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There are two things we recommend looking for when looking at your next pair of best stargazing binoculars: high magnification for zooming in on space, and wide objective lenses to soak up all that distant starlight. Could the situation with astronomical telescopes be any better? Yes, they can; The Canon 18×50 IS UD proves that adding image stabilization to the two assumptions above takes things to a whole new level.
Specifications of the Canon 18×50 IS UD binoculars:
Design: Porro prism
Enlargement: 18 times
Lens Aperture: 50 mm
Angular field of view: 3.7 degrees
Eye relief: 15 mm (0.59 in)
Weight: 1.18 kg (41.6 oz)
Dimensions: 7.6 x 6 x 3.2 inches (193 x 152 x 81 mm)
Part of the problem with high-magnification binoculars (12x and above) is that they are difficult to hold steady in the hand. Most of the time you need to mount them on a tripod with an adapter to keep them stable enough to observe your favorite constellations or favorite wildlife subjects. But with the inclusion of image stabilization in the 18×50 IS UD, this requirement (although still possible with a 1/4-inch tripod thread) is now more of an option than a necessity, as it balances out shaky views from hand and body movements. We think these binoculars are fantastic and can be considered as one of the best binoculars out there. If you’re happy to put up with the size and weight, those who love stargazing and wildlife spotting should seriously consider this as their next purchase.
Canon 18×50 IS UD Binoculars: Design
- Great improved optics
- They are not strictly all weather as they are not fully waterproof or fog proof
- Good adhesion even in light showers
The porro prism design makes these binoculars larger and wider than a comparable pair of roof prism designs, but this also means they benefit from the improved optical properties inherent in this style of binoculars.
Advertised (and slapped on the side of the scope in giant red letters) as all-weather and touted as “comfortable viewing in harsh conditions or marine environments,” potential buyers should know that they’re not fully waterproof, and according to the literature we found, they’re not fog-proof either. However, they are waterproof (JIS-4, the Japanese waterproof rating system, meaning they can be sprayed from any direction) and there are optional anti-fog eyepieces (AE-B1) to prevent fogging from the outside.
The eyepieces can be adjusted to provide up to 15mm of eye relief, which is ideal for those who wear glasses or even when wearing sunglasses if they are out in sunny conditions. Overall, the binoculars are encased in a rubberized armor that protects them from bumps and shocks. We found them easy to grip even during the occasional rain shower, especially thanks to the additional knurled texture on the hand grips.
Canon 18×50 IS UD Binoculars: Performance
- Ultra-low dispersion lens with Super Spectra coating provides a vivid image
- Image stabilization helps with stargazing and reduces the need for a tripod
- The field of view allowed us to feel like we were in binos and looking out
With large chunks of glass in these mammoth binoculars, one would expect some sort of corrective lens to help ensure a clear, sharp view without colored fringing, and that’s exactly what Canon has done with the inclusion of an ultra-low dispersion (UD) lens element. Combine that with the custom Super Spectra lens coating and we could see realistic, vivid colors that bring birds, mammals and even stars and planets to life.
Image stabilization is really what makes these big binoculars sing. Even in normal day-to-day use, the engagement of image stabilization (IS) came in handy for almost every single observation. They were also usable without them, so if you find yourself running out of the two AA batteries that power the feature (like I did), don’t worry. But with 18x magnification, it’s hard to keep the stars still at night without using a tripod.
The field of view (60.3 degrees, apparent) was rich, and it was almost like stepping into a telescope and looking out, instead of the binos sometimes giving us attention when observing. They felt “just right” and there didn’t seem to be any drop in brightness thanks to the excellent light transmission, thanks in part to the Super Spectra coating.
Canon 18×50 IS UD Binoculars: Functionality
- The rubber eyepieces are comfortable and block enough light for stargazing at night
- Image stabilization can be easily activated with the push of a single button
- Without arresting dioptric ring
We’ve never been a big fan of the tilt and flip hoods on binoculars, as it limits the amount of adjustability for the goggle user, so we won’t hold it against Canon for including them in these “all-weather” scopes. However, the rubber eyepiece covers on these binoculars are comfortable because they are soft against the skin. It also protects the eyes well from distracting glare from sunlight and light pollution, especially when stargazing near urban areas.
Image stabilization (IS) controls are nice and simple; a single press of the button activates the IS and this is indicated by the illumination of a green LED lamp on the top of the scope, right next to the button. This lamp is a real battery saver when you’re in a wildlife hide or at night when you’re flying between binoculars and scopes.
The dioptric correction on the right eyepiece is easy to use and provides a good amount of friction without being too stiff. With a simple rotating movement of the rubberized eyepiece, you can get sharpness without any problems. However, if the telescope had a blocking diopter, then it would be the ultimate feature-rich astronomical telescope (instead of some sort of “smart” augmented reality integration).
The neck strap is padded and feels comfortable around the neck for extended periods of time, and it also attaches to points under the eyepieces, similar to other Canon binoculars with image stabilization. This meant that while the porro prism design kept the overall shape of the scope quite wide and bulky, when using the neck strap it sat nice and straight across our chest, making everything look quite neat and tucked away.
User reviews
The Canon 18×50 IS UD All Weather Binoculars online are considered a good pair of image stabilization binoculars with star ratings ranging from 4.2 out of 5 to 4.5 out of 5. They are highly praised for their optical quality and clarity and are an excellent choice when weight is not an issue. But users also acknowledge that they’re not an ideal choice if you’re looking for a smaller, more portable pair.
How we tested the Canon 18×50 IS UD all-weather binoculars
Over a series of weeks we used binoculars to spot wildlife both from land and sea on small ferries as well as larger ships. On land, image stabilization helped bring out the details of birds that were further away, as well as spying on small animals much further away that would otherwise be lost when shaking hands with traditional binoculars.
Stargazing was under mostly urban skies with Bortle Class 3-6. The weather was mixed and some nights were well visible with night sky objects such as M42, the Orion Nebula, visible with averted vision and from the outskirts of a large city with lots of street lighting. They did get some rain fog at times but were never taken out in heavy rain as they are not waterproof.
Should I buy Canon 18×50 IS UD binoculars?
If you’re into wildlife watching or stargazing, this is a fantastic pair of binoculars with strong magnification and a clear, sharp view. They are perfect for those on a budget who want to get some serious detail in their constellations and wildlife. We could see fainter nebulae (M42) and galaxies (M31) even in urban areas easily and without a tripod. When watching the birds we were able to see details in and around the eyes and wing feathers that we hadn’t seen before, especially in the waterfowl that we had seen while at the wildlife refuge.
If this product is not for you
These binoculars are of good quality, but come at a premium price that some beginners and those interested only in occasional sighting may not want to count on. They’re also big and bulky, so those looking to travel light might prefer a smaller, lighter pair. In that case, we recommend either staying with Canon and opting for Canon 10×20 IS, which are the second lightest Canon binoculars with image stabilization. They still provide decent wide-angle views for stargazers and are more affordable. Or the Nikon 12×25 S binoculars with image stabilization, which costs $30-$40 more, depending on the retailer, but provides sharp images with extremely stable performance, and is again even smaller and lighter.
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