How does $1,399 for a pair of binoculars sound? When they also shoot 1080p HD video and 7.1 megapixel stills — perhaps slightly less ridiculous. Sony’s launching a new category of high-end binoculars with its new DEV-3 and DEV-5, which offer camera-like features and are priced at $1,399 and $1,999, respectively. Each pair includes two Exmor R CMOS sensors for native 3D video capture, dual f/1.8-3.4, 0.5-10x optical zoom lenses, and a pair of 1,227-dot viewfinders. While the pricier model adds a 10x digital zoom, GPS, and accessories like a carrying case and neck strap, those features don’t really justify a $600 jump in price — if you can live without GPS, it probably makes sense to skip the DEV-5. There’s also Memory Stick Pro Duo and SDXC support, stereo microphones with an audio input jack, and HDMI out. Coined as the world’s first binoculars with HD video recording, we wouldn’t expect there to be a terribly huge market for these pricey specs at launch, but if you’ve been looking for a way to record while bird watching, catching close-ups of the action at a game, or whatever it is you look at through your apartment window, then look for these to hit stores in November. Continue reading Sony Digital Recording Binoculars look like military night vision goggles, cost almost as much Sony Digital Recording Binoculars look like military night vision goggles, cost almost as much originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 19 Aug 2011 03:00:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink