Review of the Swarovski Optik 25-50x W Eyepiece
April 26, 2010
Article in: Product Reviews
The following is a review of the Swarovski 25-50x W Eyepiece
To use the 25-50x W eyepiece (or any Swarovski eyepiece) you must remove the previous one first. Or if this is your first eyepiece just install it by first removing the cover and lining up the arrows on the scope and eyepiece proper. Turn until it snaps into place and you’re ready to go.
The scope we use exclusively is the Swarovski 80 HD STS which has an aluminum body, 80mm objective lens, and fluoride high definition coating. The tripod is the Swarovski CT 101 carbon fiber with FH 101 head.
What I love about the Swarovski 25-50x
The field of view is wide and ranges from 126 ft/1000 yds at 25x to 81 ft/1000 yds at 50x. Like all of Swarovski eyepieces, this one is watertight to 13 ft water depth: no worries about birding in the rain. The 25-50x W is a bit heavier than our other eyepiece, the 20-60x, at 10.4 oz (compared to 9.2 oz). This is hardly noticeable.
We use our scope a lot for digiscoping and the Swarovski 25-50x W
Peregrine Falcon, Rockford, Illinois – February 2010
Comparison shot to show the distance
Update from Swarovski: If you purchase the UCA, Swarovski will send you a new eyecup for the 20-60x at no charge. So you can use any of Swarovski’s excellent eyepieces to digiscope. Just give them a call! [Part No. 44089 is the eyecup and part no. 44048 is the new lens cover compatible with the new eyecup.]
Please note: If you are planning on digiscoping with the Universal Camera Adapter (UCA) from Swarovski it doesn’t fit over the 20-60x eyepiece. It works perfectly on the 25-50x W eyepiece and we’ll be reviewing the UCA soon!
A few more shots with the 25-50x W:
Brown Creeper
Golden-crowned Kinglet
Kinglets are hard buggers to get as they move around constantly and like sitting behind branches.
Sandhill Cranes
Both the 20-60x and 25-50x W eyepieces are amazing. We’ll probably be using the 25-50x W
Digiscoping Comparison: Swarovski Digital Camera Adapter vs. Swarovski TLS800 Camera Adapter
January 3, 2009
Article in: Photography
The following is a comparison of five variations of bird photography:
- Digiscoping with a point-and-shoot [Nikon Coolpix 5100]
- Digiscoping with a digital SLR camera [Canon EOS Rebel XTi]
- Telephoto with Swarovski TLS800 adapter and digital SLR [Canon EOS Rebel XTi]
- Telephoto with 100-400mm lens [Canon]
- Telephoto with 100-400mm lens and 2x extender [Canon]
The subject is a stuffed Pileated Woodpecker in our White Pine at about 33 feet. The conditions were sleeting and cold with some wind (perfect for photography!) and the purpose of this is not so much image quality as distance comparison and ease of use. Below the photos are some thoughts on what works best.
Nikon Coolpix 5100 at no zoom [12.9mm]
Nikon Coolpix 5100 coupled with Swarovski 80HD STS spotting scope at 20x zoom
Nikon Coolpix 5100 coupled with Swarovski 80HD STS spotting scope at 60x zoom
Digital SLR digiscoping – Canon EOS Rebel XTi with 50mm lens and Swarovski 80HD STS spotting scope at 20x
Digital SLR digiscoping – Canon EOS Rebel XTi with 50mm lens and Swarovski 80HD STS spotting scope at approx. 60x
Telephoto with Swarovski TLS800 adapter and digital SLR [Canon EOS Rebel XTi]
This is what the TLS800 looks like on the scope [from Swarovski's website]
Telephoto with 100-400mm Canon lens [100mm]
Telephoto with 100-400mm Canon lens [400mm]
Telephoto with 100-400mm Canon lens and 2x adapter [100mm with 2x = 200mm]
Telephoto with 100-400mm Canon lens and 2x adapter [400mm with 2x = 800mm]
Summary
The Nikon point-and-shoot does a surprisingly good job at digiscoping but has the drawback of not being able to shoot successive shots (quickly) and takes a long time to focus on the subject (an obvious problem with non-stationary subjects).
The Canon SLR method works well especially at lower magnification (on the scope) and allows for rapid shooting and fast-focusing.
The Swarovski TLS800 is a bit hard to use. It requires removal of the spotting scope’s eyepiece making the scope useless for searching for birds. Once the TLS800 is attached to your camera, you have to hook it to the scope which creates an awkward (and comical) bit of maneuvering.
Once the whole setup is ready we found that the camera settings had to be adjusted a great deal more than with digiscoping. We never could get the settings right and the photo shown was the best we could get after numerous attempts.
The shots with the 100-400mm lens are more for comparison. This method of bird photography is better for general hiking or birds in flight shots as it allows for free movement and less adjustments.
Overall, we prefer the “true” digiscoping setup over the TLS800 telephoto adapter. The Swarovski Digital Camera Adapter can be used with virtually ANY camera so even if you upgrade, you’ll be ready to digiscope.
TLS800 Rating: 3 of 10
Swarovski Digital Camera Adapter Rating: 10 of 10
