Celestron VistaPix 8x22 Digital Camera Binoculars

by Celestron

Product Details

• Item Weight: 9 ounces
• Shipping Weight: 2 pounds
• Shipping: Currently, item can be shipped only within the U.S. and to APO/FPO addresses. For APO/FPO shipments, please check with the manufacturer regarding warranty and support issues.
• ASIN: B00008RC2K
• Item model number: 72200
• Average Customer Review: 2.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #38,689 in Camera & Photo (See Top 100 in Camera & Photo)
• Discontinued by manufacturer: Yes
• Date first available at Amazon.com: March 6, 2003

Product Description

From the Manufacturer

The Celestron 8x22 VistaPix is a binocular/digital camera combination that adds a new dimension to your observing. It combines a powerful 8 x 22mm multicoated roof prism binocular with a 640 x 480 pixel resolution digital camera. The camera can store up to 120 detailed color images in its built-in 8 MB flash memory. It can also capture up to 30 seconds of video. You can use it to get much closer to live action, while you simultaneously record images and memories of that action to take home with you and share. The VistaPix lets you capture close-up views of sporting events, birds in distant rookeries and treetops, close-ups of the action at concerts, and more. You can download the images to your computer to print out, save, or e-mail to family and friends. You can also play the images on your television screen, using the supplied cable. The uses of the VistaPix are limited only by your imagination and your desire to bring the distant world up close and personal so you can share it with others.

Binocular Features

• H-body roof prism with internal center focus. They would be considered reasonably good optics for the price, even if a built-in color digital camera were not part of the package.
• Lightweight (12 ounce) injection-molded body with textured black rubber gripping surfaces for a sure hold.
• Multicoated optics for good light transmission.
• A little over two turns of the ribbed rubber focus knob move from the horizon to a 10-foot close focus.
• Roll-down rubber eyecups allow eyeglass use, although the 10mm usable eye relief will vignette the field of view with glasses.
• A diopter adjustment ring on the right eyepiece lets you match the binocular to your individual eyesight.

Digital Camera Features

• Maximum resolution is 640 x 480 pixels, suitable for computer display, e-mails, and posting to Web sites.
• The VistaPix will store 120 hi-res 640 x 480 pixel JPEG images, or 30 seconds of AVI video, or any combination of image types not exceeding the camera's 8 MB flash memory storage capacity.
• A supplied cable lets you connect the VistaPix to your TV so you can display your images to friends and family. Forward and back buttons on the VistaPix let you scroll through the images.
• The CMOS image sensor has a wide dynamic range and automatic exposure to handle lighting condition extremes.
• Automatic white balance is built in for proper color correction in different lighting conditions.
• The operating temperature range of the camera is 41 to 104-degrees Fahrenheit (5 to 40-degrees Celsius) for proper LCD display operation.
• The camera's standard angular field of view is approximately the same as the binocular's 4.6-degree circular field of view. Magnification through the camera lens is the same 8x as that through the binocular.
• The focus range of the camera is from 49-feet (15 meters) to infinity. The camera focuses at the same distance at which the binocular is focused.

Computer Requirements

• Requires a PC running Windows 98, SE, ME, 2000, or XP for driverless image acquisition. A supplied CD-ROM with VistaPix Image Manager has drivers for older Windows versions.
• For optimum performance, the PC should be a Pentium operating at 233MHz or better, with a minimum of 128 MB of SDRAM, a VGA video card with 2 MB of RAM for minimum 16-bit (high color) display, 600 MB of free hard disk space, a CD-ROM, and a USB port.

Other Features

• Four AAA alkaline batteries (not supplied) power the camera. There's an automatic shut-off mode to conserve battery life that powers down the camera 180 seconds after the last picture is taken.
• A three-line LCD screen in the camera body displays the taking mode and the number of images recorded, plus other information dealing with the 2x zoom mode, TV playback mode, battery level, etc.
• There's a built-in self timer with a 10-second delay.
• The supplied VistaPix Image Manager CD-ROM contains drivers to let you download the JPEG and AVI image files from the camera to your computer, plus image processing software to let you edit, resize, and customize the images you've taken.

Supplied Accessories
Soft case with belt loop, neck strap, software CD-ROM, camera-to-TV and camera-to-computer USB port cables.

Product Description

No ordinary binoculars, VistaPix lets you take digital pictures of what you see, then download them into your computer. VistaPix represents the latest in outdoor optical technology, combining high-quality compact binoculars with a state-of-the-art digital camera. They're so easy and fun to use. You simply aim and focus the binocular, then press a button, and the digital camera automatically records the image into its internal memory. Once you download and save your images to your personal computer (Windows) via the supplied USB cable, you can edit them using the included Photo Manager software and store, print, or email them to friends and family. Cool! VistaPix is perfect for all kinds of activities including sightseeing, sporting events, family outings, concerts, hiking, and birding to name a few.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

41 of 47 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Vistapix 8x22 bino/camera is features per dollar bargain!, May 8, 2003

By 

Rick Boozer (Greer, SC United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Celestron VistaPix 8x22 Digital Camera Binoculars (Electronics)

If the highest resolution of this binocular/camera (640x480 pixels) is good enough for you, you won't find a better deal than the VistaPix 8x22. Though it is the same size as the similarly priced Meade Capture View 8x22 binocular/camera, Celestron says that the Vista Pix will hold 3 times as many high resolution frames (that is, 120 exposures)! Experience with my own unit seems to indicate that they are rating it conservatively because the camera appears to store many more frames than that, though I haven't checked to see what the actual limit is yet. Since both the Celestron and Meade binoculars have the same amount of memory, the extra pictures must result from a different video compression method that makes each picture take less memory.

Add to that the Continuous Exposure Mode (up to two minutes of action video in low res - a bit jerky but acceptible for many purposes) and the Time Delay mode (with 10 second delay before a picture is automatically taken) and it is obvious that this product is quite a deal for the money!

Oh, and did I say that the binocular optics give very crisp clear views?

16 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Great idea but poor performance !!, June 18, 2003

By 

"meri2u" (central New Jersey, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Celestron VistaPix 8x22 Digital Camera Binoculars (Electronics)

As binoculars, it focuses fine but the only way it would ever be comfortable to hold to your face is if you had No nose! Handling is very awkward and your nose gets in the way because of the way the camera is positioned in the center of the binoculars. As a camera, it's not!! Your pictures do NOT focus in on what you are seeing through the binoculars. It produces blurry pictures no matter what the distance. It also does not auto-balance the light, your pictures will also have unnatural shadowing unless you are in very bright sunlight. The enclosed instructions are also very little help in picture taking and troubleshooting...

13 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Poor Performance !!, July 6, 2003

By 

P. Phillips "obssessions" (New York/S.America) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Celestron VistaPix 8x22 Digital Camera Binoculars (Electronics)

This works great indeed if you didn't have a nose. Pics are blurry unless U have VERY bright sunlight, otherwise..dont' take pics. Not what I expected.
Would not recommend.