Image Stabilized Binoculars

More Information Price $599.00 List Price $840.00 Optical Type Porro Prism Field of view 5° Field of view 1000 yards 263' Exit Pupil 3mm Relative Brightness 9 Twilight Factor 20.78 Eye Relief 14mm Interpupillary Distance 60-71mm Close Focus 12' Weight 23.3 oz Height 6.9" Armored Yes Waterproof No Warranty 3 years

   Canon Image Stabilization

Canon's 12 x 36mm IS was the first popularly-priced high power binocular to include an active image stabilization system to provide blur-free viewing and minimal eye fatigue. The new 12 x 36mm IS II further refines that ground-breaking binocular. The Canon Image Stabilizer system in the 12 x 36mm has two independently-controlled Vari-Angle Prisms located between the objective lenses and the image-erecting prisms. This is the same image stabilizing system used on the most expensive Canon binoculars. This is the same image stabilizing system used on the most expensive Canon binoculars. For more details on the image stabilization system, click on the “image stabilization" icon above.

This active image stabilizing system instantly cancels out the image-blurring hand tremors that affect every observer after a few minutes of holding binoculars up to their eyes. It’s not the weight of the binocular that tires you out; it’s the weight of your arms. And a light weight high power binocular makes hand tremors more apparent because it doesn’t have enough mass to damp the little tremors the optics are magnifying by twelve times. The system can correct for tremors of up to +/-0.8°, more motion than any hand tremor can generate.

The result of the image stabilization in the 12 x 36mm is a clear high power image at the push of a button, without the need for any additional equipment, such as a tripod. You can see details more clearly, without strain. Species identification becomes easier when a bird is clearly visible, rather than jumpy and blurred. Whether you're sitting in the last stadium row at a sporting event or at the water's edge looking at loons across a lake, you'll get a close-up view of the action with this high power image-stabilized binocular.

The 12 x 36mm IS binocular is designed to fit comfortably in your hands. With a weight of only 23.3 ounces, it won’t weigh you down or tire you out during all-day birding trips. The center focus and Image Stabilizer controls are easily accessible from either hand. Little more than one turn of the ribbed focusing knob moves from a 14’ close focus to the horizon. Roll-down rubber eyecups allow eyeglass use, although with some loss of field for those who must wear glasses while observing. A rotary diopter ring on the right eyepiece allows you to match the binocular performance to your individual eyesight.

The image stabilization system operates continuously for up to 4 hours on two inexpensive AA alkaline batteries at an ambient temperature of 77° F (unfortunately, considerably less at very low temperatures, only about 20 minutes at 14° F, for example). AA lithium batteries will increase the warm temperature operating time to about 12 hours continuous (up to 5 hours at 14° F). To conserve battery life, the stabilization only operates while the centrally-located stabilization control is pressed, which requires only a few ounces of pressure. This prevents the system from accidentally being left engaged and draining the battery. Despite the power-conserving feature, the very limited battery life at low temperatures realistically makes this a warm weather binocular, unless you replace the alkaline batteries with lithium versions.

Of course, you don’t have to use the image stabilization system at all times. The binoculars function perfectly well as a high-quality conventional 12x binocular when the image stabilization system is not engaged. But when fatigue starts to blur the images, pushing the image stabilization button pushes the 12 x 36mm IS Canon to another level of rock-solid performance that conventional binoculars simply can’t match.

A unique internal optical doublet field flattener lens between the image-erecting prisms and the eyepieces reduces curvature of field, so that images are sharp from one edge of the field to the other. The lenses are fully multicoated, another feature that improves overall image quality by maximizing contrast and minimizing color smear. Individual eyepiece covers, a soft case with a shoulder strap for hands-free carrying, two AA batteries for the stabilization system, a 1" wide woven neck strap, and a 3-year warranty complete the package.

With the Canon 12 x 36mm IS II binocular, you'll get truly usable high power stabilized images of extraordinary quality that are sharp and distortion-free from edge to edge. This Canon lets you be a part of the action even from a distance.