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{{short description|Photographic technique}}
[[File:Nikon digiscoping set.jpg|thumb|right|[[Spotting scope]] with a digital camera mounted afocally using an adapter.]]
[[File:Digiscoping.jpg|thumbnail|Digiscoping waterfowl]]
[[File:Digiscope - 20x - 24mm - Ystad-2021.jpg|thumb|Typical uncropped digiscope image; the [[spotting scope]] has 20x magnification. Camera focal length is 24 mm; distance to the subject is about 90 meters.]]

'''Digiscoping''' is a [[neologism]] for [[afocal photography]], using a ([[digital camera|digital]]) camera to record distant images through the [[eyepiece]] of an [[optical telescope]].

Digiscoping usually refers to using either a [[digital single-lens reflex camera]] with lens attached or, more often, a fixed lens [[Point-and-shoot camera|point and shoot]] digital camera to obtain photos through the eyepiece of a [[birdwatcher]]'s [[spotting scope]].<ref>[https://books.google.com/books?id=j7l0CxBUwGwC&dq=digiscoping&pg=PA41 Adrian Davies, The Focal digital imaging A-Z, page 41]</ref> The term has also been associated with the use of a digital camera and spotting scope equipped for [[prime focus]] photography.<ref>[http://www.dphoto.us/news/node/359 DphotoNews's blog - Nikon introduces the Digiscoping System - Fieldscope Digital SLR Camera Attachment FSA-L1] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100224063308/http://www.dphoto.us/news/node/359 |date=2010-02-24 }}</ref>

==Origins==
The portmanteau term "''digiscoping''" (= digital camera + telescoping) was coined in 1999 by French [[Birdwatching|birdwatcher]] [[:fr:Alain Fossé|Alain Fossé]]. Less notable neologisms for this activity are ''digiscope birding'', ''digiscopy birding'', ''digi-birding'', ''digibinning'' (using digital camera with [[binoculars]]), and ''phonescoping''<ref>[http://www.ornithomedia.com/pratique/equipemt/equipement_art42_1.htm Ornithomedia - Pratique - Equipement, A new step in ornithology Digital]</ref> (using a digital [[camera phone]] with a spotting scope or binoculars).

The origins of the activity called ''Digiscoping'' has been attributed to the photographic methods of [[Laurence Poh]], a birdwatcher from the [[Malaysian Nature Society]], who discovered in 1999 almost by accident that the new generation of [[Point-and-shoot camera|point and shoot]] digital cameras could be held up to the eyepiece of a standard spotting scope and achieve surprisingly good results.{{citation needed|date=May 2014}} He spread his findings through birding [[Internet forum|internet discussion forums]] and one member, French birdwatcher Alain Fossé, coined the name "digiscoping" to describe the technique.<ref>[http://longexposurephotographytips.com/digiscoping/, Digiscoping: What is it?]</ref> Laurence Poh is sometimes credited with "''inventing''" the technique<ref>[http://www.allaboutbirds.org/netcommunity/page.aspx?pid=1171 Cornell Lab of Ornithology, Birding Basics, Digiscoping]</ref> although his contribution may be more along the lines of popularizing the idea and refining the technology.

Using a camera with its lens attached at the eyepiece of optical devices such as microscopes or telescopes, creating an [[afocal system]] (technically called ''afocal photography'' or ''afocal projection'') had been used for nearly 100 years<ref>[http://www.sover.net/~nvmug/news/enews01-04-21.html NVMUG eNews 4/21/2001 Bill Amos’ Digital Photography Presentation and Warren Walker's Photo Editing - "''in the 1930s Bill used afocal photography when taking pictures through a microscope''"] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080907093256/http://www.sover.net/~nvmug/news/enews01-04-21.html |date=2008-09-07 }}</ref> and digital camera afocal photography was already being employed in the amateur astronomical community.<ref>[https://books.google.com/books?id=WTKcbdR-2h8C&dq=afocal+photography+digital&pg=PA243 Michael A. Covington, Astrophotography for the amateur, page 243, afocally video imaging from 1997]</ref> This form of afocal photography became more common in general photography in the 21st century with the spread of point and shoot digital cameras<ref>[https://books.google.com/books?id=V3tyCXsCCkMC&dq=afocal+astrophotography&pg=PA198 Michael W. Swanson, The NexStar user's guide, page 198]</ref> because of the ease of use of this type of setup.<ref>[http://www.skyandtelescope.com/howto/astrophotography/3304336.html Dennis di Cicco, Afocal What?, SkyandTelescope.com]</ref> Several companies sell couplers and other devices for mounting digital cameras afocally.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Digiscoping Adapters {{!}} B&H Photo Video |url=https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/buy/Digiscoping/ci/14671 |access-date=2023-03-18 |website=www.bhphotovideo.com |language=en}}</ref>

==See also==
* [[Wildlife photography]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

==Further reading==
* [https://books.google.com/books?id=zaXQioI2JvcC&dq=digiscoping&pg=PA272 "Digital Photography Hacks" by Derrick Story, pages 272-276 "''Hack #94 - Get Close with Digiscoping''"]

==External links==
{{Commons category|Digiscoping|lcfirst=yes}}
* [http://www.laurencepoh.com/static/digiscoping.shtml laurencepoh.com, website of the man attributed as the developer of “Digiscoping”]
* [http://www.digimages.info/ Website of Alain Fosse who coined the word “digiscoping”]
* [http://www.photoinfos.com/Spektiv/Digiscoping.htm German website about digiscoping with very inspiring images]

{{Photography}}

[[Category:Astrophotography]]
[[Category:Birdwatching]]
[[Category:Ornithological equipment and methods]]
[[Category:Photographic techniques]]
[[Category:Neologisms]]
[[Category:1990s neologisms]]

Digiscoping - Revision history

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