About Tom Hall Expertise I can answer your questions on visual optics of all kinds - binoculars,spotting scopes and telescopes used for birding or nature observation. I have worked extensively with telephotography and can help with questions about adapting spotting scopes or telescopes for film photography and digital imaging.
Experience I have worked for a major supplier of optical equipment for the last 15 years - buying, selling, repairing and comparing optics of all kinds. I have given talks and optics workshops at birding, nature, and astronomical festivals all over the country, including the Minnesota Bluebird Recovery Program, the Delmarva Birding Festival, and Midwest Birding Symposium. I have appeared on Wisconsin Public Radio many times answering call-in questions about optics and astronomy.
I am interested in purchasing some binoculars with a built-in digital camera . I have done my research and have an idea what I want. However based on the specs on the 3 models that I'm considering, I would like to get your expert opinion on certain considerations.
Here are the models and specs:
Celestron vistapix 8x30 digital camera binocular
camera resolution 640x280
megapixels 0.3
image sensor CMOS
memory 8MB SDRAM
continous video 2 mins
Celestron VistaPix 8x30SD 1.3 MP w card
camera resolution 1280x960
megapixels 1.3
image sensor CMOS
memory 16 MB SD card expandable to 256 MB
continous video 2 min
Celestron VistaPix 10x25 1.3 MP w TV out
camera resolution 1280x960
megapixels 1.3
image sensor CMOS
memory 16 MB Flash
TV out preview NTSC/PAL
continous video 1 min
Based on the above specs, here are my questions:
Is it worth spending more to get a SD card option (it runs $60-80 more for that binocular)?
If the cameras resolution (1280x960 or 1.3 Megapixels)is the same(i.e. the 10x25's and 8x30 1.3mp have the same resolution) will it take equal quality photographs?
Right now I have one of those Sprint PCS phone cameras with 640x280 hi resolution option and I have used it to take some pretty good pictures through a 7X50 binocular. Can the picture quality be as good with the 1.3 Megapixel binocular camera or will 0.3 work as well?(if you would like to see what I mean I can send you a sample to your email -- let me know)
I am not a pro photographer and am not expecting to get Nikon camera quality photographs, but I want to take some good, fun shots. I will mainly use it for nature shots (birds & other wildlife), scenic shots, the occasional hot air baloon, airplane, etc.
I need to understand if it is worth spending $150 for the SD card option with 2 minutes of continous video, 1.3mp camera, etc. or if I would be better off paying $119 for the 'same'(or is it the same?) camera with 16 MB flash memory and 1 min of continuous video.
Again please let me know if you want to see an example of some pictures I took using a 7x50 binocular and the PCS phone embedded camera.
Thanks in advance,
Eduardo
Answer Dear Eduardo- Pardon the untimely reply - I had checked the forum here on Sat. and did not have your message in - I'm about to head on the road for work today!
The short answer to your question is that the memory card option is, in my opinion, more than worth it. You may be able to get respectable results out of the 1.3 megapixel cameras, but I would not use any less. I have worked with the Meade, Pentax, and Bushnell digibinos but I have not seen the Celestron yet.
One great advantage to the card option is transferability to multiple computers if you don't have access to your own. Many new printers will also let you print directly from the card. And I have found that I will always be shooting images to the limits of the three memory cards that I have for my camera. It's so much easier to get the really good shot if you have 20 others to toss out. Your nature shots in particular will show better color and can be sharpened dramatically if you get a little better source image.
Feel free to email me any followup questions - I will be back in the office by Monday of next week.
