Binoculars

After an excruciating four months, most of us have put aside our lockout gripes and embraced the upcoming NFL season with the usual body-painted passion. Good news for a worried league, but will a fickle stock market and a sluggish job outlook still keep some folks tuned out? Tickets prices will remain largely static, but optimizing your viewing experience (both at home, or in the stadium) can still run you a pretty penny. To help you weed out the best bets, here are eight gadgets that should get you the most bang for your buck:

1. Binoculars: A must-have for any pigskin aficionado worth his or her salt, these come in especially handy for those stranded in the cheap seats. Don't miss a single play with a Bushnell H20, available at Amazon.com. There are cheaper models out there, but this waterproof and fogproof pair will lockout moisture and make sure you catch all the action, no matter the weather. [$72 or less]

2. Cameras: Smartphone snapshots might be all the rage these days, but there's no replacement for a quality photograph from a real camera. Fortunately, there are some top-notch, inexpensive models you can slip right in your pocket. Pick up a Nikon Coolpix with up to 16 megapixels at Target. Snag a discounted Target gift card from sites like GiftCardGranny.com and cut costs even lower. [$200 or less] Read more

March 2, 2009 –Olympus announced today that it is teaming with The Coleman Company, Inc. to offer new binoculars featuring Olympus’ superior optics and rugged durability combined with Coleman’s outdoor brand appeal. The binoculars, co-branded under a licensing agreement, will be offered by Olympus in three distinct models – Standard, Compact and Waterproof – and will be ideal for hikers, campers or any outdoor enthusiasts.

“The new Coleman binoculars will complement our existing line-up of outdoor cameras and binoculars, specifically our Stylus Tough and E-System cameras as well as Magellan binoculars,” said Nadine Clark, product manager, Olympus Imaging America Inc. “The partnership will also enable us to reach new consumers where Coleman products are traditionally sold.”

Olympus, through its partnership with the National Park Service, promotes active, healthy lifestyles and encourages consumers to visit our nation’s parks. Whether you’re hiking the Grand Canyon or bird watching in Yellowstone, the new Coleman binoculars are for you. Proof that Olympus enables consumers to capture it all.

The new Coleman-edition binoculars, which will be offered in “Coleman green,” will be available in summer 2009. The 10x50 standard model features high magnification with an expansive field of view that makes it easy to track moving subjects like birds and other wild life. The 8x21 compact binoculars offer 8x magnification and are so small they easily fit in a jacket pocket, making it easy to roam the great outdoors. The new 8x25 binoculars are waterproof, dirtproof and fogproof – all in a lightweight, portable size great for climbing and kayaking.

SOURCE OLYMPUS IMAGING AMERICA INC.