Generally agree with jimscarff's comments, but believe he overstressed the negatives.
This is a uniquely capable glass, thanks to the combination of effective IS and Canon L class premium optics in a robust and waterproof package. It is superb for picking out detail on birds in motion or far away, much better than any non stabilized glass. Plus it is well built, my only maintenance in 6 years of ownership has been periodic battery replacement.
Like jimscarff, I have not been able to find a better binocular for me, at any price.
The glass is clunky and heavy, so a harness is essential to carry it comfortably all day. Also. the eye cups are huge and hard beneath their rubber cover, the lens covers are hard to put on and harder to keep on, really poorly designed, the case is too snug to carry the glass even with a strap attached, much less with a harness and the early production units were field stopped to 37mm equivalent, not the 42mm specified.
Against that, there are some nice touches, the objective lenses are covered by a flat glass, so the active optical surfaces are protected, there is a central tripod fitting and the whole thing is sealed well enough that Canon recommends rinsing the glass under running water when needed to remove salt or dirt.
The IS technology makes the extra reach high power gives really useful in the field. If Canon were to offer a 12x50 ISL glass, even if heavier than this one, I'd buy it immediately. Ideally, Canon will someday also offer IS in a hand held scope, so that birders can ditch the bothersome tripod.
This is a uniquely capable glass, thanks to the combination of effective IS and Canon L class premium optics in a robust and waterproof package. It is superb for picking out detail on birds in motion or far away, much better than any non stabilized glass. Plus it is well built, my only maintenance in 6 years of ownership has been periodic battery replacement.
Like jimscarff, I have not been able to find a better binocular for me, at any price.
The glass is clunky and heavy, so a harness is essential to carry it comfortably all day. Also. the eye cups are huge and hard beneath their rubber cover, the lens covers are hard to put on and harder to keep on, really poorly designed, the case is too snug to carry the glass even with a strap attached, much less with a harness and the early production units were field stopped to 37mm equivalent, not the 42mm specified.
Against that, there are some nice touches, the objective lenses are covered by a flat glass, so the active optical surfaces are protected, there is a central tripod fitting and the whole thing is sealed well enough that Canon recommends rinsing the glass under running water when needed to remove salt or dirt.
The IS technology makes the extra reach high power gives really useful in the field. If Canon were to offer a 12x50 ISL glass, even if heavier than this one, I'd buy it immediately. Ideally, Canon will someday also offer IS in a hand held scope, so that birders can ditch the bothersome tripod.