Detailed information about this product's features  Canon Image Stabilization
10 x 42mm binoculars are a popular size for birding. But it’s hard to hold a conventional 10x steady enough to examine a bird at length. Your arms soon get tired and you develop unavoidable hand tremors that blur the images and fuzz the details. No more. This waterproof Canon 10 x 42mm L IS WP image-stabilized binocular makes those blurred high power images obsolete. Its rock-steady and unblurred images mean there is not only more detail to see, and see clearly, but there is also minimal eye fatigue to tire you out and bring on headaches. The 10 x 42mm IS (Image Stabilized) WP (WaterProof) binocular has two independently-controlled Vari-Angle Prisms located between the objective lenses and the image-erecting prisms. For more details on the image stabilization system, click on the “image stabilization" icon above. This active Vari-Prism image stabilization 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 high power binocular makes those fatigue-caused hand tremors more apparent because it’s magnifying each small tremor by ten times, making them ten times more visible and annoying. The Canon active image stabilization system can compensate for an image tilt of up to +/-0.8°, far more motion than any hand tremor generates. The result of the image stabilization in the 10 x 42mm 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 hand-held view of the action with this premium-quality image-stabilized binocular. You can even use this 10 x 42mm from a moving vehicle and still get shake-free images. The 10 x 42mm L IS WP binocular is a relatively heavy binocular, at 36 ounces, so a tripod socket is provided to support the binocular if very extended observing from a fixed location is anticipated. The center focus and Image Stabilizer controls are easily accessible. Focusing is a little slow, as it takes two and three-quarter turns of the ribbed focusing knob moves smoothly from a very good 8’ close focus out to the horizon. The manufacturer’s eye relief is specified at 16mm. Twist-up rubber eyecups with four click-stop eye relief positions allow eyeglass use, although with some minor loss of field for those who must wear glasses while observing. A lockable rotary diopter ring on the right eyepiece allows you to match the binocular performance to your individual eyesight. The latest L-series state-of-the-art optical advances are used for maximum image quality in the 10 x 42mm. The latest lead-free glass is used throughout. A unique internal field flattening optical doublet 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 with Canon Super Spectra coatings for very high light transmission. There are two premium UD (ultra-low dispersion) glass elements in each objective lens, another feature that improves overall image quality by maximizing contrast and minimizing color smear. Aspheric eyepiece lens elements reduce spherical aberration for sharper and more tightly focused images. Even without the image stabilization system, the premium optics of this 10 x 42mm Canon are worth the price. The binocular is truly waterproof to the extent that Canon recommends cleaning the 10 x 42mm under running water if it gets dirty. The instructions even recommend letting it soak in a bucket of fresh water for one or two hours if you’ve been on a pelagic birding trip and your binocular has been soaked in salt spray. There are two ways to operate the image stabilization system. In the first, stabilization operates for as long as you keep the stabilization control button depressed, which requires only a few ounces of pressure. A small indicator light on the top of the binocular glows red when the stabilization system is engaged and acts as a low battery warning light. In the second, a quick press on the control button turns on the system for 5 minutes of continuous operation. Another quick press turns the stabilization system off if you finish observing before you reach the automatic 5-minute shutoff point. Both methods prevent the system from accidentally being left engaged and draining the battery. Despite the power-conserving features, a very limited battery life at low temperatures realistically makes this a warm weather binocular, unless you replace the alkaline batteries with Ni-Cad or lithium versions. The image stabilization system will operate continuously for up to 2 hours and 30 minutes on two inexpensive AA alkaline batteries at an ambient temperature of 77° F (unfortunately, considerably less at very low temperatures; only about 10 minutes at 14° F, for example). Rechargeable nickel-metal hydride (Ni-MH) batteries will provide a warm temperature life of 6 hours, and a cold temperature life of 2 hours and 30 minutes of continuous use. AA lithium batteries will increase the warm temperature operating time to about 8 hours continuous (up to 3 hours and 30 minutes at 14° F). Even if the batteries die, or to conserve battery life, you can use the 10 x 42mm without image stabilization. The binoculars function perfectly well as a very high quality conventional 10x binocular when the image stabilization system is not engaged. But when fatigue starts to blur the images, pushing the image stabilization button pushes the 10 x 42mm L IS WP Canon to another level of rock-solid performance that conventional binoculars simply can’t match. An eyepiece rainguard, tethered (but removable) objective lens covers, a soft case with a shoulder strap for hands-free carrying, two AA batteries for the stabilization system, a wide and comfortable neck strap, and a 3-year warranty complete the package. State-of-the-art dual ED lens optics, full waterproofing, active image stabilization . . . What more could you ask for in a premium binocular?
| 
Printer friendly version
Email page link to a friend
Do you have a question about this product?
