Summary
The Bushnell Instant Replay and Compact Instant Replay, the Celestron VistaPix and the Meade CaptureView CV-4 are the latest entrants in the hybrid gadget market. They are binoculars with built-in digital cameras that cost around $160 to $425. However, much is still to be desired when it comes to picture quality. Resolution is currently at low 2 or 3 megapixels.
Original source:
http://www.nytimes.com/2005/03/24/technology/circuits/24stat.html?
Details
WHY do bird-watchers get up so early?
And once you've seen it, nobody else ever will.
Or at least that's how it used to be, before the invention of binoculars with built-in digital cameras.
The appeal to bird-watchers should be obvious: not only can you prove your sightings, but you can also bring home photos or digital movies in search of second opinions or comparisons with your stack of field guides.
You should be warned, though, that the majority of digital binocs sold through catalogs in the $50 to $80 range are no-name models that take camera-phone-quality 640-by-480-pixel photos.
The four models they submitted for review -- the Bushnell Instant Replay and Compact Instant Replay, the Celestron VistaPix and the Meade CaptureView CV-4 -- are excellent binoculars in the $160 to $425 range.
As for the digital photo part -- well, you get the distinct impression that these sporting equipment companies are still a little new at the game.
A lot of typical digital camera features are missing, too, including optical zoom, rechargeable batteries and flash (not that a flash would be useful at 100 feet).
All four models feature a tiny (1.5 inches) liquid-crystal display screen that lets you frame and play back your photos, but the Meade's screen is the only one that doesn't pop up.
It has separate, dedicated Photo and Movie buttons, which is more important than you might imagine; as the rare red-flanked bluetail alights on a fence post, the last thing you want to do is waste time burrowing into the menus to switch from movie mode to photo mode.
Too bad you have to burrow into a menu to switch from movie to photo mode, but at least the menus are big, bold and easy to navigate.
And the price -- $220 from stores like cabelas.com -- is right.
About the author: Mike Adams is a natural health author and award-winning journalist with a passion for sharing empowering information to help improve personal and planetary health He is a prolific writer and has published thousands of articles, interviews, reports and consumer guides, and he has published numerous courses on preparedness and survival, including financial preparedness, emergency food supplies, urban survival and tactical self-defense. Adams is an honest, independent journalist and accepts no money or commissions on the third-party products he writes about or the companies he promotes. In 2010, Adams created TV.NaturalNews.com, a natural living video sharing site featuring thousands of user videos on foods, fitness, green living and more. He also founded an environmentally-friendly online retailer called BetterLifeGoods.com that uses retail profits to help support consumer advocacy programs. He's also a noted pioneer in the email marketing software industry, having been the first to launch an HTML email newsletter technology that has grown to become a standard in the industry. Adams also serves as the executive director of the Consumer Wellness Center, a non-profit consumer protection group, and enjoys outdoor activities, nature photography, Pilates and martial arts training. Known on the 'net as 'the Health Ranger,' Adams shares his ethics, mission statements and personal health statistics at www.HealthRanger.org
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Wednesday, April 06, 2005
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