The last Nikon with internal lens was the 4500. It was discontinued about 3 years ago, I am thinking. The 990 and 995 were the predecessors and are still regarded as the standard, although the 4500 was a 4MPixel and the 990/995 were 3.1. Most feel the earlier cameras focused a bit better, although the 4500 can certainly take great photos. Many didn't like the smaller LCD screen of the 4500, which you have to use when you digiscope. The problem with all these cameras is that they have old electronics, that write to the card slow and have generally lousy shutter lag. These cameras can be obtained on eBay, I bought a second 990 myself about a year ago. You just have to make sure that the thing works correctly, no bad pixels on the CCD, etc. The second one I bought has a failed internal battery, and it looses its settings if I remove the batteries to recharge them before I plug the camera into an external power pack. I am currently working with a new Olympus C-7070, a 7.1 MPixel camera. The lens moves though, when you zoom, but not as it focuses. As I do have a decent workshop and am fairly handy, I have built a mount to accommodate the moving lens, but it is still a challenge. There is a digiscoping forum on Yahoo, which I monitor, and I can tell you that there is no consensus on a current 'best' camera. We were all hoping for a product announcement from Nikon at the camera trade show two months ago, but they had nothing for us. And there is a variety of mounts available on the market now, from scope makers and third parties. Some of them screw onto the camera lens in the threads for filters, so if you want to use that type of mount you have to buy a camera that has threads that will work. Mike Grant Chesterfield, MO -----Original Message----- From: MO Wild Bird Forum [mailto:[log in to unmask]]On Behalf Of Tom Fuller Sent: Friday, May 27, 2005 1:48 PM To: [log in to unmask] Subject: Digiscoping camera Hi Layne, I have a Nikon 995 which focuses by moving an internal lens. It works fine for digiscoping. Nikon made a newer model (something like the 4300 I think) which has a similar mechanism with several improvements (brighter monitor, etc.). The newest Nikons are *not* well suited for digiscoping as far as I know. There are others are this list that know much more about this. Tom Dr. Thomas H. Fuller, Jr. Math and Computer Science Principia College Elsah, IL 62028 [log in to unmask] __________________________________________________ * Audubon Society of Missouri's * * Wild Bird Discussion Forum * *------------------------------------------------* * To unsubscribe send the message * * SIGNOFF MOBIRDS-L * * to [log in to unmask] * * To subscribe send the message * * SUBSCRIBE MOBIRDS-L your name * * to [log in to unmask] * *------------------------------------------------* * To access the list archives from July 2002 on: * * http://po.missouri.edu/archives/mobirds-l.html * * * * To access the Audubon Society of Missouri Web * * Site: http://www.mobirds.org * ################################################## __________________________________________________ * Audubon Society of Missouri's * * Wild Bird Discussion Forum * *------------------------------------------------* * To unsubscribe send the message * * SIGNOFF MOBIRDS-L * * to [log in to unmask] * * To subscribe send the message * * SUBSCRIBE MOBIRDS-L your name * * to [log in to unmask] * *------------------------------------------------* * To access the list archives from July 2002 on: * * http://po.missouri.edu/archives/mobirds-l.html * * * * To access the Audubon Society of Missouri Web * * Site: http://www.mobirds.org * ##################################################