This is an amazing tool for identifying birds! The new Swarovski Digital Guide (dG for short) is an optical monocular with a digital camera. Download the Merlin Bird ID app on your smartphone, sight the bird through the Digital Guide, push a button on the dG and your sighting is transferred to your smartphone for automatic identification.

The dG creates a Wi-Fi hotspot that connects to your phone. The range is approximately 16 feet. Bluetooth and internet connections are not required. Usable in the woods! This is a rugged instrument, waterproof for 30 minutes at a water depth of 3.3 feet. Realistically, this means heavy rain will not harm the dG!

The dG charges with a USB charging cable (included) and will stay charged for 3.5-6 hours depending upon how you use it.

We have a college level Biology professor on staff. He has used the dG extensively and here are his comments:

"I have used the Digital Guide and find the optics to be superb and the digital identification capability with the Merlin Bird App to be excellent.

I think that this system overall has incredible merit for novices as well as for professionals.

Unknown birds that are seen in unfamiliar regions, all of a sudden become recognizable.

Multiple people at the same time can view what is being seen on the dG Digital Guide; interactive and collaborative learning is possible. As Swarovski has stated "Together, we see more"."

• Magnification: 8x
• objective lens diameter: 25mm
• Exit pupil diameter: 3.1mm
• Eye relief: 17mm
• Linear Field of view: 357 ft @ 1000 yds.
• Field of view (degrees): 6.8
• Close focus distance: 8.2 ft
• Length: 5.75 in.
• Width: 4.4 in.
• Height: 2.36 in.
• Weight: 19.4 oz.
• Includes padded case and straps for both the dG and the case.