Canon 18x50 Image Stabilization All-Weather Binoculars w/Case, Neck Strap & Batteries
by Canon
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Category: Digital Camera
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Digital Photo Product Details
Manufacturer: CanonModel: 4624A002AB
Product features:
- 18x magnification
- Built-in optical image stabilization uses 2 AA batteries
- Wide, extra-bright field of view
- Lenses are multicoated for contrast, clarity, and color fidelity
- Shock- and water-resistant
- Tiffen 58mm UV Protection Filter
- Hoya 58POL 58mm Polarized Filter
- Nikon Lens Pen Cleaning System
- Nikon Binoc-U-Mount Universal Tripod Adapter
- Canon AE-B1 Anti-Fog Eyepiece for Canon 15x50 & 18x50 Image Stabilization Binoculars
Digital Cameras Photo Reviews of Canon 18x50 Image Stabilization All-Weather Binoculars w/Case, Neck Strap & Batteries
Customer Review: Great, But Not My Favorite Canon IS Binoculars
Summary: 4 Stars
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:
* 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.
* 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.
* 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.
* 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.
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.
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.
Canon 10x42 L Image Stabilization Waterproof Binoculars
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Description of Canon 18x50 Image Stabilization All-Weather Binoculars w/Case, Neck Strap & Batteries
A pair of all-weather resistant, 18x50 binoculars that features image stabilization Imagine riding in a truck over a bumpy back country road, and seeing a perfectly steady image in your binoculars! Other features include - a water resistant, non-slip rubber coating for protection against rain & splashing water & secure handling Long eye relief that allows the use of eyeglasses without vignetting of the image Wide 67 field of view Doublet field-flattener for sharp, distortion-free images from edge to edge Powered by 2 AA batteries Includes - deluxe carrying case, wide strap, & 2 AA Alkaline batteries Canon 3-Year USA / 1 Year International WarrantyCanon'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.
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