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In brief: If you're an outdoorsy type who likes adventuring after dark, Yashica has a new gadget that could be right up your alley. The imaging tech company just unveiled the Explorer – a set of full-color night-vision goggles packed with features for low-light exploration. You can use it as a regular video camera or wear it on your head as an accessory for your existing outdoor gear or helmet.
Unlike conventional low-light cameras that typically record in a grainy green tint, the Explorer lets you see the night world in true colors. This is thanks to an f/1.0 lens paired with infrared illuminators that feature a range of up to 600 meters (1,969 feet), or up to 2,000 meters (6562 feet) in certain optimal conditions.
The camera can capture 4K video and 48MP photos, which reduces the need to carry extra gear. Digital image stabilization is also on board to cut down on shaky camera issues when recording footage on the move.
Great footage requires great displays, and Yashica has that covered with a total of three screens. There's a pair of ultra-high-def OLED circular viewfinders for your eyes when in goggle mode and another flip-up 2.4-inch unit for when the camera is in your hands.
All this technology tips the scales at 430 grams, which may feel somewhat heavy when mounted on your head. But at least it's lighter than the Apple Vision Pro's 600 grams. Yashica says the camera can last for up to 11 hours on its removable 3,500mAh battery pack.
On the technical side, the Explorer offers three optical zoom levels plus eight steps of digital zoom for up-close observation. The 13-degree field of view will give you a nice wide perspective as well. File formats include JPEG photos from 3MP to 48MP and 720p to 4K .MOV video.
If you want to be one of the first to get your hands on Yashica's full-color night-vision system, it's available for pre-order now through a Kickstarter campaign. Early bird backers can snag the Explorer for $258 to $278, with an expected retail price of $389.99 after the crowdfunding launch.