Editorial Review:

Product Description:
The CaptureView 8x42 2.0D combines a high-performance, full-size roof prism binocular with a 2.0 megapixel digital camera to capture stills or video. Large, 42mm multi-coated objective lenses deliver super bright images even in low light. A 1.5' diagonal color LCD flips up for composing or reviewing images and video instantly! Add an optional SecureDigital memory card to add image storage capacity.The CaptureView 8x42 2.0D is perfect for action sports, concerts, nature studies, industrial site inspection, or security and investigation applications, when the greatest amount of detail is desired both visually and digitally.PRODUCT FEATURES:Fully coated optics;32MB of internal memory;Optimum imaging range from 49' to infinity;Plug-and-play performance with Windows 98SE/2000/ME/XP. No additional software or drivers required!;Capture up to 40 images at the full 2.0 megapixel resolution. More images can be stored at the lower resolution settings and/or with optional SD card;Capture up to 90 seconds of video with instant replay with internal memory, or more with optional SD card;Minimum interpupilary distance is 57mm, great for those who require narrower lens separation adjustment;Standard equipment includes: USB cable; carry case; neck strap; cleaning cloth; complete instructions; CD-ROM with image-editing and archiving software.

Amazon.com product description:
The CaptureView 8x42 2.0D is a binocular that takes pictures. Now you can view the action up close and capture it in digital images or video. Easily download the files to your PC, then print your snapshots or email them to family and friends. It comes with a carry case, USB cable, and image editing and archiving software, and operates with only 2 inexpensive, user-supplied AA alkaline batteries. Plus, you get a full one-year limited warranty.

You get plug-and-play performance with Windows 98SE, 2000, ME, or XP.

The CaptureView 8x42 2.0D combines a high-performance, full-size roof prism binocular with a 2.0 megapixel digital camera to capture stills or video. Large, 42mm multi-coated objective lenses deliver super bright images even in low light. A 1.5' diagonal color LCD flips up for composing or reviewing images and video instantly. Add an optional SecureDigital memory card to add image storage capacity. The CaptureView 8x42 2.0D is perfect for action sports, concerts, nature studies, industrial site inspection, or security and investigation applications, when the greatest amount of detail is desired both visually and digitally.



Features:

• Fully coated optics.
• 32MB of internal memory.
• Optimum imaging range from 49' to infinity.
• Plug-and-play performance with Windows 98SE/2000/ME/XP. No additional software or drivers required.
• Capture up to 40 images at the full 2.0 megapixel resolution. More images can be stored at the lower resolution settings
  and/or with optional SD card.
• Capture up to 90 seconds of video with instant replay with internal memory, or more with optional SD card.
• Minimum interpupilary distance is 57mm, great for those who require narrower lens separation adjustment.
• Standard equipment includes: USB cable; carry case; neck strap; cleaning cloth; complete instructions; CD-ROM with image-editing and archiving software.

The Nuts and Bolts

1. Diopter Scale (on underside of right eyepiece) 2. SD Card Port 3. Eyepiece 4. Menu Button 5. Shutter Button 6. Left Button 7. Right Button 8. LCD Screen 9. Objective Lens 10. Camera Lens (not visible, see #10 on other view) 11. Barrel 12. USB Port 13. Battery Compartment Lid (see other view) 14. Focus knob (not visible, see #14 on other view)

1. Diopter Scale 10. Camera Lens 13. Battery Compartment Lid (squeeze and pull back to remove) 14. Focus knob

FAQ

What can I view with my CaptureView Binoculars?
A: Use your CaptureView Binoculars for Sporting events, Bird-watching, public events, viewing wildlife. Anything you would use a standard pair of binoculars for, the CaptureView will see and give you the added advantage of capturing the image.

What programs can I use to manipulate my images? Can I use them to download images from my Camera?
A: You can use the software programs that are provided on the CD Rom that comes with the CaptureView Camera to manipulate and download images. If you are already using other Photo programs on your computer to manipulate images, they will also work with the CaptureView Camera.

How many images will my CaptureView hold?
The CaptureView 8x42 Camera will hold up to 40 images at 2.0 Megapixel Resolution with Built-In Memory. There is also a 3 Megapixel (interpolated) setting that will hold up to 20 images. The 1 Megapixel mode will hold up to 60 images. The VGA mode up to 120.



These cameras have a Movie Mode. How long can the movies be?
The movies are taken in Windows AVI Format and can be up to 90 seconds @QVGA (320 X 240 pixels). Use this mode to capture not just a moment, but the mood and feeling of an event.

What is an SD card?
An SD card is a Secure Digital Memory Card. This card will allow you to expand the amount of memory on the CaptureView camera up to 256 Megabytes. These cards are available in various sizes and can be purchased from any computer retailer. The CaptureView 8x42 will also work with Multi-Media Cards (MMC) up to 256MB.

Can I use the CaptureView 8x42 Camera on a Macintosh Computer?
If using a SD card you can download the images onto a Macintosh computer by using a flash card reader. You can also download your images to a Unix system. When using a flash card reader, the flash card looks like a Hard drive to your computer. Note: You cannot load to a Mac or Unix system using the camera's USB port - the USB port only can download to a Windows operating system.

How do I focus the Camera?
The camera is always in Focus from 66 feet to infinity. If you take pictures of objects closer than 66 feet they may appear fuzzy or blurry. When looking through the binoculars you will need to focus them for your eyes, but the camera will always be in focus.

What is the Flashback Feature?
A: The FlashBack feature records a movie for a user-selected period of time (5, 10, 15 or 20 seconds). You can record for as long as you like, but you will only save a recording for the period of time you have selected. For example, if you chose 10 seconds, only the last ten seconds of the recording will remain in memory and be saved--the rest of the recording is discarded.

An example of using the FlashBack feature would be to record a baseball pitcher throwing a pitch. Select 10 seconds from the FlashBack Period submenu. Press the shutter button to begin recording while the pitcher prepares. After the pitcher throws the ball, click on the shutter button again to turn off recording. You'll have saved only the last ten seconds of the pitcher's activity.



Accessories:
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Accessories:

• SimpleTech STI-SD/64 64MB SecureDigital Card (SD Card)
• SanDisk SDSDB-128-A10 Secure Digital 128MB (Retail Package)
• Lexar Media 512 MB Secure Digital Memory Card (Retail Package) SD512-231
• 3-Year Extended Service Plan - Covers Electronic Items $0-$200 - Repair
• Monster Cable MB 4-MP3-AA MP3 Power1850 mAh AA 4-Pack, with Digital Charger

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Related Items:
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Related Items:

• Lexar Media 512 MB Secure Digital Memory Card (Retail Package) SD512-231
• SanDisk SDSDB-128-A10 Secure Digital 128MB (Retail Package)
• SanDisk SDSDB-1024-A10/11 1 GB Secure Digital Card (Retail Package)
• see more

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Rating: - Quit bashing it!
After reading all the negative reviews on this product....I reluctantly took a gamble and guess what!! I got lucky. Everything performed just as advertised. I can only guess tons of others that purchased this binocular and were dissatisfied got lemmons..I LOVE IT !!!!!!

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Rating: - Meade Can Do Better
I recently bought this camera new and also own another Meade Binocular 2002 model that I like much better. Fact: Older one is smaller yet takes brilliant pics. Fact: Is not made with cheap plastic.
I paid $79.00 for my 2002 model. Over $130.00 plus S/H. for this mess. This model is large and very poorly made. Cheap plastic. The LCD screen will not stay in place(flops open & shut)....ruining shots.
Where are the parts made may I ask Meade? Who puts them together?
I plead for Meade to do better. Oh I sound like a poet..plead? meade? lol

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Rating: - Fast delivery and in good condition!
Fast delivery and arrived in good condition! This was a gift to someone, so I can't comment on the quality or the functionality of this product and that is why I did not give it 5.

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Rating: - Great camera binoculars!
Gift for husband. Uses it for work. He carries it with him everywhere.

Photos are taken for reference, not for high-end photo duplication.
Video is very helpful.

Pleased with quality.

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Rating: - When it's good, it's very good...when it's bad, It's pretty bad
I did a lot of research before choosing the Meade CaptureView 8x42 2MP Digital Camera Binocular. This one offers the most for a reasonable price. Unfortunately, the one reason you're probably looking to buy it will be nothing at all like what you were expecting.

As binoculars go, the CaptureView 8x42 works fantastic. It's easy to tune to your own eyesight, it's got a sharp, clear field of view, and the zoom level is as good as more expensive pairs I've looked through.

As a plug-and-play device, it's also really good: any computer I've plugged it into responds quickly, and files are easily accessed. There is software you can also use, but generally I don't have to have it in order to download images.

Ah, but there's the rub: the images. Digital binoculars don't actually use the binocular lenses to take a picture. I imagine there's not a way to easily do this, so the camera in the binoculars uses its own lens. As a result, the camera is really poor. Daytime images at a variety of ranges have come out with a milky white haze. Photoshop doesn't really fix this problem because it permeates the image, as if you're gazing through watery eyes or seeing a corona of white. On images that do not produce a haze, you have pictures about as good as you would see on a typical cellphone camera. Except that in low-light conditions, cellphones take better pictures. After taking picures in low lighting, and looking from darkness into a spotlight, I was amazed at how little light actually came through in the final image: even at a short distance, things that I knew to be brightly lit were blurry, grainy, and sunken in murky darkness.

If you are looking for a great pair of binoculars that you can also use to snap simple pictures while you are on vacation, the Meade CaptureView 8x42 is a good choice. If you're looking for a way to grab telephoto-quality pictures of faraway scenes, this will not live up to your expectations--a decent point-and-shoot digital camera will probably do better, especially in multiple lighting conditions.