Porro Prism Binoculars

More Information Price $379.00 List Price $530.00 Optical Type Porro Prism Field of view 6° Field of view 1000 yards 315' Exit Pupil 3mm Relative Brightness 9 Twilight Factor 17.32 Eye Relief 14mm Interpupillary Distance 55-75mm Close Focus 14' Weight 22.2 oz Height 5.9" Armored Yes Waterproof No Warranty 3 years

   Canon Image Stabilization

Canon's 10 x 30mm IS image stabilized binocular is a very light weight (only 22.2 ounces) high power binocular that doesn’t have the image shake and unsteady views typical of every other binocular in its power and weight class. The Canon active image stabilizing system in the 10 x 30mm 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. For more details on the image stabilization system, click on the “image stabilization" icon above.

This 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 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 ten times. The active image stabilization system can compensate for an image tilt of up to +/-1.0°, far more motion than any hand tremor generates.

The result of the image stabilization in the 10 x 30mm 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 image-stabilized binocular.

The 10 x 30mm IS binocular is designed to fit comfortably in your hands. Its very light weight 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 will operate 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). Rechargeable Ni-Cad batteries will also provide a warm temperature life of 4 hours, but will increase the cold temperature life to 3 hours of continuous use. AA lithium batteries will increase the warm temperature operating time to about 12 hours continuous (and up to 5 hours at 14° F). To conserve battery life, image stabilization only operates when you press the centrally-located stabilization control button, 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 Ni-Cad or lithium versions.

Of course, you don’t have to use the image stabilization system at all times. 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 30mm 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. Canon’s Super Spectra multicoatings are applied to all air/glass surfaces in the optical system, which 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 10 x 30mm IS binocular, you'll get high power images of extraordinary quality that are sharp and distortion-free from edge to edge. This light-weight Canon lets you be a part of the action even from a distance.