 |
Canon 18x50 Image Stabilization All-Weather Binoculars w/Case, Neck Strap & Batteries by Canon
Digital Photo Product DetailsManufacturer: Canon Audio: English (Original Language) Model: 4624A002AB Product features: - 18x magnification
- Built-in optical image stabilization uses 2 AA batteries
- Wide, extra-bright field of view
- Lenses are multi-coated for contrast, clarity, and color fidelity
- Shock and water-resistant
Accessories:
Digital Cameras Photo Reviews of Canon 18x50 Image Stabilization All-Weather Binoculars w/Case, Neck Strap & BatteriesCustomer Review: Suitable for bird-watching and 18x magnification not 50x Summary: 5 Stars
Update: I own them now! Bought the filter covers for the main lenses too and the lens caps. As some reviewers have noted these binos weigh a bit more than other binos due to the IS. Not too burdensome for a decent hike if you carry it postman-style over your neck and under an armpit and can still bring it around quick enough. All things considered though I wonder if a spotting scope and a light monopod might not be a better choice for weight and magnification. Perhaps for some, so far I'm sticking with this (and it's paid for).
Original: First, I don't own these binoculars (yet), due to the cost and weight (they're over 3 pounds), but I've started saving my shekels based on the Bezos review and the Canon name. Also, please note that these binoculars are 18x (not 50x as another reviewer suggests). For bird-watchers it's worth mentioning that one should keep in mind the difficulty that many have in finding a bird through higher power binoculars after spotting the bird with one's eyes. I have a pair of 12x50 Pentax binoculars that I like a great deal and have had only minimal trouble finding birds that I've spotted. Others, however, don't have the same good fortune and so they prefer lower-power binoculars. The Audobon Society (the last time I checked) recommends 7x35 binoculars, but the average age of their membership is somewhere north of 50, so most likely their reviewers are unable to hold steady the higher power binoculars (however, even our nation's elderly should do fine with these as they have image stabilization). I'm curious to know how bright the image is (as I've read somewhere that 12x50 represented the best compromise between magnification and image brightness). From the other reviews it certainly sounds like that's not a problem.
Description of Canon 18x50 Image Stabilization All-Weather Binoculars w/Case, Neck Strap & BatteriesBinoculars, Canon, 18x50 IS , Binocular 18x50 IS All Weather, 4624A002 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
Binoculars
|
 |