Does this have any merit at all? Using a telephoto lens, camera, and tripod with some ability to instantly transfer video and stills to an iPad and using the images in place of staring through the eye piece of a spoting scope?

One real advantage I see is the ability to review images on animals that have passed out of sight.

There are many photographers that use "tethering" software to connect a lap top to their camera. I haven't ever used this or seen it operated, but it's not that rare, mostly used in studios. I think you need the processing power of a laptop, which an iPad may not have, but there are small and powerful laptops.

The idea of tethering goes beyond just viewing, you actually control all the camera's functions from the computer, with the advantage of a large screen to view adjustments.

Here are some software options:

https://www.tethertools.com/tethering-software/

This one is relatively cheap:

http://www.controlmynikon.com

You can use your iPad to view pictures taken, if you use an Eye-fi memory card, but I don't think you can control the camera or use continuous viewing with the camera's Live View function. See this:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3BrxFrYjZm8


It seems there's a big "tethering" world out there.