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.
br /
br /They work great on the water or in situations that will reduce hand shakieness.
br /
br /I own a pair of 10x30 Canon and wanted to upgrade having liked them.
br /
br /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.
br /
br /The weight also creates another draw back.
br /
br /**** 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.
br /
br /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.
br /
br /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.
br /
br /On first look, it seems like a better idea.
br /
br /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.
br /
br /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 was with little pressure and being careful everytime I handled them.
br /
br /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.
br /
br /The outer loop of the screw holes on two of the three screw holes broke away.
br /
br /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.
br /
br /This breakage came with little effort and pressure or from abuse.
br /
br /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.
br /
br /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!
br /
br /I just wonder if anyone else has had this problem as it certainly appears it's a design flaw because of the overall weight.
br /
br /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!

Actually two things. First, these are incredible. If you haven't tried IS binoculars, run don't walk to to the nearest store. A couple of reviews have noted that the binoculars do not have lens caps for the objective lenses. While this is a drawback, it is easily corrected. The lens casing is threaded, so buy a pair of 58mm UV filters and screw them in. ... The UV filters will protect the lenses and any snap-on lens cover will attach to the UV filters.

The problem with high power binoculars is that humans can't hold them steady, and that jitter makes it impossible to really look at something without a tripod. The image stabilization in this pair solves that problem and holds things rock steady. This is an expensive product that clearly distingues itself, and one of those products that technology makes seem a little magic. p I have only two small complaints: First, for a product this expensive they should pre-install the neck strap for you -- not a big deal, but it would be nice for the customer. Second, I wish the lens cap covers were higher quality and attachable to the unit so they wouldn't get lost. Again, not a big deal. p These are without a doubt the best binoculars I've ever used.

These things are incredible! I received a pair of the Canon Image Stabilization Binoculars as a gift from a friend and was immediately blown away by how well they work. The fact that they don't shake makes it possible to read numbers and signs at great distances. I race on sailboats and the ability to read call letters and names on competitive boats is a real help. I also got the clearest view of the moon I have ever seen last night. The large lenses really capture a lot of light, so that you can see clearly at night as well. They are pricey, but you really get you money's worth with this product.

The optics and general quality are what to expect for binoculars at one third the price. But image stabilization changes everything. At 18X power, conventional hand-held binoculars, even thousand dollar ones, require support; either tripod or at the very least, elbows carefully resting on a car roof or on both knees when sitting on the ground. (The latter two methods rule out skyward viewing or sweeping views). The base is threaded for tripod use, which serves as a reminder of what you would need if you forgot to put in the two AA batteries. The Image Stabilizer feature is fingertip selective, so that fully comparing the IS image with the non-stabilized image is easy in all situations. The stabilization is not perfect, as there is still some need to hold them steady. But the residual image-shake is less than for 6X power unstabilized binocs, and the effect at 18X is very pleasing, even startling -- binocular Image Stabilization is no gimmick. One-handed viewing is nearly as good as with a two handed grip, something out of the question for ordinary binoculars. A limitation of the IS feature is that when attempting sweeping views, or when following moving objects like airplanes, there occurs minor blurring as the system tends to misunderstand the user's deliberate movement as jerkiness. Thus it is necessary to follow objects smoothly. These binoculars came without lens caps for the objective lenses, a remarkable omission since the objective lenses are not well protected in the shallow recess of the encircling frame ridges. Presumably this is to keep bulk to a minimum. The eyepieces have somewhat oversized fold-back rubber cups. While these cups are not ergonomically shaped, as they could be -- bumping the eye brow while still admitting light at the sides -- they fold back for eyeglass wearers, and offer good incidental lense protection when extended. The soft, padded, lightweight nylon carrying case is adiquit, but could use a waist belt loop for easy carrying. (A premium quality hard case would be a nice accessary.) The carrying weight is not bad, feeling about the same as ordinary 50 mm porro prism binoculars.

To my knowledge there are only two image-stabilised binoculars on the market -- Canon's 18 x 50 or 15 x 50, and Zeiss' 20 x 60. In the UK the latter retail for just under 3,000 pounds. pHaving looked both at the Zeiss and the Canon, my (admittedly not very expert) judgement is that Canon has by far the better image stabilisation system. The Zeiss system is not battery powered but rather mechanical and does not eliminate as much wobble as the Canon system. On the other hand Zeiss are world leaders in producing crystal clear, bright images. The Zeiss binoculars are marginally better than Canon's in producing a bright image -- especially at sunrise and dusk.pIn the end, the Canon binoculars win because of the wonderful stabilising system -- and that fact that they are about 1/3 the cost of Zeiss.pThe Canon binoculars are ideal for bird watching and back-yard astronomy (looking at the moon through these binoculars is a truly wonderful experience). Although hardly low-cost they are a fantastic buy -- a marvel of modern technology and a source of lasting pleasure.

My ten years with a $1,000 pair of Steiners was a long and happy relationship. Few things on a boat last that long or work so well. However......in pitching seas I never really mastered their use and when I needed them most, they served me the least. Along comes a nifty boat show demonstration of the new Canon Image Stabilizers (in an 18x50 setup....excellent for open water) and voila, the Steiners become below-decks backups and the Canons rise to the bridge. They are magnificent, with great optics, very good balance and of course the incredible advantage of image stabilization that actually works in 6 foot seas!

I've owned my 18x50 binocs for two years now, and have used them mainly for astronomy. Perhaps my expectations were too high, but...p(1) I found the image to be less stable than expected. It's certainly better than with no IS system at all, but not as solid as you'd get from using a good tripod. Of course, using a tripod near the zenith is a problem, but there are solutions for that, such as the Sky Window system (the binocs look downward, at a mirror). After an hour's observing, you'll definitely notice how heavy these binocs are.p(2) I found a large amount of residual color on bright objects...red on one side, blue on the other. I attribute this to the prisms used in the IS system.p(3) The maximum interocular distance is just barely wide enough for my eyes. The diopter adjustment has considerable stick and slip. I'd rather wear my glasses than mess with the diopter, but the eye relief isn't sufficient.p(4) The binocs come without lens OG lens caps, which is strange, considering how expensive they are.pI suggest you NOT buy this binocs online. Go to a store that will let you take them outside. Examine a star-like object, such as sun glint off a power line insulator. Check out the IS, the residual color, and the weight. See if the store will let you have them "on approval," and try them out at night.pAnd don't forget, you can buy a pretty good apochromatic telescope for $2000.pRoger RensvoldbrHong Kong

One of my co-workers got a pair of these from Amazon today. Wow! We stood at the window of our 24th floor office and read the menu of a hot-dog cart on a corner a block and a half away.pWhat really clinches it (and made it possible to read the hot-dog cart menu) is the image stabilization. If you have a high magnification, any minor shake of your hand is magnified. Try it with a video camera with one of thos high digital zooms. When you're at 100x, even the electronic image stabilization can't compensate just for the average minor muscle twitches in your hand. pThe image stabilization on this is optical (i.e. analog), not digital, meaning there's no fuzzing of the image as a processor tries to adjust the image to compensate for vibration. Optical zoom and optical stabilization require more expensive mechanical components to implement, thus you'll see mid-range video cameras offering their digital counterparts to enhance or substitute for optical zooms and stabilizers. pGiven, these binoculars will set you back a pretty penny, but you could go to a ball game, sit in the nosebleeds and count the laces on the ball. Definitely a very cool thing for the gadget-oriented.

Get these binoculars, if you can afford them. I have looked at, or through, Zeiss and Leicas, and the Canon's are of equal quality. pThe image stabilization works, period. You can see detail that is NOT possible without IS. Also, the binoculars are very usable without the IS feature, more so than I would have thought.pMy suggestion, buy the highest magnification that will fit your application, since IS gives the greatest benefit at higher powers.

I needed a good set of binoculars for my wife me. We are in excellent bear deer country in Wisconsin and like to ride around watching the wildlife. I am a disabled Vietnam Vet and my hands shake a lot. Spotting scopes and high powered binoculars never worked well for me in the past. You touch them and everything goes out of focus. These image stabilizers work great! For the first time I can really zoom in and see clearly. They are a little heavy and you wouldn't want to carry them around your neck long. But overall I love them.

First, I couldn't decide between Fujinon and Canon and then I was never able to take them outside and try them out and/or compare them. So, I finally just bought a pair of Canon 18x50s and hoped for the best when they arrived and I looked thru and pushed the IS button.
br /Boy, what a waste of several years. Why didn't I buy a pair when they first came out? I could have been using them all this time. Instead, I dithered over cost vs. results and really regret the fun I missed in the meanwhile.
br /The only difference in these versus regular binocs is one button. When you push it, there's a little click and from then on, WOW. After investing plenty in telescopes, computer tracking mounts, etc., these should have been a much higher priority. Oh yeah, they're light enough to take anywhere and the viewing fatigue is really that much less than with others (especially since my hands are really pretty shaky anyway and I drink plenty of coffee).

This is one of those purchases my family and I will enjoy for years. You can see the moons of Jupiter with these. You can enjoy a football game in a whole new way (Redskin, Army and Ohio State fans like me may want to wait a year!!). Great for bird watching or any trip into nature because you can see so many things wihout disturbing them - and they are exceptionally durable and weather-proof. I can't wait to get them to Jackson Hole to see the stars and planets away from city lights, plus elk and moose and the Tetons. To know why image stabilization is important with high power bino's, all you have to do is push the conveniant little button and it makes all the difference.

This is only the second pair of binoculars I've owned but I've used many pairs before from low end to relatively high end ones like Nikons and Leicas. I can say without hesitation that the Canon 18X50s have met all my expectations for clarity, build quality, and ease of use. They are still quite heavy so, you won't be holding them too long in one position but, the stabilization feature provides a stable, gitter free image. In my opinion, this feature makes up for optics that may not be in the same league with the high end stuff: the Canon 18X50s have more usable magnification for the money for non-tripod, hand held applications.
br /
br /While this is not a scientific comparison, this is an example of the useability and magnification: I was at the beach looking at a parasailer in the distance - with the naked eye (20/20 for the record), I could see the chute pattern and a black speck below it; with my old Minolta 10X50s (jittering in my hands)I could make out shapes of heads and legs; with the Canon 18X50s, I could clearly see two people, a man and a child as well as the chute's cords - pretty impressive.
br /
br /My only two gripes that have also been mentioned before are: no lense caps and the eye cups are stiff, fit poorly (to my face any way) and are uncomfortable. I find it better to fold the cups back for "eye glass" use even though I don't wear glasses. Other than that, I am very pleased with this purchase and would also highly recommend purchasing from Adorama Camera - they are quick, accommodating and responsive.

I bought these for an upcoming alaskan cruise and boy and I glad I did. We had some other 10x25 binocs that I used for years and wanted an upgrade to something more substantial. These are amazing! They are so clear and the stabilization is the most impressing aspect of them. I have used them at least once a day since buying them for bird watching, astronomy (the moon looks amazing) and for watching a new housing development go in about 3 miles away. My parents are considering getting a pair for the cruise too, I plan to share but I don't think I'll want to be without these for long. Wonderful product that I plan to use for years to come.

I have been an avid birder watcher for several decades. I've owned most of the top-of -the-line European binoculars (Zeiss, Leica, etc.) over the years. I purchased the Canon 12x36 IS binocs over 2 1/2 years ago and I love them. However, thinking that more magnification would be better, I ordered the 18x50 IS pair a year later. I have since sold them and use mostly the Canon 12 power. Here are a few reasons why they were not right for me:
br /
br /* Bigger is not always better. The extra weight and size caused me to leave them in the closet and take the 12x36s, one of my other pair, or worst, no binoculars at all. Even the best optics are no good if you don't have them with you when you need them.
br /
br /* Smaller field of view. It takes some practice seeing a bird with your naked eyes and then swinging the binoculars up smoothly so that you keep the bird (or any other small subject) in line with your vision. As experienced as I am at this I found it harder to accomplish with the narrow view of these powerful optics. Sometimes all you get is a few seconds to spot and identify a rare bird. Quicker is better.
br /
br /* Shallower depth of field. With greater magnification the accuracy of your focusing becomes more critical due to a reduced range of focus. With distant objects I found myself fiddling with focus knob more than I would like to.
br /
br /* Less that the best optical performance. Don't get me wrong, these are very sharp, high quality glasses, just not the best. When viewing objects against the sun you can get a color flare, or ghost image (chromatic aberration). Only the highest quality optical designs get close to completely eliminating this problem. When you are trying to tell one bird from another closely related species, color is often all than you have to go by.
br /
br /I am still a big fan of the Image Stabilization technology and I still use my 12x36 IS binoculars daily, however, the idea that more magnification is always better, especially for birding, is misleading. I am planning to buy the Canon 10x42 L series binos. In the past this magnification has been my favorite and the added benefit of IS will make it an even better choice. The biggest reason for this decision is the superiority of the L class optics. I own several L lenses for my Canon digital SLRs and they are superb.
br /
br /If you don't mind the size and weight, or you really need the extra power (like for astronomical observation) these are great binoculars to add to your collection. If you looking one pair to use on a regular basis and you want the best optical quality combined with image stabilization, I would go with the 10x42 IS L glasses and save yourself the time and expense of buying the wrong pair. But that's just my opinion. If you can, take a look at both of them in person before you buy one.
br /
br /Canon 10x42 L Image Stabilization Waterproof Binoculars

I was very pleased with the Canon 18x50 IS binoculars. We took them to the Galapagos Islands and they performed well. Teh IS really assists with ship rocking and minor shakes. I have a few thoughts that would make these binoculars more user friendly.
br /1. Try to make them lighter. My wife found it difficult to carry them for extended periods of time.
br /2. Please add fip open ocular and objective lens caps rather than the loose caps. These get lost and the ones tied to the binocular body make it easier to cover the lneses in inclement weather.
br /3. Making the units water proof and not just resistent would be a big factor for those of us who use the binoculars in nature photography especiall in a canoe or kayak.
br /4. Having an optional camera adaptor would be great for photography buffs.
br /
br /Overall this binocular is a great addition to the human eye.

As a novice astronomer I really enjoy the sharp, steady view with these binoculars. The view is fairly steady even with the I.S. off - depending how stable you are of course. My binoculars cost more than my telescope !! And my telescope is a decent one too. But I think they are worth it. You see so much more in the night sky than what the naked eye can see - by far. They are of course great during the day too. Their weight is not much of an issue for me, although each person is different depending on their viewing habits. I think a hard carry case would have been the best but it's not a big deal for my use. I recommend this pair of binoculars to anyone who is serious about great quality and performance.

I bought the Canon 18x image stabilizer binoculars a month ago and I love them.pThe reason I bought these high-powered binoculars is I want to identify all the major landmarks in the San Jose South Bay area. My wife and I ride up to the mid-hill of Mt. Hamilton once a month. Most of the time before we are ready to turn back and coast down the hill, we spend a fair amount of time looking at the spectacular scenery of the San Jose and South Bay area. We want to identify as many landmarks as possible. With our compact Minolta 10x binoculars, we get a clear look at downtown San Jose and of course the Lockheed aircraft hangers. But we could not find the San Jose airport. With the new Canon binoculars, we can identify the airport and many other places. We can even find the street intersection that is only one street away from where we live. The interesting thing is once we identify a place, we can also use the compact Minolta to see the landmark, although with smaller vision. These Canon binoculars make excellent spotter.pThe image stabilizer is an interesting high-tech feature. It helps to get a clear and stable view if you press the stabilizer button. However, the binoculars weight 2.6 lbs. I am tired after holding them for two to three minutes. Last time we rode up Mt. Hamilton, we bought a regular camera tripod with us. These Canon binoculars come with a built-in screw thread that can accept a standard tripod quick-release plate. With the binoculars mounted on the tripod, we spent a good half hour looking down the beautiful landscape. The obvious question is, does the use of the tripod defeat the purpose of paying extra for the image stabilizer? How much something is worth is a very personal question. It differs from person to person. I am not going to attempt to answer this question.pWe are very happy to own these binoculars. This is a very pricey toy, but we love it. I first saw the Canon 15x image stabilizer binoculars at Wolf's Camera web site and they have a price tag of around $1,200. I was shocked by the price. I told myself some day I might buy it. A year later, amazon.com was carrying this 18x version at a much lower price. I was overjoyed and broke down and bought this toy the following month.

These are my second pair of Canon IS binoculars. The 1st were the 12x36's. There is simply no comparison between the image quality of Canon Image Stabilized binoculars and even the best manufacturer's non-stabilized versions. The current generation IS is simple to use and compensates for significant user shake. My new 18x50's hold an image relatively still even better than my 12x pair.
br /
br /The field is extremely flat and crisp with zero visible distortion from edge to edge. Another useful feature is the ability to easily adjust the interpupilary distance so the two fields merge into one. Color is excellent and so is contrast. Canon optics are very good indeed.
br /
br /18x power binoculars open a whole new vista into night time sky observation....the edge of the Milky Way looks absolutely incredible, you can see crystal clear views of moon craters, etc. All this viewing can be done without preocupation to hold the binoculars still and refocus all the time. Your observation time is actually spent looking at moons, double stars, and clusters.
br /
br /I am very glad I decided to spend the extra money these cost. The image quality and stabilization definitely make these binoculars worth it.

I bought the Canon 18x50 mage Stabilization binoculars to use at football games and at golf tournaments. The image stabiliation feature is fantastic. At football games you can look right at a couple of players. It may have to much power for a football game if your seats are close. At golf tournaments it is great to concentrate on one player. I would buy them again. I wish binoculars had a zoom in zoom out feature.

These are a great binocular. A little pricey, but give exceptional optics with rock solid stability for viewing.

We use these mostly for viewing the night sky...lately Jupiter and it's moons, which are visible with these binoculars. The only thing I don't like about them is that they are a little heavy for me to hold up for any length of time but my husband has no complaints.

These are great ! I keep mine on my boat, and they are absolutely indispensable. Even on a steady surface the stabilization is necessary due to the high magnification. I keep the rubber lens cups turned back, I find the field of vision is unrestricted this way. I think these are the best binoculars available, a superb product, one of life's must haves !!

Buy these if you are into bird watching (any type) live sports, or just want to hear you friends say "WOW!" when you turn the image stabilizer on when they are looking through these binoculars.
br /Worth every penny!!

I just bought these Canon binoculars 18-50 at Amazon.Com. Optically they are fantastic and I would rate them with 5 stars..but for the following poor design issues.
br /
br /When using the holding strap it can and will damage the rubber eye pieces.
br /Canon designers put no thought into this.
br /
br /The front lenses are too close to the front edge of the body. As a result the lenses can be easily scratched .
br /Canon designers put no thought into this.
br /
br /If Canon increased the throat dept on front lens, they would have assured adequate scratch protection for the lens.
br /Canon designers put no thought into this
br /
br /Lastly the protective lens caps are worthless.
br /Canon designers put no thought into this either.
br /
br /Why do Canon design people, develop a first class pair of binoculars with world class optics , and then do a cheap crap design to the finished product . Beats me!!
br /
br /
br /
br /
br /
br /
br /

I really like these binoculars. Please read the other reviews to gain knowledge on the product's high points. Also note, I have not found any of the low points mentioned to be present or affect my viewing in any way.

When I push the 'stabilize' button, one 'eye' stabilizes - the other doesn't - resulting in 2 out-of-sync images. Canon had me send them to their repair center, then e-mailed me: "We are returning your BINOCULAR 15X45IS to you un-repaired. We regret that we could not be of further assistance." After calling their 800 number they explained that after 7 years they were at the 'end of life' and the parts were not available to repair them. The 15x45IS's appear the have the very same body as the 15x50s - hopefully they've learned how to make them more reliable...

The problem with high power binoculars is that humans can't hold them steady, and that jitter makes it impossible to really look at something without a tripod. The image stabilization in this pair solves that problem and holds things rock steady. This is an expensive product that clearly distingues itself, and one of those products that technology makes seem a little magic.
br /
br /I have only two small complaints: First, for a product this expensive they should pre-install the neck strap for you -- not a big deal, but it would be nice for the customer. Second, I wish the lens cap covers were higher quality and attachable to the unit so they wouldn't get lost. Again, not a big deal.
br /
br /These are without a doubt the best binoculars I've ever used.

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.