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Because a camcorder is usually larger and has a more powerful zoom than a still camera you will be faced with some immediate problems:

• The balance of the scope will be seriously affected making it difficult to track and follow a subject, be prepared for this and don’t start filming until you have your subject in view and your image centralized.

• The amount of magnification available to you could be as high as 2 or 300x, and depending on the lens you have on your scope you may need to use all of it to eradicate vignetting. If the manufacturer of your scope makes a lower powered eyepiece, 15 or 20x, then it is well worth the investment.

• Due to the increase in magnification camera shake will be an even bigger problem, to increase the chances of getting a smoother piece of footage it is essential to work from a stable base. A robust tripod is a must, but even the most stable will need to be used on their lowest setting, with the legs well spread.

• Most auto-focus systems will struggle to track and stay focused on a moving subject, use manual focus when you have your camcorder attached to your scope. When buying a camcorder always choose one that has an external focus wheel around the lens, this will make manual focusing much easier.

Video footage is the preferred format for many birders, the versatility of a moving image and the extra magnification means an image can be obtained from great distances. Because the image is continually moving it is also possible to track a subject, a bird feeding or in flight for example could be easily followed, allowing for behaviour and jizz to be studied. Before taking the plunge make sure that the camcorder you are interested in is capable of taking still pictures or video grabs. There are usually two options available, you can either capture images directly onto a memory card or take a still onto the tape. Taking an image directly onto the card will give the best quality result, alternatively filming your subject on tape first then grabbing a still later will give you a greater option of poses to choose from.

It is easy to see why many birders prefer to use a camcorder whereas the only real advantage of a still camera is the quality of the shot. A digital camcorder can be operated in very low light levels, gives a much higher magnification and allows the user to follow and track a subject whilst it is moving. A still camera relies on a fast shutter speed to freeze movement, this is not the case with a camcorder, it uses only 1/50^th of a second shutter speed when filming.

As with the still camera it is possible to immediately view the film that you have just made, viewing your footage before you leave guarantees that you get the results you want. Once you are home the fun begins, many people have computers and with the aid of reasonably priced software packages you can edit your work into a short movie or grab and enhance still images.

A digital camcorder is a very compact and portable piece of equipment producing video footage very near to broadcast quality, with a 10x zoom it gives an equivalent to 38mm to 380mm (depending on the model). Auxiliary lenses can be attached doubling this magnification, if more is required then digiscoping comes into play, most camcorders have built in image stabilizers, a necessary tool when dealing with high magnification, some models even have a night shot mode, allowing for filming in the dark.

Sony, Panasonic and Canon offer some of the best camcorders on the market, many of them are excellent for digiscoping. Always check to make sure that the one you choose is ideal for your needs and works with your scope.