Elite Traveler March-April 2018

elite traveler MAR/APR 2018 42

TAKE THREE/// BINOCULARS

THE BIG PICTURE Technology

Whether you’re an adrenaline junkie, a deep-sea diver, a mountaineer or a wildlife enthusiast, your adventures need capturing—not just for social media bragging (did it even happen if you don’t post it online?) —but also for preserving your fondest memories. There’s a whole world of smart, durable technology that can keep up with even the most rugged expedition. We’ve picked the best…

4. OLYMPUS TOUGH TG-5 Tough by name and by nature, the small but robust TG-5 is designed to produce high-quality images and videos in any environment. The tough-as-nails camera can be safely dropped from a height of 7ft and is crushproof to a weight of 220lbs, freezeproof down to 14°F and waterproof to a depth of 50ft (a separate case can allow depths of up to 150ft). $580, getolympus.com

2. NIKOND500 With too many

1. GOPROFUSION Strap this to any part of you or your equipment (bike, shoes, car or helmet) to create action videos with a welcome new addition— two 180-degree lenses (one at the front and one at the back) allow the Fusion to capture everything around it. With 5.2K resolution and advanced stabilization, your footage will be smooth and crisp. $699, gopro.com

3. VIDEODRONE X4S Vital for recording those once-in-a- lifetime moments, the VideoDrone X4S is fitted with a Sony RX1R II camera and has an impressive flight time of up to 50 minutes so you can immortalize your expedition from a unique perspective. Plus, there’s intelligent flight-planning software so you can map out autonomous flights. $35,200, dronemajor.net

NICHOLAS BRAWER The single finest set for sale in the world, these handsome vintage Japanese navy binoculars were manufactured between 1933 and 1945. Carefully restored with no expense spared by Nicholas Brawer Gallery, the eyepieces’ 20-power-magnification image is bright and clear — functional art at its best. $60,000, nicholasbrawer.com

outstanding features to fit on this page, the D500 is the perfect all-rounder. With a 153-point AF system allowing for exceptionally wide coverage, metering sensors for extremely accurate subject recognition and a high- performance buffer allowing up to 200 NEF images to be captured in one burst, this resilient device packs a punch. It can also focus with absolute precisi i darkness. $2,900, nikon.c om

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SWAROVSKI EL 50 Sharpness of detail and a perfect weight balance mean the 10x EL 50 binoculars by Swarovski Optik are ideal for outdoor recreation — just the thing if you’re heading off on safari this year (see our recommendations on p84, including a tiger safari in India and a $1m, 12-country trip). The large exit pupils provide bright images even at twilight. $3,110, swarovskioptik.com

LEICA ULTRAVID 8X32 EDITION ZAGATO

Made in collaboration with Italian coachbuilder Zagato, these limited- edition binoculars pair sleek design with top-of-the-line technology. The grooved aluminum shell not only looks seriously cool but also improves durability and allows for a much better grip. We love the red anodized rings inscribed with ‘Zagato’ at the end of the lenses. $3,340, leica.com

Words Samantha Coles. Photos Tero Takalo-Eskola, Olympus