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99 of 99 found the following review helpful:
 You can't pound tent pegs with them.Feb 16, 2003
By Ross A. Brunetti
"RB"
They are, and they aren't, great binocsWhat they are: as it says, the lightest and least expensive IS binoculars on the market (right now). The optics themselves are only merely very good, but - HAND HELD - with the IS activated, they allow me to read fine print about 20% closer than with my Leica 8x32 Ultras. On a rest, the Leicas are superior. It's the elimination of the jiggles - the 8x25 Canons don't give an image that's as bright and contrasty as those high dollar Leicas, but the steadier image more than makes up for that. What they aren't: waterproof or armored. So have a care if you use them in conditions of rain or dust. They're much more complicated than simple binocs, with electric circuits inside, and the matter of reliability does come into consideration - but in the first year, they've survived life in the tote bag ,bouncing along dirt roads without a hiccup. Two more things: besides armoring and ruggedizing, Canon had to compromise _somewhere_ to make them this small. So, while the IS deals well with rapid human shaking. it doesn't seem to correct at all for slow motions. I imagine the engineers were forcd to leave off the sensors for slow motions, to fit everything else in. And, they use CR123 batteries, more expensive and harder to find in a pinch than AA batteries. Of course, if the batteries run dead, all your are left with is a functional set of very good, if a bit bulky, 8x25 binocs. What Canon has created is $300 binoculars that - hand held, with the IS active - outperform my high dollar Leica 8x32 Ultras. And, I imagine, the Nikon SE's, too. No kidding.
42 of 42 found the following review helpful:
A good binocular for light useSep 15, 2006
By RT
"gadget guy"
I bought these binoculars because I was just a bit frustrated with using regular binoculars. I already have a set of weatherproof Minolta binocs that cost about $200, but wasn't finding it useful because the effort required to hold it steady enough to see detail just made it fatiguing to use for any length of time
Seeing as I've had great success with Image Stabilization in SLR lens, and my point and shoot, I thought I would give this Canon a try
I like it. It's quite light for its size, and compact enough that I don't feel burdened to bring this with me for any kind of event short of a long hike up a large mountain. It does take a CR123 battery which is kind of expensive if you buy them at a department store. You should try to find them online. Many high end flashlights use this type of battery, and they are available for around $2 online. Surefire (a top flashlight brand) batteries are what I recommend and use everywhere (in my flashlights and cameras). These kinds of batteries have a long shelf life so it's no problem to buy a few extra
The main reason for this binocular is the stabilization. In reality, the Image Stabilization is actually quite subtle. You still have to do your best still to keep the binocs steady, but the stabilization adds a just bit extra steadiness to the image, enough to make a difference you can notice. You have to keep the button at the top of the device pressed with your finger...it turns off as soon as you let go of the button.
All in all, the IS works well for the natural minute shakiness of your hand but larger movements are not compensated for as you would expect. So don't expect the image to be steady if you are trying to spot animals from inside a car. If you deliberately move the binoculars side to side, you can see the mechanism doing its work as it floats and then hits its limits.
The drawbacks...
- the eye relief is only 13.5 mm...so it's not really suitable for eyeglass wearers. I find an eye relief of 16mm minimum to be very usable with eyeglasses.
- uses harder to find CR123A batteries.
- the device isn't water resistant, so you have to keep this thing completely dry
- Image Stabilization effect is quite bit more sutble than you might expect, but it's definitely effective enough to be noticeably more steady than a normal binocular
I think the future of binoculars is definitely IS. I see that Canon has a version 2 of their IS in a more expensive model, so maybe the action of the IS is improved and may be added to this model in the future. If you are a casual user who just wants an effective binocular, this is a great one to choose. Canon makes higher grades and higher magnifications for the more serious user.
45 of 47 found the following review helpful:
 Viewing Power per Dollar - Second to None!Sep 02, 2003
By Fredric Pierce
I have to give these binoculars 5 stars, not because they are the finest optics money can buy, but because they give the clearest and steadiest handheld viewing you can get at anywhere near this price. Value for the money is the point, here. But, besides value, they actually are very good quality optics! They feel well made. Although they are mostly plastic, it's good quality material, they don't feel cheesy. No, they are not built like a Leica tank (intended to survive an atomic blast), but the image stabilization is so amazing, I am willing to be a little extra careful with them. You look through them and press that button, and, PRESTO, the view just stops jiggling! It's just fantastic! The I.S. has greatly improved my stargazing pleasure. Maybe I have especially bad hand tremor, but I would bet anybody would notice a big difference. I really love them!!
26 of 27 found the following review helpful:
 Image Stabilization only OKJan 13, 2009
By Doug K.
I own a Canon 10x30 IS binocular, which I LOVE. My wife wanted a lighter binocular, so I ordered the 8x25 IS. I am dissappointed in the Image Stabilization in the 8x25. I get a more stable image in the 10x30 despite the greater magnification. The 8x25 stabilization leaves a noticable shake in the image and for about the first second of activation, the image drifts slowly as the system "warms up"(?) I tried replacing the battery and even returned the first set, but the second binocs have the same behavior. If I had never seen the larger binoculars, I would probably be satisfied (barely) with the 8x25, but after experiencing the immediate response and rock-steady image of the 10x30, the 8x25 stabilization was a definite let down. Otherwise the optics are great.
17 of 17 found the following review helpful:
IS is great, Optics OKMar 31, 2007
By S. Michael Mclaughlin
I used these binocs extensively for several days on African safari to view animals and birds. The night skies were clear so I tried it on a few astronomical objects. As an experienced telescope user I can say the optics are a bit disappointing. There is noticeable chromatic and other aberrations. Of course, an astronomical test is pretty severe compared to a landscape type of view. In daytime viewing most people probably wouldn't notice the deficiencies. Focusing is easy.
The image stabilizing feature is amazingly effective. After initially being a bit underwhelmed, I can say the IS technology makes these binocs hugely more useful than an improvement in the optics would. For stationary or moving objects, it works to near perfection. I used my left hand to focus, right hand to hold the IS button, and both functions were comfortably reachable.
Other good facts--the battery life seems very long. Not sure exactly how many hours but I'm on the first battery still and it's been several months of intermittent (and more recently, heavy) usage.
And they really are lightweight. That makes them superior to larger, better, heavier binocs that you don't use as often because they're not as convenient. You will take these around with you frequently.
Eye relief is fine. For eyeglass wearers, you can fold back the rubber eyecups and put the lens right up to touching your glasses, and you can get a full field of view.
And at around $240, excellent value.
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based on 27 reviews