Canon 10x30 IS

Background

Before I finally obtained a pair of stabilized binoculars I did some serious reading. I am tempted to state, that there are at least as many opinions on the individual marks and models as there are stars in the universe.
Looking to the alternatives, in theory (i.e. reviews and opinions on the inet) or in experiment (i.e. demo-models in shops), a wide span in options, capabilities and prices appears in sight.
Before going deeper into details, I would like to mention that this pair of binocs is not supposed for astronomical use only. It should also accompany me on tours and hikes, weight will therefore be an issue too.

The Candidates

Tests with Canon 15x50 binocs on terrestrial targets revealed the limits of stabilization possibilities. The binocs I looked through were still showing a severe jitter in the image. On top of not compensating well enough the gear was quiet heavy, IMHO. All in all for the amount of bugs to spent on this one, there was no balance.

Another candidate tested was a Fujinon 14x40. Very interesting indead! Just very heavy and bulky again. I liked the stabilization capabilities better. Some would say that the stabilization is too sticky. For birds this might really be true, for night-skies this could be a big pro! I also like the fact, that stabilization remains activated w/o a permanent push-button (hold-button) action by the user. I will keep the binocs in mind...

Lets look at the Canon 12x36: Stabilization is clearly better than the one of the 15x50. There is a coronado filter available. Good reviews by the astronomy community. Certainly interesting!

Fujinon 12x32: Might be the next candidate on my equipment shelf... Very nice binocs! A little heavy and bulky, unfortunately. It handles quiet nicely. The controls are arranged for thumb-control, very clever, this prevents up/down-shake. The price exceeds the one of the Canon 12x36 by about €50.... I liked the sticky stabilization! I also liked the fact that the stabilization, once activated, remains until release.

The last one tested which did not make it, the Canon 8x25. OK, seriously, a little bit of astronomy would be mandantory, but would 25mm really be enough? I don't think so. Moreover, the scope's stabi runs on a quiet expensive Li-battery used in photographic equipment. => These binoculars are a multiple no no!

What is left? The Canon 10x30. Not only that the most of the folks out there in internet-land are commenting possitively about this piece of art, it is comparably light-weighted, still has got some aperture and makes use of 2 AA batteries.

The Decision

The day I bought the Canon 10x30 was displaying usable night-time weather. Not well enough to take out the 6 inch refractor, by why not testing the new member in the family?

Conditions:

• I would say it was a mag 4 night, eta orionis was visible, just about visible, I would say. Clearly my eyes have not yet reached chemical night adaptation, rather impossible in Rijswijk anyway (sky-glow enables reading books; highway-illumination, green-houses...), and on top of all I was watching the telly shortly before testing. So, magn. 4 night, for my eyes.

Observations:

• Through the binocs w/o stabi, M45 showed stars down to 6th magnitude. Engaging the stabilization resulted in display of mag. 8 stars, after about 5secs. The very comfortable eye-cups are screening stray light easily and are also helping to keep eyes open (not blinking helps "long exposure" of the human eye, don't ask me why, not blinking works).
• Saturn showed cleary being oval, the ring as such was not visible though. Honestly I did not expect to see Saturn's ring, after all the binocs open a 6° angle.
• The moon, not (yet) my favourite object: Gazing at the moon, 4pm local, with Sun still shining was already quiet cool, with falling dusk to night-time darkness the moon turned to be a very prominent appearance in the eye-pieces of the binocs. Running the stabilizer, all sorts of mountains and craters were visible. The impression can't be compared to any made by a monocular telescope (even filters would not be a help here). The detail visible free standing, w/o tripod, were overwhelming.

All in all, I am astonished what can be seen with an aperture of 30mm (just a little more than about an inch). Observations techniques, such as averted vision and "not blinking", clearly help with a stabilized image. My impression is, that there is also a specific skill to be learned for the use stabilized binoculars.
With all sorts of corrections aboard, the binocs still have some image distorsion.

Conclusion

To be mentioned again, next to stars, I like to observe "local" nature as well, e.g. in form of birds. Thus, the 10x30 makes a really good compromise of price  (cheap batteries too), portability and handling. I will certainly build up muscle, whilst holding down the stabi knob...