|
Canon 15x50 Image Stabilization All Weather Binoculars w/Case, Neck Strap & Batteries | 
 enlarge
| Brand: Canon
Category: Photography
Department: COMPACT BINOCULARS
List Price: $1,600.00
Buy New: $879.99
as of 9/9/2010 05:07:46 EDT details
You Save: $720.01 (45%)
New (15) Used (1) from $859.99
Rating:  25 reviews
Sales Rank: 1077
Media: Electronics
Autographed: No
Memorabilia: No
Batteries Included: No
Battery: 2 AA
Shipping Weight (lbs): 2.6
Dimensions (in): 11 x 8 x 5
Waterproof
Legal Disclaimer: Warranty does not cover misuse of product.
MPN: 702274
Model: 15x50 IS II
UPC: 082966302145
EAN: 0082966302145
ASIN: B00006I53P
Availability: Usually ships in 2-3 business days
| |
| Features:
| • | This pair of binoculars from Canon are unique among high-magnification binoculars because they incorporate Optical Image Stabilizer | | • | The Image Stabilizer technology compensates for handshaking as well as minute vibrations at the touch of a button | | • | It also features 15x zoom to accommodate wide-ranging activities | | • | A 50mm objective lens for a wide, extra-bright field of view | | • | Multi-Coated Ultra-Low Dispersion Objective Elements add contrast, clarity & color fidelity |
|
| Accessories:
|
| Similar Items:
| |
| Editorial Reviews:
Product Description
Canon's new 15X50 IS AW Binocular deliver outstanding optical performance and unparalleled image stabilization capabilities and are designed to be weatherproof, making them ideal for all outdoor and marine activities including, birding, hunting, hiking, boating, astronomy and sports. The 15X50 IS AW Binocular is designed to fit perfectly in your hands with a textured rubber coating that provides non-slip grip and protection from the elements. The 15x50 IS AW features Canon's innovative Optical Image Stabilization technology - already proven highly successful in Canon's camcorders and professional lenses - resulting in a high performance system that makes high magnification truly practical, eliminating shake and reducing curvature of field. This revolutionary system employs a novel Vari-Angle Prism that instantly and continuously makes adjustments to maintain a steady image. This new model also features a UD (Ultra-low Dispersion) glass element that effectively corrects chromatic aberrations while attaining excellent delineation. The lenses are even coated with Canon's unique Super Spectra multi-coating, another feature that improves overall image quality by maximizing contrast and minimizing color smear. Canon engineers achieved the high magnification of 15x, as well as the compact optical system length by incorporating four elements in three groups and strategically positioning a concave lens within the objective lens section. The large-diameter 50mm objective lens also provides users with a bright field-of-view. A rubber ring on the end of the objective lens, along with the body's rubber ''skin'' are designed to cushion the binoculars from sudden impact, while providing users with a firm grip and less eye strain. Using the image stabilizer feature for extended periods of time has been made simple and convenient. Quickly depressing the IS button located on the top of the binoculars will initiate the IS feature and lock it in place. Depressing the butto
Amazon.com Product Description
Amazon.com Product Description With 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 â 8x, 12x, 15x and so on â and the diameter of their objective lenses â 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
|
| Customer Reviews:
Showing reviews 1-5 of 25
 Stunning imagequality. August 10, 2010
Henrik Østerlund Gram (Kløfta, Norway Norway)
I've loaned several binoculars before, but this is the first I decided to purchase. Quite costly, so say the least, but if you are at all interested what's at the other end, you really ought to treat yourself and get this. The image stabilisation works extremely well, and even if you have very sturdy hands, it proves its use in windy weather, which is often the case where you have expansive views, like from hilltops or near the coast. I saw my first black bears in Olympic Nat. Park with this one.
I love these binoculars! July 29, 2010
Sail Away
I bought these in order to have a great "all around" pair of binoculars. They have served me very well for general, light use in the following areas:
- birdwatching
- moon/sky-gazing, but you don't want a bulky telescope
- any other time I needed to magnify my view with a steady image
I wanted to be able to look at the moon, but was not interested on learning about, or moving around, a bulky telescope. That is the main reason I ended up buying these binoculars.
The image stabilization works superbly.
For general use around your home, property, looking at the night sky, or trips where you can pack them in a suitcase to use at another destination, they are excellent. They are on the heavy side, so probably not a good choice for backpackers.
I have not tested them in "all weather", so I cannot comment on that feature. In my opinion, they are so nice, and expensive, I only take them out of the original box for use in good weather, then I put them right back into the box for safe-keeping. But, they do feel tough and rugged.
The IS is worth the extra cost in my opinion. It will make an otherwise shaky magnified image almost perfectly steady - truly amazing!
Beautiful Optics, Excellent Performance November 28, 2009
Diadem (Washington, DC)
6 out of 6 found this review helpful
I've used these binoculars for astronomy and bird watching for about 2 weeks. They are outstanding, even without using the image stabilization. It's remarkable to experience how jitter vanishes when the stabilization is engaged: the moons of Jupiter pop out, and central peaks within large lunar craters are easy to see.
The most interesting effect of the image stabilization occurs in dynamic scenes, where bushes or trees may be moving in the wind (and perhaps a bird or other creature hidden there as well). Without the stabilization, jitter makes it impossible to identify details in such scenes. The stabilization function really reveals much in such instances, since the observer's random motions are canceled out.
The quality of construction is excellent; the focus mechanism is silky smooth, and has a considerable range; the field of view is very good; and the optical correction is outstandingly sharp over the entire field.
Buy a couple of snap-in 58 mm lens caps to protect the front optics, you don't need anything else; Canon E-58U caps(for about $8.50) work fine.
Impressive July 15, 2009
S. Bruns (Minnesota)
4 out of 5 found this review helpful
These great binoculars arived just a few days after I ordered them.
I've been enjoying them ever since. The image stabilazation is awe inspiring. It cuts down on eye fatigue as well. They are a bit on the heavy side, but thats to be expected.
Listed as frequenty bought together are,
Canon E-58U 58mm Snap-On Accessory Lens Cap
Tiffen 58mm UV Protection Filter
I ordered both assuming they were a good idea as there are no lens caps for the large lenses. Neither Item fits.
Update: after recieving a comment about the filter and lens cap, I took another look, (this time with my glasses on) the filter does indeed fit. And the cap clips right onto the filter. Be sure and order 2 of each. My apologies for the mistaken info, and thanks for the correction, as I now have lens protection:)
 Birdwatching review -- a better alternative to a scope February 28, 2009
David A. Bell (Vacaville, CA)
15 out of 15 found this review helpful
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.
Showing reviews 1-5 of 25
|
|
|
| |
![AmazonBasics Quilted Case for Small Electronics Including Cameras, Mobile Phones, GPS Units (Black) [Amazon Frustration-Free Packaging]](http://images.amazon.com/images/P/B002VPE1YS.01._AA75_PU_PU-5_.jpg)
