Mike

The people at "A Better View Desired", who test binoculars and scopes, do
not list these binos in any of their recommendations. I haven't seen them
but guess that their optics aren't nearly as good as the top birding binos.

Denny Granstrand
Yakima, WA

At 07:09 AM 5/8/97 -0700, you wrote:
>
>
>I am naturally skeptical of anything described as revolutionary, but I
>went to the Canon WebSite (http://www.usa.canon.com/press/013097.html)
>and found the press release.
>
>The stabilization schpiel is excerpted here:
> "Canon Vari-Angle Prism and Optical Image Stabilization Technology
> Anyone who has ever used a pair of binoculars knows that even the
> steadiest of hands can sometimes produce shaky images that appear
> unnatural and difficult to view. To eliminate this problem, Canon has
> succeeded in developing an optical image stabilization system,
> initially developed for use in its line of consumer video camcorders
> and now incorporated into the Canon 15 x 45 IS binoculars.
>
> The shake-free effect is the result of a specially-designed Vari-Angle
> Prism which enables optical image stabilization. With optical image
> stabilization there is no degradation of the image quality or loss of
> field of view. When using "gyroscope-type" image stabilization
> binoculars, several seconds are needed to allow the gyroscope's RPM's
> to reach a certain speed before image stabilization can be obtained.
> Canon's Optical Image Stabilization is initiated immediately upon
> depressing the function button.
>
> The Vari-Angle Prism is composed of two glass elements that are
> joined by a flexible material forming a bellows. The area between the
> glass is filled with a silicon-based oil developed by Canon. Highly
> sophisticated sensors, which detect horizontal and vertical movement,
> transmit data to a microprocessor that sends signals to a prism
> actuator. The actuator adjusts the prism to the proper angle to refract
> light and compensate for camera movement.
>
> Through the use of Canon's renowned optical design technology, these
> image stabilizing binoculars achieve both a high magnification of 15X
> and a bright, sharp image with minimal distortion and color bleeding.
> Also, by placing the anti-vibration vari-angle prism within the
> optical system, Canon engineers were able to reduce the size of the
> vari-angle prism and produce a more compact pair of binoculars.
>
> The new 15 x 45 image stabilizing weatherproof binoculars are ideal
> for any number of applications including nature, wildlife, sports,
> marine use, aviation and astronomy."
>
>
>I have never paid more than $150 for a pair of binoculars and am unlikely
>to do so with these. And I would recommend a side by side comparison with
>similarly priced binoculars for resolution, brightness and width of field
>before spending this kind of cash on something that sound cool.
>
>
>
>
>--
>*********************************** I got the blues so bad one time
>* Mike Patterson, Astoria, OR * it put my face in a permanent frown
>* mpatters at orednet.org * but I am feelin' so much better
>*http://www.pacifier.com/~mpatters* I could cake-walk into town
>
>