Find out why we say 'pass' on this $200 digital camera/binoculars duo.

Bird watchers, sports fanatics, and Peeping Toms would wither and die without a pair of good binoculars. Add a digital camera to the mix and you've got a four-eyes' dream.

Meade's CaptureView binoculars pack a digital camera, letting users capture images of far-away subjects such as macaws, outfielders, or, well... you know. While the latest CaptureView employs a better 2-megapixel CMOS (complimentary metal-oxide semiconductor) sensor, most photo enthusiasts will be turned off by poor image quality.

Binoculars first, digicam second

CaptureView looks nothing like the old binoculars your uncle took to the horse races. Outsizing a typical pair of binoculars, the $200 CaptureView measures 4.9 inches by 3.25 inches by 5.75 inches (width by height by depth) and weighs 1.6 pounds. When the 1.5-inch LCD flips open, these binoculars remind me of some space or underwater vessel.

Sharp and precise, the binoculars focus easily and also accommodate eyeglass wearers. Equipped with two 42 mm objective lenses (equivalent to 400 mm on a 35 mm lens) in a folding-roof prism design, the CaptureView can focus from 16 feet to infinity with a field of view of 376 feet at 1,000 yards. The camera's minimum focusing distance is 49 feet.

The third eye

CaptureView's third lens belongs to the built-in digital camera, which captures exactly what you view through the binoculars. You get a maximum optical resolution of 1600x1200 with additional resolutions of 2048x1536 interpolated, 1280x960, and 640x480. Adjust resolution, switch to AVI movie mode, select from two exposure settings, and review captured images or movies using the on-screen display. The camera also has a self-timer.

Here are some more specs.

  • Fits about 35 shots in 2-megapixel mode on internal 32MB of memory (16MB flash, 16MB SDRAM). An SD/MMC slot allows for additional storage.
  • Runs on two AA batteries.
  • Connects to computers via USB.


Great concept, poor execution

"Quality" wasn't the word that came to mind when I used the camera. I found the flip-up LCD and the accompanying function buttons a bit chintzy.

Body shortcomings aside, poor image quality will turn off most users. Most images looked washed-out, partly due to a lower-quality CMOS sensor. Many images were simply out of focus, presumably from shaking exacerbated by the powerful zoom. You don't even have the option to mount the camera on a tripod. Also, forget about capturing good photos in low-light conditions.

Summary: The CaptureView can no doubt be a fun tool. And since it costs $200, you don't have to take out a second mortgage to buy one. However, the ideal CaptureView would have a better image sensor, a better build, image stabilization, and a tripod mount. If you want a quality photo of a distant subject, invest in a digital camera with a 10x optical zoom, such as Olympus' $450 C-740 Ultra Zoom.

Otherwise, wait for a future generation if you want a binoculars/camera combo you can feel good about.

Pro: Good 8x binoculars

Cons: Chintzy feel to LCD and buttons; poor image quality, particularly in low light; lacks tripod mount; lacks solid feel

Company: Meade
Price: $199.99
Available: Now
Category: Digital camera
Platform: Windows/Mac