Integrated Binocular & Digital Camera $99

[CowboysWay]

Meade "CaptureView" Integrated Binocular & Digital Camera

link

 

[Omer]

can't seem to find much info about this, but I don't think $99 is that great a price.

from their press release :
"CaptureView(TM) combines a full-function 8X22 folding-roof prism binocular
with an integrated digital camera capable of storing up to forty 640X480
resolution pictures (as well as hundreds at a lower resolution). Utilizing
software provided with the product, a user can download the images to a PC
to be printed or e-mailed. According to Brent Blaine, Vice President of
Sports Optics at Meade Instruments, CaptureView(TM) will be available in
spring 2002 and is expected to sell for approximately $100 at retail. "

but the concept is a good one. anybody have experience with this ?

 

[Souka]

Heh... I know some college guys will jump on this.....

 

[tedinde1]

Not a very high resolution either. I guess it takes the magnafied picture. Imagine trying to hold it steady enough for a clear shot.

 

[Bluefront]

My local RS has some of these. I got to play around with one and read the manual. It does use a separate telephoto lens in the middle for the camera, so what you see thru the binocular is not exactly what the camera lens sees. And it really is difficult to hold the thing steady enough for a good picture. It takes 40 photos in it's high-res mode. That's a max 200k photo, not very good for any enlarging. It uses 2 AAA batteries, and the manual says you lose the pictures if the batteries go dead. Strange. It is a really small package and could be very useful. The manual said the focus range (it's fixed) is 50' to infinity, so don't expect good pictures of close objects. No XP drivers included, but you can download some off their website. I didn't get one, but I'm thinking about it.

 

[Fritzo]

From what I've read, this is a new product. It's aimed at bird watchers and such that want to take a quick snapshot fo whatever they're looking at. It's a first generation product, so I'm sure they'll make it better in later models.