Binoculars: Canon 12x36 IS II and 15x50 IS review

[rayone]

Hi.

I wrote a review and made a youtube video of the Canon 12x36 IS II and 15x50 IS incase anyone's interested.

Writen review: http://blog.ray1.net/2011/10/review-comparison-of-canon-12x36-is-ii.html

Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3w8ltx3zRp0

[dannat]

nice work

[MikeyB]

I own a pair of the 12 x 36 IS and previously owned the 18 x 50 IS and the review pretty much nails them. Incidentally, the Camera Warehouse link in the review doesn't work.

[rayone]

Thanks, I updated the link...

What did you think of the 18x50's?

I initially bought the 12x36's and then figured maybe the larger objective, 20% increase in magnification, tripod mount and UD lenses would yield a significant improvement; that coupled with the views on http://www.cloudynights.com made me go with the 15x50's.

If I had known there was so little difference in magnification between the 12x36's and the 15x50's I may have opted for the 18x50's.

I guess at some stage I'll put the 12x36's on eBay, as the wife has shown 0 interest.

[MikeyB]

The magnification of the 18 x 50 IS is noticeably much greater than the 12 x 36's, which overcomes an issue mentioned in the review. They're heavy though (like the 15x) and if you have to tripod-mount them, I don't see much point in paying for the IS feature.

The IS in the 18x seems less effective than in the 12x - maybe it's just my spindly arms and the heavier weight.:) I find the 12x easy and comfortable to use - by day or at night - and the IS is rock-solid, whereas the 18x was much more tiring for me to hold (especially pointing upward at the stars), and the IS didn't eliminate all movement.

[rayone]

Did you notice any CA with the 18x50's? Both the 12's and 15's exhibit a little... it's very slight but it present.

Did you measure the close focus distance?

I don't understand why the 18's are ~ 15% more expensive, when it appears there should be no difference in manufacturing expense.

Looking at Jupiter, were you able to discern any bands?
We've still got a couple months before Saturn is visible again... did you happen to look at it with the 18's?

Looking at small faint objects, I also find the IS with both doesn't eliminate the shake 100%, but it sure helps a lot... goes from a shake to a sway.

[MikeyB]

Same for the 18x

I don't take any interest in close focussing with conventional binos - too much eyestrain, my eyeballs need recollimating afterwards! I use 6.5x Pentax Papilios when I'm in the field chasing orchids, fungi, butterflies and other close targets: perfect.

I believe the 18x and 15x are physically identical apart from the eyepiece magnification factor - you're right, nothing realistically justifies the surcharge.

No Jupiter bands - my aging eyes aren't that good and Saturn just looked like a mis-shapen small yellow blob to me.