Digital binoculars to capture moments

ONE shudders to think who will use Sony's extraordinary DEV-5 Digital Recording Binoculars.Paparazzi will love them because no one will think they are taking photos or video (yet). The 10x optical magnification allows for some high-quality close-ups taken covertly from afar.The binoculars can take high-quality photos and video in 2D and 3D and open up lots of opportunities. Take ornithologists, who when faced with a glimpse of, say, a rare turquoise parrot or a bush stone curlew, usually struggle to get their cameras ready.Now they can locate birds with the binoculars and instantly press a button to record the happening before anything flies off.The DEV-5 includes a hot shoe and tripod connections to help.Spectators at sporting events, astronomers and photographers are among others.From there, the list of who might buy these binoculars heads downhill to pervedom. The only saving grace is the price because at $1999, only wealthier peeping toms can afford them.The magnification range is 0.8x to 10x, or 20x when enhanced digitally, but only up to 5x in 3D mode. Magnification is set using a wide/tight button identical to that of a movie camera.There are two video start/stop buttons on both sides of the case, a photo button, a mode button for switching between video/photos, and a 2D/3D toggle button.We found two kinds of 3D on the DEV-5.The 2D/3D button on the case simply toggles the glasses from showing the left-side image in both eyes, to showing the left image and right images separately.But true 3D is accessed through the "image/quality size" option menu, operated while viewing through the binoculars, which gives a reasonably noticeable 3D effect as at the movies.Flaps on the case conceal audio in/out, an A/V remote connector, micro HDMI micro USB port and microSD slot.In general, the binoculars are easy to use with both manual and automatic focusing, but there can be some blurring if the binoculars are moved quickly.The binoculars are easy to hold, but not light: I could keep them steady and take reasonable video for most magnifications, but at maximum digital magnification, the slightest muscle movement led to shaky results.Image quality is good, but at $1999, you would expect it to be.Using these was an enjoyable experience. From Sydney Park (between Sydney Airport and the city in the inner west), I could get clear shots of road traffic behind the airport as well as aircraft, and moments later, a close-up of Sydney's Tower Eye near the harbour.It wasn't difficult to home in and read the lettering of overhead aircraft, or to zoom in on a distant duck pond and watch the wild life.Both video and images taken from the DEV-5 are good quality.In summary, the DEV-5 digital binoculars should attract lots of buyers.