How Camera Binoculars Work, At Least How They Should Work
Binoculars With Camera
Digital camera binoculars are exactly what they sound like, a pair of binoculars with a digital camera included.
When your digital camera or phone just can't get close enough, these binoculars with camera should allow you to take a photograph of exactly what you see through them. But do they?
The idea is good but, I'm not sure if the $200.00 range or less you'll be able to find something you want.
How Digital Camera Binoculars Work
Digital Camera binoculars work by taking photographs using a built-in digital camera of the magnified image you can see when you look through your binoculars.
All you have to do is aim and focus your binoculars on the object you are looking at, press a button, and the camera on the binoculars automatically records the image.
Once you have captured the image from your binoculars camera you can then download and print your photographs from your computer.
The quality of the photographs or short videos that you take with your camera binoculars will depend on the quality of the digital camera that is built into your binoculars.
By using the magnification that is available with binoculars whether it's 7X, 8X, or even 10X, you will get much better pictures than digital cameras alone offer.
Most digital camera binoculars also offer an instant replay feature that will allow users to save the last 5 to 60 seconds of the video.
Terminology Used in Camera Binoculars
- The two numbers in the name refer only to the binoculars and are the magnification and the aperture numbers.
- Eye relief is expressed in millimeters and refers to the distance between your eye and the lens of the binoculars. This is crucial for anyone who wears glasses. The best of these will use Bak-4 prism glass and fully multicoated lenses.
- The camera part will have its specification and these will include megapixels or the resolution available. The higher the resolution the better your photographs will be.
- Instant replay video is a feature for these types and will allow the user to save the last 5 to 60 seconds of whatever they are viewing.
- Some of the more expensive camera binoculars are now offering night vision options.
Important Features When Choosing Binoculars with Camera
If you want to buy the best binoculars, there are several important features that you should look out for. These include:
- Instant replay
- A memory expansion slot
- A tripod adapter - this is useful for preventing shaking and blurred pictures
- Look for the best magnification and check the closest focus offered by the camera.
- Choose optical zoom rather than digital zoom
- Choose Bak-4 prism rather than Bak-7 glass.
- Fully multicoated lenses are better than multicoated lenses Look for eye relief of 15mm or more
- Battery Life can be short, do some research
What Models Are The Best?
We've found no inexpensive brands that we could recommend. Plan on spending a few hundred dollars.
The only one we feel comfortable having you check out is the ATN Day-Night Binoculars We are not affiliated with this company and make nothing should you purchase their products.
These camera binoculars would be for serious folks and hunters and not so much for children or the average birdwatcher.
On a personal note, I use a pair of Nikon 8245 ACULON A211 8x42 binoculars for viewing and a COOLPIX P900 Camera for photographing when out birdwatching.
