(Credit:
DARPA)
A new type of binoculars developed by DARPA not only penetrates heat haze, it uses the shimmering distortion to magnify distant objects behind it, significantly extending target recognition and identification.
The Super-Resolution Vision System (SRVS) exploits an "atmospheric turbulence-generated micro-lensing phenomena", which acts as a lens, sporadically generating a better view of what is going on behind the haze.
The one disadvantage is that since the technique relies on a combination of images, you can't see what's going on in real time. Best case viewing from the approximately 4 lbs., 14 inch prototype will be one image per second.
These fleeting images are digitally strung together into a continuous strip; the result is three times more detail than many current telescopes manage to produce even without the heat haze. The military's goal is "90% accurate facial recognition of a moving individual from 1 km away, using a 6-centimetre lens", according to New Scientist. One hope is that this greater "target identification confidence" will reduce fratricide and collateral damage on the battlefield.
Testing is scheduled for 2009, with delivery to special ops in the field by 2011. The same turbulence-induced, super resolution principle could be applied to other optical systems like telescopes used in astronomy.
(Credit:
DARPA)
(Credit:
Hammacher Schlemmer)
Whether it's because of too much caffeine or advancing age (both, most likely), it's become increasingly difficult for us to hold a steady shot these days with the usual point-and-shoot cameras. The same is true with our binoculars at the track, when we're watching yet another nag come in last and ruining the trifecta we so brilliantly calculated.
So we were initially happy to see what's billed as "the world's most powerful image-stabilizing binoculars," which has something called a "passive mechanical stabilizer" that's supposedly "designed to counteract the vibrations caused by moving air, land or sea vehicles"--not to mention the hands of a middle-aged espresso fiend. We say "initially" happy because that was before we saw the price--$1,700. That's roughly 100 times more than our best day at Golden Gate Fields, ever.
If you'd rather go for looks and save enough to wager on the last race, a pair of "Ferrari Visios" might be a better bet.
(Credit:
William Optics)
There was a time when some of us at Crave frequented equestrian events (i.e., played the ponies) and spent far too much money on binoculars, let alone ill-advised trifecta bets at Santa Anita. Since then, technology and overseas manufacturing have drastically reduced the price of sporting lenses, and quality binoculars can be gotten today for a relative song.
But this is one pair that we might be worth stretching the budget for. The "Ferrari Visio" binoculars from William Optics have 8x magnification but, more importantly, are themselves a sight to behold. Gizmag says they also include Ferrari's distinctive carbon fiber plate for an unusually lightweight design.
Granted, red has never been our favorite color. But it's probably the closest we'll ever get to owning anything with the Ferrari logo on it, especially at $199.
(Credit:
Gearfuse)
For some reason we seem to be given to nostalgic references today, so we beg your indulgence. This item, for example, reminds us of the 3D-slide "View-Master" we had when we were kids.
The "StereoVision 3D VuCam" is slightly more sophisticated than what Fisher-Price had to offer. This gadget combines binocular lenses with two 3.1-megapixel cameras to take 3D photos, according to Gearfuse. You can even magnify the image first, previewing it on a pop-up LCD screen before shooting.
Now comes the tricky part--actually viewing the pictures in 3D. To see them with the naked eye you need a 3D monitor, which isn't exactly a household item (yet). But you can always use the old 3D glasses too. We just recommend that you don't use the folding-cardboard variety, as they wouldn't quite seem appropriate for a piece of equipment that costs $2,000.
(Credit:
Discovery Communications)
Awhile back we ran an item on a pair of camera binoculars that generated a fair amount of interest. In particular, some eagle-eyed readers noticed discrepancies in the specs from Gadget Universe, which led to confusion over its claims that the device had a 5-megapixel camera. Now, the Discovery Channel Store has a similar gadget that also lists a 5-megapixel camera combined with a pair of high-performance binoculars.
There are some resemblances in the designs of the two devices, but we're not sure if they come from the same manufacturer. (How many variations can there be in camera-binocular combos, anyway?) But the Discovery model is slightly less expensive--$236 vs. $250--and looks a lot better with its black casing, not the funky silver and blue of Gadget Universe's version. We just ran out of excuses not to get a pair.
(Credit:
Gadget Universe)
If it really works, this may be too good to be true. We offer that caveat because we've read more than a few reviews that say camera binoculars aren't quite ready for prime time, to say the least.
But if this is the exception, even Barry Bonds haters might appreciate having a pair of these handy to capture one of his majestic jacks for posterity. Gadget Universe claims that its $200 new LCD binocular camera can read a license plate 300 yards away, so we're hoping that will solve the blurry problems of its predecessors. If not, we'll just have to keep looking for homeplate seats on Craigslist.
Update: An alert Crave reader notes important discrepancies in the megapixel specs listed on the product page. We will try to contact Gadget Universe and get the story straight.
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