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Swarovski Snap Shot Adaptor Tested in Umfolozi in Africa

With all the hype surrounding the Swarovski Snap Shot adaptor, which allows you to take photographs through your Swarovski EL and SLC binoculars using a compact digital camera, Steve decided to give it a go on a recent trip to Umfolozi Game Reserve in South Africa. Please scroll down to read his thoughts on the adaptor and also to view a selection of the best images taken through the Swarovski EL 32 Traveler binoculars. Scroll down for advice and images.



About the Snap Shot Adaptor:
Attaches to the twist-out eyepiece on the Swarovski EL 42, Swarovski EL 32 Traveler and the Swarovski SLC 42 HD WB. You will then need to attach a camera to the Snap Shot adaptor. The camera must have a maximum optical zoom of 4x and extendable optical lens as the diameter of the Snap Shot adaptor itself will not allow for wider lenses as with those compact cameras with greater optical zooms. For the first time in optical history all you need to take with you on safari to see and record Africa, are your compact digital camera and your Swarovski EL or SLC Swarovski binoculars. 

About the Swarovski EL 32 Traveler Binoculars:
Smaller and lighter than the EL 42 Swarovision which makes them great for travelling. Features Swarodur, Swarobright and Swarotop lens coatings too to ensure maximum light and colour transmission even in low light conditions. Of course having the smaller aperture of 32mm and the lack of Swarovision finish does make them marginally inferior to the EL 42 Swarovisions as the price would suggest. But that really is splitting hairs as anything with the Swarovski name offers optical performance at it's finest.

Lighting Conditions:
Although these images were taken using the Swarovski Snap Shot adaptor during summer in South Africa, the conditions on the safari were overcast and rainy, with a little bit of sunshine here and there. As result the lighting conditions particularly in the early morning and later afternoon were quite a bit darker than expected at this time of year. This made obtaining still images a little more challenging and a bean bag or the side mirror on the car was used to steady the binoculars while taking the image. As a general rule, however, across most of Africa lighting conditions in summer will be brighter and crisper making the job a little easier when you give it a go with your Snap Shot adaptor. 

Advice after using it:
Here I think bullet points are best...

-Make sure you have a digital camera which will fit the Snap Shot adaptor. I would recommend to our clients that you look for a small compact camera with as close to a 50mm lens as possible, but still small enough to fit into the adaptor. This is due to the fact that the binoculars only magnify the focal length of the lens (in this case around 25mm), and so you do not see exactly what you would when looking through the binoculars as the human eye has the same focal length as a 50mm lens;

-Choose the right Swarovski's. I would opt for either the Swarovski EL 42 Swarovision or the SLC 42 WB HD's over the EL 32 Travelers when I next use the snap shot adaptor. The superior light transmission and greater aperture on these two pairs of Swarovski's allow you to get sharper images in low light conditions. At times I struggled with the EL 32 Travelers especially given the overcast mornings;

-Practice, practice, practice. The Snap Shot adaptor takes some getting used to, so please use it quite a lot before you head off on safari. Head to a nearby park and take images of local wildlife and get the feel for attaching the adaptor in double quick time, attaching your camera to the adaptor and then focussing and taking the images. You want to first be taking great images before you get to your safari destination. And believe you me with practice great images are possible.

-Going steady is best. While on safari set yourself up at the camp's waterhole, pour yourself a beer or gin and tonic and settle down to take great images. A hide or set place such as a waterhole allows you to keep your binoculars really steady and allow birds, reptiles, insects and wildlife to come to you. Use a bean bag if you have something to rest it on. This is a great way to while away the hours between morning and evening game drives and you will be surprised at how productive these hours can be. The image of the Egyptian Goose and Wooly-necked Stork below were taken from a hide next to a busy waterhole in Umfolozi, both just after midday.

-Have fun and enjoy using it. It is ideal for walking safaris or for those who really prefer to travel light! It is a great innovation from Swarovski and one which I am sure will give you infinite pleasure. Again, just make sure you practice.

-Software takes off the edge. You may get a great shot and at times also the edge of the rounded view you get through your binoculars. 99% of the time this should not happen especially if you have practiced. If the round edges do sneak in simply crop your images using a photographic software, with Adobe PhotoShop our software of choice. 


-Hope you enjoy the pictures below. If you have any questions please do not hesitate to call us or send us an e-mail regarding the Swarovski Snap Shot Adaptor.

 

 



Posted Dec 14th 2011, 16:36