Telescope Reviews: Canon IS binos

I own the Canon 10x30-IS, the 18x50-IS, and the Fujinon 16x70 FMT-SX. Over many astronomy sessions, I feel comfortable stating that the 18x50-IS are a match for the vaunted 16x70 Fujinons.

In my direct, side-by-side comparison (the Fujis were on a Virgo Astronomics parallelogram mount, the Canons were hand-held), the Canon's higher magnification adds enough contrast and detail to offset the extra light gathering of the Fujinons. But it's not a draw when traveling -- here the Canon's are superior. Smaller, lighter weight, higher magnification, no mount, no customs questions, no undue "local" attention.

I don't often use the 10x30-IS for astronomy, but I have compared their astigmatism to the 18x50 and neither have "gull shaped" or oblong stars, as some have claimed. Terrestrially, the 10x30's are superb. Their brightness, clarity, and field flatness are unsurpassed at 30mm aperture, and do a better job than most 50mm binoculars when factoring in the stability of the view.

The way the Canon 18x50-IS and the Fujinon 16x70 FMT-SX match is interesting. The 18x50-IS shows slightly fewer stars (collects slightly less light), but the contrast is improved over the 16x70s. So for deep space objects, the 18x50-IS catches the faint globulars and nebulas better than the larger Fujinons. The higher magnification increases contrast by darkening the sky. On double stars, they both are wonderful. Same goes with a true flat field view. I have done diffraction ring star testing on both (as much as is possible with the low magnifications), and even with the Image Stabilizing engaged, the in/out of focus patterns are nearly perfect. Stars are perfect dots.

For cruising around the Milky Way, I prefer the Fujinons because they bring out fainter stars. But several times, when I couldn't find a particular extended nebular Messier object in the Fujinons, I reached for the Canon 18x50-IS binoculars and found it quickly.

I get pinpoint stars in both the Fujinons and the Canons. The Canons correct for between +/-0.75 to 1.0 degree of shaking, which is actually a large area at 18x (1/4 of the FOV.) But it does take a few seconds to stabilize after a quick or large-scale movement. Then, stars become dots and all small movements, spiral searches, etc. are perfectly tracked with stars remaining dots.

I end up using the Canon 18x50-IS a lot. They travel with me around the world, and there is no better "grab and go" option in Astronomy having magnification greater than 10x.

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Gary

Collins I3 (Thin Film) Image Intensifying Eyepiece
Coronado Maxscope DS 90 <0.5A w/BF30
152 mm f/8 TMB/A&M Carbon Fiber APO; f/5 with 4" Borg ED Field Flattener/Reducer
20" Obsession/OMI Mirror/Servocat/Argo Navis

First Light for the 30" Obsession at BEOTS!