shams42
sage
Reged: 01/05/09
Posts: 216
Loc: Pittsboro, NC
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After months and months of consideration, I finally ordered my first pair of binoculars today. Actually, I should call these my second pair since I had a Papilio 6.5x21 for a while. Even as poor as those were as astronomy binoculars, I still really enjoyed taking them outside for quick looks. I saw a few of the brighter Messiers with those binoculars but I found that the shakes bothered me even with those tiny binoculars.
I've been torn between the standard 10x50 and the smaller IS binoculars. I've been reading lots of good things about them on this site for quite some time. No local businesses seem to stock the Canon IS binoculars, but I did get to try out a pair of Fujinon 14x40 image stabilized binoculars briefly today at a local dealer.
So what can I expect from these binoculars? I've got a few days to wait before they arrive. I'm a frequent telescope user but I have very little experience with binocular astronomy. I'm hoping these Canons will have the FOV to allow for some lazy widefield scanning while providing enough magnification that I can see some detail in the objects.
I paid more for these binoculars than I did for either of my telescopes. Will they be worth the price?
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10" Deep Space Observer dob
6" C6 SCT
LXD75 and AT Voyager mounts
TMB Planetary 9mm 7mm 5mm
Nagler 13mm T6
Panoptic 24mm
Canon 12x36 IS binoculars
Edited by shams42 (09/24/09 03:02 PM)
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pcad
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 01/17/05
Posts: 1767
Loc: Connecticut
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The good news is that they will be a huge improvement over using a 6.5x21 for DSO's.
The bad news is that it's going to be really hard justifing a standard 10x50 in the future. 
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Peter
Telescopes 25 - 318 mm
Binoculars 15 - 88 mm
Microscope 50x - 1000x
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medinabrit
professor emeritus
Reged: 10/27/04
Posts: 648
Loc: medina ohio USA.
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Well all i can say is with over 20 bins the 12x36 IS are by far the most used,I think you will luv em.
Brian.
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SkyG
member
Reged: 09/04/07
Posts: 38
Loc: London
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Great purchase!
I bought myself their little brother, the 10x30's, last week and if they're anything to go buy you'll be blown away! My very first view through them was Jupiter and pressing the IS was a revelation, she just hung there with moons in tow. Then after a couple of minutes, a satellite flew through the field of view so I followed that and the IS tracked it perfectly!
I've had 2 clear(ish) nights so far and am continually blown away by the difference IS makes, I was a sceptic until recently. I could go on for a long time re my fist light with these bins, the beauty of lyra etc. but others have done better jobs and central London isn't the best place to do a report from any way!
the most important thing is that it's meant to be clear tonight and tomorrow and I can't wait. This is exactly the effect I want from a pair of bins, what ever they are.
Hope you love yours as much as I do mine!
J
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WO ZD66, Miyauchi Exceeds, besser 10x50, WW2 RAL 7x50s, ZEISS 10X50W Jenoptem, Canon 10x30 IS.
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shams42
sage
Reged: 01/05/09
Posts: 216
Loc: Pittsboro, NC
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The UPS man just delivered my binocs. I just went outside and tried out the IS feature. All I can say is HOLY *BLEEP*! Totally awesome! I watched a hawk circle lazily in the air. With the IS activated I felt like I was watching Animal Planet. All the high frequency vibration was gone, leaving only the low frequency movement that is well within the eye's ability to track. I can read tiny text on my laptop screen from across the house with the IS activated. I don't see any sign of the "IS mushiness" either -- the image looks just as sharp and vibrant and clear with IS on as it is when IS is off. Furthermore, the effect of IS seems more dramatic in these binoculars versus the 14x40 Nikons that I tried.
The optics in these seem great as well. Definitely better than the Papilio at least. I suppose the true test will be under the night sky.
I can't wait to try these out under the stars!
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10" Deep Space Observer dob
6" C6 SCT
LXD75 and AT Voyager mounts
TMB Planetary 9mm 7mm 5mm
Nagler 13mm T6
Panoptic 24mm
Canon 12x36 IS binoculars
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coopman
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 04/23/06
Posts: 1544
Loc: South Louisiana
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Congrats on your new binos. I've got the 10x30 IS and love them.
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Regards,
Clay
"The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands." Psalms 19:1
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shams42
sage
Reged: 01/05/09
Posts: 216
Loc: Pittsboro, NC
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What do you guys suggest in terms of protecting the objective lenses? Like everyone else, I am appalled that lens caps are not included.
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10" Deep Space Observer dob
6" C6 SCT
LXD75 and AT Voyager mounts
TMB Planetary 9mm 7mm 5mm
Nagler 13mm T6
Panoptic 24mm
Canon 12x36 IS binoculars
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alessandro71
super member
Reged: 09/04/07
Posts: 147
Loc: Rho (Milan - Italy)
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A cleaning rag like the one used to clean spectacles and a rubber band.
I mean putting the rag over the lenses and using the rubber band to keep the rag in place.
This should prevent scratches.
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alessandro
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EdZ
Professor EdZ
Reged: 02/15/02
Posts: 14731
Loc: Cumberland, R I , USA42N71.4W
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See this thread for a list of numerous places to buy lens caps
Quality lens covers
edz
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Teach a kid something today. The feeling you'll get is one of life's greatest rewards.
member#21
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DJB
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 02/23/05
Posts: 1589
Loc: Lisle NY
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Also guys,
As it is with most Canon binoculars, the lens on the objective is just that--a clear protective, neutral lens.
This is much easier to clean than a precisely, coated major lens--not a bad concept, really.
Best regards,
Dave.
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shams42
sage
Reged: 01/05/09
Posts: 216
Loc: Pittsboro, NC
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Alright, we finally had a clear night. Of course, the waxing gibbous moon washes out most of the DSOs. However, the moon itself is stunning in these binocs. I can count 30-40 craters easily. Alberio is an easy split. The moons of Jupiter are slightly more difficult, but I think this is because I have some flaring of bright point sources due to astigmatism in my vision. I also saw M27 as a faint fuzzy patch, the core of M31 with a hint of extension, and the double cluster. I caught M45 very low as it was rising and enjoyed the best view of it that I've ever seen. I hunted for M33 with no success, but I wasn't expected to be able to find it in the moonglow.
I'm really enjoying these binoculars!
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10" Deep Space Observer dob
6" C6 SCT
LXD75 and AT Voyager mounts
TMB Planetary 9mm 7mm 5mm
Nagler 13mm T6
Panoptic 24mm
Canon 12x36 IS binoculars
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tigerroach
sage
Reged: 08/13/08
Posts: 465
Loc: Houston, TX
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Great score! The small IS Canons are fantastic general-purpose stargazers.
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Brian
TeleVue TV-102, Gibralter alt-az mount
Webster 14.5" f/4.3 truss dob *under construction*
Canon 10x30 & 15x50 IS binocs
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Special Ed
Post Laureate
Reged: 05/18/03
Posts: 4298
Loc: Greenbrier Co., WV 38N, 80W
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Glad you like your new 12x36's--I'm very happy with mine. They don't catch quite as much light as a 50mm aperture does for finding the faintest of fuzzies (I could not detect 8.6-9.0 magnitude Comet C/2006 W3 (Christensen), for instance) but I could see Neptune just fine (~mag 8) and I can also see M27 quite easily. They have wonderful optics and they are *very* light. I use them as a finderscope, among other things. Btw, the field of view is right around 5°.
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Michael Rosolina
8" f/10 Orange Tube SCT
4.25" f/4.2 Astroscan Reflector
SVP 3.6" f/13.6 CA Reflector
40mm PST f/10
APM Germany HD 15x70 binoculars
Canon 12x36 IS II binoculars
Mark I Eyeball
My CN Gallery
Edited by Special Ed (09/28/09 05:32 PM)
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milt
professor emeritus
Reged: 09/13/04
Posts: 553
Loc: Arizona
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Quote:
So what can I expect from these binoculars?
12x36 (non-IS) was my first astronomy binocular before I even got a telescope. I don't have my notes handy but believe I bagged about half the Messier's with them. They are a nice size - compact but still enough aperture to bust the Milky Way wide open.
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Clear skies, Milt
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dvb
different Syndrome.
Reged: 06/18/05
Posts: 3019
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Congratulations - I have the 12x36, 15x50, and 10x30 Canon IS binos - and find I reach most often for the 12x36.
Optically Very good, if not ot the best (I agree with Gary Seronik that there is some astigmatism in the outer 25% or so of the field), but they are so light, have good power, a decent wide-field (5*), and decent light-gathering, I find them easy, useful, and pleasurable.
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"But seeing through a telescope is 50% vision and 50% imagination." - Chet Raymo
Skywatcher 10" f/4.7 Newt on Matilda
Celestron CF 9.25"
Vixen CF 8" f/4 Newt
Meade 8" SN f/4
Celestron C6 SCT
Skywatcher ED100
Skywatcher ED80
EQ6 Pro "Matilda"
AT Voyager
Canon 15x50is
Mallincam HyperColor Plus
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shams42
sage
Reged: 01/05/09
Posts: 216
Loc: Pittsboro, NC
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Those lens covers work perfectly. Thanks Ed! The size 7s fit the 12x36 very well.
Quote:
See this thread for a list of numerous places to buy lens caps
Quality lens covers
edz
--------------------
10" Deep Space Observer dob
6" C6 SCT
LXD75 and AT Voyager mounts
TMB Planetary 9mm 7mm 5mm
Nagler 13mm T6
Panoptic 24mm
Canon 12x36 IS binoculars
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