Wes James
Post Laureate
Reged: 04/12/06
Posts: 3450
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I received the Canon 18x50's yesterday from Amazon... got a good half hour of skies to check them out last night, and after thinking about it overnight I made a decision to return them and go for the 15x50's. I already have the 10x42L's, which I love- they are keepers- and when a friend of mine showed up at the astro viewing site with a pair of the 15x50's, had a chance to compare the two, and was surprised to see that I actually preferred the 15x50's. I surmised the 18x50's would be even better, so ordered a pair finally after selling a few other items.
Now we have been discussing the pros and cons of the 15x vs the 18x here recently, some prefer one- some prefer the other. Bottom line turned out to be that the only way to find out what was best for me was to try the 18x, since I already had tried the 15x.
CSEDewar made a comment that the 18x were probably right at the threshold of what was practical in a hand-holdable, even with the IS, and he is correct. For me, just a little too close to the threshold. I think a chair or chaise lounge should be considered a requirement with the 18x.
So, I made the decision to return the 18x and go for the 15x.
Amazon, I might add, is an incredible company to do business with. No problem returning them. My wife and I have done a lot of business with Amazon, only rarely having to return something- but as many of you know, trying to return something purchased on the internet can be a nightmare: Not so with Amazon.
Lastly, I will comment that while Canon has done a great job with these IS binoculars, they fall down horribly on the case and lenscap issues. The 10x42L's come with a nice zip-up nylon case, not the sturdiest most protective case- but still decent. Of course, no objective covers, but at least a decent 1-piece eyepiece cover. The 18x50's (and I assume the 15x50's also) come with a nylon bag with a drawstring and flimsy eyepiece covers. Not in keeping with $1100.00 binoculars. Period. We've discussed this before, and it remains a pet peeve of mine. I will probably purchase a Pelican case for the new 15x50's when they arrive Monday. Only $3.99 for overnight with Amazon Prime!
The final kicker??? The 18x50's ran me $1157.40, the 15x50's are $798.62. That made it- for me- a "No-Brainer"! I'll take the $360.00 difference and the 15x50's over the 18x50's anyday.
I just did.
And applied the $360 to a pair of the Nikon Prostar 7x50's.
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Wes
Atlantic Beach, FL
Some bino’s from Miyauchi 5x32 Binon's up through Garrett 20x110 Signature's,
Some telescopes from a Stellarvue 80mm NHNG up through a couple of 8” reflectors…
And a wonderful 4.25" Delmarva Shiefspiegler!
Some good friends, made here on C/N.
Oh- several cats and a wonderful wife!
Anyone want a cat???? :-O
"When your work speaks for itself- Don't Interrupt" -Gamble Rogers
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Joe Ogiba
Post Laureate
Reged: 02/14/02
Posts: 4060
Loc: NJ USA
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Wes, I agree, the perfect IS combo for the 10x42L's are the 15x50's with larger FOV,AFOV and exit pupil than the 18x50's.
Joe
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Pentax PF-80ED,Meade 102ED APO,Orion EON 72,120ST
Apex 127,C6 XLT,CR150,C9.25,XT10
Zeiss 7x42 FL,Canon 10x42L IS WP,15x50 IS
12x36 IS II
Garrett Optical 28x110 HD-WP Signature Series
Oberwerk BT-80 45, Apogee RA-88-SA
Denk II Power x Switch binoviewer w/13mm Ethos, 20mm Pentax XW's, 20mm Widescan III's.
17mm Ethos, 22mm Nagler, 40mm Pentax XW, 14mm Pentax XL, 5.2mm Pentax XL, 8-24mm Pentax XL Zoom
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Wes James
Post Laureate
Reged: 04/12/06
Posts: 3450
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Yep-
And IF I could only own one, it'd be the 15x50. I'm glad I at least gave the 18x50 a shot- this way, I'll never have any regrets or second guess myself- wondering if I'd like the 18x better. Now I know.
Wes
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JimW
professor emeritus
Reged: 08/31/04
Posts: 696
Loc: Mansfield, Texas
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Wes,
For general daytime use, I am seriously considering the 10x42L because of the L lens quality and wider FOV. I have a Stellarvue 90mm grab n' go scope on order for astronomical use. In addition, I have a large dob for going deep.
Given my intended use, would you still recommend the 15x50 over the 10x42L?
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Jim Walsh
18" Obsession UC #1 AN/SC
SV90T (Stardust Blue)
DM-6 mount (on order)
PST
Leupold Wind River 8x42
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Wes James
Post Laureate
Reged: 04/12/06
Posts: 3450
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Jim-
My "recommendation" of the 15x50 over the 10x42L's was my personal opinion, and for astro use. For daytime use, I imagine you would be better off with the 10x42's... I'm almost a strictly astro user, so there are probably others out there who could provide a more experienced answer- but I think- unless you needed the higher magnification, the wider FOV would be a large advantage for daytime use. ANd you don't need the additional aperture for daytime use, either. The 10x42L's are still wonderful nighttime/astro bino's, I will never take anything away from them as astro bino's; simply the additional mag is nice as well.
Wes
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Rick
Post Laureate
Reged: 04/12/05
Posts: 3044
Loc: Tokyo, Japan
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I think the 15x50IS makes just about every smaller bino redundant, including the 10x42L (FWIW, I don't the "L" makes a bit of difference in the optical quality compared to the 15/18x50IS. The 10x power is just too low to be stressing the optics). But it really depends on what your daytime use will be. If you are doing distance hiking with binos, even the 10x42L will be too heavy after awhile. If you are not doing much moving around, but looking over long distances, a small fieldscope might even be a better choice.
clear skies,
Rick
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www.japanastro.com
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Joe Ogiba
Post Laureate
Reged: 02/14/02
Posts: 4060
Loc: NJ USA
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My 10x42L's tracks planes like a NASA Shuttle tracking camera and the 15x50's are much harder to keep within their correction angle of ±0.7° compared to the 10x42L's correction angle of +/- 0.8° IMHO.
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Pentax PF-80ED,Meade 102ED APO,Orion EON 72,120ST
Apex 127,C6 XLT,CR150,C9.25,XT10
Zeiss 7x42 FL,Canon 10x42L IS WP,15x50 IS
12x36 IS II
Garrett Optical 28x110 HD-WP Signature Series
Oberwerk BT-80 45, Apogee RA-88-SA
Denk II Power x Switch binoviewer w/13mm Ethos, 20mm Pentax XW's, 20mm Widescan III's.
17mm Ethos, 22mm Nagler, 40mm Pentax XW, 14mm Pentax XL, 5.2mm Pentax XL, 8-24mm Pentax XL Zoom
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DJB
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 02/23/05
Posts: 1587
Loc: Lisle NY
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Hi Wes,
As you probably know, I have the Canon 10x32 and the 15x50. I early on decided against the 18x50--specs and all.
With my bad back, the 15x50 is about all I can maintain hand-held anyway. Amongst all of my other binoculars, I am quite happy using the Canon offerings. Really!
Best regards,
Dave.
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Wes James
Post Laureate
Reged: 04/12/06
Posts: 3450
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Last night at our club's public observing session, the 2 old hand binocular observers (who got me hooked a couple of years ago) spent a very enjoyable evening with their 10x42L's and 15x50's...
I'm glad I tried the 18xs's- then exchanged them for the 15x. With my personality, I'd have never been happy until I'd tried them. I'd always be wanting them. Now I know they're not for me.
Wes
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JimW
professor emeritus
Reged: 08/31/04
Posts: 696
Loc: Mansfield, Texas
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Thanks for all the great responses. Joe, I was particularly impressed with your description of aircraft tracking.
Jim
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Jim Walsh
18" Obsession UC #1 AN/SC
SV90T (Stardust Blue)
DM-6 mount (on order)
PST
Leupold Wind River 8x42
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Wes James
Post Laureate
Reged: 04/12/06
Posts: 3450
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I, too, have tracked aircraft at high altitude and satellites with the 10x42's... really great for that. The stabilization keeps up with them with no problem, providing a smooth, sweeping view that'd be hard to duplicate otherwise. Quite of the satellites I've seen- in fact most looked like a gold colored star, and the sight streaking across the sky through the stars is spectacular.
Wes
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JimW
professor emeritus
Reged: 08/31/04
Posts: 696
Loc: Mansfield, Texas
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Thanks Wes! I wish I had a pair tonight - the shuttle & ISS are making an overhead pass at 10 PM local. Elevation will be about 85 degrees, so I'll be out with my 8x42s. OOPS - just the ISS, not the shuttle too!
Jim
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Jim Walsh
18" Obsession UC #1 AN/SC
SV90T (Stardust Blue)
DM-6 mount (on order)
PST
Leupold Wind River 8x42
Edited by JimW (06/08/08 08:25 PM)
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CESDewar
GorillAstronomer
Reged: 01/16/05
Posts: 2069
Loc: Morganton, GA, USA
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Quote:
I made a decision to return them and go for the 15x50's....The final kicker??? The 18x50's ran me $1157.40, the 15x50's are $798.62.
Some people prefer the 18x50's and some do not, so I think it's definitely worthwhile to make sure you purchase them from a company that has a good return procedure. Certainly the price difference here was a big deal! I paid $899 for my 18x50's and got a $100 rebate, so it was a good price at $799. I also had a pair of the prior generation 15x45 binoculars and so when getting a new pair it was a no-brainer for me to get the 18x50's.
I don't have a problem hand-holding them - there is indeed a bit of sway, but it doesn't bother me. I find the small edge in magnification over the 15x50's to be a plus, but it's clear there are some tradeoffs which others may find sways the balance in the other direction.
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pedro
super member
Reged: 09/28/04
Posts: 199
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Hi Wes
Uses to show these 10x42's some brief softening (fast loss of resolution) on some objects when panning?
Pedro
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Wes James
Post Laureate
Reged: 04/12/06
Posts: 3450
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Following an object in the sky such as an aircraft or satellite in a smooth manner isn't a problem. If you all of a sudden jerk the bino's to a different area of the sky, the bino's IS function is not going to be able to keep up with that kind of movement.
Wes
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pedro
super member
Reged: 09/28/04
Posts: 199
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Hi Wes thanks
Yes, using a smooth manner I mean, none fast softening (sharpness change) is noticiable when following (for example) some distant aircfraft left to right or vice-versa ?
Pedro
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Wes James
Post Laureate
Reged: 04/12/06
Posts: 3450
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I have not noted it to be a problem for me... perhaps it's present and I simply don't note it- I haven't looked for it. Will try it with them (the 10x42L's) when I'm out trying the 15x50's this week when I receive them.
Wes
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Les
professor emeritus
Reged: 04/22/06
Posts: 730
Loc: Maryland
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Quote:
Uses to show these 10x42's some brief softening (fast loss of resolution) on some objects when panning?
Hi Pedro,
I do not notice this effect when panning - probably because my brain is occupied with keeping the object centered while I pan. BTW, aircraft do not have to be at high altitude for enjoyable views. I have no problem following planes flying near my house at 4K - 5K feet with a nice "stabilized" view.
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Les
Canon 10x42L IS
Oberwerks BT80/45, Helix Hercules mount on Oberwerks Standard Tripod
Swift 8x44ED Ultralite
Questar 50th Anniversary Model, 501 head on Manfrotto 475 tripod
Stellarvue SV90T 90mm Fluorite refractor Bogen 3236/Televue Tele-Pod Head
Questar 7 Astro
Vixen GP-DX on Baader Surveyor Tripod
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pedro
super member
Reged: 09/28/04
Posts: 199
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Hi Les
I did mention about some ''high altitude airplane'' just because they use to show ''a slow apparent velocity when crossing the sky'' which should be (I think) less complicated and easy to the ''IS angular correction'' - the less panning movement the less some fuzzing on the IS ...am I correct? This is why I am asking about the 10X since with the 15X this is a bit noticiable in anyway.
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Les
professor emeritus
Reged: 04/22/06
Posts: 730
Loc: Maryland
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Quote:
the less panning movement the less some fuzzing on the IS ...am I correct?
Hi Pedro,
Not sure about that. I would say from my observations that the fuzzing occurs about as often for high flyers (slow pan) as for stationary objects (when binos are handheld) and that the fuzzing becomes less noticeable for faster pans because it is harder to keep the object from moving around in the FOV which naturally results in loss of perceived resolution.
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Les
Canon 10x42L IS
Oberwerks BT80/45, Helix Hercules mount on Oberwerks Standard Tripod
Swift 8x44ED Ultralite
Questar 50th Anniversary Model, 501 head on Manfrotto 475 tripod
Stellarvue SV90T 90mm Fluorite refractor Bogen 3236/Televue Tele-Pod Head
Questar 7 Astro
Vixen GP-DX on Baader Surveyor Tripod
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DJB
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 02/23/05
Posts: 1587
Loc: Lisle NY
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Hi Wes,
I believe that you will enjoy the 15x50 Canon. Actually, I simply do not notice any problems with my two, the other being the lower cost 10x30. (This one should not exhibit many problems due to the lower power and such.)
With my bad back (leads to the shakies), the binoculars are a Godsend for me for a quick G&G. Perhaps I would'nt even notice any problems BECAUSE of the image inhancements.
This has been an interesting read.
Best Regards,
Dave.
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