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Posts Made By: James Robinson

December 1, 2005 01:52 AM Forum: Birding Optics and Photos

Canadian goose?

Posted By James Robinson
OK bird detectives, is this a canadian goose? It looks like one, but is missing the white neck patch. Also, it was all by itself, I've never seent one alone. Found in a sheltered salt water cove, it was pulling seaweed off the bottom and eating it.

December 3, 2005 04:53 AM Forum: Birding Optics and Photos

Common Eider

Posted By James Robinson
The ducks have started arriving here (Massachusetts) from further north for the winter.

Nikon D70 + Astro Rubinar 1000mm f/10 "mirror lens"

December 3, 2005 09:29 PM Forum: Birding Optics and Photos

Chicadee

Posted By James Robinson
The chicadees at the local Audobon are used to being hand fed and will flock to you in large numbers if you stop. This one followed me for a long distance up the trail and I finally turned and snapped his picture. Unfortunately I had nothing for him sad

This was a rare pic that just came out of the camera looking right, no photoshop magic required.


Jim

December 6, 2005 10:52 PM Forum: Birding Optics and Photos

Mallards and Teal at dusk

Posted By James Robinson
Not a great pic, but you can see just how small a teal really is. I don't often see green winged teal, or any kind of teal, here.

December 6, 2005 10:57 PM Forum: Birding Optics and Photos

Heron and Merganser

Posted By James Robinson
A rare Decmeber great blue heron and Merganser, just arrived from parts unknown.

D70 & Sigma APO II 300mm

December 12, 2005 02:50 AM Forum: Birding Optics and Photos

Bufflehead

Posted By James Robinson
The bufflehead is under represented here so I post this pic. These guys are very dificult to shoot, they are small to begin with, tend to stay away from shore, and are constantly diving.

Nikon D70 and 1000mm f/10 mirror lens

February 20, 2006 09:08 PM Forum: Telescope Making

"Safe" foam

Posted By James Robinson
I wasn't sure of the proper forum for this, but it is about making stuff.

I want to make a case for my new (to me) Meade 102ED. I have the basic case constructed from wood and am now thinking about foam. I remember discussions about outgassing, etc, years ago but not any conclusions. Can anyone reccommend readily available (e.g. home improvement or craft stores) foam that is safe for optics? I'm considering just cutting some cradles from white styrofoam and gluing them into the box. I also have some of the blue insulation foam from home depot. I wold like to put some softer foam under the lid. Thanks for any tips.

This is to hold me over until I have the $ for a scope guard case.

March 11, 2006 02:28 AM Forum: Binoviewers

Stellarvues vs Burgess, etc

Posted By James Robinson
Hi, I'm interested in your opinions on the Stellarvue binoviewers vs Burgess and the other chinese imports. I take it they are pretty much the same, but the Stellarvue has there own ep holders. Do these do a good job of keeping the eyepieces aligned?

I had some Burgess with the 3 nylon screws. I actually liked them a lot but messing with the screws was sometimes a pain. I eventually sold them and now have Denk standards. The denks are great, but they are so heavy that I often don't use them where I would use something lighter. On my Refractor near the zenith I cannot get a proper balance in declination. Also other balance problems with other small scopes I have. So I'm going to regress a little in quality for something lighter.

So I would appreciate your input, Stellarvue or Burgess (or WO). Thanks very much.

Jim

March 15, 2006 02:34 AM Forum: Refractors

Mini Borg 60ED apo?

Posted By James Robinson
Hi, I'm looking for a small light 60mm scope to replace my TV Ranger for birding. The Ranger is very nice, and color free visually at low power, but CA shows up on photos. I'd like something truly color free, or close to it, with the same drawtube / helical focuser arrangement.

Choices appear to be the TV60 or Mini Borg 60ED. Does anyone have the ED. Is it color free, or more so than a Ranger? Its an attractives option at much less $$ than the TV60.

Thanks
Jim

March 18, 2006 10:26 PM Forum: Birding Optics and Photos

Gadwall

Posted By James Robinson
Not a great shot but Gadwalls are underrepresented here. Challenging conditions, cloudy and very far away, D70 + Questar, had to use ISO 1600.

For you fellow Mak and other telescope shooters, I purchased a right angle finder with a 2x magnification and focusing is much easier, highly recommended. Its a Nikon clone finder, I'm sure the Nikon is much better, but I can actually see the screen to focus now.

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