Home > Consumer Reviews > Canon 12x36 Image Stabilization II Binoculars w/Case, Neck Strap & Batteries

My previous binoculars, which were used while boating, were Canon IS 10x30. I found them very useful in detecting markings on the waterways. However, they were lost and, after doing some research,I replaced them with the Canon IS 12x36. In looking for buoys and other markings, I find the detail to be greater and objects can be seen from a greater distance. The image stabilization feature in both binoculars is a tremendous asset, particularly in a moving boat. Canon 12x36 Image Stabilization II Binoculars w/Case, Neck Strap & BatteriesThey are really superior and very lightweight. I would highly recommend them.

If you feel the need to spoil yourself once in a while; get the 12x36 model instead of the 10x30. They are more than one could ask for. If one is purchasing exceptional binoculars, why not purchase really exceptional binoculars?
After all, if it's the money, one should be buying binoculars at Big Lots.

These glasses are amazing and everyone I have shown them to agrees.

Nothing being perfect: they come without lens caps ???????

Excellent product with good dollar value. Excels in magnification, lens quality, solid construction, light gathering qualities and minimal weight results in easy portability and use. Image stabilizer feature works flawlessly and has highly acceptable use longevity when powered by lithium batteries.

The Canon IS 12x36 binoculars take binocular viewing to a wholly different plane. Image improvement is similar to viewing HDTV vrs old analog TV. The optics of these binoculars are beautiful, multi-coated and distortion free. The instrument fits beautifully in my hands, with weight and balance perfect for observing. The focus knob is deft and sensitive and there is a small notch in the bottom of the barrels where my thumbs fit perfectly. And then, when the IS button is pressed, the image steadies and almost pulls your eyes into the scene. I have used these binoculars at a political rally, where from 100 yards away, I could clearly read the name tags on the chairs of the dignitaries. I have also used them for birding and wildlife. Birds in a distant tree jumped into focus with bright colors and crisp resolution. The same excellent results were seen with wild animals. Truly it is a treat to use this magnificent instrument.

Addendum 8/14/09. Jupiter is in spectacular opposition during this month, visible high in the Southern skies in the Northern hemisphere. The Canon IS 12x36 gave a jaw dropping view of this planet, showing a clear disc and 4 distinct moons. It was just superb pressing the IS button and watching Jupiter and the moons steady to an eye grabbing image just as Galileo must have seen 400 hundred years ago when he discovered Jupiter's satellites.

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.