By Claire Reilly
To the delight of birdwatchers, hobbyists and international men of mystery everywhere, Sony has today announced the launch of the world’s first binoculars with the ability to record Full HD video with stereo sound.
The DEV-5 digital binoculars offer up to 20x magnification and geotagging capabilities, thanks to the in-built GPS. Along with the Full HD (1920 x 1080) video recording, the binoculars are also able to record in 3D (with up to 5.4x magnification), capturing stereoscopic footage for watching on a 3D television.
“The Sony DEV-5 digital binoculars boast specialised features such as sleek and stealth design, a superior magnification capability as well as SteadyShot Active mode to ensure a clear viewing experience,” said a Sony spokesperson.
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The SteadyShot Active mode (a feature that is also on Sony Handycam camcorders and Cyber-shot cameras) maintains a clear and crisp image, even at high magnification levels.
“Unlike traditional binoculars the electronic autofocus keeps the subject sharply in focus even whilst moving. A comfortably positioned dial also allows fingertip adjustment of manual focus, which is ideal for focusing selectively on the subject,” the spokesperson added. “This feature means the unit has the dual benefit of magnifying close-up as well as distant subjects.”
The camera can record up to 3 hours of 2D footage off a single charge, and video content can be shared via HDMI to 2D and 3D televisions, or viewed and edited on a PC.
The DEV-5 digital binoculars come with a rechargeable battery pack (NP-FV70), USB adaptor, lens cover, finder cap, large eye cups, carrying case and neck strap, and are available for RRP $1,999.
Stealth design – the DEV-5 digital binoculars in action.