Review Summary
2021-05-29T20:00:00
12 years old. After about 6 years the coating got gooey, rubbing off on my hands. One patient hour of cleaning with paper towel and rubbing alcohol and they are fine. Don?t buy unless you are prepared to remove the coating. With coating removed, they are excellent. Canon?s product is otherwise excellent. Their attitude towards the error that they refused to correct is inexcusable. Photo is with coating removed.
Dex
2021-02-23T19:00:00
The rubber grip on Canon binoculars turns sticky - horribly so. Google "canon sticky rubber coating on binoculars" to see the extent of the problem an Canon's unwillingness to fix. I love my Canon camera gear but I'll never buy a set of their binoculars again.
dlsparks
2020-12-04T19:00:00
Like a lot of others, I also had the coating.melt, making the binocs unusable. I am surprised that such an obvious defect was not discovered and corrected by Canon. Very disappointing.
rodwill46
2020-11-17T19:00:00
The rubberized body coating has become sticky and makes them uncomfortable to use. So far Canon has ignored all the complains and (as far as I know has not offered any type of solution..you're stuck with a sticky mess!
Kenokid
2020-08-28T20:00:00
These binoculars have worked well for me. The IS gives a rock solid image. I have experienced NONE of the rubber coating issues mentioned. My pair look and feel as good as new. Perhaps the other users abused theirs?
LSJ
2020-08-02T20:00:00
I loved these binoculars initially, but as many others have said, the coating turns to a sticky black mess after a few years even if stored with care. Mine are now unusable. Very poor quality, not what I expected from Canon.
gmiller22
2020-07-21T20:00:00
Functionally the binoculars are very good, but after a few years the rubberized coating turns into a sticky, tar-like mess that comes off on your hands and makes the binoculars unusable. Canon will charge 80% the cost of new binocs to fix this. Unfortunately, the new version of these (IS II also uses the same coating and is doomed to the same fate. Why Canon has not corrected this problem is a mystery.
Sailbinoc
2020-07-13T20:00:00
When I bought these several years ago, I loved them. But, very quickly the body became sticky and my hands become a sticky black mess. I can’t even get them out of the case without a struggle as it adheres itself to the case. I would think Canon would want to make good on this defect.
Kylem
2020-04-07T20:00:00
For a multi-hundred dollar product, the stickiness where the binoculars are held between the eyepieces and the main body is pathetic. I’ve seen newer examples of these that use a more solid plastic material in this place. It’s getting to be to where I don’t feel like even using mine anymore.
DLS
2020-03-11T20:00:00
I love birdwatching and purchased these binoculars a decade ago. They were expensive,but I have had Canon products and trusted their reputation. However I cannot recommend these because I,too,am experiencing a breakdown of the exterior coating. This is VERY disappointing!
Kare4k9
2020-01-20T19:00:00
These were great binoculars but they have a major flaw in the material used as a coating. We used them at our beach home where they were stored in a climate controlled area inside the house. Then one day I got them out to look at something and the coating had become very sticky. It seems to me this is a materials flaw.
Mel29572
2018-01-14T19:00:00
The rubberised coating on the outside of these binoculars has become sticky over time. It leaves a sticky (sometimes black residue on your fingers. I notice others have experienced this issue too, so I regard as a product design flaw.
edaveve
2017-08-27T20:00:00
The "rubberized" coating tends to melt (was not properly cured) after a period of time (several years?). And it sticks to your hands. And from reading reviews and comments in other forums, Canon has no inclination to fix the defect. This is a nice piece of glass and I have loved them from the beginning, but the "melting" of the coating makes this a "bad buy"
pms212
2016-01-10T19:00:00
I bought these used off of Craigslist about March 2014 so I do not know the exact age. They were and still are in like new condition. Not tacky or gooey or sticky. I have some other non Canon products that have rubbery type paint that have done this and 91% alcohol will usually remove it. Unfortunately lettering too. I don't much care for the case they came in so I put them in a camera case. Performance wise they are impressive! Almost NO chromatic aberration and sharp to the edge. IS locks the image in. And SHARP!!! Very sharp. Canon Quality!
Mr N.
2015-11-26T19:00:00
Actually I've had mine for about 10yrs. now. Everyone that see's them wants them. They still work great...came to site today as I lost one of the eye pieces..maybe can get new 1.
jeffstxbaby
2015-08-06T20:00:00
Like some others have reported the binoculars work great, but after five years the coating got a little soft then got worse to where I couldn't pick them up without getting gooey black stuff on my hands.
The S.
2015-07-21T21:00:00
I was planning on using these binoculars on my vacation. I got them in only a few days of ordering. I installed the batteries, to power the IS immediately after opening the box. I took the binoculars outside, and viewed the birds by the feeder. As soon as I activated the IS, everything stabilized like no other binocular I've ever seen. Canon has hit the mark on this product. But, my copy had a small black artifact in the left bank of lenses. I returned them to Adorama for refund. I'm planning to order the new version from Adorama as soon as Canon releases them in August.
WILLIAM E.
2014-09-06T20:00:00
Being an amateur astronomer for 5 decades I have looked through many, many binoculars of all sizes, shaped, magnifications and objective size. I currently own at least 5 binoculars of various sizes. Of all these I use the Canon 10 X 30 IS the most. They are easy to hold, rubber coated for stability, lightweight and compact. The battery compartment door is easy to open to access and change the batteries should you need to. Battery life is very good. The optics (the most important feature) are sharp as a tack from edge, to edge, no distortion and no barrel effect. Ten power binoculars are just about the maximum magnification for a hand held binocular. Here is where the stabilization really shines. Push the button on top with your forefinger and detail emerges that you can not see with non-stabilized units. Therefore, the amount of detail seen is increased by no shaking by at least 50% . No tripod needed here. Although not having the light gathering power of 50mm or larger objectives, the fact that you can stabilize the image makes all the difference when looking at night sky and terrestrial objects alike. Eye relief is very good except for those who wear glasses. But, when using binoculars glasses can be removed and images focused to compensate for eye glass wearers. The optics appear to be fully multi-coated to prevent any internal reflections and there is no ghosting under any conditions. The right ocular is also adjustable so you can focus using the knurled wheel for your left eye and then adjust the ocular for your right eye. If there was anything in the way of additional features I would like to see incorporated in these units it would be a dew / light shield in front of the objectives to prevent stray light from entering the glass. These "glasses" are great for just about every purpose. I have been using them for over 5 years now and they are like new. A best buy in binoculars.
Tom
2014-06-26T21:00:00
Several years ago I purchased the Canon 15x50 IS All Weather and became sold on IS binoculars. I needed a set at a 2nd location but did not want to spend over $500. I am super happy with the IS Porro Prism.
Fred
2014-02-20T19:00:00
My first pair of these binoculars were great when new. After about 4 years the image stabilizing mechanism froze. Although I live about one mile from the coast, the Canon Factory Service said that they were corroded. Repairs would be almost the cost of a new pair...which I bought. Now, after about 5 years the second pair has stopped working and the exterior plastic case has turned soft and sticky. I would love to have a new pair but I expected Canon binoculars to last like other binoculars, i.e. Indefinitely.
Bloke
2013-11-04T19:00:00
The quality is excellent as you would expect from Canon. I have several cameras by Canon so didn't hesitate to buy these. The comments about the image stabilization intrigued me being incorporated into binoculars instead of lens that I have by Canon. It's pretty amazing. With the IS off there is noticable shake particular with greater distance. Turn on the IS and it smooths right out. My only complaint is I wish you could press the IS button and it click to lock in IS. I realize you don't want to keep it on all the time because it eats up the batteries but knowing that I would be careful how much I use it. To be honest, not sure why binoculars with IS ever should have it off. But again, I guess it must drain the battery. Haven't had the camera long enough to get a sense of how long the batteries last.
Stack
2013-10-28T21:00:00
I think it is as good as it could be, for what I bought.
JERE V.
2013-10-14T21:00:00
I use binoculars many ways, from astronomy to zoology (birding and land and marine animals). I asked an astronomer friend who has many pairs of binoculars, what he recommended as the best regardless of cost, and he recommended the Canon 10x30 IS as far above all others. I have to agree with his assessment for ease of use, superb optics, and advantage of the IS technology, especially for 10 power binoculars.
Chris
2013-04-07T21:00:00
I bought these several years ago...by accident. Meant to order a very nice Canon 10x30 non-stabilized binocular but entered the wrong product number...oops, and Duh! Got ready to return them when the arrived, then made the fatal mistake...said to myself, "Well, I'll just look..." (I made the exact same mistake with my dog, "I'll just look...") The experience was bordering on magical. The last time I'd seen stabilized optics, they were a little out of my price range (but the price including a fully equipped US Navy destroyer.) I own absolutely superb Leitz 8x30 and Nikon 8x30E binoculars and while those two are marginally better optically and more compact, the stabilization more than out-weighs that small advantage. Simply put, Buy Them. (By the way, the dog's working out okay, too.)
DAVID P.
2013-01-08T19:00:00
The straps are made of a slippery synthetic coupled with thin plastic connectors. This type of strap will fail during periods of energetic activity such as long hikes while birding. Light weight is important to people with shaking or weak hands. However, if these binoculars fall due to a strap failure and strike a hard surface then they are likely to be badly damaged. Some form of external cushioning would be highly beneficial and I intend to add small pads on protruding surfaces. These will be inexpesive but important additions and this binocular will be my primary tool for observing and enjoying birds and other wildlife. The IS feature allows me to positively verify small features of small birds and is truly amazing.
ALBERT A.
2012-12-06T19:00:00
Overall I'd rate these binos as a VERY good value from a price/performance perspective. Given the low price, the very strong flare/ghosting and annoying 'button hold' hassle take some shine off this product. i.e. the "modest" optical quality of these binos is the weakest part of the whole package. That's the tradeoff given the fairly low price! That said, these binos are light weight and the stabilization works great which make them a joy to use in the field as long as the sun angle is high or facing the subject. I would recommend these as a good inexpensive bino even with the (IMO somewhat compromised optics.
John
2012-09-17T21:00:00
Excellent instrument. Sharp and color accurate. For potential buyers remember that these are 10X so if you are birding in your garden they may be over kill. Experimenting, I found that for long viewing, I could activate the IS and then focus while the IS is active. This gives very fast and accurate focusing. My only complaint was the difficulty I had (perhaps just old fingers) attaching the strap and after about 30 minutes it is still not right.
Grand-Pa D.
2012-06-03T21:00:00
I bought 2 pair of these for an upcomming Alaska Cruise tour. I needed 2 pair one for me the other for my wife. I could have bought a more expensive pair and shared them, but I am so glad I didnt. I shoot pro grade Nikon camera equipment and it does not hold a candle to these binoculars when it comes to clarity and brightness. Image stabilization is great, very easy to use and lightweight. I will be honest I dont know why anyone would spend the extra money for higher power IS binoculars when these far exceeded my expectations for a third the price of what I was looking at. Dont be fooled by the low price, this is one of the few buys I made in electronics, where I got more than what I was expecting.
Kevin
2011-12-26T19:00:00
I have a new pair of Canon 10x30IS binoculars. I am amazed by the clarity of the optics, no fussy edges and bright field out to the edges. These are very compact, nearly as portable as a dept. store 7 x 35. The binoculars work very well in normal viewing. When you activate the IS the image stops! It is remarkable. The IS feature is as good as more magnification. I'm sure these are delicate and I do not plan to drop test them. These are excellent binoculars.
closeup
2011-10-16T20:00:00
We bought this model for our home in Puerto Vallarta in 2006. The outside rubber coating is now melting and impossible to hold without getting black goo on your hands. Because of the price and quality of this unit we have always kept them in a secure and protected location. We saw a little of deterioration last year-2010, but this has morphed into total disaster this year. We were very happy for the first 4 years--not now--would not recommend.
Beach l.
I bought for my dad
By mod
I wanted to get the stabilizer image for my father, who is 87 years old. I thought this would help him focus on whatever images he would look at. He enjoys them, and uses them frequently. I borrowed them for a sailing trip, and also for a week at the beach. These are simply one of the finest, clearest specs I have ever used. My first impression in the ocean was the brightness and clarity. Precise images could be identified, and the added stabilizer eased the movement of the boats unforgiving ...
View full Review
10x30 IS Canon Binoculars
By smeltersmoke
I purhased the 10x30 IS binoculars about 2 years ago and they have accompanied me on many an adventure. They are compact enough to take just about anywhere and are powerful enough for bird and nature observation. The IS feature is very handy, especially in situations where it is impossible to hold the optics steady. It really works! I really don't think you could buy a better pair of binoculars. You most certainly could pay more.
Canon's 10x30 IS Binoculars deliver outstanding optical performance and unparalleled image stabilization capabilities at a very affordable price. Whether you're sitting in the last stadium row or at the water's edge, you'll get a close-up view of the action with these contoured, lightweight binoculars. The 10x30 IS Binoculars are designed to fit perfectly in your hands. A textured rubber coating provides non-slip grip and protection from the elements, and the center-mounted focus and Image Stabilizer controls are easily accessible from either hand.
You'll know these state-of-the-art binoculars are different from the moment you look through the lens. Canon has combined thepower of 10x magnification with its innovative Optical Image Stabilization technology, proven highly successful in Canon camcorders andprofessional lenses, and a unique Doublet Field Flattener. The result is a high performance system that makes high magnification truly practical, eliminating shake and reducing curvature of field. The lenses are even coated with Canon's unique Super Spectra multicoating, another feature that improves overall image quality by maximizing contrast and minimizing color smear. With the Canon 10x30 IS Binoculars, you'll get images of extraordinary quality that are sharp and distortion-free from edge to edge. Its advanced design also provides a long 14.5mm eye relief, making the 10x30 IS a great choice for full-time eyeglass wearers. The Canon 10x30 IS Binoculars let you be a part of the action even from a distance.