The ability to pull in distant images for photographing and videoing is the reason many outdoorsmen and women digiscope. After all, this great method reaches out there, requiring no fancy and expensive cameras and lenses. It simply requires a good connection between your smartphone and favorite optics, items most folks already own. That’s why when Phone Skope digiscoping adapters hit the market about a dozen years ago, it was all the rage for birdwatchers, hunters, vacationers, and other nature lovers. For many, it still is.
On top of everything, digiscoping allows you to utilize your smartphone for more than texting, gaming, and gawking at social media.
Everyone’s taken smartphone images of subjects 30 yards or more away with underwhelming outcomes. The resulting image of that deer, bird, or human is practically a dot on the screen, rendering the crisp colorful image disappointing. Translation; the star of the show is grossly understated.
Originally caught on camera at 200 yards, closing the distance to
100 yards resulted in a much better image of this whitetail buck,
even before applying any cropping or filtering.
Capturing a good image when digiscoping has much to do with getting the camera lens the right distance from the given optic’s eyepiece, gathering ample light, and maintaining a steady position. When accomplished, magnification is a beautiful thing.
However, you can increase image success by managing distance. That is, moving closer (or even farther) from your target renders new perspectives.
A Matter of Proximity
This unique form of photography solves the distance problem by pairing your smartphone camera with your favorite optics and there are many digiscoping tips and hacks that will eventually give you better results.
However, even after you’ve mastered it, you’re leaving some quality shots on the table if you don’t try to move closer. Like with any photography, your digiscoping success reaches new heights when you snap off more images; ones of the same subject from different distances and angles.
By moving closer to the subject, you can rely less on filtering and cropping. The editing process can bring the image closer, but images often lose their vividness. While the point of digiscoping is to better capture far-away targets, moving closer only increases the clarity of the final photo or video.
Stationary Targets
Pictures of still subjects are easier than those living-breathing ones that bolt or fly away when spooked. Rock formations, a bunch of wildflowers backed by a dark woodlot, waterfalls… The list is endless. While these interesting features can’t move, you can. Whether starting from a distance of 200 yards or 60 feet, work your way in or out. You might be surprised at the different ways that a feature looks at different distances. For these types of targets, there’s no reason not to experiment regarding the vastness of your viewing area.
Covertness and Proximity to Wildlife
While the goal of digiscoping is to capture distant images, experiment with different distances for outdoor subjects such as birds, deer, and other wildlife. For animals, practice getting closer, which will only enhance photo and video quality. But exercise caution! The point of digiscoping is to pull far-away images in closer via your optics.
When it comes to wild game and other critters, capture them at greater distances, then, like spot-and-stalk-hunting, stealthily move closer. However, when you do, think like a hunter and use caution by minimizing your scent, wearing darker earth tones (even camo), and seeking concealment that will mask both movement and scent.
At the end of the day, learning to successfully move closer to wildlife undetected represents added challenge to digiscoping.
You can get great shots of wildlife when closing the distance but be careful, as most animals have great senses.
Obviously, for wild animals, it’s best to start off further away and work your way in closer. It’s all about garnering the best images you can and then closing the distance.
Note; As for wary game animals such as whitetails and elk, there is a limit on how much you push it regarding distance. One wrong move and you’ll spoil not only your photo session but possibly future hunts. Either way, this is a more exciting and challenging way to capture animals with digiscoping.
Like with stationary subjects, click off as many images as you can at each distance.
Getting images from various distances require traveling light and being mobile.
Increasing Your Inventory of Images
Digiscoping is easy. While it doesn’t take long to learn, mastering it takes time. If at first, you’re getting mediocre results, keep at it. There are a lot of hacks out there to up your game. Again, keep it simple at the start, experimenting with distance and getting acclimated to your gear. Digiscoping is a journey and, by casting a wider net, you garner more images to choose from.
Final Thoughts
One of the themes of learning to digiscope is to keep it simple. Digiscoping is not difficult but steady improvement comes with repetition. This means it’s a time investment. If you take the time to venture out for a day of digiscoping, maximize your chance at success by capturing images from different distances. Pack as lightly as possible, stay mobile, and utilize a variety of vantage points. Different distances yield new and interesting visual perspectives when teamed with your trusty mobile device and favorite optics.