Review of Canon 18x50 Image Stabilization All-Weather Binoculars w/Case, Neck Strap & Batteries

Right out of the box, these binoculars, no doubt are one of the best pair of optics I have ever purchased. The Image Stabilization feature is what makes the bincoluars so attractive...and expensive.

They work great on the water or in situations that will reduce hand shakieness.

I own a pair of 10x30 Canon and wanted to upgrade having liked them.

With the 18x50 I got what I expected with the 10x30 model, but the weight of these bincolars is a bit of a draw back. At least they have a tripod hole for support if you need it.

The weight also creates another draw back.

**** Be aware, there appears to be a design flaw with the top eye peice portion. Due to the heavy weight of these 18 x 50 binoculars, one must be careful how you handle them.

These binoculars have a different method for their case carrying strap then the other Canon image stablization binoculars. Other models have a strap for the case and another neck strap for the binoculars themselves.

On the 18 x 50 model it uses the same neck strap, for both the bincoular and the case. Simply, the case has no strap and you place the binoculars in the case and pull neck strap out from the case, over the top case flap and use it as the case's carrying strap.

On first look, it seems like a better idea.

The neck strap attaches to the eye peice portion of the binoculars, while the other 'lighter' models have the neck strap attaching to the body itself. This causes the weight of the entire units to be supported on the eye piece portions.

Having only had these 18x50 IS binoculars less than three weeks from purchase, I pulled the binoculars out of the case when the top eye piece portion separated from the main body. This waswith little pressure and being careful everytime I handled them.

I figured it was a simple fix, perhaps snapping pieces back in place. This was not the case. On closer inspection the fastening screws, which held the eye piece portion to the main body, were still in tack, but the screw holes, which kept the main body to the eye peice in place, appeared not to be strong enough to handle extra pressure.

The outer loop of the screw holes on two of the three screw holes broke away.

The screws are set too close to the outer part of the eye peice base for strong enough support and the material supporting the screw holes are too weak to support the existing body weight and pressure exerted on it over time.

This breakage came with little effort and pressure or from abuse.

I thought about repairing them myself, but figured it still was under warranty (only 3 weeks old) and the cost of $1,100 should be enough excuse to send them to Canon Repair for a quick fix.

BOY WAS I SADLY MISTAKEN. Canon Repair charged me another $350 to repair it and it's now over 4 weeks and I have not seen them yet. I've owned them less than 8 weeks and more than half of that time is in repair!

I just wonder if anyone else has had this problem as it certainly appears it's a design flaw because of the overall weight.

So to review them I would say great binoculars but becareful on how you handle these items, if you need a good pair of binoculars, I would say go with the lower models of the Canon IS series as they are more durable!

Click Here to see more reviews about: Canon 18x50 Image Stabilization All-Weather Binoculars w/Case, Neck Strap & Batteries

Product Description:
Canon's 18x50 IS binoculars incorporate an optical image stabilizer for shake-free viewing and minimal eye fatigue. This technology was first developed for Canon video camcorders and is now available in many of Canon's binoculars. The system employs a Vari-Angle Prism, dual transparent plates, independent vertical and horizontal sensors, and a dedicated microprocessor to continuously adjust the prism to maintain a steady image.
The 18x50 IS binoculars feature a water-resistant, shock-resistant rubber coating for a nonslip grip and better durability. If you get caught in the rain and still want to view, you don't have to worry about the optics fogging up. These binoculars deliver high magnification and wide-field viewing. Controls for focusing and image stabilization are centrally located and accessible by both hands. These binoculars provide long eye relief for extra comfort.
Image Stabilization and More
With any high magnification binoculars, most users will experience frustrating image shake. Unless fixed to a tripod, image shake can render high magnification binoculars useless. Canon's IS technology is remarkably effective at eliminating this problem and is widely used by the television industry with Canon's professional broadcast quality video recording equipment. A special VAP (Vari-Angle Prism) corrective IS system sits between the objective lens group and the porro prism on each side of the binoculars. Within thousandths of a second of the binoculars being moved from their optical axis by vibrations, a detection system activates the IS mechanism. The VAP shape alters to refract or 'bend' the light path by precisely the right amount, thus fully compensating for the vibration. It is this essentially immediate response that effectively suppresses image shake.
Super Spectra Coating
A number of optical factors affect the brightness of an image, including the amount of incidental light that is reflected by the lens. An uncoated lens will refelect away as much as 8% of the incidentail light, significantly dimming the image. Canon's Super Spectra Coating prevents that reflection.
What do the numbers mean?
15x50? 8x25? The two numbers used to describe any pair of binoculars are their magnification - 8x, 12x, 15x and so on - and the diameter of their objective lenses - 25mm, 36mm, 50mm, and so on. The larger the first number is, the larger the object will appear to be in the objective lens. For instance, if you use a 10x lens and look at an object that is 100 yards away, it appears to be the same size as an object located just 10 yards away. The second number, the size of the objective lens, is important because the larger the objective lens, the more light it can admit for brighter, more detailed images, and the better suited they will be for lowlight situations.

A look inside

Buy NowGet 43% OFF

Review of Canon 10x42 L Image Stabilization Waterproof Binoculars

Seems very expensive for a pair of binocs, but the price is clearly justified as Canon has crammed in some amazing optical wizardry in a small compact package. I will outline what makes these particular binocs so unique....

1.TFOV - 6.5 Degrees.TFOV = True Field of View - in visual optics this defines how much of the scene (subject) is visible inside the image circles you view through the binocs. The greater the TFOV is, the easier to locate subjects you are seeking. (such as finding wildlife that appears in the periphery part of the image circle) To be specific, the 6.5 degrees means, if you stood in the middle of a circle, and pointed the binocs to the circles circumference, you could see a 6.5 deg. "slice of the pie". It doesn't seem like much, because we can see approx. 110 degrees with our two unaided eyes, but the binocs offer 10x magnification, which is why we see such a small piece of the pie. But on a relative basis, for binoculars of this magnification, the 10x42L's TFOV is exceptional, which also is what makes them very nice astro binocs for stargazing, as TFOV allows you to pack more stars inside the image circle.


Large TFOV requires relatively short fl's lenses which must be well corrected for abberations / distortion, and also must contain large field stops in the EP's, (Eye Pieces). Both of these optical characteristics are very difficult to design and build...this is true in all optics, not just binoculars.6.5 deg. TFOV is one of the most generous TFOV's available in ANY binocs of this magnification, even those costing several thousand dollars.This is a very impressive feature.This is one of the features that differentiates lower priced binocs from higher priced binocs., as larger TFOV requires bigger (and heavier) glass.


2.AFOV - 65 Degrees. The "Apparent Field of View" is a clear and sharp 65 degrees. AFOV defines the size of the image circles you see when looking through the binocs. This means, at 65 degrees, your eye must swing 65 degrees, left to right (or up n down) to see the entire image circle. This has NOTHING to do with TFOV, which designates the how much of the subject (slice of the pie) you see in the AFOV image circles. AFOV and TFOV is what differentiates expensive optics from lower priced optics in the same class (such as 10x30, 10x40, etc) as large AFOV / TFOV requires very expensive and complex glass elements. The other major factor is image quality.


At 65 degrees, Canon is nearing the limits of AFOV, even in very high end astronomy gear.... and probably one of the largest AFOV's for any binocs I am aware of. But Canon maintained the sharpness in the entire AFOV, with virtually no distortion! (a remarkable accomplishment in optics in this price range) The larger the AFOV, the more life-like the view becomes as it fills your retina with imagery, ridding the "looking through a tunnel feeling" that smaller AFOV create. A single unaided human eye can see 90 degrees.So at 65 degrees, you are filling 2/3rds of your retina (where an image is formed in the back of your eye) compared to unaided vision. This produces a feeling of immersion (like Imax, vs. normal movie screen), and this really adds to the WOW factor. This is the largest AFOV I have ever seen in a pair of binocs at ANY magnification.This large AFOV is the first thing that will strike you when using these binocs. Unless you venture into high end astronomy gear (costing many times these binoculars) it's hard to find find good optics with a AFOV this wide, AND, with sharpness right to the edges AND virtually NO distortion.


3.L Glass....very sharp glass, with no false color and pinpoint sharpness, nearing true APO chromatic lenses. This is very evident when viewing stars at night, the stars are pin point sharp, better than most astronomy binocs I have used.... and with the the wide TFOV and large AFOV, you feel like you are space walking into the stars while laying back on a lounge chair.Of course, with only 42mm objectives, it helps to be in a very dark site. If astro use is the primary intended use, then larger objective diameters are better suited.50 - 70mm objectives are ideal, such as the 7x50's I mention below...or if you use a tripod, then max. objective diam becomes more desirable such as 15x80 or even 20x100. So, these binocs make good astronomy binocs, but not ideal...there is better options with bigger apertures for star gazzing... it's just a nice add-on feature if your intended use is mostly daytime viewing.

Those who use high end photographic lenses know how prized Canons "L" lenses are...hence why I was surprised to see "L" glass in these binocs.


4.IS - well, this has been beaten to death, but IS is the single biggest breakthrough since binocs were invented - assuming you want to hand-hold at high magnification. Otherwise, the IS feature is not as significant.The IS in these 10x42's are superb...the "push once" IS button is a nice feature, as you don't have to continuously hold down the button while viewing. The IS has a motion sensor which sense when viewing is finished, then shut down the IS, to save battery life - nice feature. But other Canon binocs have IS, so it's not what sets the 10x42's apart from the other Canon IS binocs...But if you hand-hold, and desire at least 10x or greater magnification, IS should be your single most desirable feature in binocs.


5.Aperture(Objective Diam.) -42mm obj. diam. at 10x magnification provides very bright views, specially during mid day, and good (but not great) at twilight. They are also "just" large enough to use as astro binoculars...once you begin star gazing through these you will become interested in the night sky. Buy a good binocular astronomy book and you will be amazed. If they tried to go bigger, the weight of the binocs would become unruly, creating arm fatigue, so I feel Canon reached a good compromise at 42mm objectives. A pair of UV filters are a good idea to protect the objectives as the elements are not recessed back far enough behind the rubber front rims.(one of the few shortcomings I have found with these binocs)I have a pair of Fuji 10x70's, which the 70mm objectives, which allow almost 3x more light in....yet with the IS and pinpoint sharpness, I am quite amazed how these Canons perform considering their small objectives for astronomy binocs. I am pretty sure Canon did not design these for astro binocs. But night time viewing is very acceptable with the 42mm objectives, as they allow 2x the light vs. normal 30mm objectives,and the added light is very apparent in addedsharpness and contrast.



6)Exit Pupil diam....The exit pupil diam of any visual optic, is the diameter of the circle of light that exits the eyepiece and funnels into (or on) the eye.The diameter of the exit pupil is determined by objective lens diam. / magnification. 42/10 = 4.2mm wide. The significance of this value is how it relates to the diameter opening of your eye pupil.If the exit pupil diameter is larger than your eye pupil opening, it means several things....


a)some of the light is being wasted, as its overflowing the bounds of your eye pupil opening. This wasted light means, you are carrying heavier binocs than you need to, as the weight and size of binocs are a function of the objective lens diam.(front lenses), at a given magnification.


b)However, this extra light, provides a useful benefit, as it allows some eye placement leeway, so you don't need to be so precise in setting the binocs IPD (Inter Pupilary Distance setting) and keeping the binocs dead still.As when the exit pupil of light misses your eye pupil opening, you get that annoying "black-out" condition in that eye.This happens very often when the exit pupil of the binocs equals your eye pupil diam.


c)The larger exit pupil diam. also allows your eyes to swivel a bit inside the image circle without the black-out condition. With these 10x42's, at 4.2mm exit pupil diam., assuming you set-up the binocs precisely, you have very little leeway to swivel (rotate) your eye inside the exit pupil diam., so this forces you to keep your eyes looking at the center of the image circles, and constantly move the binocs to keep the subject of interest centered. This can be quite annoying when watching a flock of birds...vs. having a large 7mm exit pupil, where you eyes can swivel around without moving the binocs.... but, you must carry larger objective lens binocs to gain this benefit. IMO, this issues is often overlooked in selecting binocs, and if compared side by side, it is obvious how luxurious large exit pupil diameters are. Hence why it sometimes makes sense to go for a lower magnification binoc. to gain larger exit pupil diameters.


To further complicate this matter, our eye opening dilates based on the amount of light hitting the eye. For mid day viewing, most human eyes are dilated down to 2-3mm opening, regardless of age.However, as we age, our max.eye pupil opening becomes smaller....this is very significant when selecting visual optics.Next time you get an eye exam, ask what the diam. of your dark adjusted pupil is. When we are young, our eye pupil will dilate open VERY wide at night. But age is very unfriendly to the eye in this regard.Here is an approx. chart showing how our max. pupil size becomes smaller through time...


Age vs. Eye Pupil Diam. (Avg)


Age ... Day light pupil... Night light pupil (mm)


20...(4.7)....(8.0)
30...(4.3)....(7.0)
40...(3.9)....(6.0)...Read more ›

Click Here to see more reviews about: Canon 10x42 L Image Stabilization Waterproof Binoculars

Product Description:
The much-anticipated 10x42 L IS WP is the first waterproof binocular to incorporate Canon's exclusive Image Stabilizer technology for steady, shake-free viewing. The high quality L series optics, featuring 2 Ultra-low Dispersion (UD) lens elements (on each side), deliver excellent correction for chromatic aberration. With a large lens diameter and a 4.2mm exit pupil diameter, this binocular provides an exceptionally bright view, even in low-light conditions. The 10x42 L IS WP binocular offers both the desired brightness and excellent waterproof capabilities, making it ideal for a host of activities including marine use, stargazing and wildlife observation - just to name a few.

Buy NowGet 40% OFF

Review of Canon 12x36 Image Stabilization II Binoculars w/Case, Neck Strap & Batteries

As an experienced brider (bird watcher to some) I've owned some of the world's greastest optics, the type of European "alpha-glass" that top tour leaders wear with pride.

I bought the Canon 12x36 almost 2 years ago based mostly on my respect for the Canon L lenses with internal stabilization that I use on a regular basis for bird photography.All I can say is... Wow!.These light-weight, high powered lenses have become my favorites in the field for wildlife observation, especially when viewing wild birds.

At first they took a little time to get used to.They really don't have the feel of a top-of-the-line pair of binos (they are somewhat darker than most and setting the eye-peices for your own interocular distance is a little strange compared to the roof prism glasses that many of us have become accustomed to), but they are what they are.These are not your daddy's binoculars.However, if you are looking for state-of-the-art high tech optics, look no further.

When a subject is focused you see the type of image shake that one would expect at 12x magnification.Then I depress that wonderful little button that activates the image stabilization feature. All of a sudden I feel as though I am now looking at the bird face to face, like I'm just THREE FEET AWAY!It's as if I was studying the bird in a book.I can see details and field marks that others only wish that they could.It has helped me to make some really tough indentifications for my life-list that I might not have recorded otherwise.

After being so pleased with the 12x I decided to buy the 18x50's.I've owned them both now for a while and I find that I take the 12x36's out much more often that the larger, heavier 18x. I highly recommend the Canon 12x36 for serious nature (and or sports) observation.



Click Here to see more reviews about: Canon 12x36 Image Stabilization II Binoculars w/Case, Neck Strap & Batteries

Product Description:
Amazon.com Product Description Canon's 12x36 Image Stabilization II binoculars incorporate an optical image stabilizer for shake-free viewing with minimal eye fatigue. This technology was first developed for Canon video camcorders and is now available in many of Canon's binoculars. The system employs a Vari-Angle Prism, dual transparent plates, independent vertical and horizontal sensors, and a dedicated microprocessor to continuously adjust the prism to maintain a steady image.
These 12x36 Image Stabilization II binoculars feature a water-resistant rubber coating for nonslip holding. If you get caught in light rain, you don't have to worry about the optics fogging up or getting ruined. These binoculars deliver high magnification, long eye relief, and wide-field viewing. Controls for focusing and image stabilization are centrally located and are accessible by both hands.
Improvements to the objective lens assembly have resulted in the binoculars being approximately 26% lighter and 10% smaller than the previous 12x36 IS model they replace. And reductions in power consumption mean a massive 270% increase in battery life of up to four hours using two AA-size alkaline batteries.
Image Stabilization and More
With any high magnification binoculars, most users will experience frustrating image shake. Unless fixed to a tripod, image shake can render high magnification binoculars useless. Canon's IS technology is remarkably effective at eliminating this problem and is widely used by the television industry with Canon's professional broadcast quality video recording equipment. A special VAP (Vari-Angle Prism) corrective IS system sits between the objective lens group and the porro prism on each side of the binoculars. Within thousandths of a second of the binoculars being moved from their optical axis by vibrations, a detection system activates the IS mechanism. The VAP shape alters to refract or 'bend' the light path by precisely the right amount, thus fully compensating for the vibration. It is this essentially immediate response that effectively suppresses image shake. The binoculars' compact design is based on Canon's popular 10x30 IS model. Curved surfaces mean easy handling, while nature lovers will appreciate the low-reflectance exterior and low gloss front covers, which help to avoid disturbing birds and other
What do the numbers mean?
15x50? 8x25? The two numbers used to describe any pair of binoculars are their magnification - 8x, 12x, 15x and so on - and the diameter of their objective lenses - 25mm, 36mm, 50mm, and so on. The larger the first number is, the larger the object will appear to be in the objective lens. For instance, if you use a 10x lens and look at an object that is 100 yards away, it appears to be the same size as an object located just 10 yards away. The second number, the size of the objective lens, is important because the larger the objective lens, the more light it can admit for brighter, more detailed images, and the better suited they will be for lowlight situations.

A look inside

Buy NowGet 35% OFF

Review of Canon 15x50 Image Stabilization All Weather Binoculars w/Case, Neck Strap & Batteries

These binoculars are spectacular.Point them at Jupiter and you see a bright dot wandering around in the field of view.Press the image stabilization switch and the planet and its moons instantly become visible.While they can't subtract all movement they do get rid of the little shakes that make hand held viewing so difficult.15x is enough magnification that Saturn is obviously not round.
A complaint about earier versions of the Canon IS line was that your finger went to sleep holding the IS switch down.Now you can press it briefly to turn on the IS circuitry which will automatically shut off in 5 minutes.If you press and hold the switch it shuts off as soon as you release it.
I haven't had my pair long enough to comment on battery life but do see a problem changing them when they are mounted on a tripod.Unlike most binoculars where the tripod mounting is at the objective end where the two barrels rotate on the Canons it is at the bottom of the binocular near the center of the tubes which don't rotate.And the battery compartment is just in front of it so you can't get to it if the binoculars are on a tripod of have a quick release plate attached.
Since the lens barrels don't rotate intra-ocular distance is adjusted by actually moving the oculars.They are kind of stiff but that is good because they stay in place once you get them set.
The tripod mount is lower than the highest part of the lens barrels so if you have a big quick release plate like that of the Manfrotto (Bogen) 410 geared head (highly recommended) it presses against the bottom of the barrels and not the flat between them.
For some reason Canon doesn't seem to fell that the objective lenses need any protection as they don't ship lens covers for them.They do provide lens covers for the oculars but they pop off a lot because the eye cups are so soft.It looks like you need something like 69mm lens caps.They don't tell you in the manual but Canon sales says they are threaded to accept 58mm filters so you can buy solar filters for them.
I can use the binoculars with my glasses on due to the 15 mm eye relief but it is really easier to use them without the glasses.
They are heavy, ~2,5#, but if you support them on the heels of your hands very stable.

Click Here to see more reviews about: Canon 15x50 Image Stabilization All Weather Binoculars w/Case, Neck Strap & Batteries

Product Description:
Amazon.com Product DescriptionWith its wide 50mm objective lenses and high magnification,these rugged, all-weather Canon Image Stabilizer binoculars are destined to set a new and higher benchmark for image brightness, clarity and ergonomic design.
Leave your tripod at home when you use the new Canon 15x50 binoculars. Canon has once again made its world-renowned optical image stabilizer more convenient to use on this all-weather binocular. With a push of a button, bumpy images are stabilized instantly for maximum viewing. Multicoated ultralow dispersion (UD) objective elements add contrast, clarity, and color fidelity. Housed in a rugged, water-resistant, and slip-free rubber body, these binoculars can be used in rain or shine, whether in a football stadium or on the high seas. Stargazing is also possible with these versatile binoculars. The 15x50 is greatly improved over the previous model, with a larger 50mm objective lens, more convenient operation of the optical image stabilizer, and optional antifog eyepieces. Two AA batteries power the device. Also included in the package are a case, neck strap, and eyepiece covers.
Image Stabilization and More
With any high magnification binoculars, most users will experience frustrating image shake. Unless fixed to a tripod, image shake can render high magnification binoculars useless. Canon's IS technology is remarkably effective at eliminating this problem and is widely used by the television industry with Canon's professional broadcast quality video recording equipment. A special VAP (Vari-Angle Prism) corrective IS system sits between the objective lens group and the porro prism on each side of the binoculars. Within thousandths of a second of the binoculars being moved from their optical axis by vibrations, a detection system activates the IS mechanism. The VAP shape alters to refract or 'bend' the light path by precisely the right amount, thus fully compensating for the vibration. It is this essentially immediate response that effectively suppresses image shake.
Super Spectra Coating
A number of optical factors affect the brightness of an image, including the amount of incidental light that is reflected by the lens. An uncoated lens will refelect away as much as 8% of the incidentail light, significantly dimming the image. Canon's Super Spectra Coating prevents that reflection.
What do the numbers mean?
15x50? 8x25? The two numbers used to describe any pair of binoculars are their magnification - 8x, 12x, 15x and so on - and the diameter of their objective lenses - 25mm, 36mm, 50mm, and so on. The larger the first number is, the larger the object will appear to be in the objective lens. For instance, if you use a 10x lens and look at an object that is 100 yards away, it appears to be the same size as an object located just 10 yards away. The second number, the size of the objective lens, is important because the larger the objective lens, the more light it can admit for brighter, more detailed images, and the better suited they will be for lowlight situations.

A look inside

Buy NowGet 42% OFF

Review of Canon 10x30 Image Stabilization Binoculars w/Case, Neck Strap & Batteries

If you want to get a quick idea why image stabilization (IS) is the next revolution in binoculars, that's easy: take any binoculars that you can get and look through them at some object (a printed page of paper with several font sizes is ideal). Then look again at the same object from the same distance, but this time with the binoculars moudnted on a steady support (don't touch em!). You will notice that the actual resolution increases by a factor of at least 2 or 3 when mounted. That is, you can discern details that are at least two or three times smaller, because mounting eliminates the smear caused by the shaking of your hands. IS is like having this support available any time and anywhere you need it by a push of a button! In most conditions, the practical resolutions I can get with my Canon IS cannot be matched by any hand-held, unstabilized binoculars in the market, including those fancy Nikons, Swarovskis, Leicas and Zeiss that cost three or four times as much. No matter how good (and how expensive) is the optics of these top-of-the-line binoculars, their limiting factor in the field is the shaking of your hands. You may have heard that IS is important because it eliminates eyestrain and headaches, or because you can use the binoculars from a boat or a moving car. While these are good reasons to buy the Canon, the best reason is that they let you see much more detail in any given distance. And this is the reason why you buy binoculars in the first place.
If you are a birder like me, and you are looking for a top of the line binoculars, do not buy anything before you try this one. In my opinion IS is going to revolutionize the whole field, so a costly pair of Swarovski or Zeiss, that normally could be considered as a good investment for life, will not be top of the line anymore in two or three years. In addition to the IS, the Canon has quite good optics, good field of view and is much smaller and lighter then most models you probably considered. This makes the Canon very close to the ideal birding binoculars: Highest resolution, less weight, and less money. I did not have the opportunity to test the larger Canon IS models, but I don't think I'd buy them even if I had the money, because they are twice as heavy and (very important for birding) has smaller field of view.
Note one general disadvantage of the Canon, however: They are not as tough as the top roof prism binoculars. They are water resistant but not water proof, and the IS requires batteries (a pair of NiMH for several hours of birding. This is the digital camera procedure: get a charger and at least one replacement set). While the binoculars feel sturdy, dropping them is not good for the IS mechanism, and this is probably why Canon gives only one year warranty. So the Canon are not the best pair to take for an expedition in Alaska, but for a Sunday birder like me, these are easily the best in their price range, and probably the best in any price.

Click Here to see more reviews about: Canon 10x30 Image Stabilization Binoculars w/Case, Neck Strap & Batteries

Product Description:
Lightweight and powerful,the 10x30 IS delivers the benefits of Canon's refined and active Image Stabilization. Comes with a handy Case, Neck Strap and a set or batteries.

Buy NowGet 32% OFF