Canon 15x45 IS

[sjs42]

I have many pairs of binoculars but normally view hand held while walking my dog. I bought these used a few weeks ago and they are awesome, awesome, awesome. last night, I could see three stars in the Trapezium as well as hint at the rings in saturn and hint at the double of Rigel.
The Pleiades was fantastic.

[KenMiller]

I got a pair of the Canon 15x50 IS this past November and highly recommend them.

The image stabalization feature is very, very cool for stargazing.

[starbuck]

I need to tryo ut some of these IS binoculars as I hear great things about them. It would be really handy to have them on a boat or in a car where there is a lot of motion. Do they really work as well as the advertisements claim they do?

John

[sjs42]

These 15x45 IS are available used and are terrific. They are far better than the old 16x50 Newcons I have. I actually viewed only 2 stars of the Trapezium, I think, and the third star was probably theta 2 Orionis.
The Hyades was also fantastic.

[KenMiller]

Originally Posted by starbuck

I need to tryo ut some of these IS binoculars as I hear great things about them. It would be really handy to have them on a boat or in a car where there is a lot of motion. Do they really work as well as the advertisements claim they do?

John

Yes.
(I was gonig to leave it at that one word answer but the forum requires at least 10 characters in a response (apparently, not counting spaces))

[Alan French]

Originally Posted by sjs42

These 15x45 IS are available used and are terrific. They are far better than the old 16x50 Newcons I have. I actually viewed only 2 stars of the Trapezium, I think, and the third star was probably theta 2 Orionis.
The Hyades was also fantastic.

Folks who are considering picking up a pair of used 15x45s should keep one limitation in mind - the minimum IPD is 60mm, which is a bit wide for some people.

Clear skies, Alan

[Alan French]

Originally Posted by starbuck

I need to tryo ut some of these IS binoculars as I hear great things about them. It would be really handy to have them on a boat or in a car where there is a lot of motion. Do they really work as well as the advertisements claim they do?

John

John,

The IS feature is wonderful. I used an excellent pair of 7x42 binoculars for birding for many years, but received a pair of 12x36 IS binoculars for Christmas one year. They are now the pair I usually take out the door. The IS 12x view is just so much more detailed than the non-IS 7x view. (You do, of course, give up field of view.)

The 12x36s also work quite well for astronomy, although most folks would pick the 15x50s or 18x50s. My wife has the older 15x45s, and lying in a lawn chair under dark skies with them is a treat. In general, I find needing a tripod or mount takes away from the joy and advantages of using binoculars on the night sky.

Clear skies, Alan

[sjs42]

The 15x45s work really well for me. I can view easily while I'm out w/ my dog. I have no problems w/ th ipd. I haven't used the 15x50s nor the 18x 50s and picked these up in new condition for $600.00. I might try to find a used pair of 18x50s sometime.

[sjs42]

I'm buying a pair of 18x50s. I'll post results when they arrive.

[Alan French]

Originally Posted by sjs42

I'm buying a pair of 18x50s. I'll post results when they arrive.

I'll be very interested in your impressions.

Thanks!

Clear skies, Alan