Canon 10x42 L IS Image Stabilisation Water Proof Binoculars

I haven t had a chance to use the binoculars in anger but I am pleased with the clearness brightness using them in the garden and also I find the Image stabilisation most beneficial. Only negative is that the weight is slightly more than my old Canon IS but the strap does seem more substantial. Overall I am very happy and providing the reliability is as I expect will remain so.

I don't usually write reviews so you will have to bear with me, It took me a long while to decide to buy these binos as they are quite expensive, A friend had let me look through his 10x30s and I was dumbfounded by the IS, The clarity was unbelievable, So much clearer than the Leica that I was using at the time, Anyway I decided I needed the 10x42s mainly for F.O.V + they are waterproof, Now its only fair to tell you about the things I don't like about these binos, After all it is a review, The first is the case is not very practical a flip up lid would have been better, Next is they are a bit heavier and bulkier than normal binos and I also found that using these in below zero temperatures that normal batteries run out very quickly indeed so get yourself some decent rechargeable, But having told you about the bad points, These become trivialities when you get to use these binos, It is something you have to experience yourself, You cannot put this type of clarity into words, I wish now I hadn't waited so long to get them.
I am slightly suspicious about buying stuff online, So before making my purchase I checked out Microglobe, I can tell you now that they are OK, and you wont get these binos cheaper anywhere else, Believe me I have looked, They have loads of other good stuff in here as well at more than competitive prices and they deliver real quick, Buy here with confidence,

Den.

These arrived 1 day after ordering. I had not had the chance to try them and bought blind based on reviews. I was therefore a little nervous to see if I had spent wisely.

I can safely say these are the best pieces of glass I have ever looked through. The images are pin sharp and bright and the detail is staggering. I have looked through the bins at a close object, then walked and looked unaided and been shocked to realise I saw more detail through the Canons from 10m than my eyes could see at 0.5m.

They have an almost 3D effect as the focus point is so exact that within a eg bush you can focus on a particular branch and the others around will be out of focus. A slight turn of the wheel lets you travel through the bush as the focus point moves. This quality of control is stunning and the detail at the focus point has produced a WOW from everyone who has used them.

I have used them as 'normal' bins and when I needed a bit more detail eg reading words on a distant sign or watching bees climb in and out of flowers, I flick on the IS. Suddenly the hand tremor is no longer an issue and the words become legible and the bees dance can be studied with ease. The feature is also great on the moon or stars etc as the jiggle caused by hand tremor would ruin these images. You don't realise the difference until you turn it on. I was looking at the moon with a smug smile on my face 2 nights ago. The image is not that large but is crisp and bright. I saw the shadows cast by the crater walls BUT then I put the IS on and I could see in detail many surface features theat my eyes needed time to pick out. This would not have been possible without the IS and I am too impulsive to plan to take and set up a tripod on the off chance.

I have read the usual gripes re the caps. They are OK but I have bought a pair of UV filters to protect the objectives and see no fall in image quality. The weight is fine...they just feel solid and I have had no issues with getting 'tired'.

The reason I am reviewing them is that I had a few doubts ordering blind. However, I would endorse the 10x42's unreservedly. I wanted a top quality image producing, versatile, portable and rugged pair and these have delivered in spades.

PS Microglobe was the cheapest I found for UK ordering (23/7/08)

As an all round, easy to use, top quality pair of binoculars I cannot recommend these highly enough.