Nikon Fieldscope Digital SLR Camera Attachment FSA-L1

19th November 2009

I tested my new camera, the Nikon D300s attached on my Nikon Fieldscope ED82 via Fieldscope Digital SLR Camera Attachment FSA-L1 courtesy from Nikon Malaysia during the recent Borneo Bird Festival in Sandakan and at Lok Kawi beach for the waders.

The reasons why I bought Nikon D300s camera because:

• It has input for external microphone which is useful in capturing mono and stereo sound from singing birds and other wildlife.
• Offers 72p at 24 frames per second and running time within 5 minutes in HD.
• Live View mode suitable to show birders the subjects through the 3 inch screen while recording in video mode at the same time.
• Captures images both in still and video modes !
  

Nikon Fieldscope Digital SLR Camera Attachment FSA-L1 with fixed aperture at F13.

The setup and focal length at 1500mm (1.5x crop) with manual focus.

Videos recorded with Nikon D300s camera using built in internal microphone.

Crested Serpent Eagle



Buff-necked Woodpecker

My shooting mode with FSA-L1 is set on Continuous High, ISO between 1250 to 2000 in the rainforest and ISO 200 to ISO 800 on open area like mudflat and paddy field. Thanks to the excellent high ISO capability on Nikon cameras, I could get high shutter speed for moving birds and clean images with this kit even though I was shooting on fixed aperture at F13 !

Recommended for birders who are seeking an alternative to digiscoped with their existing Nikon Fieldscope ED82/ED78/EDIII using Nikon DSLR cameras.

Images below was processed with Nikon Capture NX2 without Noise Reduction.

Crested Serpent Eagle at ISO 2000.

Buff-necked Woodpecker at ISO 2000.

Terek Sandpiper at ISO 800.

Ruddy Turnstone at ISO 800.

Common Sandpiper at ISO 800.

Lesser Sand Plover at ISO 400.

The endangered Chinese Egret at ISO 1EV under 200.

As I am using video head for this setup, I would recommend birders to use straight Nikon Fieldscope ED82 on Wimberley head and carbon fibre tripod to minimized vibration.

Happy birding !