Can I use a Nikon fieldscope instead of a supertelephoto lens? Colin Inkster, New Zealand

Chris says… You can: Nikon makes adaptors for this. Scopes may be cheaper than big telephoto lenses, but are still expensive – Nikon’s EDG 85 VR, for example, costs around £3200/$6000, and you’ll need the Nikon FSA-L2 adaptor too.

Fieldscopes lack any sort of autofocus. This will likely restrict you to static subjects, and for accuracy you’ll probably need to use Live View to manually focus.

Scopes are also made for the eye, not a flat sensor. Our eyes can rove across a frame and allow for softness colour fringes and curvature in a way sensors can’t.