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Nature Photography & Optics

What are the best binoculars with camera

13 years ago

Hello-I just recently discovered they make binoculars with cameras in them!!!...now which one to choose. :-) Would love opinions on which one to buy or not to buy. I found the following listed on internet, thinking of buying but would love to get feedback from those who have used ANY binoculars with cameras in them. Thank you very much!

Bushnell Image View 10x25 Binoculars w/VGA Camera SD Slot

Sale Price: $71.98

List Price: $108.95

Comments (2)

lazypup
12 years ago
I have had opportunity to use three different models of binoculars with built in cameras and from my experience it is true that they take a picture, but the quality of the pictures range somewhere between poor and useless. In most cases you can barely print the photos larger than 4x6.

In my humble opinion you would be much better served by purchasing an inexpensive "Point & shoot" digital camera that has a 10x to 20x optical zoom lens.

Nikon, Canon, Pentax & Kodak all offer some really nice "point& shoot" digitals with 10x to 25x optical zoom lenses that start out at about $120. Those cameras are very user friendly and they will produce an image quality that you could easily blow up to qualtiy 8x10 prints.
jemdandy
12 years ago
I think that a 10 x 25 binocular would be useless for photography - not enough light gathering power and the tele power is fixed at 10 times. The poster above recommended an low cost camera with an optical zoom lens. I agree with that recomendation.

10 x 25 => 10 power by 25 mm diameter objective lens. An officer's binocular is about 8 x 50. Its brightness is roungly 50/8 or a little over 6. Use "6" as a standard for comparison. The 10x25 brightness is 25/10 or 2.5. This thing is dim. Furthermore, you won't be able to hand hold a shot at 10x magnification. A very stiff tripod is needed to steady the shot. Also, the fastest shutter speed you can get is needed. The low light of the 10 x 25 binocular will not provide a fast shutter speed.

A good camera with zoom provides much more light gathering power measured by its f/stop number; The lower the number, the greater its light gathering power. A zoom lens should be marked with two f/stop ratings, for example f/2.8 - f/5.8. The largest ratio, f/2.8 is the opening at the lowest end of the zoom range and the smaller ratio, f/5.8, would be the opening at the high end of the zoom range. Look at the Canon Power Shot series. These cameras have some of the widest openings at full zoom. However some other brands have sensors with better dynamic range of exposure.
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You might enjoy a tripod, if there's a screw hole in the bottom of the 'nocs, it's for attaching the thing that attaches to the tripod, I think that's fairly universal. I got mine in the mid-90's but it was only $10. It has adjustments I didn't even know until DH showed me, and it leg sections and a periscope thing so it can get tall enough that he doesn't have to stoop to use it. Then folds up in seconds to like 16" long, weighs less than a pound I think. But anyway, that would put the 'nocs in a stable location, as close to your head as you feel like, like using a telescope which comes with its' own tripod. The more you do whatever-it-is that you do (besides jerky sudden movements,) the more the hummers will get used to you and come closer/around more. DH is at work all day, so they don't see him as often. When he sets up to take some pics, he usually has to wait and only believes me about their numbers and activities from watching out the window. They just don't act like that when he's out there. But when I'm on the porch alone, it's like grand central station, they zip in/out, chasing each other, sampling the blooms, and hitting this feeder, whether I'm sitting down or watering plants, as long as I'm moving sloth-like. (This feeder with a perch is very popular, and we get a good close-up view of perched ones often. If DH had taken this pic, it would be clear, sorry, it was me.)
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Depends on how much you can spend. I have limited experience with different brands and price ranges. The ones I do have experience with fall in the $250-$300 range. I use Leupold Cascade 8x42. I have heard great things about Nikon Monarch 5 8x42. If I gave advice, it would be to stick with 8x or 7x magnification for birding. I would also look at online birding-related binocular reviews. That might help you find the best pair for your price range.
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Luc, no problem. That is what we post here for, to give our ideas and opinions. It is just my opinion from my experiences. Your point needs to be posted also so that both sides can be read and a decision made from all of the given info. ie. Bird watching, a zoom comes in very handy since it can be very difficult to find a small bird in a large area. Your field of view is greater in low power. Once you spot your target, then you can zoom in for a closer look, but as I said before, if it is in low light, such as early morning or late evening, then on full zoom, the image in the binoculars will be darkened. For binoculars up to 28 power, I have never needed a tripod, although it would help stabilize the image, but it is definitely not necessary. Again, as you know, a zoom with a large objective, will give you the best lighting when used on full zoom, but this adds to the weight of the binoculars, which you said would not be a problem. Personally, I would not buy another pair of binoculars that were not zoom. A fixed lens binocular is good for sporting events, etc, where the point of focus is always at a similar distance, and if you know what that distance will be before you go, then you can bring the correct power binoculars, but if your targets are close one moment and then far the next moment, then a zoom gives you the ability adjust to the changing distance. A 10-22x50 zoom binocular can be used just as a regular fixed lens binocular with a 12x50 lens. Simply set it on 12 power. It will have a 50mm objective just as the regular 12x50 binocular, plus the ability to zoom in for a closer look and better details. I hope this helps explain my point, and yes, it is only my opinion. Good Luck Kt
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