With the invention of digital cameras, a single optic which fuses the functions of binoculars and a digital camera has been long waiting to happen. A feature that allows users to record what they are seeing through their binoculars is truly a great advancement in technology. Imagine watching birds or wild bucks and being able to preserve the view you are seeing with just a touch of a button, this idea is indeed phenomenal and conveniently ideal for every binocular aficionado. Although not too many people bother with this particular advancement, it is never too late to try and experience digital camera binoculars.
Recent models of digital cameras have two means in framing subjects and recording them as digital images. It can be through viewfinder system or through digital single-lens reflex (DSLR) system. Viewfinder is a very plain design commonly used by small point-and-shoot cameras. It is the small window, usually situated on top of the lens, where the user looks through in order to determine the frame when taking pictures. The image viewed through the window is not affected by the changes done in focusing or zooming the pictures. It is merely a guide to determine the boundary of the image to be captured. That is why most users prefer using the digital screen located on the back of the camera as their guide. It shows a real-time image that was performed with zooming and focusing. On the other hand, DSLR offers users more power over their cameras’ control. With the use of a mirror, this system reflects the image seen through the lens to the viewer’s eyes, including real-time adjustments. This explains why professional photographers and more serious recreationists trust DSLR cameras for photographic purposes and activities.
The integration of digital cameras and binoculars would practically use a design similar to a DSLR system. The image seen through the ocular lens of the binoculars would be the same view the camera would record. But because of the intricacy of the design and the cost to be incurred in the manufacture and development, such product with a DSLR system design is never released to the market. Hence, digital camera binoculars use a point-and-shoot system for their mechanism.
Even if this kind of design lacks some features, it succeeds in achieving what the digital camera binoculars are made for — recording into a digital image the subject seen through binoculars. It means the subject’s recorded digital image is not automatically the same with what the image seen through the eyepiece. For an instance, a device’s binocular components could offer a magnification of 10x but its camera only has a magnification of 8x, therefore, the output image may become different from what the user has actually seen.
One more consideration in choosing digital camera binoculars is the pixel density. Not all point-and-shoot cameras have the capability of magnifying up to 10x, some models are still using a combination of small sensor and low pixel density which produces images that are just only a little better than those produced by mobile phone cameras. Pixel densities below one megapixel are almost useless if used in digital camera binoculars, perhaps even for regular cameras.
As in any digital recording product, memory is of great value. Unlike most point-and-shoot cameras that have been using interchangeable memory cards for a while now, it only just recently that other types have employed the same for their memory storage. Mobile phone cameras have started using Micro SD cards, permitting their users to expand the devices’ memory. Luckily, the same progress is happening to digital camera binoculars. It is has been expected before that SD card slots will become available in upcoming models, allowing users to record more images than the devices’ usual capacity. But it is important that users also inquire about the size limitation of SD card allowed for their device. While some point-and-shoot cameras can allow the use of 8-gigabyte cards, majority of digital camera binoculars is limited to only 1-gigabyte capacity.
With regard to brands that sell digital camera binoculars, there are three known brands from which users can choose: Celeston, Barska, and Bushnell. Celestron has three models of digital camera binoculars. The most basic is the VistaPix 8×22 model. The other two models, VistaPix 8x32mm, 2.0 megapixel and VistaPix 8x32mm, 3.0 megapixel, both have SD card slots, and still image and video recording feature. The only difference, aside from pixel density, is the 3.0mp model has a flip-up LCD screen which allows users to review the recorded videos and images in the camera.
Barska offers its 8x22mm Point N View model and 10x25mm VGA Binocam model, both lack the SD card expansion and flip-up LCD screen. It also has a more competitive digital camera binocular model, the 8x32mm Point N View, 5.0mp model which has a flip-up LCD screen and an SD card slot expansion.
Bushnell, on the other hand, has five digital camera binocular models, which makes them the company with the widest selection of this device. There are four models in their Imageview line: a 10x25mm model, a 10x25mm model with an inset LCD screen, an 8x30mm, 2.1mp model, and an 8×30, 3.0mp model with a flip-up LCD screen. The Imageview line offers an SD card expansion slot and video and still image recording feature. All its models, including the 10x binocular magnification models, have 8x magnification digital cameras. While their Imageview line has four models, their Instant Replay line only has one —the Instant Replay 8x30mm, 5.0mp model. This model also has an SD card expansion slot and the company’s trademark SyncFocus™ system. Not only it is Bushnell’s top product for this category but it is also considered by many as the best digital camera binoculars available in the marketplace.
Since there has been a lot a progress made by manufacturers to increase their products’ features (magnification, pixel density, size and resolution of LCD screens), and digital cameras costing just around $200.00, it would be a healthy competition between the manufacturers to develop and to integrate these developments into their products. While some say that digital camera binoculars are soon to be obsolete, and point-and-shoot cameras would be the trend, it is still not a reason to let pass the opportunity of owning a unit which have both the binoculars’ and digital cameras’ systems. Digital camera binoculars are still worth the fun and the investment.
