 FAR EXCEEDS EXPECTATIONS |
| Review Date: April 9, 2009 |
| Reviewer: David M. Bowen, Conyers, GA |
Having relied on the Bushnell reputation for quality, I expected my Bushnell Camera Bincular to be a superior product. Once it was received (within a few days), all who sees them are impressed and remarks the high quality of their make and the quality of photos produced. You cannot go incorrect with this product.
David in Conyers, GA |
one flaw
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| Review Date: July 25, 2006 |
| Reviewer: Robert B. Lineberger, Columbia, SC |
| I used the image view to take 17 really excellent cinema. But, land the binoculars in my hand as I walked to the beach, everyplace along the way the on/off switch simply fell out! I returned it for full credit but I would rather have had a further pair. They were not in stock. |
Fantastic up close photos and fantastic binocular
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| Review Date: December 8, 2007 |
| Reviewer: Rob, Lake Tapps, WA United States |
| These are fantastic binoculars! The binoculars are of the quality you would expect from Bushnell. The digital cameera is fantastic. We went to Alaska and now hav wonderful up close photos af whales, eagles and a rarely seen black fox. Also we now have a wonderful close-up of Ichiro blown up and posted in our son's bedroom. The one downside is you have to hold it steady. Some of the photos in Alaska were taken while rafting and they were blurred. We aren't huge bird outsider fans....but I imagine this would be fantastic for bird watchers! Fantastic Binoculars! I highly urge purchasing a gig or more Storage space space card as you will need it for lots of photos. Download and working with the photos are a snap. This was fun and a fantastic product. |
Fantastic Fun, Fantastic Pix, some limitations
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| Review Date: April 27, 2005 |
| Reviewer: Joanna Daneman, Middletown, DE USA |
I was SURE I "fake" Bushnell ImageView in my mind (but didn't have the foresight to go patent the thought, alas!) Every time I'd look in my birding binox, I would reckon, DARN! Why can't I snap that picture RIGHT NOW? Well, Bushnell, who is the maker of my birding binoculars, certainly was channeling my view, and they came out with the ImageView, which is a pair of 8X30 binoculars with a built-in digital camera. So, how does it work and will this hybrid binox-camera combo work for you? Let's discuss...
1. Specs and Features
Bushnell 8x30 binoculars
Built-in 1.3MP digital camera
8MB internal memory
Hi-res (default mode) stores about 45 pix, low-res maybe 55-85 pix
AVI movie mode
Photo Suite 5 software
USB cable
neck strap and case strap
soft case with zipper and pocket inside
Requires 2 AAA batteries
Computer with USB port that can support USB devices like camera; XP is not compulsory but you can use other Windows that support USB. You may require internet access to download different drivers to download your cinema to your computer if you don't have XP.
2. Using the ImageView
The out-of-box experience with the ImageView is exceptional; all the user has to do (assuming he or she has an XP in commission system on their PC) is to do the following:
a. Open box
b. pop open the array port
c. Bed in the 2 triple-A batteries.
d. Hold down the MODE button (one of two on the top of the center-mounted camera module)
e. Snap a shot
f. plug in the USB cable
g. Place the cable on the computer and download the cinema.
DONE....simple as pie.
3. Quality, Usability and Pros & Cons
The binoculars are clear and free of most distortion. But..here's the rub; if your eyes are very close-set (mine are) you will NOT, repeat NOT be able to use the CaptureView. I have extremely deepset and close-set eyes and normally, on binoculars, I go the eyepieces in to the most narrow setting possible. On the ImageView, due to the camera taking up space in the middle of the two scope sections, the narrowest setting is not narrow enough to suit my eyes. Boo. In fact, Boo HOO! I was quite sad. The man of the house tried them. He too has close-set eyes but a far larger head (hahah!) than mine and he place the ImageView down to the narrowest setting. He can see fine out of the binox. Lucky guy, he just got a pair of binox AND a digicam. I can barely see out of them if I hold it JUST so. So if you are a small woman or a narrow-headed kind of person like me, you must try these before buying or plot to maybe have to return them. And if you proposed this for your child or grandchild, it probably won't work. So beware. This is a serious issue with the ImageView--I am sure there were attitude about the average space between pupils on common eyes, and they hit the sweet spot of the pleased average, but I was NOT pleased to find out I'm not able to use them. *Vital* TRY BEFORE YOU BUY or check out the return policy.
The camera is 1.3MP. This is NOT a high res, but it keeps the price down to something reasonable and not outrageously expensive per pair. This is because 1.3MP cameras are not state of the art any more and are being used for toys, phones and other "and it has a camera, too!" electronics. In other words, if you expect high-quality cinema you can enlarge momentously, this isn't for you. BUT...the opticals are excellent enough to get a reasonably nice picture from the camera, one that is bright and clear enough for most amateur work. For blowing up a picture of a rare warbler hiding in a pine tree? No. For generous events? Yes. As to the low pledge setting (which Bushnell wisely chose NOT to make default), you can use it to get many more shots, but you won't be pleased with the quality. I found I needed to stick with the high pledge to get a excellent picture I could use.
The focus for the camera is MANUAL. It's a knob on the top of the camera mount and simple to use but in this day of autofocus, it will fox a few point-and-shoot folks. Just focus as you home in on your subject in the binox and all is well.
AND there is NO flash. But these aren't night binox and you won't need one anyway. But be aware, low light is not the time to be using the ImageView.
The movie feature allows you to take a small movie clip. I like this! Soccer moms, take note; you can get a small (30-70 second) clip of your home-grown athlete when you are sitting consoling in the stands. But the 8MB memory onboard means that you will max out the Storage space space and will have to download that AVI to a coming up laptop or computer. I have done digital shooting in Asia back in the days of low memory Storage space space by keeping a laptop near me for downloading shots and then clearing the Storage space space on the camera. With the arrival of larger memory cards for newer digicams, I don't have to do this any longer, but if taking small shots and many of them is your thing, and you like the CaptureView, you will want to reckon about taking a laptop with you to do this.
The case is well-plotting-out and excellent quality. Simple to access the binoculars, and sturdy enough to keep it clean. It's soft-sided, though. Not a hardshell. The straps are flimsy--this is not surprising, so if you don't like the strap, buy one of your own. I found it travelable, but. And it fits into the case when on the binoculars.
Outline
The ImageView is a reasonably priced pair of binoculars with the added kick of a fantastic small camera. It's something you can keep in your suitcase or handbag for snagging fun shots of sports events or nature scenes. Or just for fun around town. The quality is what you'd expect from a 1.3MP camera, and there are some limitations, like limited picture Storage space space (8MB) and the width of the oculars is liable to be TOO NARROW for kids and some smaller women and men. So try before you buy.
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Don't Buy This
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| Review Date: December 10, 2004 |
| Reviewer: K. Hatthorn, Houston, Tx |
I bought this as a gift for a friend. It worked fantastic the first time he used it. The second time it ongoing out of order a small. The third time he couldn't even get it to turn on (and yes, he made sure it wasn't a array issue).
I reckon it's a fantastic plotting but it needs a lot of work.
I'm going to send it back to Bushnell and see if they will let me exchange it for a excellent pair of fixed binoculars.
I don't recommend buying it until they have an chance to take care of all the problems. |
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