[albatrosviajero]

Hello,
I wanted some information on the binocular canon 12x36 IS II, as a general level as binocular for bird watching, terrestrial and astronomical observation also.
A greeting and thanks

[ceasar]

There are some comments about it in this recent thread:

http://www.birdforum.net/showthread.php?t=211456

And in this one:

http://www.birdforum.net/showthread.php?t=130484

You can probably get comments on it's astronomy potential from the Cloudy Nights website.

Bob

[denco@comcast.n]

To sum it up. " It ain't bad but it ain't no alpha"

[etudiant]

Originally Posted by denco@comcast.n

To sum it up. " It ain't bad but it ain't no alpha"

True, but it offers unique advantages that other binocs in that price range simply do not have, built into a very sound piece of optics.

[denco@comcast.n]

I sold mine. But to me those advantages simply do not make up for the difference in optics between the IS and an alpha. The Canon IS never gave that me that WOW factor when I used them. It was kind of like these are pretty good and it is cool that it is steady but where is the WOW factor. I went back to alphas. I kind of feel in a way they are a gimmick too. Kind of a fun toy.

[etudiant]

Originally Posted by denco@comcast.n

I sold mine. But to me those advantages simply do not make up for the difference in optics between the IS and an alpha. The Canon IS never gave that me that WOW factor when I used them. It was kind of like these are pretty good and it is cool that it is steady but where is the WOW factor. I went back to alphas. I kind of feel in a way they are a gimmick too. Kind of a fun toy.

Thanks for the clear illustration of your experience and perceptions.
For me, the WOW was never an issue, certainly not at this price, but the IS is persistently helpful, when trying to see detail on a warbler flitting in the treetops or a shorebird at a distance, or something in the air.

[albatrosviajero]

There is a great difference in price between Canon 12X36 and a Alpha binoculars of similar magnification and aperture?

[etudiant]

Originally Posted by albatrosviajero

There is a great difference in price between Canon 12X36 and a Alpha binoculars of similar magnification and aperture?

About 2-3x, based on comparing prices at Eagle Optics here:
http://www.eagleoptics.com/binoculars