Camonity 12x32 review: digital binoculars with a camera in one

Camonity's 12x32 digital binoculars are in the niche but handy category of binoculars with cameras. The device includes a 5MP still and 1080t handy category of binoculars with cameras. The device includes a 5MP still and 1080P video-capable camera. However, the binoculars and digital camera essentially operate as separate devices, and what you see through the lenses isn't quite what you'll capture.

I can think of many scenarios where you might want a binocular-camera combo, not least to save on weight and space in your bag and allow you to travel lightly when hiking or at an event. But does this product compromise on both elements?

The 12x indicates the device's magnification power, making objects appear 12 times closer than they would to the naked eye. This relatively strong zoom is suitable for observing distant objects like birds, wildlife, and individual players at sports games. The number 32 is the diameter of the lenses at the front of the binoculars in millimeters, which is, on paper at least, great for daytime viewing but insufficient for low light.

I've been a keen birdwatcher for years and always rely on my trusty Nikon Prostaff P3 8x42, which we rate in our best binoculars guide. While this entry-level pair has brilliant optics, I still have to carry around my mirrorless camera and one of the best telephoto lenses if I want to take photos of flighty and faraway subjects. Cue Camonity's relatively cheap and portable alternative.

Binoculars with cameras are also helpful for general surveillance and observation and can be more intuitive than handling binoculars and a camera separately. Given the price of the Camonity 12x32 digital binoculars—which, like many cheap Amazon purchases, are sold under several brand names—my expectations weren't staggeringly high. Still, I love affordable gadgets, and I tested the device for almost a month to see how it worked as a compact, take-anywhere magnifying option.

Camonity 12x32: Specifications

Camonity 12x32: Price

If you've ever tried shopping for niche photography gadgets on Amazon, you've probably noticed something odd: the same product listed under different brands, with prices that jump around wildly. 

The Camonity 12x32 binoculars can be found with multiple names (including Dreamy, Ansee, and Acuvar), meaning it's easier to give a price range than a specific RRP. Expect to spend around $86-$130, or £95-£135 in the UK, with the higher price options often bundling basic accessories like a storage pouch or dustblower.

The Camonity 12x32s are cheap by any measure of binoculars, where an entry-level pair can start at $120, and a mid-range pair like the Nikon Monarch M7 8x42 costs upward of $400. Add the 5-megapixel camera into the mix, and they look like an absolute bargain.

But you're partly paying for the camera at the expense of optical quality and rugged construction. If you know you won't use it and have a decent smartphone zoom range or a 'proper' camera, I can think of better value, better-built options on the market.

Camonity 12x32: Design & Handling

Cheap and cheerful is a British expression that sometimes has negative connotations. But it’s a fitting description for the Camonity 12x32 binoculars, whose design offers a perfectly satisfactory experience but not much more.

When I got the binos out of their cardboard box, I noticed how lightweight and compact they were straightaway. The low weight (450g) is partly due to their almost entirely plastic construction, rather than using a metal alloy for the exterior or glass lenses. While the top plate feels slightly brittle and plastic-y, rubberized grips on the focus wheel and the side of the lenses offer a nice feel for your fingers to slide over.

The binoculars I received didn’t come with a case, nor were there any caps to protect the front of the lenses. I wrapped them up in a scarf inside my bag, as I didn't have anything else to hand, but I’d suggest getting a basic carrying case to avoid them getting scratched or dented over time.

A strap is included, and it comes pre-mounted to rings on each side of the binocular, which means you can wear them around your neck comfortably while out and about. The strap is quite thin, but because the product is so light, this isn’t a problem. Even mid-weight binos can feel heavy after a day around your neck, and I found 450g just right for a few hours' wear on walks in nature.

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This is an unusual thing to say when writing about binoculars, but next, let's look at what the buttons, ports and menus are like. Camonity gives you a paper guide in the product box, outlining what each mode – photo, video or playback – does and how to change basic settings like the white balance. The mode and shutter buttons are found on top, toward the back of the unit, and you can just about reach your finger and fire a shot while looking through the binoculars.

In front of this is the rubber wheel for shifting focus, while twisting the end of the right-hand eyepiece adjusts the focus of those. Both have enough friction that you won't rotate them accidentally, but I found they took longer than I wanted. Too many times, the bird had flown off by the time I'd brought the image into focus.

There's a small speaker between the lenses at the back, and while tinny, it’s loud and clear enough for playing back clips. There's also a microSD slot for up to a 32GB card. The card was already fitted snugly in my binoculars, but I found it stiff to get it in and out when I wanted to retrieve my images.

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As mentioned, there's a 2-inch LCD that flips up and down easily to reveal four more plastic buttons underneath it. There's one for power, the menu and two back and forward buttons, which act as zoom toggles and up and down navigation through the settings. The screen is pleasingly bright, even if the refresh rate (anecdotally, as no specs are provided here) is laggy.

What bothers me most about the build is the lack of (official) waterproofing. The MicroSD slot is open to the elements, as is the micro USB slot. It’s unlikely you’d want to use this device in the pouring rain, but several times, I was caught in an unexpected shower and thrust them inside a waterproof coat for protection. As nature-watching usually occurs outside, it's worth considering what you'll use these binoculars for and whether you'll need something more rugged and drop-resistant long-term.

Camonity 12x32: Performance

The performance of the Camonity 12x32 binoculars with the digital camera is difficult to summarise, not least because the price point is low, the brand is unknown, and the product's promises are vague. But try, I shall.

Starting with the binocular element, I found the 12x magnification brilliant for viewing birds across a vast lake from a hide. It was too strong for garden dwellers just a few meters from the kitchen window, but that's because the minimum focus distance is 8m rather than an inherent fault. 

Although there's no true built-in stabilization, viewing was steady. I also found that the 32mm objective lens allowed a decent amount of light to enter the binoculars – important for image brightness and clarity – but it's best for daytime viewing and fairly hopeless at resolving subjects at twilight.

Looking through the binoculars is a mixed experience, though. I'd have liked each lens to have more of a hood, as I struggled to slot my eyes into the lens to block out light and view the scene more intimately. Once you've focused, though, the clarity of the image isn't bad, and I could pick out the textures of individual feathers from around 400 meters away. On the downside, when using the binoculars on a sunny day, I noticed strange white marks, almost like the effect of light leaks, appearing at the edges of the frame.

Since I don't wear glasses, I asked my Dad, who does, to test the Camonity 12x32 binoculars. He found it tricky to get a comfortable view because the eyecups aren't adjustable and don't retract enough, making it difficult to position his eyes correctly. It's also worth nothing that in some online reviews, users have struggled to get the binoculars close enough together for both eyes to reach the lenses.

Unlike higher-end binoculars that are nitrogen-purged to eliminate moisture and prevent fogging, the Camonity doesn't have such a construction. And that's a shame because it makes them vulnerable to condensation in damp conditions. Living in the UK and testing during winter, I experienced this firsthand during one misty morning birdwatching session at my local river. 

The lenses fogged and obscuring my view, and by the time they'd cleared, the heron I'd hoped to observe more closely had flown off. I wouldn't expect pro-level fog-proofing for the price, and you could probably reduce the effect by storing the binoculars in an airtight plastic bag.

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Now, onto the camera performance. I don't think anyone would buy the Camonity 12x32 binoculars for its camera, but you'd like to think it was usable for the odd record shot of a wildlife sighting or a snapshot of a sports match. In short, I found both the method of taking photos and the results themselves, frustrating.

Because the view through the lenses and the camera is slightly off-kilter, what you see isn't quite what you capture, and you have to rely on the LCD to compose your images. Pressing the shutter requires quite a bit of force, so my first few images were jogged by doing so, and it took a bit of practice to capture a photo without wobbling the device entirely.

There's a tripod mount on the underside of these binoculars, and I'd highly recommend using it if you can watch wildlife from somewhere static like a bird hide. My handheld video was incredibly shaky, particularly when zooming in. I can forgive the lack of image stabilization given the budget price, but the constant video freezes were a real problem. Plus, the zoom buttons were very noisy while recording.

The biggest turn-off for the camera is that you can't control the focus. It's not auto, it's not manual, and it also doesn't seem to follow the pattern of what's sharp in the lens. All of my images are blurry, even when they looked sharp at the time of capture through the binoculars, and that's a problem for a product that promises to be a reliable photo recorder, even in small resolution.

Camonity 12x32: Sample video

Above: sample footage from the Camonity 12x32 binoculars' digital camera

The above footage was captured at 1080P resolution using the camera's automatic white balance. No editing was done. Note that the timestamp is incorrect and should read 2025, which is my user error during testing.

Camonity 12x32: Final verdict

What I like about the Camonity 12x32 digital binoculars is that they don't try to do anything too clever. The general operation and the menu structure are simple to understand, and you can get usable snaps from the camera without fiddling with tons of settings. In short, they lived up to my (low) expectations given their price and jack-of-all-trades use case.

The camera itself was very poor quality when compared to my iPhone, and I didn't like the lack of focus control. Although the operational range is said to be 500 meters, images taken at this distance were blurry and pixelated. Fortunately, they were sharper at the closest operational range.

The Camonity product listing suggests that these binoculars can be used at concerts, but unless that concert is in the daytime or very well-lit, you'll struggle to see a clear picture (I know because I tried).

If you're a hobbyist wildlife-watcher or know someone who is, these binoculars with a camera might make a fun gift. For the seriously budget-conscious who want the ability to view and snap their sightings, there are few alternatives for this price. But if you're serious about image quality and already have a camera with zoom capabilities, this probably isn't the right product for you.

Alternatives

Nikon Prostaff P3 8x42
These lightweight entry-level binoculars might not have the camera gadget, but the fiberglass-reinforced, waterproof build is better for the outdoors. Our reviewer found the optical quality fantastic for the price, which is only a little higher than the Camonity. Read our full review...

Canon PowerShot Zoom
This nifty pocket pal is very easy to use and more of a monocular that can take photos beyond your phone. It has a 100mm, 400mm and 800mm (digital) lens equivalent, with built-in stabilization but the same 1080p video resolution as the Camonity. Read the full review...