by This Canon 10×20 IS offers image stabilization in a compact and travel-friendly format, but is it worth the sacrifices?
Features
Magnification: 10x
Objective lens diameter: 20mm
Field of view at 1000m: 93 meters
Closest focus distance: 2 meters
Eye relief: 13.5mm
Weight: 0.95 lbs / 430g without battery
Dimensions: 4.7×5.6×2.7 inch / 118x142x69 mm
When it comes to finding the best binoculars within your budget, it’s important to find the ideal combination of strong magnification and a large and bright objective lens. However, high magnification can sometimes make it difficult to obtain a wobble-free image. This is especially important if, for example, you are trying to make out fairy-tale markings on a particular bird species, especially when used without the aid of a tripod.
These futuristic porro prism type Canon 10×20 IS binoculars usefully come with a concealed weapon; Image stabilization powered by a built-in lithium battery, denoted by these letters “IS” to help achieve a flicker-free observation when held to view an object. Such a feature is still rare, at least in a small pair of binoes outside of the Canon brand, and even if its inclusion raises the price here, it helps reduce eye strain when used for extended periods of time.
Ultimately, whether you buy Canon 10×20 IS binoculars depends on whether you get enough of this image stabilization to justify the extra cost you pay for it.
Canon 10×20 IS: Features
We took the binoculars to a local wild bird sanctuary to try it out. While the 10x magnification is fine in terms of remote viewing power, the 20mm objective lens it’s married here is small by competitors’ standards. Canon sacrifices image quality for portability in this case. The rule of thumb is that a larger lens provides a brighter image, which for this Canon means poorer performance in the twilight and lower light. If you’re looking for binos suitable for lower light conditions, check it out Canon 10×32 IS or Canon 10x42L IS reviews.
Besides portability, the main reason anyone would choose Canon 10×20 IS binoculars is the inclusion of built-in image stabilization; this takes the form of a gyro sensor that makes vertical and horizontal adjustments for any vibrations it detects – aka hand waving.
The binoculars take a single CR123A lithium battery to power the image stabilizer. It may be harder to find easily in the field than a pair of AA or AAA, but it keeps everything manageable and is long lasting, providing up to a generous 12 hours of use. Also the weight here is less than the models that dispense AAs; Canon’s claimed 430g weight makes it the lightest of its kind, meaning you won’t have to deal with aching arms. Both neck strap and carrying case are provided for added comfort and protection.
Canon 10×20 IS: Design
picture one of the 3
Despite its odd, curved shape, the Canon 10×20 IS is compact and light enough to fit comfortably in a jacket pocket. They are not waterproof though, so you may need to bring an umbrella with you.
The overall surface is smooth, though there is a marginally protruding texture at the top of these Canon 10×20 IS binoculars. We would have preferred a more textured surface to provide a more secure grip, or even a rubber coating that could double as extra protection against bumps and drops.
We were impressed by the prominent manual focus wheel equidistant between the eyepieces. It has an attractively tactile surface, which makes it easy to find and use even when our eyes are perpendicular to the eyepieces.
Plastic snap closures come out of the box to protect the elongated eyepieces, but they don’t have a mechanism to attach them to a strap when not in use, so they can be easily lost.
Canon 10×20 IS: Performance
The biggest talking point here is the built-in image stabilizer. So the question is, does it actually make a noticeable difference? Fortunately, the answer is yes. Watching wild birds a few hundred meters away with ‘IS’ disabled, we were able to get a fairly steady hand-held observation, albeit with a noticeable wobble.
However, when we pressed the IS button on the top of the scope, the image stabilized instantly. When we turned the binoculars to the right and left, our subjects seemed to slide abruptly instead of shaking like an earthquake. ‘IS’ runs for up to five minutes from the first press of the button and a green LED lights up when active so you don’t forget and drain the battery.
The Canon 10×20 IS provides the closest viewing distance of two metres, but this may not be suitable for most people who buy them for wildlife or sports watching. However, unlike Canon’s larger models such as the 10x42L IS WP binoculars, a degree of caution should be exercised for anyone wishing to use them outdoors, as the 10×20 IS is not weatherproof or waterproof, so they are not suitable for use in harsh conditions. weather conditions.
If we’re picky, Canon’s 10x42L IS WP seems like the better choice if you’re looking for the best binoculars for stargazing, only thanks to the much larger objective lens – so a massive 42mm instead of a meticulous 20mm, like here.
We tried the 10×20 IS outdoors in poor light, and the view through them was noticeably dim, though by no means completely wiped out. However, for anyone who wants a compact dual image stabilization binocular for mostly daytime use, these Canon 10×20 IS binoculars are the best option.
Should you buy Canon 10×20 IS binoculars?
If you’re looking for a stable image and don’t want to carry a heavy set of binoculars with you, Canon’s 10×20 IS binoculars are a great choice, offering great image quality, good ergonomics and reliable build quality.
That said, it’s a bit disappointing that this model isn’t waterproof, or even water-resistant, for its price, so they’re hardly suitable for inclement weather, which is always a possibility in nature. The smaller objective lens also limits their use somewhat – they’re great during the daytime, but they’re not made for low-light conditions.
If you’re looking for binoculars to take with you on hikes or bird watching, you can’t go wrong with Canon’s 10×20 IS.
If this product is not for you
While there are many alternatives from other manufacturers that offer 10x magnification, there are very few manufacturers other than Canon that also offer built-in anti-shake. If you like the look of these but need a larger objective lens, you should check out the Canon 10x42L IS WP.
If you don’t need image stabilization/anti-shake, binoculars with a larger objective lens can be bought for less than what Canon wants here. There are plenty of options here, such as the fairly affordable Olympus 8×42 Pro. (opens in new tab) or 10×42 Pro (opens in new tab).
Finally, if you’re looking for a compact dual bino but don’t want to pay for image stabilization, we recommend a pair like the Olympus 8×25 WP II.
