Best Digital Camera Binoculars

Bushnell 8x32 Instant Replay 18-0833(Around $380)

Best digital camera binoculars. Reviews say the Bushnell Instant Replay 8x32 digital-camera binoculars outclass the competing products in this category, with better optics and camera features. While other digital-camera binoculars just add a fixed-focus digital camera between the two binocular barrels, Bushnell builds the 3.2-megapixel camera into the binoculars, so they focus together (down to 11 feet), which eliminates parallax distortion -- a major complaint about other digital binoculars. The camera takes stills and 30-second 320x240 video clips, and an "instant replay" feature lets you record the 30 seconds before you hit the 'record' button. Note that products in the digital camera binoculars category can’t compete with regular binoculars or regular digital cameras quality-wise, so you do give up something to get the combination.


Bushnell Compact 8x30 Instant Replay 11-8325(Around $170)

Best value. The camera on the Bushnell Compact 8x30 Instant Replay digital binoculars can only focus as close as 30 feet, compared with 11 feet on the more expensive 8x32 Instant Replay. However, the cheaper Instant Replay camera binoculars weigh less (14.9 ounces compared to 25 ounces) and can record video at a faster frame rate of 30 frames per second (resulting in smoother video). The 5-megapixel camera also takes still photos, which one reviewer says are slightly better than the more expensive Bushnell. Both Bushnell digital binoculars have a two-year warranty.


Bushnell 10x25 ImageView VGA 11-1025(Around $50)

Budget camera binoculars. Reviews say you shouldn't expect much from the Bushnell ImageView camera binoculars when it comes to image quality. Most reviews say the grainy 640x480-pixel photos aren't good enough for much except posting on the web or e-mailing. The ImageView digital binoculars do take short video clips, but there's no instant-replay feature. Even so, these compact camera binoculars don't cost much, and many reviewers say they are fun gadgets.