Canon 15x45 IS

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Brand and Model:Canon 15x45 IS
Price ($USD):$999.95
Attributes:un-checked Waterproof checked Armored
Objective Lens Size:45 mm
Magnification:15 x
Prism Type:Roof
Coatings:Multi-Coated
Field of View:6.5 degrees
Eye Relief:14 mm
Near Focus:0 ft
Weight (lbs):20oz.
Dimensions (w/h/d):185x141x73
Description:Canon's new 15x45 IS binoculars deliver world-class optical imaging technology in a compact and lightweight yet durable package. Engineered to ensure maximum comfort and ease of use, the contoured body is coated with water-resistant, textured rubber to fit securely in your hands while guarding against the elements. As Canon's new top-of-the-line model, the 15x45 IS is a high-powered system offering 15x magnification and a wide 67 degree field of view. Equipped with Canon's innovative Optical Image Stabilizer system, these remarkable binoculars automatically adjust and compensate for minor vibrations and shaking and provide steady viewing, even in moving vehicles. The center mounted focus control is easily accessible from either hand. And once in focus, objects remain crisp and smooth thanks to Canon's unique Doublet Field Flattener technology, which dramatically reduces image distortion common to other high-magnification binoculars. When you need the world up close, look into the new Canon 15x45 IS. You'll clearly see what we're talking about.

Vote Highlights Vote
Canon 15x45 IS
The stabilization on the Canon 15x45s is not up to the very finest performance. My 16x40 gyro-stabilized Zenits kill them for stabilization and are sharper too. Still the Canons are lighter weight, have a wide field and vastly outperform unstabilized binocs. I like and use them a lot, but I prefer the 10x30 IS Canons as there the stabilization works better and the optics are a tad sharper, not that the 15x45s are bad, just an A- compared to an A.

Overall Rating: 8
Weight: 4 (Unreliable Vote)
Date:
By:
Link to this vote: http://www.excelsis.com/1.0/displayvote.php?voteid=41745

Canon 15x45 IS
The 15x45-IS Canon binoculars are pretty amazing. Image is crisp and steady. The would be great for going overseas and not having to lug a small scope along. The battery life isn't is as great as I expected; I got cought twice without a backup set. Be sure to have plenty of AAs! (There is a small space in the carrying case for two AA cells.) I have some difficulty holding them steady when trying ot observe objects near the zenith. I had been using a pair of Fujinon SX-FMT 10x70s on a parallelogram/tripod mount. These Canon's are a lot handier. I would like to see Canon place a locking switch on the stabilizer button.
T C K
Mandeville, LA

Overall Rating: 9
Weight: 4 (Unreliable Vote)
Date:
By:
Link to this vote: http://www.excelsis.com/1.0/displayvote.php?voteid=41739

Canon 15x45 IS
Really amazing binocular. Highly recommended to anybody who use binocular very often for easy stargazing and don't like to use tripod. Recently, I use this binocular as my travel scope instead of my heavy 6" reflector. Image is very very clear and sharp to the edge. Very bright, thinking it has only 45mm objectives. So I can detect objects which usually require larger objectives. It is by far the better than my 7X50mm Nikon SportingII which I never use recently .When using Canon at standing position, it is a bit hard to stabilise the image even with image stabiliser. So it is recommended to use portable reclining chair to fully stabilise the image when stargazing. Omega centauri is impressive, but can not separated to each star. I can see many craters on the moon clearly. I can detect double stars at Crux, but not at Pointer. Saturn ring cannot be seen, but it looks like elongated star. Jupitar belts cannot be seen, but its moons can. Orion nebula is very impressive with 4 stars detectable in Trapezium. Star clusters near Carina is impressive, too. I am spending a lot of hours in my back yard with this binocular since I bought this binocular.

Downside: It is a bit heavy for 15x45 binocular, and batteries(2 of AA alkaline batteries ) longs for about 2 hours.

Overall Rating: 10
Weight: 4 (Unreliable Vote)
Date:
By:
Link to this vote: http://www.excelsis.com/1.0/displayvote.php?voteid=41735

Canon 15x45 IS
Well, these are now no longer manufactured having been replaced with the IS 15/18 X50's.
However I like them because they can be found cheap.

You can make your own baader solar filters for them using two sets of 48mm filter cells (cheap IR filters for cameras). Sandwiching the mylar between the glass for protection

2" nebulae filters of all brands press fit into the rubber lens cups of the 15X45's.
I don't know if they will on the subsequent 50mm models or not.

The views of the milky way with broadband filters...with no shaking...beat my old long focal length Vixen/Celestron 20x80 binos on a Universal Astronomics Millineum bino guider.
The 15x45's are way quicker to grab. My eyes/brain aren't busy putting up with any shaking while trying to resolve objects. And if I really want absolute in stillness...I use a wrap style mounter with them on a photographic "chest/neck" monopod (these are cheap at photo shops/strap around your neck and a light weight,short extendable/pivotal monopod that rests on your chest)

I only notice any "buzzing" of the image if the batteries are low.

I tried some Fuji stabalized awhile back...but the gyro took too long to engage while the Canons were instantaneous.

-rang
tang1@san.rr.com
SDAA (San Diego Astronomy Assoc)

Overall Rating: 9
Optics:9 Value:10
Weight: 3 (Unreliable Vote)
Date:
By:
Link to this vote: http://www.excelsis.com/1.0/displayvote.php?voteid=418284

Canon 15x45 IS
These are the best binoculars I've ever owned for stargazing. The images are bright and crisp to the edge, the image stabilization works wonders, and the binoculars, although a bit heavy, are comfortable to use. The case is well-designed -- light, protective, and it contains a useful space for storing two extra batteries. Because this model is now being discontinued, it is available at discounts for less than $900. However, according to Sky & Telescope Magazine (www.skypub.com), these are better for stargazing than the replacement Canon 15 x 50 IS AW binoculars, which are costlier, heavier, and contain a feature not needed for stargazing -- better weatherproofing.

Overall Rating: 10
Weight: 3 (Unreliable Vote)
Date:
By:
Link to this vote: http://www.excelsis.com/1.0/displayvote.php?voteid=41741

Canon 15x45 IS
Excellant optics, construction and stabalisation!! Highly recommended! Shop around..prices are beginning to drop under $1,000.

Overall Rating: 10
Weight: 3 (Unreliable Vote)
Date:
By:
Link to this vote: http://www.excelsis.com/1.0/displayvote.php?voteid=41738

Canon 15x45 IS
very clear and bright to edge; weight well-balanced so that easy to hold

Overall Rating: 10
Weight: 3 (Unreliable Vote)
Date:
By:
Link to this vote: http://www.excelsis.com/1.0/displayvote.php?voteid=41737

Canon 15x45 IS
This is a review of the Canon 15x50 IS. These were purchased new Dec. 2000 for $1010 US. The binoculars are extraordinarily sharp across right across the FOV. They are excellent for Astronomy. In daylight however the optics show a little spurious colour, yellow/green or blue/violet when viewing a sharp edge against a high contrast background. They do not have the absolute neutral colour of the best high end glasses. Also the Canon's are not as bright as (for example) my Nikon 8x32 SE's. These factors matter for bird watching but less so or not at all for astronomy. The Canons are very fine glasses but I will be selling mine and buying either Nikon 12 x50 SE's or Zeiss 15x60's to get better colour correction and higher contrast.

Overall Rating: 9
Weight: 2 (Unreliable Vote)
Date:
By:
Link to this vote: http://www.excelsis.com/1.0/displayvote.php?voteid=41743

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