[2574]
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Has anyone taken the plunge and paid the not inconsiderable premium to acquire a pair of Canon image stabilisers? Buyer’s regret or worth every penny?
Canon image stabilised binos
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johnalison
Well-known member
I bought my 10x40s in late 2000 after having trouble identifying buoys. They are still giving good service and make a fantastic difference. They were around £250 when I bought them but even at today's price I think they are well worth it. I should add that one or two people I've met didn't seem to 'get' them, but that was generally when trying them out on firm ground. They are very good at eliminating 'wind-shake', and I also find them good for bird-watching. Some of the additional weight can be eliminated by using lithium batteries, which work well anyway. They are not weatherproof of course, so a modicum of care is needed and I keep a modest pair of 7x50s on board for when needed as well as for very low light conditions.
ashtead
Well-known member
I have 2 pairs -one was a leaving present around 2008 and was the smaller lighter pair ,the other I inherited-much larger but bought for use on land mainly. If I was buying now I would go for cheaper lighter stabilised pair. I keep below but have an old pair of standard ones for keeping on deck when crossing channel usually,plus a pocket sized pair. The best way to try is get down to a good bino stockists . Really depends on your intended sailing I guess . You can use small pair for bird watching but not as easily as a natty pair by the crystal company or say Zeiss etc.
Zing
Well-known member
I own a small i.s. Canon straight through lens type 10X and don’t like it much. I prefer my Fujinon I.S. 14X it is far superior. I’ve not tested the best Canons though.
ashtead
Well-known member
Maybe the Fujinon are even more? -I seem to recall my small Canons were less than a pair of Steiner at the time though to fit with collection size from the team.
LadyInBed
Well-known member
I've had them on my wish list for many years, but in truth I seldom use binoculars on the boat.
Many years ago, when in the Army, I used some gyroscopically stabilized binoculars and was amazed at how good they were. As I understand it, the electronically stabilized ones aren't quite as good but are still pdg and a bit more affordable.
Many years ago, when in the Army, I used some gyroscopically stabilized binoculars and was amazed at how good they were. As I understand it, the electronically stabilized ones aren't quite as good but are still pdg and a bit more affordable.
Billjratt
Active member
Cannons - I fell heir to a pair and like the stabilisation function but they are hellish heavy! I need elbow stabilisation fitted... I use a smaller pair of zoom bins aboard in general, and I feel they don't need to be kept in a special bag to preserve value.
johnalison
Well-known member
The Canons are stabilised for up-down and L-R, which is adequate for most conditions. When I bought mine I tried some others, I think Fujinon, that were also stabilise for rotation. As well as being much bulkier and more expensive, I found the rotational correction very weird. They may be good for some specialised uses but I can’t see the need for them on a yacht. Although I have quite steady hands, from experience in shooting and photography, the Canons give me a lot of assistance and can make the difference between seeing that something is a ship and being able to read the Maersk on the side. As I always say, binoculars are a personal matter for many and there is no substitute for handling them and trying them, preferably in the sort of conditions you need. When I was last in India I lent mine to our guide when we went riding on elephants, which are uncomfortable and unsteady, and by the end of the week he had ordered himself a pair.
johnalison
Well-known member
My 10x40s are heavier than comparable standard binos and I don’t think the larger versions are necessary, but mine are easy to handle with lithium batteries, as I said.
Elessar
Well-known member
I have a pair.
They are good but don’t perform miracles.
Hold them like unstabilised binos ie with your thumbs on your cheeks to minimise the work they need to do.
Also the rubber finish has broken down on mine. They leave black marks wherever I put them down. I scrape a little bit more off every time I use them leaving a hard finish. They look a real mess.
The best way of reading the name on a distant mark remains photographing it with a longish lens and zooming in electronically on the photo.
Overall I like the image stabilised binos just set your expectation level.
They are good but don’t perform miracles.
Hold them like unstabilised binos ie with your thumbs on your cheeks to minimise the work they need to do.
Also the rubber finish has broken down on mine. They leave black marks wherever I put them down. I scrape a little bit more off every time I use them leaving a hard finish. They look a real mess.
The best way of reading the name on a distant mark remains photographing it with a longish lens and zooming in electronically on the photo.
Overall I like the image stabilised binos just set your expectation level.
trialframe
Member
johnalison
Well-known member
This hasn't happened to mine, in over twenty years.
ashtead
Well-known member
Mine are still in good state but they do come home in winter and kept on board in their bag etc below with the cheap standard pair on deck etc. I wonder if some cleaning compound has caused issu? Used in high temperatures or left in a pilot house on a mat exposed to strong sunlight even
LadyInBed
Well-known member
A periodic dowsing of talcum powder will take away the stickiness.
AntarcticPilot
Well-known member
How do these work? Is it done by mechanically moving the prisms, or is it an electronic image sensor and software?
Poecheng
Well-known member
I have Fujinon and they are excellent.
Plum
Well-known member
Electro-mechanical with accelerometers. I am waiting for ones using digital image stabilization like that in your smart phone. In effect you would have a 20x optical lense in front of a smartphone and you look at a stabilised screen/virtualrealty headset. However, I have yet to find such a device for sale.
Www.solocoastalsailing.co.uk
mjcoon
Well-known member
Probably a recipe for instant seasickness!
justanothersailboat
Well-known member
A small lens element is moved by a couple of little electromagnet coils based on accelerometer input.
Many phones also do this (on a tiny scale) as it's considerably more effective than pure digital stabilisation. Mine does; I found out the hard way when I demagnetised something in the lens unit and wrecked the stabilisation. Fortunately I was able to get a replacement camera module.
Lesson there: keep your phone camera away from strong magnets and electromagnets (and induction heaters?). Probably also true for these stabilised binoculars.
I always fancied a pair but always seemed to have something else to spend the money on. I now have a middling-good pair of normal binoculars I am so happy with I don't feel the urge to upgrade any more.
Many phones also do this (on a tiny scale) as it's considerably more effective than pure digital stabilisation. Mine does; I found out the hard way when I demagnetised something in the lens unit and wrecked the stabilisation. Fortunately I was able to get a replacement camera module.
Lesson there: keep your phone camera away from strong magnets and electromagnets (and induction heaters?). Probably also true for these stabilised binoculars.
I always fancied a pair but always seemed to have something else to spend the money on. I now have a middling-good pair of normal binoculars I am so happy with I don't feel the urge to upgrade any more.
SC35
Well-known member
I have the 15 x 50 mm IS which are very good on land, usable at sea if not bouncing around too much.
I paid £850 in 2017 - slightly harder to justify at £1270 today for the same product.
I paid £850 in 2017 - slightly harder to justify at £1270 today for the same product.
