Birding in Singapore. Using Dot Sights - Viewer's Questions.

[@philipoconnor4263]

Thank you James for another helpful, thoughtful video. You give a lot of time to help people improve and enjoy photography, thank you James. Stay safe.

[@tw9535]

Awesome video! You are a very good teacher. And, to be honest, in your first video you were also very clear, it is just that some people had never used a dot sight at all. (Or attached anything to the hot shoe on their cameras at all.) It was nothing that you did wrong. Thank you for both of these excellent videos!

[@dldldldldldl]

Great to see another video from you even during this period. Timely video as I just bought a red dot sight today. Will set it up using your tips. Thanks James!

[@shadow479]

very highly considerate and detailed explanation. thanks

[@MJA43]

Hello James, Thank you very much for your explanation. All the best to you, stay safe!

[@WillieMcMurray-dk6mg]

Great video thanks

[@simoneffendi3685]

Such a helpful and informative Vlog. Thank you, James!!

[@felixifloresrodriquez3306]

Awesome video. Superb instructions 10/10 thanks a lot. I will order my to see how it work for me once again thanks

[@Therock5131]

Thanks you, for short class video, I'm using Nikon P1000 and used 3rd party dot sight , nikon dot sight is very expensive..

[@sidrambudake8416]

Very important information thanks😊

[@BIRDCHECKBRASIL]

very helpfull video, thank you James

[@CheikoSairin]

Thank you so much for the details explanation of this dot sights. You got 1 like from me. Have a nice day. GBU.

[@ameliac79]

Thank you so much for the detailed video. Can you explain the optimal setting on the camera when using dot sight for bird in flight photos? For example using larger focus area and which AF setting to use?

[@JamesTann]

Hi Amelia, The dot sight simply helps you point in the right direction or spot, it doesn't do anything with regards to your focus area or your camera setting per se. That's a skill you pick up using your camera instead.

[@Lee-hi3mg]

Thank you very much James for giving detailed description on how to use the dot sights. I would like to purchase one for my 600mm zoom lens, please can I have link to the China websites where I can purchase the dot sights ? Or how is it named after in chinese ? Thank you

[@JamesTann]

Try Aliexpress.com. Do a search for 'Dot sights"

[@Lee-hi3mg]

@@JamesTann thank you

[@anthonyang8731]

Hi James Tann ..Thanks for sharing . Can you direct me to the link to purchase the hot shoe mount for RDS. Thanks in advance.

[@JamesTann]

Here are some options from Aliexpress. www.aliexpress.com/wholesale?catId=0&initiative_id=SB_20220724235711&SearchText=red+dot+sight+hot+shoe+mount&spm=a2g0o.home.1000002.0

[@RodneyDorville]

Thank you for your video. My wife now has a new hobby and your dot sight explanations really help in locating the birds. Can yuo share the type of equipment used in birding?

[@JamesTann]

Hello Rodney, do you mean just the dot sight or equipment in general? For birding, a reasonable DSLR with a medium lens will suffice. Camera with an ASPC sensor will give you some extra reach without additional cost. A good tripod is a must to get that faraway bird.

[@BirdwatchTraveller]

Nice timing of this video. As I am calibrating my dot sight after watching your earlier video. Unfortunately my hot shoe mount has too much side play.

[@JamesTann]

Raymond, try inserting a small sliver of hard plastic at the hotshoe. Apparently the mount was designed to fit the smallest hotshoe, like Sony's, which is smaller than others. It fits my Sony hotshoe snuggly but has play on the Nikon.

[@JamesTann]

You can also try using a thin rubber washer to place under the screw of the adapter mount so that it will hold tightly to the hotshoe?

[@ocpocp23]

Thanks for the video, James. I also faced same problem on my Nikon D850. The dot sight cant lock in place and easily shift left and right when in use. Still trying to find a way to DIY a fix and not damage the hotshoe. 😄 The rubber washer may work but has to find a very thin one. Jamming a hard plastic may be a quick fix.

[@JamesTann]

@@ocpocp23 Raymond used a rubber washer and it worked well for him. Try using a thin silicon gasket the blue coloured type used in water taps which is abt 2mm.

[@ocpocp23]

@@JamesTann Bought the rubber gasket for water tap. Too thick, so i sliced it in half and manaaged to fit in between the adapter screw and hotshoe. So much better ☺. Thank you.

[@YAPYOONCHOONG-zg2ix]

Good evening James, I have problem alighting the dot sight I just bought (similar to the one you are using) with Nikon P950. Please advice on the following : 1) Should I look at the reticle with both eyes or only use the master eye to alight the dot sight? 2) Should I look directly behind the dot sight or at a distance when alighting the dot sight? Thank you!

[@JamesTann]

In reply to your query, I can say 1) you can use your left or right eye to calibrate your lens focus spot lens to the reticle. As long as the reticle falls on the same spot that your Autofocus spot falls on the subject, you are good to go. Make sure you adjust your camera to make the spot in the centre first. I don't have a master eye so I don't know what you are referring to, I only have a left and a right eye. 2) Again it doesn't matter how you look and from which angle or distance you look at the reticle. As long as you have done calibrating and as long as you can SEE the reticle, the reticle will be centred on the spot your lens was calibrated to autofocus at. The reticle will not move once you have set it to the spot your lens is pointing to. hopes this helps.

[@YAPYOONCHOONG-zg2ix]

@@JamesTann Thank you very much for answering to my question. I already successfully calibrated my dot sight. Thought out the calibrating process, I realized that the distance between the dot sight and the target that I chosen for calibration will affect the accuracy of the calibration. 1st time, I chose a target which is about 5 m away. After calibrated the dot sight, I found the picture I took with the dot sight and the view finder are different. After I recalibrate the dot sight with a target at a distance more that 20m away, than I can get a similar picture with both dot sight and view finder.

[@zhongyuwang8902]

thanks for your video! I still have one thing I don’t understand. If I look at the dotsight from different angle, the dot falls on different objects. How should I ensure it always falls on the object the camera is looking at?

[@JamesTann]

No, once you fixed the dot reticle position, it doesn't move from where you are pointing. (Assuming that your camera is stationery, of course). Even if you look from different angles, it is fixed to the same line of sight of your lens.

[@zhongyuwang8902]

@@JamesTann Thanks! I tested and it work as you said. I didn't know there are such kind of tech before.

[@pherozekeeka4072]

great video about dot sight. many thanks. Ali Express wont ship to U.K so is there another source for it? pk

[@JamesTann]

I ordered mine through Amazon US many years ago.

[@rustic-h5p]

Hi James, what kind of hotshoe adapter do you used for these red dot?

[@JamesTann]

It's a generic hotshoe adapter. Scroll down to the comments below and you'll be able to find links to the supplier.

[@dindoc840]

Thank you for the effort in making the videos, they were very helpful. When using the sight, do you find it to be more useful when tripod mounted or does it work just as well for handheld shots, especially for bird in flight photos?

[@JamesTann]

When using a very long lens like 600mm or 800mm, then a tripod with the sight is useful for quickly locating target but if being handheld it's better for birds in flight. That's my own practice anyway, others may a different opinion according to their preference. There's no hard and fast rules.

[@marianojedrzejewski7893]

Thank . Can it use in Nikon Body? Regards from Patagonia SouthAmerica

[@JamesTann]

Yes

[@ericchia1304]

hi James, thanks for the use information provided, just check with you, does the adaptor comes with dot sight ? or we do we need to buy separately ?

[@JamesTann]

When I bought mine a few years back, it came as a package, sight + adapter. But nowadays, I see that most are sold separately. But do look out for special deals on-line. The links I gave in the description is current but may be outdated in future.

[@eileencpa8979]

Thanks for the video instruction for dot sight. I bought this, but when I calibrate. The dot does not move much at all. Thus, I cannot lined up with camera focus point. What did I do wrong. Thanks in advance for your answer.

[@JamesTann]

I presume when you bought 'this', it's the same as the one I used in the demo. You should fit the dot sight to your hotshoe tightly first, then adjust the 2 hex screws . The one on top moves it up and down, while the one on the left side moves the reticle left or right. As the adjustment is in very small increments, you may not see any 'movements' in the reticle until you turn the screws a few rounds. If it still doesn't move, consider return to dealer for exchange?

[@eileencpa8979]

@@JamesTann Hi, Thanks for the reply. Yes I bout same one as the one you use. It's secured and tightened on my camera. As you said the adjustable increments is very small, but the distance between the dot in the sight and focus on my camera is big. There is no way to get closer. I returned and try EE-1 dot sight instead.

[@doglovers3883]

Dear All. Thanks for the nice video. I am asking for your suggestion which model of laser Dot Sight works well with Canon cameras. I have Canon 7D mark ii. Best Regards Dusan from Sweden Im working with Pet Photography

[@JamesTann]

Any dot sight will work with any DSLR camera. But if you wish to use a more 'photographic model', then Nikon, Olympus and Leica makes dot sights specifically for cameras. These camera dot sight will work with ANY camera brand, e.g. your Canon 7D MkII. All other dot sights made for rifles will need a camera hotshoe adapter to mount the dot sight.

[@WildExposures]

Do I need to wear a mask to do this?

[@OracleTestlab]

Is the dot sight useful for hand held shooting?

[@JamesTann]

It all depends actually when you say 'useful'. If you are using it handheld to shoot birds in flight then it's a yes but remember, the dot sight is basically a device to assist you in locating and pointing to a target. It's more 'useful' when its attached to a camera with a long super telephoto lens because if the long distance and the size of the target, it helps to point your lens to the proper spot. Handholding a long super telephoto like 600mm is not really practical with a dot sight though. Watch my other video for an understanding of how to use a dot sight. at this link:-kzbin.info/www/bejne/pKq1cqt_ZbBqrrc

[@annemarieleone6394]

James thanks for the video. Question I didnt see in video or comments.. Do you find it works in all AF modes once calibrated (wide, zone, spot, center….) ? I too have a Sony and was wondering for bird eye AF- I have the 600 and this will help me not hunt so much.

[@JamesTann]

Hello Anne Marie, the dot sight is only an aid to help you quickly POINT your lens to a certain spot. It does not do anything with your auto focus which you need to manually acquire the target as the photographer.

[@annemarieleone6394]

@@JamesTann Thank you for answering so quickly. I understand concept and cant wait to try out, but let me apologize for my poor wording. I asked question poorly. When you calibrated and used the dot sight did you find it more accurate in use one of the AF modes vs others. I ask because sometimes as you and I know with Sony and some settings it will AF on a branch and not looking through Viewfinder you wont see focus points.box. Hopefully I am now making sense and my question is more clear.

[@felixifloresrodriquez3306]

Do you use the 20mm or the. 11mm? Thanks

[@JamesTann]

20mm

[@Methodical2]

Which sight are you using 11mm or 20mm? Thanks...

[@travelbugs4280]

Hi James, what if I put an extender? Do I calibrate to the extender range?

[@JamesTann]

Yes

[@travelbugs4280]

@@JamesTann thanks 🙏

[@kennethcheong4498]

Hello James, I have a problem with the dot sight or rather the mounting rail, because it is very easy to knock it and it will become misaligned. Do you have any tips to help secure it?

[@JamesTann]

I have this problem too so I use a thin rubber washer place between the dot sight foot and the hot shoe. Seems it fits only the smaller Sony hotshoe snuggly!.

[@kennethcheong4498]

@@JamesTann Thanks!

[@goondulim723]

Sorry, just wanted to check do we have to turn off or on the vr when mounting on the tripod for calibration?

[@JamesTann]

For calibration, it doesn't matter if VR is on of off. Remember the dot sight is just a tool to help you point in the right direction or right spot. Depending on the photographer, some turn off VR on their lens when they mount their long lens on tripods anyway, but some don't.

[@goondulim723]

@@JamesTann noted, thanks for the reply, stay safe and happy birding cheers.

[@NickRno77]

To me it looks like the adapter is an arca swiss mount, I am correct? If not can you tell me where I can get one. Thanks

[@JamesTann]

No it's not an arca swiss mount. It's a picatinny rifle mount to a flash hotshoe adapter. You can find them online.

[@rodneyerdahl5786]

Thank you😂

[@lokeshbangalore6489]

Sir could you please share a direct link to dot Sight product. I couldn’t find the right one on aliexpress. Thank you.

[@JamesTann]

www.aliexpress.com/wholesale?catId=0&initiative_id=SB_20211103003046&SearchText=red+dot+sights

[@adityagea]

Can’t find pikatini adapter😓

[@JamesTann]

It's not a usual item you can find in the photo stores or gunshops. Your best bet is to get it online. Do a search for "picatinny hotshoe adapter" from sites like amazon, aliexpress, lazada. I just did a search and they are all available from these online stores.

[@hautehussey]

I’m wondering what people gain by using the more expensive ones. I know someone using a camera with a $300 one.

[@JamesTann]

ha ha. maybe they wanna look good? Actually a simple DIY wire frame can do just as well! That was how old sports photographers using their clunky film cameras tracked their fast moving subjects in the past.