Customer Reviews:
Loaded w/ features & mediocre accuracy... August 23, 2008 7 (Planet Earth) 1 out of 2 found this review helpful
This watch has about all the gimmicks you could want in a watch. Well, perhaps a GPS, heart rate monitor and MP3 player would be nice inclusions... However, it is solar-powered with a generous battery reserve and should never die with normal light exposure. I've never seen my battery level fall below H (high). It has a thermometer, barometer, altimeter, compass, moonphase indicator, tide chart, automatic synchronization with international atomic clock radio broadcasts and the standard multi-function watch stuff like stopwatch, world time, etc. That's all fine and dandy, but let's face it, this is NOT a precise instrument. The compass is surprisingly consistent, though I did have to calibrate it away from the factory preset initially. I feel this feature is the watch's strongest feature due to its accuracy and the fact that it could someday save your life. Still, it's not perfect. The compass display only lasts a few seconds, so you can't use it like a real compass. The barometer also is quite consistent once calibrated, though I have seen errors of 2 hPa in either direction. Thermometer is rather fickle if the watch is being worn on skin. I've noticed as much as 5 degrees Fahrenheit error in either direction. It's typically within 1 F degree either way. Have never verified the thermometer's accuracy when not being worn, so can't comment on that. Altimeter gives decent approximation. I live at sea level and get readings as low as -10 meters and as high as 10 meters while at sea level. Typically it reads 0 or 5 meters. On a recent trip about 250 miles from home, with the watch calibrated at my home's sea level, I reached a peak altitude of 1195 meters, according to the watch. On my descent, I compared the watch's altitude reading with a posted USGS altitude sign. At 457.2 meters (1500 feet) the watch read a pretty consistent 420 meters. The moonphase indicator is, of course, very accurate. Tide charting leaves much to be desired. It calculates first high tide to within 20 minutes. Pretty good. However, this is the only actual high or low tide to be seen and to actually see the actual time, you must go into the Adjust mode. The actual graphing of the tides is sloppy and inaccurate. A dot-plotted chart like that used for the barometer should be incorporated. The 2-hour increments of the present graph also hinder true accuracy. Also, this mode ALWAYS defaults to showing tide at 6:00 am. This time can be adjusted manually each time you enter the mode, but the default time CANNOT be changed. Tide charting is the watch's weakest feature. Rather disappointed with the atomic clock synchronization too. I live in HNL, one of the listed time zones that should be able to receive atomic calibration. Has not happened yet, after over a month. When I try to manually synchronize, I get a level 1 (low, but existent) signal indication, but no synchronization. Frustrating. It's also a little disappointing that a "titanium" watch has a PLASTIC shell and stainless back and presumably a something-other-than-titanium case. The band does appear to be legitimate titanium but I wouldn't be surprised if it's titanium-plated aluminum or something. This watch, despite it's substantial bulkiness, is very light. My Citizen Eco-Drive Skyhawk, which is TRULY a titanium watch and is notably smaller, is noticeably heavier. All in all, it's a cool watch. It's very stylish for a digital watch. It's comfortable. It's very durable. And you'll always have reasonable accuracy from any function (maybe not with tide charting), with a good compass. Worth the Amazon price, but not the suggested retail price.
excellent outdoor enthusiast timepiece August 12, 2008 Aston Alfred Brown (Jamaica) This watch is great, full with features, and 200m water resistant .... that a lot!! I just wish the year (e.g. 2008 would be displayed on the watch, whilst also showing the time.
Good Buy! August 9, 2008 Maddie Hayes (South Carolina) 2 out of 2 found this review helpful
I bought this watch for my boyfriend and was skeptical because it was a Casio. That is no longer the case. We have found it to be quite accurate. I was debating purchasing a Suunto, but decided on this watch because of it is solar atomic. I am pleased with this decision. We have taken it on many hiking trips and the altimeter has come in handy. It is easy to use and will not disappoint.
musky hunter July 25, 2008 Tom E. Erickson (Minneapolis Minnesota) 1 out of 2 found this review helpful
i have the 1300T-7V i love this watch i am a out doors guy i use this as my work watch so i bought the 1500T-7V as my good watch im a welder and i did get a little splater on the cristal thats why i bought the 1500 that and is the latest of the pathfinder's i like the atomic time keeping my work has buzzers that are atomic so i know when there going off before they go off that and the solar power i where long sleaves at work i sleep with this watch on and the batery is all ways on H its great it gets sun light for abought 20 minn on my way home other then that a little in door light is all it gets i just got my 1500 today and cant wait to play with it this weekend when i go fishing thanks for reading and i would recamend this watch yes its big but what the hell its a tough watch
Definitely not too small July 12, 2008 S. Mathews (San Francisco, CA) 9 out of 19 found this review helpful
Unless you're a linebacker (or larger), you will not see the beautiful band on the sides of your arm when you look straight at the watch, because it is that big. But at least its a nice looking big watch. Serious band with elegant closing mechanism. Nice features but nothing overly exciting- sure would like to know how cold it got last night, but you'd have to press the BARO button all night long to find out.The tide did not synch with the time zone, the moon phase is okay (can't tell much from the indicator; a digital chart telling me the exact age would be more helpful)- bottom line is you'll still want tide charts, moon phase calculator, the $35 Casio that gives you a record of the coldest point in the evening, a real compass and a GPS or topo map for the true altitude measurement. Most helpful to the guy who falls out of the boat and is stranded on an island. Synching ends in around 90 years. While I was typing this my cottage gained 5 meters of altitude. Can't wear it to sleep if you want it to synch and you're not outside, and put it in the sun to keep it charged every day...I don't think I really need this watch. It does have a nice band and case, is large enough to read and is good for casual observations, e.g. directional orientation, weather changes. My cottage just gained another 5 meters. This is because I wasn't wearing the watch before I started- your wrist temp helps keep the readings more moderate. I just lost the 5 meters I picked up before. Will update the review after I've owned it a little longer and (hopefully) find some more good uses for it.
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