Product Description

This tremendously versatile 8x22 compact binocular with it's integrated 640x480 resolution digital camera is perfect for anyone who wants to view all the action up-close, and capture it digitally as well. The built-in digital camera captures what you see in the 8-power view of the binocular.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #6457 in Camera & Photo
• Brand: Meade
• Model: 8x22 VGA
• Dimensions: 2.00" h x 4.00" w x 5.00" l, 7.00 pounds

Features

• Binocular and digital camera combo
• Binocular features include rubber armor coating, internal baffles, smooth central focusing, and coated optics
• Digital camera features include 8 MB of memory
• Two capture settings--low (320 x 240 pixels) and high (640 x 480 pixels)
• Comes complete with editing software, carrying case, neck strap, and USB cable

Amazon.com Product Description
Camera and binoculars in one: This tremendously versatile 8x22 compact binocular with its integrated 640x480 resolution digital camera is perfect for anyone who wants to view all the action up-close, and capture it digitally as well. The built-in digital camera captures what you see in the 8-power view of the binocular.

Features include:

• Fully coated optics.
• 8MB of internal memory.
• Optimum imaging range from 49' to infinity.
• Capture up to 40 images at the full .3 megapixel resolution. More images can be stored at the lower resolution setting.
• Standard equipment includes: USB cable; carry case; neck strap; cleaning cloth; complete instructions; CD-ROM with image-editing and archiving software.

FAQs

1. What can I view with my CaptureView Binoculars?
   

   USB port for easy PC connectivity

   Use your CaptureView Binoculars for Sporting Events, Bird-watching, Public Events, viewing wildlife. Anything you would use a standard pair of binoculars for, the CaptureView will see and give you the added advantage of capturing the image.

2. Can I take pictures in cold weather?
   Your CaptureView Binocular is rated to be used from 41F - 104F (5 to 40C), 20%-85% relative humidity, non-condensing. Using your camera in below freezing tempertures may not allow the camera to function normally,
   and may cause the batteries to lose their charge more quickly.

3. Can I use other programs to manipulate my images? Can I use them to download images from my Camera?
   You can use your other photo imaging programs to manipulate your images. The CaptureView binoculars will have no trouble downloading images to other software.

4. How do I focus the Camera?
   The camera will be in focus no matter whether the image is in or out of focus for your eyes. The range for the CaptureView binoculars is from 49 feet to Infinity for photography. The Binoculars will focus on objects 16.4 feet away, but for effective use of the camera, take pictures of objects from 49 feet to Infinity.

5. How many images will it hold?
   The CaptureView 8x22 Digital Camera Binocular will hold up to 40 high resolution images on the VHI resolution mode (640x480). The CaptureView will hold 100 images on the LO resolution mode (320x240).

The Nuts and Bolts

Diopter Knob (on underside) Center Focus Knob Objective Lens Power/ModeButton Shutter/Select Button USB Port Eyepiece Camera Lens LCD Screen Battery Compartment Lid Barrel

Customer Reviews

Capture Views: Some good photos, most mediocre
We bought the Meade Capture View today at Radio Shack for $119. We plan to return it. Out of a dozen test pictures, two were excellent, the rest mediocre. Pictures in bright sunlight and medium distance were better than the rest. The software and hookup to the computer worked well. We got some neat pictures of some wild turkeys passing through our yard.

The unsurmountable problem is in the design. You have to keep the two AAA batteries installed to take pictures and to preserve what's in the memory. But if you leave the batteries in, as warned in the instructions, the batteries will run down and you will lose the pictures! So between uses, aand after transfering the pictures to a computer, it's best to disable the batteries. We did it with a piece of tape on the plus terminal.

So, you can't take the dealy on a vacation, unless you have access to a computer to download the images, or you risk the photos disappearing as the battery runs down, or you run out of room in the small. volatile memory to store images. We think this is a serious restriction.

The optical quality of the binocular part was good considering the price. (The camera uses separate optics.)

Shame on Meade...
Thank goodness I [paid less], although I don't like throwing away any amount of money. Oh Capture View, how do I dislike thee? Let me count the ways:

1. Binocs cannot be adjusted for someone like me with fairly close eye spacing--camera is in the way, so I cannot fuse left/right images. Duh!!

2. The on/off/shutter buttons are prominent and thus easy to accidentally press...of course this is why the [people] who designed this thing have it automatically shut off after 10 seconds of idling (unbelievable!!). This latter attractive behavior is not (that I could find) mentioned in the instructions.

3. The quality of the pics at "hi-res" is terrible---the product is just [not good] in this regard. Even resting on a support to prevent motion the pics are of such lousy clarity that they are practically useless. My regular digicam at 640/480 produces vastly better images. In fact, holding my digicam up against the eyepiece of my regular binocs and shooting thru the binocs gives much better pics than the Meade pics. This is my big disappointment with the device...I had hoped to get nice hawk pics, but I see it is virtually useless for a subject with any detail at all.

4. The need to reboot the computer after disconnecting the camera, before re-connecting it. Huh?? This makes the USB hot-swap feature useless.

Oh well...whaddaya want for [money]?? My sincerest condolences to those who wasted [more than] that.

Shame on Meade for putting their name on this piece of... And shame on them for absurdly hyping it in their ad copy.

For what it is, and the price, it's a fun combo.
Okay, I've read the other reviews. Luckily, I just got one from my wife for Christmas BEFORE I read the reviews, or I'd have been skeptical. However, I really like it. The optics are better than my Bushnell 8x22; clearer and brighter. And, the photos are pretty good for a low-cost digital camera. But, since it's essentially an 8 power lens (equivalent to 400mm), if the unit is not properly braced, the photos will (quite naturally) be blurry. Heck, my 35mm with a 300 telephoto would yield pretty lousy shots if not properly braced! Actually, my only complaint is that Meade did not include a camera mount adapter. The use of a small tripod would eliminate the blur caused by an unsteady grip. This can be corrected - as I have already done - by sticking a small square of velcro on the underside of the binoculars (actually the battery compartment door), and sicking the other piece of velcro on the camera mount (such as my pocket-size tripod/car window mount). Problem of blur solved!
If you want better optics in a compact binocular, or a better quality digital camera, expect to pay a good deal more than the cost of the Meade Capture View. But for a good, lightweight (7.1 oz) pocket-size (4.5 x 3.5 x 2.2") binocular with the very cool feature of being able to take a snapshot at the touch of a button, it's a good deal.
Recommended close focus is a minimum 16', and at this distance, I got a acceptably sharp portrait of my cat. At 150' (with tripod!) I got a surprizingly good shot of a cardinal. In high-resolution mode, the camera's 8MB can store up to 45 640x480 photos. The 10 second timer is also a nice feature. Images can be downloaded via included USB cable (CD with installation and image editing software included). Individual images or the entire bank can be cleared with the touch of a button.
Overall, I'm very happy with my Capture View. It'll be in my pocket every time we go hiking or fishing come summer!