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ZEISS DTI thermal imaging cameras. For more discoveries at night, and during the day.

New AX Visio 10x32 binocular (1 Viewer)

exup said:
Cue the IS debate regarding batteries, electronics, weight, ergonomics, etc.
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Quite right. Where are all the Canon haters gone?
exup said:
......and this device does not seem to have any image stabilisation, all for a bargain price
shocked.gif
.
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If it doesn't have stabilisation it's dead as a dodo. Another product that the world needed. Not.

BTW, is there any information at all on the size of the image sensor? If it's a small sensor (and I bet it is) the results won't be nice to look at.

Hermann
 
Binastro said:
Many cameras exceed the resolution of a good human eye and the Canon 18x50 IS stabilized binocular, let alone an unstabilized hand held binocular.
Also at night the Sony A7S and some Nikon cameras show detail invisible to the unaided eyes, as do some expensive modern video cameras.
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That's certainly true, B. But no matter the resolution or night vision capabilities the images these devices produce just don't look as good as a view through binoculars. True, modern cameras show more detail than a human eye only aided by binoculars. This is particularly true for high ISO cameras that only need a bit of moonlight or light pollution to give you an image that looks like it was shot in bright daylight. I sometimes use a Pentax K1 for that purpose.
 
MiddleRiver said:
This has been discussed around here in the past and like it or not, I'm pretty certain it's the future - which has arrived. Some had speculated leica (with their camera experience) would be the first to pull it off but it looks like Swaro is diving-in headfirst.

It's funny... right now it has ZERO appeal to me. But I remember when I was still clinging to my film cameras and looking back, there's NO WAY i'd go back now that I'm using mirrorless 61MP and incredible software, stabilization, subject recognition, etc.
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Well said.

The future has arrived but Swaro's now state-of-the-art Visio will seem primitive and quaint in 10-20 years.

The first digital camera was huge -- the size of a car battery -- and made by Kodak(!!!) in 1975.
First digital camera

I remember when the first mass-produced digital cameras were introduced in the 1990s by Sony and Olympus. I bought a Sony Mavica whose best use today is a doorstop.
 
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Odd how the front view shows light coming through the camera lens as well as the bin tubes. And (as always) where is the bin so bad that it gives the image on the left side of these comparison photos? I thought of Marc Newson instantly upon seeing that big flat metal bridge. The flush focusing knob looks particularly problematic.

Presumably the main concern with the camera isn't sensor resolution, but shake/blurring. It's taking photos (or video??) with at least 10x magnification, handheld, often pointing upward... without IS.

Something like Mountain ID can often be done via Google Lens, and the interface for new apps here is interesting. But Sony tried that with mirrorless cameras and it failed miserably, despite a much larger market.

AX is a fascinating gadget, but cannot be practical for enough people. VR goggles aren't selling like hotcakes either; perhaps there's a limit to the utility of high tech after all. And I have to say I was always more interested in improving human than developing artificial intelligence.
 
Hermann said:
Quite right. Where are all the Canon haters gone?

If it doesn't have stabilisation it's dead as a dodo. Another product that the world needed. Not.

BTW, is there any information at all on the size of the image sensor? If it's a small sensor (and I bet it is) the results won't be nice to look at.

Hermann
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Another post not in BF indicated it was a 1/3.2" sensor, so about 4.5x3.2 mm, about half the area of the sensor used in the Nikon P950.
!0x is about 500mm equivalent for 35mm cameras, so the 30 mm objective lens may strain to give nicely bright images other than in good light.
However, if it performs well enough to give decent pictures even in shade, the IS may not be essential, the picture will suffice for ID.
It is clearly an impressive bit of engineering to wrap it all into a small glass, better thought out and implemented than the earlier Sony DEV 50, the pioneer electronic image recording glass.
I hope it finds favor in the market.
 
This is a step forward in the good direction. It cannot be cheap, one because of the brand name, two because is normal to ask for big prices for such novelties.
It is not the best of the binoculars combined with the best of the camera, it is a hybrid and must be analyzed/judged/pondered as a hybrid.
Do not compare it with a binocular without electronics. Nor with a camera.
At this time, it is the best, right?
When a success ($$$), probably other brands will produce such hybrids. Right now it is only a beginning.
I am optimistic.

Edit:
I suggest a new setting : "Galactic Empire walkers" :p
 
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Repeating what I posted elsewhere:

From looking at the Swarovski product lineup, it seems that they have few products that have active systems and complex electronics. There is a thermal imager and a dG monocular only, as far as I can see.

Compared to Nikon, Canon, Sony, Panasonic.....who have decades of good optics coupled with complex electronics embedded in active systems engineering solutions; Swaro have a mountain to climb. The AX Visio is simply a camera bolted onto a binocular body, with a connection to a bird ID app.

Swaro optics are undoubtedly high quality, which are high cost; maybe they have or should partner with a third party to bring the skills and experience of the electronics and systems engineering ..... Like Panasonic have partnered with Leica (as far as I am aware).
 
PeterPS said:
It appears that with the AX Visio you're going to have to use your phone more than your binos:
review of swarovski AX Visio binoculars - Google Search
At least if you buy the AX Visio from the following retailer you're going to save 533$ (which you can use to buy a good smart phone):
Swarovski AX Visio 10x32 Smart Binoculars - Optics4Birding
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That’s really helpful thanks. It would be good to see a more detailed review of the camera function if anyone comes across one.
 
There's no doubt that this instrument showcases some extraordinary technology but will they have 'rubber' armour that doesn't fall apart after only a couple of years of moderate use? Given my experience with NL protective lens covers and forehead rest, I can see the fiddly attachment for the battery cover quickly disintegrating.
 
Just the integrated camera alone is worth it. Long as been the dream of an actually good photo binocular. It would be a game changer and I wouldn't even need the other app stuff on it. Kinda worthless and gimmick without any sample images taken from the camera, considering they don't wanna show it one would have to assume it's even worse than when Leica licensed that Huawei camera phone.
 
Ted Y. said:
"Because Swarovski included a 3rd party app developer interface, anyone can create software for the AX Visio!"
www.optics4birding.com

Swarovski AX Visio 10x32 Smart Binoculars - Optics4Birding

Swarovski AX Visio 10x32 Smart Binoculars - The Swarovski AX Visio 10x32 Smart Binoculars might just be the most revolutionary product to hit the opt...
www.optics4birding.com www.optics4birding.com
It is serious!
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Terry Davis would've loved that, he could finally make a program to help locate Glow in the Dark CIA agents.
 
This seems to be the way things are generally going. To integrate optics with camera functions, it would make it really good for taking photos of insects as you can get that instant shot without getting too close to the object. It might be a good alternative to carrying optical gear AND camera gear out into the field, although I'm sure there'll still be lots of people who do just that or opt for one or the other.

Building in an ID function always advances the tech. AI image recognition is based around probabilities, so I'm sure it'll try and give the best estimate it comes up with, and for many people that might be a good starting point for IDing some species, although I suspect it'll get some IDs wrong. I'm assuming that if there's some sort of function for a user to confirm or correct an ID then it would feed in to further training the AI and improving its accuracy for other users.

So this to me sounds like the first step into new territory for optical gear and I'm sure the other manufacturers will be working on their own. Maybe some corners have been cut in this first product, but like any technology it can only get better. I'd imagine they're working on building this in to scopes as well.
 
JTweedie said:
This seems to be the way things are generally going. To integrate optics with camera functions, it would make it really good for taking photos of insects as you can get that instant shot without getting too close to the object. It might be a good alternative to carrying optical gear AND camera gear out into the field, although I'm sure there'll still be lots of people who do just that or opt for one or the other.

Building in an ID function always advances the tech. AI image recognition is based around probabilities, so I'm sure it'll try and give the best estimate it comes up with, and for many people that might be a good starting point for IDing some species, although I suspect it'll get some IDs wrong. I'm assuming that if there's some sort of function for a user to confirm or correct an ID then it would feed in to further training the AI and improving its accuracy for other users.

So this to me sounds like the first step into new territory for optical gear and I'm sure the other manufacturers will be working on their own. Maybe some corners have been cut in this first product, but like any technology it can only get better. I'd imagine they're working on building this in to scopes as well.
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Then I'm sure my personal dream of an augmented thermal image being added to the binocular view at the press of a button will be realised.
Instead of having to use a Thermal imaging device, then line up the animal next to a distinctive branch or feature, then carefully switch to binoculars without moving your eyes!
 
5k for a binocular that takes poor photos.......id rather just put a cheap digital camera on my old jenoptem and my gaffer tape wont fall apart,overpriced brand. got rid of my swarovski gear years ago better and far cheaper makers out there
 

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