LensPEN Lens Cleaning System Review
Bushnell Image View 10x25 Roof Prism Binocular with VGA Digital Still Camera (Clamshell) Review
Bushnell ImageView 11-1025C - Binoculars with digital camera 10 x 25 - roof Review
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Celestron SkyMaster Giant 15x70 Binoculars with Tripod Adapter Review
Recently, the binocular market has seen a flood of giant binoculars at prices that were unheard of just a few years ago. In general, giant binoculars are defined as those that magnify the view 10 times or more and have 70-mm or larger front (objective) lenses. It used to be that the least expensive giant binoculars cost in excess of 0, even 0. All that changed not long ago, when the bottom fell out of the price cellar. Now, several companies import giant binoculars that sell for half that, or less.
Celestron's 15x70 SkyMaster binoculars are one of the leaders in the low-price giant binocular arena. They certainly sound good on paper. The SkyMasters include multicoated optics and BaK-4 internal prisms, two features that promise brighter, better images, and key points to look for when judging a pair of binoculars. They also come with an adapter for attaching them to a photo tripod, which is a must to use them to their fullest, and a soft carrying case. But just because they are cheap doesn't always mean they are worth the price. Would it be better to save up for a more expensive pair?
To find the answer, I had an opportunity recently to judge the SkyMasters against a pair of Fujinon 16x70 FMT-SX binoculars , one of the finest pairs of giant binoculars sold today. Like the SkyMasters, the Fujinons feature BaK-4 prisms, but also have fully multicoated optics. As a general rule, superior coatings mean superior image sharpness and contrast. But then, that should be expected, given that the Fujinons cost many times more than the Celestrons.
While the Fujinons were clearly the better performer, the Celestron SkyMasters held up admirably. Image brightness, quality, and contrast were all remarkable considering their bargain price. Although images were a little soft across the outer 25% of the Celestron's field, the overall view was impressive nonetheless.
Some inexpensive binoculars have very sloppy focusing, causing the eyepieces to tilt and shift. Not so with the SkyMasters. I found that their center-focusing mechanism worked smoothly, with no apparently backlash or wobble. Eye relief (the distance you hold your eyes away from the eyepieces to see the full field) is stated to be 18 mm, a good distance for higher power binoculars and an important consideration if you must wear glasses when viewing. The SkyMasters are also light enough to support by hand for short periods of time, although buyers would be well advised to mount them on a sturdy photo tripod.
The bottom line is, if you are considering a pair of giant binoculars, whether for bird watching, stargazing, or another recreational use, and have a limited budget, Celestron's giant 15x70 SkyMasters represent an excellent value. --Phil Harrington, author of Star Ware and Star Watch
Pros:
Bushnell Powerview 7-15x25 Compact Zoom Binocular Review
Key Features:
Specifications:
A variety of styles and features appeal to a wide range of users from students of nature to concertgoers. Outstanding light transmission through fully-coated optics ensures bright, crisp clear viewing. Standard-size models feature InstaFocus for fast and easy focus on a moving target. The compact porro prism series provides great durability and performance in a smaller size. Our mid-size roof prism models with 32mm objectives provide increased brightness for low-light viewing conditions.
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Aven 26700-300 ZipScope USB Digital Microscope with 2 Mega-Pixel, 10x-50x Optical, 200x Digital Magnification Review
The Aven 26700-300 zipScope is a tabletop, 2.0 megapixel digital microscope that has a USB interface, eight white LED lights with two intensity settings, a snapshot button for image capture, optical magnification of 10X to 50X, and digital magnification of 200X. This digital microscope enhances the resolution of an object or image, and connects to a computer for image display. It is commonly used for quality control (QC) inspection, medical and scientific research, geology, mineralogy, chemistry, and for printing and textile inspection.
This microscope has an adjustable magnification of 10X to 50X, and comes in an all-in-one, compact lens. A 1/2” complementary metal-oxide semiconductor (CMOS) color image sensor manages noise reduction and image quality. The microscope has a shutter speed of 1 second to 1/1000 of a second. The frame rate is 30 frames per second (FPS) at 2.0 megapixels. The zipScope uses eight white LED lights with two intensity settings to control illumination. The microscope has automatic white balance to control brightness, and automatic exposure. A snapshot trigger captures images, and the microscope outputs images or video to a PC. A large, manual focus wheel adjusts focus in a 10 to 500 mm range. The microscope body has a rubberized, anti-slip coating for durability. Included software has image (JPEG and BMP) and video (AVI) capture functions. The microscope comes with an adjustable metal stand that includes height and angle adjustment. The zipScope has a one-year warranty.
| Optical magnification | 10X to 50X |
| Digital magnification | 200X |
| Image sensor | 0.50” color CMOS |
| Effective pixels | 2.0 mega-pixels (M) |
| Illumination | 8 white LED lights with two intensity settings |
| Shutter speed | 1 second to 0.001 (1/1000) of a second |
| Frame rate | 30fps, 15 fps at 1.3 M |
| White balance | Automatic |
| Snap shot mode | Hardware and software controllable |
| Focus range | Manual, 10mm to 500mm |
| Frame rate | 30fps, 15 fps at 1.3 M |
| Operating system | Microsoft Windows XP, Windows XP SP2, Windows Vista, and Windows 7 |
| Formats produced | Images (JPEG or BMP formats) or video (AVI format) |
| Power source | 5 VDC through 2.0 USB port |
| Power consumption | 110-volt |
| Overall dimensions | 19.7 x 6.7 x 8.6 cm / 7.75 x 2.625 x 3.375 inches (H x W x D) |
| Weight | 0.294835 kilograms (0.65 lb.) |
| Warranty | One year |
*(H is height, the vertical distance from the lowest to highest point; W is width, the horizontal distance from left to right; D is depth, the horizontal distance from front to back.)
Microscopes are instruments used to enhance the resolution of an object or image. Types include compound, stereo, or digital. Compound microscopes use a compound optical system with an objective lens and an eyepiece. Stereo microscopes show object depth in a three-dimensional image. Digital microscopes are used to display an image on a monitor, rather than looking through a lens. Microscopes can have monocular (one), binocular (two), or trinocular (three) eyepieces, with varying magnification abilities. Magnification ability refers to the size of an image. Resolution, also known as resolvant power, refers to the clarity of the image. The interaction between field of view (FOV), numerical aperture (NA), and working distance (WD) determines resolution. Microscopes can control magnification through a fixed focus, or through a range of adjustments. They can also utilize LED, fluorescent, and mirror light sources to help control viewing capabilities. Microscopes are widely used in education, lab research, biology, metallurgy, engineering, chemistry, manufacturing, and in the medical, forensic science, and veterinary industries.
Aven manufactures optical inspection tools, precision tools, and bench accessories for industrial, scientific, and research applications. The company was founded in 1983 and is headquartered in Ann Arbor, MI.
What’s in the Box?
Nikon Cleaning Combo Kit: Nikon 3-Piece Lens Cleaning Kit + Spudz Microfiber Cloth + Lens Pen + Air Blower for D3x, D3s, D4, D7000, D5100, D5000, D3100, D3000, D300s, 1 V1, J1 Digital SLR Cameras, Lenses, Binoculars & Scopes Review
The Nikon Lens Cleaner Kit contains everything you need to keep your lenses, optical equipment and other gear fresh and clean. Includes 1 fl. oz. Spray Bottle of Liquid Lens Cleaner, Pack of 3 Moist Lens Cleaning Cloths and a Microfiber Cleaning Cloth.
Ideal for field work, general outdoor photography, bird watching, hunting or even shooting pictures from the comforts of home, this 6x6-inch soft microfiber cloth will remove smudges and other surface grime from your delicate optics. The real innovation, however, is the attached water-resistant neoprene pouch that keeps the cloth dry and protected from dust, dirt and other contaminants that could otherwise lead to scratches. And for added convenience, the pouch features a simple clip that makes transportation a snap. Just attach the pouch to your keychain, belt loop or camera bag, and you're ready to go!
The Nikon Lens Pen Cleaning System is a great accessory for any optics user, it is great for digital or 35mm camera, binoculars, spotting scope. It has a soft retractable brush and a non-liquid compound on a natural chamois tip to remove fingerprints, dust and grit from any lens. A must for maintaining coated lenses.
The Precision Design Deluxe Hurricane Blower is very powerful and easy to use cleaning system. The super air stream blows off dust particles, even those attracted by static electricity, without any physical contact. It works great when used on digital camera sensors, lenses, telescopes, computer keyboards, microscopes, communications equipment, musical instruments and much more.
Fisher-Price Kid-Tough Binoculars Review
Tough enough for little explorers, with 2.4x magnification and rubberized lens guard bumpers. Soft eye-pieces, adjustable eye-piece spacing, breakaway neck strap and textured hand grips and focus knob make these binoculars safe, easy and fun for kids to use.
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Olympus Tracker 8x25 Porro Prism Compact & Lightweight Binocular Review
The BaK-4 prisms have a high refractive index for complete edge-to-edge clarity. The center knob is in perfect placement for your fingers to comfortably adjust the focus. The built-in dioptric correction adjusts for individual eyesight so everyone can use the binocular to its full potential. The Tracker also has eyecups that twist up and down, allowing each user to personalize the binocular to their comfort, while the long eye relief is a necessary feature for eyeglass wearers. Add a touch of style to your viewing experience with the very cool-looking Tracker 8 x 25 PC I binoculars. These compact binoculars are easy to carry which make them great for concerts, sporting events, or excursions. Besides these binoculars combine good looks and easy handling with world-class optics therefore all you see are crisp and clear images
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