TheSkySearchers

At the Dutch Forum, which I sometimes visit:-), I saw a fellow observer about my age with an enthusiastic report about the stabilized 10X30 Canon. I knew that such a stabilized instrument is very successful. I once had a used Fujinon Technostabi 14X40 (sold it again to buy a 102mm Vixen refractor) and it worked great. It only weighed a ton. At least it felt that way. I found it not easy to handle.

When I read the experiences of my older fellow observer, I became a little more enthusiastic. The 10X30 Canon would only weigh 600 grams, 400 grams less than my standard 10X50 Jenoptem. His hand-held observations spoke for themselves. Jupiter as a sphere, Albireo easily handheld separated , the three Auriga clusters, double in Perseus, all very beautiful. Thanks to this instrument, he enjoyed the almost still images of his youth again.

When I read this report I was persuaded.
http://www.scopeviews.co.uk/Canon10x30IS.htm

I sold some older stuff, including an older digital camera and a vintage 8X30 Zeiss binoculars, had to save up for a few more months, but then I was there. No, it's not cheap.

On daytime objects, the difference is striking and surprising. Details that are normally lost in the trembling of the hands suddenly become visible. I can well imagine that from now on I will take him into the wild.
Last night some open patches of sky peeped through the high and low clouds. Jupiter becomes a sphere that hangs almost still in space, moons clearly visible next to it. I can see the same in a standard 10X50, but then everything dances through the field of view. No strange outliers of light from the Jupiter sphere.

On stars the difference is also clear. Without stabilization I saw some hints of individual stars in the triangle of Vega, with stabilization everything calmed down and suddenly several small stars became clearly visible. Like you can switch those little stars on and off. Albireo, who I had never seen separated while I was standing upright with hand held low magnification binos (too much dancing), was separated nicely. A tiny point of light that hung flat and calmly against the main tiny point. Impressive.

Because of the clouds I have not been able to use it on more difficult objects yet. For fainter deep sky objects the aperture is of course a bit too small and I have yet to see how he will treat me to M42. After all It is not a 50 or 70mm instrument. However, I already know that it will compete with my standard 10X50 binoculars. Day and night.

Update: This evening it was better than yesterday. I could make out M13, M15, M27, M103. NGC457 showed the two main stars only. The limit was at magnitude 8.7 So M57 was not seen. The double cluster was beautiful, almost telescope- like. The big Perseus cluster, Mel 20, was breathtaking. A real telescope-like view, but with a 6 degree field. This calmness of the field of vision is definitely an added dimension. Serene.
I can't wait to see the Hyades and Pleiades!

Congrats on new binos and first light John! I have been thinking on and off about IS binos, but always got spooked by weight and price.

Great report John, I'm a bit late finding it!

The clarity of view sounds impressive.

Looking forward to your report of your views of the Hyades and Pleiades!

Regards

Graeme

Thanks for this John. I had a play with the first generation ones a few years back, and I was impressed not only with the stabilisation, but the optics: very sharp across the field and very little CA.

I hope they are going well for you.

All the best,

Dean

Very interesting!

Last night I was out for a while. It turned out to be a bit clear. So for a moment (through the glass of the garden door, because brrr cold outside) I looked at the Orion Nebula, the three belt stars in Orion and Sirius. Breathtaking, the return of the majestical Orion. My 10X50 could only penetrate deeper in the universe than the 10X30 IS when I pressed it against the glass of the door. More or less stabilized.

Off the cuff, they were actually a match, except that the image in the 10X30 was much more stable and therefore more enjoyable. I must confess that I have not done extensive research into the haze in M42 itself, there was too much fog in the air for such thing. I estimate that lying in a garden chair with the 10X50 will get you a fraction deeper. But it won't make much difference.

When I put them away and stepped in my bed again I heard a squeaky voice say: "that's not fair because you is big and I is small". "Your image is calmer" I heard a lower voice answer. It seems like I was dreaming already.

However, it is mainly the serenity with which the object hangs in the scene that stays with you. Even when dreaming.

Nice review, John. Having the steadiness and time to observe calmly is priceless.

I love mine. As was stated earlier, the steadiness is great. A game changer.