Novagrade Smartphone Adapter - An Update.

A few people have been in touch to ask me how I am getting on with my Novagrade smartphone adapter, so I thought I would update.

I'm still enjoying using my Novagrade smartphone adapter at every opportunity. I have been using it for a few months now, and to be honest, I'm very impressed. When I first received the adapter, I suspected that the initial setup adjustments I made to it to accept my iphone 4S in its case, and now my iPhone 5 would need regular readjustments due to normal everyday use. I was wrong!

Since setup, the adapter has remained in alignment, and holds the phone exactly where I set it. No "creep" on the adjustments has been experienced at all. Very impressive considering that between uses, it is just chucked in my backpack.

I have said this before, but just to make it clear, I am not employed by Novagrade or given incentives to write this. I am just a customer, that paid for my Novagrade adapter with my own hard earned cash.

In terms of cost, I accept they are not a cheap piece of equipment, they are however, quality. I have explained to a few people interested in phonescope adapters that they should be aware that most phonescope adapters are phone and eyepiece specific, change either, and you need to fork out again for a new adapter.

Most phonescoping adapters I have looked at myself are in the £60-£70 region. As I have recently upgraded my phone, I would with these phone specific adapters be paying out again. However, with the Novagrade I just made the necessary quick adjustments to allow it to hold my new phone in the correct position. Also, and this to me is a big bonus, I can keep my phone in the protective case of my choice, I don't have to swap cases whenever I want to phonescope, as most other adapters require you to do.

Anyway, I'm a very happy customer. I have had a few people say they cannot find a UK retailer in order to purchase one. Well, I would suggest you start by dropping an email to the address below With any enquiries you may have.

 

The UK and Ireland distributor for Novagrade digiscope adapters.

Email: hello@novagrade.co.uk

 

Some recent pictures taken using the Novagrade Adapter. After adjustments to take my latest phone in an Otterbox protective case of my choice.

I'm pleased with the results I'm achieving.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Pacific Golden Plover - Revisited.

I rushed to Middleton to see the Pacific Golden Plover on Saturday, the first day it was reported. As I mentioned then, intense temperatures and heat haze, combined with distance made photographing this bird difficult. Today, the PGP's third day on site, I noticed a tweet reporting it was closer than it had been for the last two days, and was showing well.

Again, I was on my way. The bird was about 40 yards away, and heat haze much less of an issue today.

I tried to take pictures with my bridge camera, and they were ok, but the phone again seemed to be getting the better record shots.

The pictures were an improvement on Saturdays efforts.

I even managed a piece of video. For some reason, the video doesn't always play in HD when viewed through my blog. If the video below won't play in HD, click the YouTube link and view it there.

I was pleased with this.

 

Click HERE to watch in HD

 

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Pacific Golden Plover - Middleton RSPB

A probable American Golden Plover was reported today at Middleton RSPB. It couldn't have picked a better day to arrive, scorching sun and high temperatures. Just the conditions you want to trek all your kit down to the Jubilee Wetlands. I had vowed I wasn't venturing out today as it's just too hot for comfort, I succumbed to the temptation in about 20 seconds and was on my way.

On arrival a large group of birders were discussing such things as leg length, primary projections, and visible gold dappling. Consensus of opinion was swinging towards Pacific Golden Plover. My own initial first impression was, it had some legs on it!

Bright sunshine and intense heat haze made me question if i should even attempt to get a picture on my phone through the scope. What the hell, I'd give it a go. As this is a first for Staffordshire and the West Midlands, I needed to make an effort to record it.

 

My camera struggled to even focus due to the heat haze. So, it was back to the phone and scope to see if I could record something. I was hoping at best for a smudge that resembled a Pacific Golden Plover if you squinted while looking at it. Here are a few of my best smudges. iPhone 5 through scope.

Obviously, a bird of this status was going to attract some attention. Middleton RSPB car park was full as I left, and more were arriving all the time. I hope everyone that made the effort got the tick.

 

And finally, well done to G.Williams for finding it

 

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Back to Seeswood Pool

It was too hot to do much for most of the day, so as it cooled off a little in the evening, I went back to Seaswood to see if the Night Heron was still around. Pete came too as this would be a life tick for him. It was still there!

I had hoped it may be a little more active, but it stayed skulking in the reeds for the duration of our stay. The light dropping fast too, so pictures were never going to be great. I set the phone up on the scope and these were the best I could manage.

Much better than my camera could achieve at this distance, pleased I made the effort.

 

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Night Heron

Seeswoods pool Warwickshire had a Night Heron reported today. A nice tick for my Warwickshire list.

The bird spent a lot of time skulking in the branches of a Willow tree, but did allow some great scope views on the few occasions it ventured out.

All pictures and video taken with iPhone 5 through Scope.

It was also interesting to see two Yellow Bellied Slider Terrapins enjoying the sun. Locals tell me these have survived for a good few years in this pool.

HD Video - Night Heron in action. Click Here

A very enjoyable afternoon.

 

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The Best Camera is .........

There is an old saying to do with photography that you hear time and time again.

"The best camera is the one you have with you."

I'm most cases, that camera is the one in our smartphone. Smartphone manufactures invest more and more money into research geared towards improving the images these little cameras can produce, and these days, they really can deliver the goods. Photography competitions have been won with entries taken with smartphones and now, smartphone photography competitions are becoming more popular.

So, I enjoy taking pictures and usually use my Canon bridge camera and my phone through my spotting scope when birdwatching. Today, I decided to just use the camera in my pocket and see how it performed in different situations. Close ups, moving subjects, portraits and landscape/sunsets.

To be honest, the day started in my back garden. My chicken coop was due its annual strip down and deep clean. I need a hot dry day for this to allow it to completely dry in a few hours. The Chooks make interesting subjects, so that's where I began.

A few of my garden, and the finished clean Coop.

While tidying up and moving things about, I found a Common Frog that posed for a picture.

And then, I turned my attention to some Bees that were busy collecting nectar and pollen.

I was quite pleased with these pictures from my phone. So, later in the day when it had cooled down, I took my dog for a walk and decided to take the scope too.

We ended up walking along the canal.

 

I noticed some Swallows on the wires, so set the scope up and took these through it using the phone.

Heading back towards the car, I tried a few sunset shots.

Even though I seem to be using my iPhone more and more for photography, it still sometimes surprises me just how versatile it is. I'm under no illusions, a dedicated camera will out perform a phone. However, remember how this blog entry started, "The best camera is the one you have with you."

 

 

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