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Digiscoping with the Nikon Coolpix 5000
The Nikon Coolpix 5000 has got a 5MP CCD sensor, so it delivers huge photo-files up to
2560x1920 pixel. The CCD sensor of the Nikon Coolpix 5000 has got bigger dimensions, than the
previous Nikon Coolpix digital cameras. A bigger sensor stands for less ISO noise. But a bigger
sensor has got its disadvantages, too. The depth of field of the pics is much smaller than
the depths of field with cameras with small CCD sensor.
This effect can clearly be seen in the digiscoping results, when you put the Nikon Coolpix 5000
in front of your scope.
Normally one should think that the details come out much better with the Nikon Coolpix 5000,
but in most cases the results are worse than the results with 3MP cameras.
 An average digiscoping shot taken with the Nikon Coolpix 5000 and a Swarovski 80HD Spotting Scope at a distance from about 13-15 meters.
Maybe it has something to do with the resolution of the scope. I often notice, that when
I'm very close to the subjects, details are great, and if I'm a little bit more far away,
the results get worse. The best results I got a distances from about 5-9 metres, and at
these distances the resolution of the pics is indeed better than pics taken with
3MP cameras.
Another thing I've noticed, is, that if you want to fokus at birds far away the focus of
the camera often fails. Maybe again that has something to do with the scope resolution. Not
enough resolution and contrast means no correct focus.
 A crop of the original photo
without doing any
photoshop work on it.
Like the Nikon Coolpix 4500 , the Coolpix 5000 brings out the contrast to high. So you have
to change the contrast settings to minimum.
The automatic white balance never worked well together with the scope. I alway set the
white balance manually. The auto white-balance produces cold, blue pictures in almost
every digiscoping situation.
The colours of the Nikon Coolpix 5000 come out great in most times, sometimes a bit
oversaturated, so that I have to set the saturation control to "moderate". It depends on
the light-situation.
So all in all the Nikon Coolpix 5000 is ok for digiscoping, when you're able to get
very close to the subjects.
 A crop of an original Coolpix 5000 + Swarovski 80HD photo taken out of a hide at about 7 metres far away from the bird.
But notice :
The resultiung focal length is much smaller than the resulting focal length of the
Nikon Coolpix 990, 995 or 4500 combined to a spotting scope. So photographing birds with
this setup is best possible out of a hide or something like that.
The best results I got, with the eyepiece set at 20x.
Vignetting appears immediately, when you zoom back the camera, so with a standard adapter
you'll only be able to shoot at full zoom. But I've heard of some special adapters
for the CP 5000, so have a look, and explore other digiscoping websites.
But I would strongly recommend to digiscope with a second hand Nikon Coolpix 990. In the fields the
Nikon Coolpix 990 will be the absolut best choice for digiscoping.
Please have a look at my 990 review.
Regards,
Gerd Rossen
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