Poll: will you buy Swarovski AX Visio? (1 Viewer)

[crinklystarfish]

The specific poll question was: "What do, or would, you plan to buy?"

I ticked the AX Visio option.

To clarify: I would buy an AX Visio in the event that I make firm plans to travel outside of Europe. Something I've done before and intend to do again.

 

[grackle314]

So if I see it right, 2 out of the 7 who voted for the Visio got theirs. Did the other 5 get cold feet or are they just waiting for theirs to come?

I'm planning on doing a field test away from the local shop to guide my purchase decision. First use of one at the shop, and immediately outdoors, was positive for me. Field test will wait probably until next week. In my use of Merlin I understand that it makes recommendations of possible matches for bird identifications but that the birder makes all final decisions. My interest in the Swarovski AX Visio especially includes the camera feature coming in a comparable total weight to putting my mobile phone on a binocular, along with the other sharing features. Merlin is potentially a big plus for me in helping with suggestions for unfamiliar birds away from my native habitat.

 

[tenex]

In my use of Merlin I understand that it makes recommendations of possible matches for bird identifications but that the birder makes all final decisions.

It's not obvious to me how that could work within the AX.

 

[Jason Bugay Reyes]

From what I see the trend in my place, beginner bird photographers took plenty of pics per species and tried their best to ID those birds from bird guide, Merlin and any online references.

From there, they will gain more written info about those birds from Merlin etc and it help to understand better of birds around them.

Cost of equipment here for beginner bird photographers usually retirees age 55 and above

Swarovski CL 8x30 RM 6500
Sony mirrorless camera RM 6500
Sony 200-600mm lens RM 7500
Memory card RM 350
Tripod and video head RM 3000
Drybox RM 1000

Total RM 24850 #

AX Visio USD 4000 = RM 19060 #

Both system shoots at 4K but waterproof and less stuff to carry wins over the camera + lens system in my opinion.

Plus 10 years warranty and the ability for future firmware upgrades, AX Visio will help many beginners to foray into birding and photography at the same time.

 

[Dyrlege]

It's not obvious to me how that could work within the AX.

The AI suggests, you decide. Just like the autopilot on an electric car: it suggests, you control.

 

[tenex]

The AI suggests, you decide. Just like the autopilot on an electric car: it suggests, you control.

That doesn't seem to be the case with Teslas, much in the news lately for doing their own thing.
But let me try this again: how does the AX present multiple possibilities to choose between? Is there room in its display for that?

 

[Dyrlege]

That doesn't seem to be the case with Teslas, much in the news lately for doing their own thing.
But let me try this again: how does the AX present multiple possibilities to choose between? Is there room in its display for that?

1. Tesla: it does as it is told. And any misjudgement is to be blamed on the driver. All systems are aids to navigation, you need to be in control.
2. AX: it suggests what it "believes" to be the most probable answer. You trust it at your peril, it is an "aid to determination of species", nothing more. So when you get home or wherever, look through your photos and check. Or do that in the field. Your call.
It does, though, give you a chance to save and process sightings you might otherwise miss. Unless, of course, you always are 100% sure of what you see, in which case you would not be using an AX.
I'm a veterinarian and I have an MPH. I never let my instruments take the blame, all that information and the suggestions are aids to decision-making. And I need to understand what they are doing and when they are amiss.
Same thing when I'm out and about: compass and GPS are aids, not the truth. They may help me find the truth, but the decision of what is true is mine, as is the responsibility.
Edit: we have two Tesla's in our household (actually parked outside), and they do as they are told, not the other way around.

 

[Canip]

Yes of course the camera of the Canon is awful, esp. if you compare it to a „real“ camera,

The Powershot's camera is actually not as awful as I had thought. I will carry it with me when for some reason I cannot bring along the Visio

 

[tenex]

All systems are aids... you need to be in control.

The simple fact is that Teslas (like other vehicles with autopilot) are regularly causing accidents now when operated without a driver paying constant attention, but I don't want to turn this into an argument about cars. The principle is the same here: we can say "you need to be in control" but we absolutely know that not everyone will be. So reports appear everywhere of birds "identified" by Merlin, etc, and the only reason we don't need to worry too much about AX aggravating the problem is that the vast majority of people can't afford one. Perhaps tax subsidies could be arranged, as for Teslas?

 

[Dyrlege]

The simple fact is that Teslas (like other vehicles with autopilot) are regularly causing accidents now when operated without a driver paying constant attention, but I don't want to turn this into an argument about cars. The principle is the same here: we can say "you need to be in control" but we absolutely know that not everyone will be. So reports appear everywhere of birds "identified" by Merlin, etc, and the only reason we don't need to worry too much about AX aggravating the problem is that the vast majority of people can't afford one. Perhaps tax subsidies could be arranged, as for Teslas?

I know there are drivers who disregard the "you have to be in control at all times" and tape an orange or something to the steering wheel so the car doesn't notice they have let go. There are drunk drivers, there are careless drivers, but they are not dependent on one make of car. Most of the crashed cars are not Teslas. The same goes for gps-assisted steering in leisure craft. It's the attitude and irresponsible behaviour of people. Others use computers and AI instead of doing a little work themselves. An MD often relies on computer assisted analysis of samples.
The AX is an aid to navigating the world of birds, dragonflies, mammals etc. Just like the GPS used to find the nest we know is there. Or the apps that help us identify creatures. Or Wikipedia when looking for answers.
Cheers! Get out there, enjoy nature!

 

[tenex]

...there are careless drivers, but they are not dependent on one make of car. Most of the crashed cars are not Teslas.

Time for a crash course in logic: most cars on the road aren't Teslas. Crash rates do vary by make of car, and Tesla drivers have the highest in the US. (Not always due to autopilot, but the number of autopilot crashes with other brands is zero making those easily avoidable.)

You seem to be saying that devices aren't a problem, people are, but that's merely a way of dismissing any problem with how the design of products invites people to use them. Perhaps what you mean is that you just don't care how anyone (mis)uses AX, or Teslas, and should simply have said so. Instead it keeps sounding like some sort of objective claim, and a false one at that.

 

[Dyrlege]

Time for a crash course in logic: most cars on the road aren't Teslas. Crash rates do vary by make of car, and Tesla drivers have the highest in the US. (Not always due to autopilot, but the number of autopilot crashes with other brands is zero making those easily avoidable.)

You seem to be saying that devices aren't a problem, people are, but that's merely a way of dismissing any problem with how the design of products invites people to use them. Perhaps what you mean is that you just don't care how anyone (mis)uses AX, or Teslas, and should simply have said so. (Where would you draw the line: guns?) Instead it keeps sounding like some sort of objective claim, and a false one at that.

As one who spends quite a few hours on the road, of course I care: I don't understand how that idea got through what you want to call logic. Cars without autonomy/autopilot can of course not be misused on autopilot. What scares me is careless driving. And anything that can be misused will be misused. BY PEOPLE.
And please, do not try to tell me what I was trying to express.
Careless drivers scare me, misuse, whatever that may be, of an AX, does not. Unless, of course, someone threw one at me: I would attempt to catch it and run.

Have you actually tried an AX? Or a Tesla, for that matter? I have both (and an F-150) 😄

 

[tenex]

Have you actually tried an AX? Or a Tesla, for that matter? I have both (and an F-150)

No, I haven't tried an AX; none are available, and I don't see the relevance here, as the informational limitations of its display can be understood perfectly well from descriptions. I've never tried a Tesla either, though they do sound nice and I'm as confident I could handle one properly as you are, which again is not relevant. Nor does an F-150 seem to be... but congratulations on having them all yourself.

And please, do not try to tell me what I was trying to express.

Actually, I prefer not to be left to guess.

Getting back to AX Visio, the main question understandably on many people's minds seems to be the extent to which it may be useful for various people as an "aid" to identifying birds, versus becoming a substitute for learning how to. Different expectations are possible (as seen in another thread) but the question seems not to interest you at all because AX seems just one more of many equivalent examples of such "aids", which people can use however they like. If so, digressing into Teslas etc wasn't the most effective way of saying that. And we can stop here.

 

[Dyrlege]

No, I haven't tried an AX; none are available, and I don't see the relevance here, as the informational limitations of its display can be understood perfectly well from descriptions. I've never tried a Tesla either, though they do sound nice and I'm as confident I could handle one properly as you are, which again is not relevant. Nor does an F-150 seem to be... but congratulations on having them all yourself.


Actually, I prefer not to be left to guess.

Getting back to AX Visio, the main question understandably on many people's minds seems to be the extent to which it may be useful for various people as an "aid" to identifying birds, versus becoming a substitute for learning how to. Different expectations are possible (as seen in another thread) but the question seems not to interest you at all because AX seems just one more of many equivalent examples of such "aids", which people can use however they like. If so, digressing into Teslas etc wasn't the most effective way of saying that. And we can stop here.

Absolutely, but again: the AX is an aid to birding. No more, no less, and how it is used must be up to the user.

 

[Canip]

Well, I fooled around with the Canon Powershot last autumn. I found the optical quality unacceptable. Also the AF didn't work reliably. Not just in one unit, in two units.

........

Hermann

Couldn't recently take along the AX Visio, but managed to squeeze the Powershot Zoom into my pocket, and on my way crossed path with this nice grey heron.

The big advantage of the small Canon, beside the 400 mm focal length, is the short time within which it is ready to shoot, took my about 5 secs to get it out of the pocket, turn it on and shoot these pics (which I will not hang on the wall as posters, but for me are of acceptable quality for memory keeping) before the bird took off into the thicket.

 

[Maljunulo]

When in doubt, blame an inanimate object ….. then everyone can continue to feel good about themselves.

 

[iseegeorgesstar]

Couldn't recently take along the AX Visio, but managed to squeeze the Powershot Zoom into my pocket, and on my way crossed path with this nice grey heron.

The big advantage of the small Canon, beside the 400 mm focal length, is the short time within which it is ready to shoot, took my about 5 secs to get it out of the pocket, turn it on and shoot these pics (which I will not hang on the wall as posters, but for me are of acceptable quality for memory keeping) before the bird took off into the thicket.

The first one looks pretty sharp actually.