Home > Consumer Reviews > Canon 15x50 Image Stabilization All Weather Binoculars w/Case, Neck Strap & Batteries

Most of the reviews I see for IS binoculars are by and for plane spotters and other non-birders, so I wanted to add the wildlife viewing perspective to the mix.

I have owned 2 different pairs of the 12x Cannon IS Binoculars, one pair of the 15x Cannon IS binos and I have tested the 10x42 L series (high-end, geared towards birders). I will cross-post these comments for all three. For any of you birders out there trying to decide which is the right choice for you, here are my observations.

First, general comments that apply to all three:
1) Image stabilization is great! There is nothing not to love about it. Why all birders on earth don't use these things is a mystery to me. For the money, I would prefer to spend an extra $200 on image stabilization vs spending an extra $1000 for a comparable improvement in optics quality.
2) These binoculars are heavy and bulky. The grip, the feel and the ease of use are different than those of "normal" high-end binoculars. The human factors of the engineering range from acceptable (12x) to incomprehensibly bad (10x). I suspect that experienced birders may pick them up for the first time and not like them because they "don't feel right." Here's my thought: it is worth the 1-2 hours it takes to get used to them, because it will change the way you bird. For example: YOU DO NOT NEED TO CARRY A SCOPE in many circumstances, which is huge. They may be slightly heavy for binos, but they are much lighter than binos plus a scope and tripod!
3) it is easy to underestimate the benefit and power of IS until you have used it for a while in the field. For example, when you are looking for a bird that is mostly hidden in leaves, and occassionally pops into view, these guys are great. The slight vibration in your hand means that you need to see an image longer for the brain to decipher the image. When it is stabilized, you can see it in a flash. You will be able to scan a flock of shorebirds at distance in a fraction of the time it takes someone with a scope. You can see details on a bird moving 100ft above in the canopy that are utterly impossible with normal binoculars.
4) THink of them as ELECTRONICS, not optics. These will not be passed on to your grandchildren. They will last 3-5 years depending on how hard you use them. Don't bother trying to get them fixed because it is uneconomical outside of the warranty period. Don't buy them if you are uncomfortable with the cost because you may need to replace them in the not-to-distant future. That said, reliability has been okay for mine. I have dropped them, gotten them throughly wet for hours, taken them to high altitudes, and exposed them to a wide range of temperatures without any issues. One 12x pair developed a rattle and subsequently a hiccup in the IS. When I openned them up (not recommended) I found that a couple of screws fell out. I don't know where the screws came from and don't really care because now they work fine again.

Here is a comparison of the various models:

12x: the normal "rule of thumb" for birders with conventional binoculars is that 8-10x is about right in terms of image stability, weight, field of view and magnification. With IS binoculars, the equation is a little different. You can have image stability at any magnification, so it comes down to weight, field of view and magnification. For me, the winner is the 12x. You will have a little extra trouble finding a fast-moving bird, especially at close range due to the smaller field of view vs typical 10x. However, it is strong enough to allow me to leave my scope at home for most purposes -- it is equivalent to about a 15-18x conventional scope. The eyepieces are comfortable and the field of view is acceptable. My primary compaint is that the close limit of focus is too far for comfortable use in close quarters like dense rainforest. These binos seem rugged and reliable.

15x: optimal for pelagic birding, gulls and shorebirding, but the field of view and range of focus don't work well for normal birding. On a boat, nobody else will be able to see the stuff you see, period. It is like having a scope when everyone else is using 8x bins. In these circumstances the relatively limited field of view is not an issue and the extra magnification is great. These are much larger and heavier than the 12x and you wouldn't want to carry these on a 10 mile hike (although it would beat hiking 10 miles with a scope!). My main complaint -- and it is a big one -- is that the eyepieces are attrociously uncomfortable for my eyes. Presumably they must be comfortable for someone, like the engineer who designed them, but not for me. I had to replace them with eyepieces of my own because they are intollerable.

10x: These are fantastic. Pros: smaller, lighter than the 12x. Wider field of view and better close focus. Cons: 1) very expensive; 2) eyepieces that are as bad or worse than those on the 15x, which is why I don't own a pair. I think perhaps Cannon made these because they found in their market surveys that birders want 10x binos. I suspect they haven't sold many at the $1,100 price point given the Human factors issues. I personally would advise birds to not buy these unless they are willing to replace the eyepieces -- and better yet just get the 12x. Hopefully the next version will address these issues, because the IS technology and the optics are great.

I purchased these binoculars for my dad for Christmas. I was replacing a garbage pair of 8x36 binoculars that had to be at least 20 years old. Before purchasing, I went to Cabella's to check them out in person. If you're nervous about dropping this much money on binoculars without testing them, head to a local Cabella's store. A note, Cabellas wanted $1299 for these binoculars. I paid $850 on Amazon.

When I tested the binoculars in the store, I was blown away by the quality of how sharp the images were. It's impossible to describe the effect that pressing the stabilizing button has. It's amazing and makes the binoculars instantly more usable. You can still detect some minor shake but the stabilizing does a tremendous job eliminating it. In using the binoculars, like the other reviewers have said, they are a bit heavy, so I find its best to rest your arms on something when you try to use them.

My dad was totally surprised with the gift. When I took him outside, I had him look through the binoculars and he was amazed at the sharp image quality. Then I pressed the stabilizing button. "What happened to the shake?" he asked. "These are image stabilizing binoculars." I replied. "These are amazing!" he explained.

Later that day we went for a drive to test them out and he kept shaking his head and exclaiming that the binoculars were amazing. We marvelled at how great the binoculars were at low light conditions. At dusk, I used his old garbage pair and I could see a tepee out in a field that some kids had made. Through the old set, it looked like a dark triangle. With the Canon's, you could still count the individual sticks.

I even showed him the moon, and he remarked that he'd never seen the full moon so close and clear. Since my dad also wears glasses, he likes the deep eye cups. It's the first set of binoculars that he's been able to use without having to take off his glasses. My dad recently told me, that out of a 7 day week, he probably uses the binoculars 5 days a week.

There are a couple of downsides to the binoculars. For about 3 weeks afterwards, I got a call from my dad almost every day telling me what he looked at that day through them. The binoculars are a bit heavy, but this is solved by resting your arms on something. The eye caps are extremely cheap for something of this price, and they fall off easily, especially when putting in and taking out the binoculars from the supplied carrying case.

One more recommendation I have is to make sure you get some 58mm UV filters. I got some Hoya UV filters for the binoculars from Adorama, and put them on the binoculars as soon as I got them and before I gave them to my dad. They work well at cutting down the glare, and are good at protecting the lenses on the end. My dad has already scratched one of the filters, but at least we only have to pay $20 for a new filter instead of ruining an $850 pair of binoculars.

Bottom line, that although these binoculars have a couple of minor annoyances, the performance is spectacular. You won't be disappointed!

I have recently purchased the Canon IS 15x50 binoculars for backyard astronomy. I wanted enough "power" to be able to see interesting things without needing to set up a telescope. I researched and read a lot before making the purchase. The binoculars are great! The stabilization makes it possible to get a clear, shake-free view. So far I have been enjoying Jupiter and its moons, double stars, star clusters, and even some Messier objects. As a treat, various meteors flash across, and satellites too faint to see with the naked eye travel by. Even in my light polluted backyard, the binoculars are providing some very satisfying viewing. They are a bit heavier than regular binoculars, but are not uncomfortable, especially if I brace my elbows against my body or the arm of my chair.

I have had these for a few years now, and they still work great. I use them mostly for keeping an eye on the world outside my office window. They are a bit heavy, and they go through batteries fast. Get NiMH AA rechargeables and you'll be glad you did. One oddity - they do not come with objective lens caps, so if you keep them outside their case, it's best to store them standing on the objective end. Luckily they are very stable this way on a table or shelf.

These are truly great binoculars and while they are expensive the price was lower than I expected to find. The only complaint is that they don't come with lens covers. You have to buy them separately. For the price Canon should include them.