Swarovski UCA Universal Camera Adapter

Comments about Swarovski UCA Universal Camera Adapter:

The adapter works well with our spotting scope. It has all the controls to allow it to adjust for almost any camera. Apparently, it works best with cameras that have limited zoom, 5X or less. I tried it with a 10X video camera, and a 20X still camera. These do not work. It has something to do with the long zoom not matching up to the eye piece optically. The adapter fits the cameras fine, but by the time you zoom in enough to get rid of the black background, the total magnification is way too much to be useable.

Stick with a point and shoot camera or an SLR with a limited zoom and you will get great results.

It takes some fiddling to get all the adjustment of the UCA right for a camera, but the nice thing is that you can remove the camera without changing any of those adjustments. Consequently, the next time, it is pretty fast to attach the camera and take your shots.

The only minor concern is light coming in the gap between the camera and the eyepiece. Although this created no problem for me so far. I keep the nice cloth bag handy to throw over the gap, if and when I have a problem.

The adapter does allow you to adjust the camera so you get a sharp, uniform image across the whole image.

Comments about Swarovski UCA Universal Camera Adapter:

After using the Swarovski UCA adapter (purchased from B&H) during the past few weeks, it has become an indispensible digiscoping tool. Prior to its purchase, I had looked extensively at digiscoping systems (from videos about digiscoping, recommendations, different manufacturers' systems) and options (including Swarovski's own DCA unit). In practical use, the Swarovski system (employing their 80 HD scope) is relatively straightforward and provides very high-quality still and video images. The system sets up quickly, is very stable due to its rigid, but light construction, and aligns with little effort for digiscoping with my DSLR (a Pentax k-7 w/40mm "pancake" lens) as well as point-and-shoot cameras w/limited zooms. It can also be used with a variety of cameras with or without filter threads or filter-thread adapters.

An item that I would highly recommend is the Swarovski Telescope Balance Rail. The rail attaches to the spotting scope tripod mounting foot and also provides a contoured plastic piece upon which the lower rear portion of the scope rests for even better stability. The rail allows the scope/UCA/camera/lens unit to be moved forward and back to achieve balance and optimum imaging quality, particularly with a good quality tripod head and stable tripod legs.

Comments about Swarovski UCA Universal Camera Adapter:

Bought this for an SLR Cannon but was not big enough to mount my camera. Luckily it does fit my Cannon Digital Elph cameras. Quality contruction, light weight metal. Easy to install and several ways to remove camera for spotting scope viewing quickly. Must use camera viewing display to find subject and focus with spotting scope focusing ring. Takes practice to become fast to catch pics.