MAGVIEW Digiscoping S1 Spotting Scope Universal Phone Adapter

Others will gripe about this product, with some reason. I like flexibility. Some digiscope systems prioritize the scope, others the phone. Thankfully, some solutions are more flexible. There are so many poor lens covers on good scopes. Stack good digiscoping capabilities on top of the lens cover. Win, win. Magview is not phone or spotting scope specific? That cinces it for me. I have two of these on different lenses that rotate between scopes. A new scope will soon join the fold. I may or may not keep it, but no problem with this system. My only complaint is that there is a gap between my phone's lens and the lens eyepiece. If your scope has a lens with a wide enough FOV, or if your phone has an optical zoom, no problem. Otherwise, you are using a digital zoom and might have less-than-great picture-taking results.

After much research, I bought the Magview S1 for my Vortex Viper 20x60x85 spotting scope to use with my Samsung 24 Ultra. Following the steo by step video instructions on the Magview app, It took me about 5 minutes to install. Once installed, I went outside to test it. Initially I used the Magview app that I had installed on my phone since I thought it would be easier to line up and the app disables the unused camera lens and just uses the 2nd one down. It certainly was east to align. It took me about 3 seconds to align the phone with the eyepiece. After alignment, I zoomed into 60x magnification and set the app to timer. There was a little camera shake which I attribute to my tripod but I was quite pleased with the result. I then zoomed out to 20x magnification and zoomed my camera in a little. The results were great. I then switched over to taking phones just using my phone's camera app and was happy with the results. After numerous tests, I removed the phone and looked through the scope to ensure that the S1 would not hinder viewing with my eyes through the scope. It was fine. The only negative I found was after I finishing all my tests. when I put the scope away I found that the neoprene cover to the eyepiece was difficult to slide over the eyepiece. Having said that, the fact the the S1 protects the eyepiece when closed the neoprene cover becomes obsolete. My fears of a weak magnet causing an unstable product, a magnet so strong that I wouldn't be able to adjust the phone, or something too heavy are unfounded. As an aside, since I didn't want the metal plate attached to my phone case, I decided to purchase a cheaper case for my phone to use exclusively when I'm in the field or on travel.

A tad expensive, but I get why. Machining and detail is superb. The app, tho simple, does what it's supposed to do, which for me is an aid in alignment. Plus, it puts some handy camera functions right in front of you. My ONLY negative is the inability to put my scope in its carrying case, which is form fitted from the objective barrel to the viewfinder. With the S1 attached, I can't fully zip up the case. But, it's obvious why it has to be that way. A quick improvement would be a some suggestions on using it via the same online video that takes a user through the installation. If your eye relief view finder is lose, the weight of the S1 will decide the positioning whether you like it or not. But... those minor nits revealed, this is an awesome product that any digiscoper will totally appreciate.

The good. Works really well, keeps your phone solid for the pictures and videos. The bad. When the cap is opened I can’t adjust the eyepiece to change the field of view because when I let go the weight of the magnet adjusts the field of view clockwise until it stops. The other thing is the price point, it is a great product but they price it too high for what it is.

I like this thing. Good product and works very well. Easy setup no clamps to fuss with. Just drop it on mount and go.