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Message: <blockquote data-quote="denco@comcast.n" data-source="post: 3240338" data-attributes="member: 25300"><p>I would go with the Swarovski 10x50 SV if you can afford the difference. The Canon IS 10x42 is good with the IS but the Swaro's optics are better. I had the Canon for awhile and I have used a lot of 10x but the Swarovski is the best 10x I have ever seen. The Swaro 10x50 SV is absolutely incredible. That big 50mm aperture makes a big difference in performance. The Canon 10x42 IS I had had optical artifacts which I think are a by product of the IS system. In other words there are periods when the image appears out of focus or vacillates in and out of focus. The Swarovski 10x50 SV will KILL the Canon IS overall optically with much better contrast and resolution. If you want to use the SV 10x50 for astronomy just put it on a tripod. That way you have comfortable viewing that is optically superior to the Canon and you don't have to hold a brick up all night and put batteries in it all the time. The Canon has a terrible warranty and is way more fragile than the SV. I personally would never choose the Canon over the Swaro if I could afford either. It is a no brainer.</p></blockquote><p></p>