Photo by Tim Schreckengost.

The Moon while watching nocturnal migrants in Blythe, CA on 20 April 2013. Photo by Tim Schreckengost.

Be sure to check out Phone Skope and Phone Skope Birding on Facebook. Also check out their website for more information on any smartphone/spotting scope combination you can think of!