Sony unveils 3D HD video binoculars for long-distance lurkers

Sony today debuted two new sets of video binoculars, the DEV-3 and DEV-5, which are capable of 2D and 3D image capture using the new AVCHD 2.0 format.

Though images captured in the original AVCHD standard have shown a slight lack of clarity when compared to HDV because of its 13 to 17 mbps MPEG4-AVC compression in real-world trials; the AVCHD 2.0 standard, which debuted earlier this year, bumps up the maximum system bitrate to 28 Mbps, adds the capacity for 1080p 50i, 1080p 60i, and 3D image capture.

These binoculars also feature Sony's various trademarked technologies that it uses in its Handycam and Cybershot camera lines, like the Exmor R CMOS sensors, BIONZ processors, Sony G lenses, and "Optical Steadyshot" image stabilization.

In effect, the use of the new standard and all these Sony-standard technologies make these binoculars pretty much just mid-range, small-sensor camcorders with a long distance zoom (DEV-3 has 10x optical, and DEV-5 has 10x optical plus a digital zoom for a total of 20x magnification).

The DEV-3 and DEV-5 will be available at retail in November of this year for approximately $1400 and $2000.