Phone Scope Rifle Adaptor

These days, it seems to be that digiscoping is all the craze, which is the ability to adapt your camera or phone to take pictures in real time, or even stream live video of what you are shooting at or hunting through your opticss. And many are the bolt-on systems that allow you to do it. New, is Skoped Vision’s Phone Skope adaptor (don’t blame me for the spelling)! Probably the most popular device is some form of mobile, as they now have sophisticated yet simple camera systems on board.

Lay along side

The Phone Skope adaptor consists of the following units: the glass housing, which has a mirror inside that turns the view through 90, so that it can be picked up by the phone’s camera, but also allows you to see through and aim the scope in the normal manner. Attached to this by an adjustable bar is the ratchet and strap that securely fi xes the unit to the eyepiece bell and also allows a degree of adjustment, so that you can centre everything. At the rear, is a concertina eye boot; the fi nal part is the C3 adaptor that allows you to fi t the correct case to hold and position your particular phone. The case is sold separately for obvious reasons, I’ve included a list of manufactures at the end.

The C3 adaptor has a round, interrupted, 3-lug locking plate that allows the phone/ case to be fi tted and removed quickly and easily. In use, the phone lies fl at at 45⁰ up along the right of the scope with the charging port facing forwards. In this position, if using a bolt-action rifl e, the bolt lever does not foul the assembly. Plus, you can adjust the height of the C3 to get a clear image edge to edge.

Fitting

The phone snaps into the case with the camera lens positioned top right (in the case of my iPhone 7 Plus) and the screen outwards. Slide on the ratchet strap/glass housing assembly (already connected) and butt up the rim of the eyepiece to the housing, then, using the large lever, ratchet it on tight. There’s also a quick release catch for fast removal. In use, this gives a rigid connection, which is essential. Looking through the adaptor, you should see the cross hair centralised; if not, lift up the strap and remove the Allen key and slacken off the lock screw on the arm of the glass housing to realign it. With the eye boot fi tted, I could not see the periphery of the lens and found it better when it was removed.

Finally, position the phone case at 45⁰ to the C3 adaptor, to mate the lugs then rotate it forward to engage, there’s a small locking screw that keeps everything snug. Skoped Vison also provides a fl exible, polymer safety net that slips over the phone/case to stop it falling out under recoil effect. They also go on to state: “Use Skoped Vision at your own risk, we’ve tested on 223/556 NATO calibres, but are not liable for any injury to you or damage to your electronic devices, optics or fi rearms!” Make of that what you will!

Download the app

Like anything to do with modern phones, you have to download the app. So, go to either the Apple App or Google Play stores and get the ‘Phone Skope Camera’ app. When launched, it asks what device you are using spotter/binos or rifl e scope and you just click on to it. The user interface shows as a black screen with the ‘through the scope’ image with reticle in the middle. The ret will at fi rst be at 45⁰; so, use the rotation slider on the left to bring it level, then the UP/DOWN arrows to fi ne tune it. On phones with two cameras, like my 7 Plus, you can select between wide angle and telephoto by touching the lens icon at the top.

On the right, there are two more sliders – left brightness and right – focus, lower right is a gear wheel icon for camera resolution settings, to adjust video resolution and photo quality. Lower/left camera mode choose between time-lapse, 4K video and slow motion options. The record/camera button is in red and in the middle at the bottom of the screen. Finally, top left and right you get ‘save and open pre-set’; here, you adjust the screen/view as to reticle orientation, brightness focus etc. then save it. Then, when you turn off and return to the camera later, press ‘open’ to return to your settings, you can also apply more than one if for example you wish to move the Phone Skope to another optic or rifl e.

Side view

The system is easy to mount; the oddest thing is the fact that you have to look at the screen to set up the parameters you require. I’d recommend you place the rifl e (supported) on a bag or bipod and aim at a known point then leaving it, view the screen to adjust settings. It’s not heavy and the way the phone lays along the bore of the scope certainly helps. However, it’s a bit bulky and thought needs to be given as to how the bolt handle sits when it’s up/ open, as to operation and clearance. In use, operating the stills camera is awkward, as you have to sight through the scope then press the shutter button, which you can’t see; video is easier, as you can press then sight on the target as you shoot. Skoped Vision offer a number of accessories: dust caps, battery bank and a Bluetooth remote, this last option would seem a good idea for more instinctive operation and stability that doesn’t make you break your shooting position. Picture quality is as good as your phone camera and ability to hold it all still.

Phone brands covered: Apple, Blackberry, Google, HTC, Kyocera, LG, Motorola, Nexus, Samsung, Universal, plus ‘build your own’ with an adaptor that is bonded to your phone case around the camera lens.