curiosidad
sage
Reged: 06/09/11
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Change the 12x36 IS II Canon 15X50 IS . Worth it?
#5622153 - 01/14/13 05:45 AM
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Hello,
Now I have binoculars Canon 12x36 IS II, and am thinking of changing them by 15X50 IS.
I wanted to ask your opinion.
I use them for both bird watching to astronomical observation.
Worth the change?
Regards and thanks
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Tony Flanders
Postmaster
Reged: 05/18/06
Loc: Cambridge, MA, USA
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Re: Change the 12x36 IS II Canon 15X50 IS . Worth it?
[Re: curiosidad]
#5622260 - 01/14/13 08:37 AM
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Quote:
Hello,
Now I have binoculars Canon 12x36 IS II, and am thinking of changing them by 15X50 IS.
I wanted to ask your opinion.
I use them for both bird watching to astronomical observation.
Worth the change?
Regards and thanks
It's a pretty huge leap in magnification, aperture, size, weight, and cost.
Worth it? That's for you to decide.
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GaryS
sage
Reged: 10/30/06
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Re: Change the 12x36 IS II Canon 15X50 IS . Worth it?
[Re: curiosidad]
#5622471 - 01/14/13 11:04 AM
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As Tony mentioned, the trade-off is performance versus size and weight. You might (and only you can say) find the 15x50s a bit much to lug around for birding, but that depends on how much walking you do when engaged in that activity.
If you haven't already done so, check out my review of the entire Canon line at my web site. You might find some of my observations helpful.
Good luck!
Gary
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edwincjones
Close Enough
Reged: 04/10/04
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Re: Change the 12x36 IS II Canon 15X50 IS . Worth it?
[Re: GaryS]
#5623287 - 01/14/13 07:34 PM
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I think that this is a question that only you can answer AFTER you try it
I went from binoculars of 70mm to 100mg to 150mms-not many do it; but for me it was well worth the time, effort, money for the joy I got in the use.
if you are happy with the 12x36s, go for it; may take months or years for you to answer your question but you will never know until you try.
edj
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daniel_h
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 03/08/08
Loc: VIC, Australia
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Re: Change the 12x36 IS II Canon 15X50 IS . Worth it?
[Re: edwincjones]
#5623854 - 01/15/13 05:54 AM
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I don't think I'd use the 15x50 for birding (my 12x36 is almost perfect for this)
Though I have a 15x51 for astro which is best of both worlds, the 12x36 is a great all rounder I reckon, & prob the best value in the canon IS line
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medinabrit
scholastic sledgehammer
Reged: 10/27/04
Loc: medina ohio USA.
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Re: Change the 12x36 IS II Canon 15X50 IS . Worth it?
[Re: daniel_h]
#5623865 - 01/15/13 06:20 AM
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Keep the 12x36 most usefull of the IS,s & Get the 15s also.You will find plenty of use for both.But will regret losing the 12x36.
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curiosidad
sage
Reged: 06/09/11
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Re: Change the 12x36 IS II Canon 15X50 IS . Worth it?
[Re: medinabrit]
#5624186 - 01/15/13 11:02 AM
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But I can only have one!
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ronharper
Carpal Tunnel
Reged: 02/14/06
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Re: Change the 12x36 IS II Canon 15X50 IS . Worth it?
[Re: curiosidad]
#5624479 - 01/15/13 02:04 PM
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If you ever watch birds that are close in and jump around madly, like warblers, you've already got your hands full with 12x. I think going to 15x would lose you more in the birding arena than it would gain you for astronomy.
I have conventional binoculars in 12x50 and 15x60. Even for astronomy, despite the considerable increase in penetration with the 15x, the convenience of the smaller 12x makes using it so much nicer that I would have to choose it if I couldn't have both. You can't see everything, all you can hope to do is maximize enjoyment.
Here's a thought. Keep the 12x36. And, for a third the cost a 15x50 IS, perhaps for about the same money that upgrading from 12x to 15x would cost, get a good Chinese 15x70 and tripod, for astronomy only. I think you will find the aperture impressive.
Ron
Edited by ronharper (01/15/13 02:41 PM)
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SMark
professor emeritus
Reged: 08/29/11
Loc: Atlanta, GA USA
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Re: Change the 12x36 IS II Canon 15X50 IS . Worth it?
[Re: ronharper]
#5630984 - 01/19/13 02:13 AM
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It's a tough choice. Right now I have the Canon 10x42, 15x50 and 18x50. My first was the 15x50 and I still think it's my favorite. But I also do way more Astronomy than birding. I find the 10x42 to be clearly the best for birding while the 15x50 is still my favorite for Astronomy. So your 12x36 might just be a good happy medium for both uses...
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landshark99
member
Reged: 12/16/12
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Re: Change the 12x36 IS II Canon 15X50 IS . Worth it?
[Re: SMark]
#5632358 - 01/19/13 10:36 PM
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I just got a pair of the 15X50s and so farm i am very happy with them. They were purchased more for astronomy than anything else but we get a lot of birds way up in the trees and these are great for watching them up there. For normal birding I have a a a pair of Swarovski EL 8.5x42 and some older Nikon 10X42
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Trombone
scholastic sledgehammer
Reged: 07/11/05
Loc: Canadian west (and north!)
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Re: Change the 12x36 IS II Canon 15X50 IS . Worth it?
[Re: landshark99]
#5635870 - 01/21/13 10:37 PM
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Just bought a set of the 15x50IS to go with the 12x36II. I am taking both sets to Hawaii mid-month for whales and astro. I'll report back at the end of February.
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HfxObserver
Pooh-Bah
Reged: 11/12/04
Loc: Regina, SK, Canada
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Re: Change the 12x36 IS II Canon 15X50 IS . Worth it?
[Re: Trombone]
#5640469 - 01/24/13 11:24 AM
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I own neither but my fellow observers each own one of these.
The 15X50 is remarkable, somewhat specialized for astronomy in my opinion.
The 12X36 is a crossover being far more portable for daytime hikes and nature stuff.
Trombone is not crazy, they are different enough that owning and taking both on such a trip makes total sense. Even at night you can swap them side by side, arms get tired with the 50's, use the 36's, find something cool needing a little more power go back to the 50's.
I could see owning both one day, but easy to put that off when both sets are reasonably available to me on many nights.
To answer the question direct, I wouldn't sell the 12X36 and "replace" them with the 15X50's. It's not like one is better than the other, it's almost apples and oranges.
-Chris
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