A Guide to Buying Camera Binoculars

A Guide to Buying Camera Binoculars

Discover what to look for when shopping for camera binoculars, including magnification, camera resolution, add-ons, and pricing.

We live in a high-tech world. You can tell just how high-tech we've become by the combination gadgets available to us: MP3 player phones, PDA/GPS units, and even fishing rods with fish finders. Well, add camera binoculars to the list. These are perfect pieces of equipment for watching birds or other wildlife, attending sporting events, or just acting like a spy. BinoCams, as they are sometimes known, come in different styles with various specifications. I'll try to guide you through a few things to look for when shopping for a pair.

1. Binocular magnification and aperture size. First off, let's examine some features of every BinoCam you might consider. The binocular part of the unit is usually compared to other binoculars by its magnification ability, typically represented by a number like "8 x 32". The first number represents the magnification possible, and the second number is a measure of the aperture in millimeters. Aperture means "opening," and here it refers to the size of the objective lens where light enters. So, an 8x32 binocular has a magnification of 8 times with an objective lens that is 32 mm wide. The bigger the aperture, the brighter the image will be, but the larger the aperture, the larger the binocular. If you want an all-purpose set, go for 8x32. I find this is the best of both worlds: compact enough and bright enough.
2. Camera size and pixel density. The camera portion of the BinoCam can also be evaluated by a number, in this case, megapixels. A digital image is made up of a bunch of square portions, or pixels, that when combined form a picture. The more pixels in a single image, the higher the resolution, and 1 million pixels equals one megapixel. Most cameras these days are in the 3 to 5 MP range. These are great for taking and printing images, but they are usually at least the size of a deck of cards or larger. When it comes to combining a camera with binoculars, you will typically find a lower megapixel count (around 2 MP) due to size constraints. That is not to say you cannot get a quality camera/binocular combo, just that you might have to spend a bit more to do so.
3. BinoCam add-ons. Digital cameras usually come with an LCD screen for viewing images before and after you take them. Many of the better BinoCams also have these screens, which typically flip up from the top of the binoculars. If you have the choice, I would always go for the LCD. Digital cameras also need memory to store images. Some BinoCams have built-in memory, some have memory card slots, but most have both. If you take lots of pictures or want to use the video capture function found on most BinoCams, you will need a good-sized memory card. With the price of these cards falling, I'd suggest a 512MB card, as this seems to be the maximum amount of memory that BinoCams are expandable to. If you are going to be using these BinoCams in an environment where moisture is a factor, consider getting a waterproof model. These won't help you underwater, but they will hold up fine in rain, sleet, and snow.
4. Price. The price of an average BinoCam with all optional features is around $160. That is for an 8x30, 3-megapixel, LCD, waterproof BinoCam with built-in memory and a memory card slot. Not too bad for a two-in-one device. Here is a nice selection sorted by price:
   • Optics Planet
   • eBay and Amazon always have competitive prices
   • Nextag is a useful tool

Most everyone sells them for around the same price; you just need to choose which model and features you like. Hopefully, by reading this article, you can do that with a little more confidence.