Meade CaptureView 8X22 VGA Digital Camera Binocular

Rating:
Summary: Best Digital Camera Binocular!!!!
Review: I cannot tell you about picture quality for these binoculars because I couldn't get past the cheap construction. I bought these for my husband for hunting and the races but had to send 2 pair back before even using them. The body is cheap silver looking brushed plastic and it had dents and dings. The battery cover wouldn't even close. That was my first pair. I got the second and the battery cover still wouldn't snap closed. VERY POORLY MADE. Now my husband is disappointed and so am I. I suggest shopping around. I know I will.

Rating:
Summary: Cheap Construction
Review: I cannot tell you about picture quality for these binoculars because I couldn't get past the cheap construction. I bought these for my husband for hunting and the races but had to send 2 pair back before even using them. The body is cheap silver looking brushed plastic and it had dents and dings. The battery cover wouldn't even close. That was my first pair. I got the second and the battery cover still wouldn't snap closed. VERY POORLY MADE. Now my husband is disappointed and so am I. I suggest shopping around. I know I will.

Rating:
Summary: Poorly Engineered
Review: This is a poorly engineered product. The first sign of trouble was when I read the recommendation in the user's guide to remove the batteries when the unit is not in use. If you do not remove the batteries, they will discharge in 2 or 3 days. A 50 cent on/off switch would have largely fixed this problem.

The next problem is with the software. It does not work with XP. Meade provides a ridiculous Help Sheet for XP users on their web site, but it only provides jerry rigged half solutions. For all practical purposes the software does not work on Windows XP. I do not know how it performs on other versions of windows.

Then there is the digital camera. With a 50 ft MINIMUM focus and the low resolution VGA camera, do not expect to take the glorious closeups shown in meade's advertisements. The auto shutoff is also a problem. Unit will turn off between shots making spontaneous photography impossible.

This camera/binoculars may have some novelty value, but at 50 to 60 dollars it is not a good value. Meade should be ashamed.

Rating:
Summary: Best Digital Camera Binocular!!!!
Review: What a great Innovation!! At a recent baseball game we shot over 200 photo's!! This camera is loaded with so much memory its hard to run out. I recommend it for anybody into sporting events. We didn't miss a shot. The download to the computer afterwards was easy, and the photo's were great! This is a great deal!