On the surface, it would appear that a digital binocular is a good choice for long range photography. On top of it all, you typically get an 8x binocular with it. Problem is, the digital camera on this kind of product is relatively low quality as is the binocular. For someone who just shoots for fun and wants the convenience of two instruments in one package, they will work.

They will not work as well as even an average digital point and shoot camera, however. Even a modest digital point and shoot such as the Pentax Optio E10 will have twice the resolution and is capable of more magnification (12x) when you combine the optical and digital zoom. Then, too, you get other functions never found on a digital binocular - macro, flash and so much more. Best of all, the whole package is smaller than a deck of playing cards.

If you really want to take good pics, my advice is to carry a decent binocular and one of these new digital point and shoot cameras in your pocket. That way, you get the best of both worlds and all in a package that may weigh less than the average digital binocular.

For about five years, I have been using an old HP, plastic 2 MP digital point and shoot camera. It was my first digital and was given to me as a gift. At the time, I was a diehard, 35mm fan, but slowly became addicted to the practical side of digital photography.

Last fall, though, my old HP began to show signs of age. On a fall trip to photograph waterfalls, it began to act strangely. I did get some nice pics, but lost a lot of opportunities as well. So last week, I took the plunge and bought a Pentax Optio A10.

First, let me say that digital cameras have changed an awful lot in five years. Duh!With 8 Megapixels and a 2.5" LCD, not to mention image stabilization (Pentax calls it shake reduction), this is a wonderful little (and I do mean little)camera. As a wildflower nut and digiscoping fan, it proved to be an excellent choice for my needs. Through my Kowa 663 with the Kowa TSE-21WD 20x eyepiece, I could count individual hairs in a squirrel's tail on a shot from my patio.

For macro work, it has both a macro and super macro mode which I love. Haven't had much chance to do wildflowers, yet, but I will report back soon. So far, though, I am having a blast with this little camera.

This weekend, I was involved in two events to celebrate and educate people on the need to protect habitat for our many species of migratory birds, both here and in other parts of their range. The event is called International Migratory Bird Day.

The first event was at a local, suburban lake and I represented OpticsPlanet.net in a booth with scores of other local birding related businesses. I set up a few spotting scopes and showed people some of the birds up and down the breadth of the lake, but most of the fun centered around two very occupied and very busy Purple Martin houses. These birds are not only lovely, they are also very interesting. Great subjects for such an event, too.

The next day, I helped a local nature preserve and set my scope at various stations along the nature trial. The variety of birds was much greater and the surrounding more typical of my usual haunts. It was a beautiful day and each and every visitor loved the idea that someone would take the time to share the amazing sights of a bird seen up close through a quality spotting scope. Saw lots of great birds, but better yet, met lots of nice people.

I'm back after a long absence due to some minor surgery and a few complications, but when I arrived earlier this week, I was delighted to find a lot of new products for me to play with(oops, evalute).

One of these is the new Nikon 50mm Fieldscope. Now, I am a big Fieldscope fan and own and use the big Nikon 82mm Fieldscope with the Nikon 25-75x eyepiece, so I was eager to see this new "baby" Fieldscope.

Baby it is is. It's tiny! But it, well, wasn't quite what I expected. This new Fieldscope does not appear to be made of metal. It seems to be polymer construction and instead of the helical focuser found on its larger siblings, it has a focusing knob a la my Kowa. Hmmm!

To say I had mixed feelings is an understatement. When I saw "made in China" I about died. This could not be a Fieldscope! Or could it?

I inserted a Nikon DS Wide 27x eyepiece. (27x in this little scope.)I looked through the scope. Okay, yes, this is a Fieldscope. Optics prove it. I'll just have to learn to get used to the new look and feel.