Home > Consumer Reviews > Meade CaptureView 8X42 2MP Digital Camera Binocular with LCD Screen

I received my Amazon/Meade Binocular order the first time with an inoperative video screen. Amazon sent out a replacement the next day.

New order arrived, read manual, experimented with photo capabilities, video screen worked and looked great, excited.

Then...on/off toggle button stuck, and stays stuck that same day, after only a few hours of use, another serious designer flaw from the factory. Now I'm starting to feel cheated. The unit becomes inoperative, looping through boot-up commands, then turning off automatically. Item returned, I'm sitting out the next dance.

My discoveries...I liked the 3MP capabilities, still shots looked great, video quality is at a lower resolution than expected, camera is separate from binoculars, this is acceptable since the camera has auto-focus.

Critique: Eye to binocular contact not as comfortable as some standard binoculars I've had, manual focus knob on binoculars placed in a strange position, unit is a little bulky.

Overall, very user friendly with lots of potential, good luck.

I took some pictures the first day and they turned out great! 3.0 mp setting is best quality. Amazing how close up pictures turned out clear and crisp. The other reviewers statements about outdoor pictures being bad, HE'S WRONG they are better or as good as my nikon coolpix 775 2.0 mp. way to go meade!

I just got my meade binoculars/digital camera. I believe the binoculars are excellent. The camera part can use some work, but for a product in its infancy, its kind of fun. I am still testing the camera part, but I do believe the price is a little high. The casing is plastic, but it appears to be pretty sturdy. It is also a bit heavier than my celestron binocular/digital camera (with no LCD). Overall, for a little fun and something new it is okay. DEFINITELY, NEEDS TRIPOD CAPABILITY, WHICH THIS ITEM DOES NOT HAVE. IF YOU ARE VERY SERIOUS ABOUT GETTING AN ITEM SUCH AS THIS AND YOU REALLY NEED IT FOR SERIOUS PIX TAKING I WOULD NOT BUY THIS ITEM UNTIL THE TECHNOLOGY IMPROVES, BUT IF YOU WANT IT FOR FUN AND THE PRICE GOES DOWN A BIT, THEN GO FOR IT. I AM KEEPING MINE. I AM LOOKING FORWARD TO ADVANCEMENT IN THIS FIELD.

The product is user friendly. I am able to use all features of the binocular without referring to the manual after less than an hour spent reading the manual and becoming familiar with the controls, menus and other features. I am very pleased with my binoculars. They are comfortable and easy to use while viewing a sporting event. I used them for every play while watching a football game and thoroughly enjoyed the experience. The binoculars' field of view was perfect and I used an SD card to expand memory to allow recording of the entire game. The resulting pictures both still and movies were excellent quality. I am looking forward to using the binoculars at baseball games, for fishing trips and during other outdoor activities.

The binocs are really nice and sharp, but you can purchase just as good for less.
The eye pieces were difficult to get used to, but for viewing I really like them.
Camera is absolutely disappointing.

I have not taken the first clear image. The shutter is at the top and makes taking a photo quite awkward for someone with small hands.

I tried different cards, in case the write speed was blurring the image.
No difference in quality. I used a prop and snapped a photo, and image was still unclear. Played around with settings and still no good results.

I would not recommend this as a camera AT ALL.

To help with your decision, please view submitted photo. If your needs require better clarity than the submitted photo, think again. This was taken at noon on a cloudy day. 3 Megapixels. Please identify the bird inside the airbrushed red circle.

So, for example: if you're searching for an Ivory Billed Woodpecker, you'd better choose more wisely - cause there's no way anyone at Cornell is going to accept this as scientific proof.

Bird in photo is a Red Bellied Woodpecker, which is approx. 9". I am about 70 - 80 feet away. 66 ft is minimum focal distance.

Hope this helps.