Best Binoculars for Astronomy? 15x50 IS Binocular Review and Upgrades

[@LotusJones]

Thinking of getting a pair for casual astronomy and day use. Your comprehensive review was helpful. Especially like the little mods you did. Cheers!

[@RefreshingViews]

Glad you liked it Deric. The little mods make them all the better - although I wish they came as standard!

[@catherinegrimes2308]

About 18 years ago I bought the Canon 10x30 image stabilised binoculars for about £210 and they still work. The highlight with them was seeing the moons of Jupiter from the centre of Damascus, that was before the civil war of course.

[@RefreshingViews]

Glad you are still enjoying your binoculars and got to see the moons of Jupiter - a fantastic sight. So sad about the civil war, I hope you are safe.

[@theodosios2615]

Thanks so much for this review! I just returned my 12x36 IS and ordered these!

[@RefreshingViews]

Glad it was useful - they are a bit heavier than the 12x36 so I wouldn't want to hike with these but for stargazing they are wonderful. Let me know how you get on with yours.

[@tonyokrongly3235]

I just bought a used pair off ebay for general astonomy. I live in bortle 3-4, so it would be a waste not to enjoy it. I'm glad I found this video to fix the eye cup issue. I ordered all the bits and pieces you recommend. Excellent information. Thanks.

[@RefreshingViews]

Thank you - let me know how you get on.

[@jeffreybarton1297]

Great video! I've got the enjoyable process of choosing between the various Canon and Fujinon image stabilising binoculars. Weighing up prices, weight, and my uses for them. The 15x Canon is winning, but the price is frightening 😄 Your upgrades are great. I'm going to get the lens hoods and caps for my Pentax 16x60s, and the Neoprene eye shield to use on all my Binoculars.

[@RefreshingViews]

Glad the upgrades will be of use.

[@Dobromir_Chodkowski]

Very good review, thank you

[@scuba5k]

Still debating between the 15x50 vs the 18x50. Seems like most recommend the 15x on cloudy nights.

[@RefreshingViews]

I like the 15x as it seems to give the right exit pupil and I fear the x18 might be a big tighter.

[@peterwoolliams1283]

Fingers crossed the rubber doesn’t go sticky as it has on my old 12x pair. IS does make for some memorable viewing.

[@RefreshingViews]

Yes, I’ve heard of the sticky rubber but (thankfully) have yet to have it happen to mine yet. Sunscreen and mosie repellant are kept far away. Totally agree, the IS does make a difference and wonderful to not necessarily need a tripod.

[@impact0r]

Those hoods look pretty deep. Are they not limiting the FOV or amount of light the lens gathers?

[@RefreshingViews]

Good point but no, no problem seen from the eyepiece end.

[@mustang5132]

I have a decent (€350) pair of Hawke 8x56 bins and the Celestron skymaster pro 15x70. I love the 15x70 but it’s hard to use since I always need a tripod. I also really enjoy my 8x56 but I do wish the glass was ED and slightly better quality. I want to use these while I’m doing astrophotography or while I’m traveling. Should I go for the 10x42L to essentially replace my decent 8x56 or go for the 15x50 to use together with my 8x56? Thanks for any advice!

[@RefreshingViews]

That’s hard to answer. I find the 15x50 to be very good but it’s heavier and more expensive. If you can afford it then go for it but I don’t think you’ll be disappointed with either! Good luck in your decision.

[@mustang5132]

@@RefreshingViews thanks! I’m in Europe and here the 10x42L is actually around €200 more on average. I don’t mind the price since I use my binos on the stars every chance I get. Thanks for the advice though, I think I will be going for the 15x50 to get more usage out of the IS since I can hold my regular 8x56 decently still, especially in comparison to my 15x70s

[@ignatprokhoropchyuck4652]

Серьезный бинокль, отличная оптика!

[@davidwiniger3799]

Do the smudges on the lenses matter? Honest question

[@RefreshingViews]

Hi David - the smudges are the cost of using optics outdoors. fortunately they aren't noticeable at the eyepiece so I tend to leave them partly out of laziness and partly out of fear of making them worse!

[@jessprs6044]

Thanks for the review! I'm getting the 15x50 in a week, can't wait! Grate upgrades by the way, i'm planing to do just exactly the same thing. Do you have the links to buy the same stuff? And great watch btw 😉 Cheers.

[@RefreshingViews]

Here you got! Binobandits from first light optics: www.firstlightoptics.com/all-binoculars/alpine-innovations-bino-bandit.html Lens hoods: kzbin.info?event=comments&redir_token=QUFFLUhqa1JsaFplcDIweENYNFRxVFI0S0Zkd0Z1ZzRSd3xBQ3Jtc0ttaUpCb2xHemd2blUwNmlZT1EzSjJ3Nks3THJOMUpwTC1fRWQ2MjZEUFRwcDRFRWJKY29OWVZ1ZHNkYjN4TWdtdWtrUDR3anRTdXpwNHFjTXFsNkMxMW16QjExR2NYVjY0UlFMYXlCWWU4SmxRbHR4VQ&q=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.ebay.co.uk%2Fitm%2FMetal-Tele-Lens-Hood-for-58mm-Filter-Thread-Camera-%2F163920001578%3Fmkcid%3D16%26mkevt%3D1%26_trksid%3Dp2349624.m46890.l49286%26mkrid%3D710-127635-2958-0&stzid=UgxU8nebthIwTPpti2l4AaABAg.9Qg-NNIQAJt9QgofjKbIE1

[@dogberto42]

What is your opinion on the Canon IS 15x50s vs 18x50s? (for astronomy and perhaps for some terrestrial observation) In a variation of the question, if one has the Canon IS 10x42s would the 15x50s or 18x50s be a better second/supplement pair?

[@RefreshingViews]

I went for the 15x50s as it had a slightly larger exit pupil and therefore brighter images - plus less magnification is less shake! As for the other sizes, t I have not used any of them so cannot answer from first hand experience.

[@ignatprokhoropchyuck4652]

Much positive reviews is up to 15x50 over 18x50, less shake

[@ads3453]

How long does the battery last ? Does it have a removable battery ?

[@RefreshingViews]

Certainly for a while, I normally change my batteries every few months with regular use so I guess they must last a few hours if you had the IS on literally full time. And it uses AAs. Obviously you'll get more from lithium batteries than conventional batteries.

[@johnkantar]

is the rubber the type of rubber that goes sticky after a number of years

[@jmclivaudais3291]

Shamelessly copied your upgrades for my new 15x50's. Thank you for the tips. Loving these binoculars so far.

[@RefreshingViews]

That's fantastic - so glad the video was of use. What have you been looking at with the binos?

[@jmclivaudais3291]

@@RefreshingViews I use these for astronomical viewing as well as coastal views in my location (Beaufort, North Carolina). They are also great for boating, although I am careful not to let them get too wet. I fear I am hooked on IS binoculars from now on!

[@RefreshingViews]

@@jmclivaudais3291 - sounds lovely and yes I can imagine they are perfect for boating

[@skeller61]

Great review and suggestions for cutting down peripheral light, thanks! I have two questions: I live in an area prone to fogging lenses. Any tips for dealing with that? Also, to go along with the bandit and lens shield, what filter, exactly, is used to cut down the light pollution in the suburbs? Thanks so much. I’ve been following astrophysics with great interest for a couple of years and have been looking at telescopes. I’ll be retired in a couple of years, and will be able to travel to dark skies in the American west. These look like a very good addition to be able to look up without any setup or takedown, and to get a constellation size part of the sky. I’m down to this pair, or the newer Canon 10x42 L IS WP. From my understanding, 10x would allow you to see whole constellations, but with IS, it seems to me the 15x would allow you to see more detail, though perhaps cropping several constellations. Is that a fair assessment? Do you have any thoughts about this? Sorry for all the questions. Thanks for sharing your knowledge.

[@RefreshingViews]

You can get dew heaters but they’re bit of a faff for binos so I sometimes use a hairdryer. Of course if you stop observing pop the dust covers on. As for LP filters I don’t use any but you’d have to find a way to mount them on the lenses or eyepieces. To answer your question re size that’s a never ending question. I’d suggest working out how you like to observe eg wide field or close ups and then choose.

[@skeller61]

@@RefreshingViews Thanks for your reply! I’ll be retiring in ~3 years, at which time I plan to convert a van for camping, which will give me a lot of room for astronomy gear. I’m pretty certain I’ll get a Celestron 8”EdgeHD telescope with a SkyWatcher HEQ-5 mount, but for equipment that will form a system, I don’t want to buy after binging KZbin videos, only to find I didn’t know to ask crucial questions that would have made a difference in my decision. I do want to get the gear and learn to use it so I have time to learn the scope at home, even though I’m in the suburb light pollution zone, but I’m not in a hurry. I decided I’d start out with binoculars, which led me to image stabilized ones (from previous experience). I can use them for other things, as well, but I’m getting them to refresh my knowledge of the night sky (even though the Star finding and tracking scopes allow you to skip this, I’d rather see the wide open dark sky as an old friend that I’m familiar with. I just received The Backyard Astronomer’s Guide, which has a ton of great information. Anyway, it came down to this set (Canon 15x75 IS) and the newer Canon 10-42 L IS WP. I’m convinced that I will like the extra magnification and will still have a field of view that’s reasonable. Your suggestions of the bandit and lens hoods should make dealing with my neighbors’ porch lights more tolerable. I’ll probably go ahead and get a pair of light pollution filters (couldn’t you use 52mm filters and screw them in before the lens hood?) to see if they make a good difference. Does this sound like a good plan to you?

[@paulhiggs354]

Please Can you up date me with 2023 models tio consider before I go for 15x50 …

[@RefreshingViews]

Hi Paul - I would love to but I simply don't have any new binos. I am so happy with these I can't see the need to upgrade. My friend Steve Tonkin is your man: binocularsky.com/

[@ethanparker2362]

Thanks for a very interesting video! I have a pair of Canon 15x50 IS and would like to get a pair of the 58mm lens hoods that you are using. Would you please let me know the manufacturer of the hoods and where you got them? Thank you!

[@RefreshingViews]

Hi Ethan - this is what I ordered from EBay UK: www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Metal-Tele-Lens-Hood-for-58mm-Filter-Thread-Camera-/163920001578?mkcid=16&mkevt=1&_trksid=p2349624.m46890.l49286&mkrid=710-127635-2958-0

[@ethanparker2362]

@@RefreshingViews Thank you! I appreciate it!

[@daveatkinson4774]

Great review. It's a shame about the eyecups, you would think that they could at least have made them out of a premium material considering the price, but your fix looks really affective. Please let me have a go!! :D

[@RefreshingViews]

You’re always welcome to have a look Dave. And you’re right, I can’t believe they put so much effort into optics and stabilisation but lost it on a few pennies of eye guards and dust caps.

[@taxiuniversum]

Brilliant

[@RefreshingViews]

Thanks!

[@AstroBiker]

Hi Chris thanks for the great video, as always. I’m about to pull the trigger on a pair of these but considering 18x50. Do you think that’s too dialled in and rather go for 15x50?

[@RefreshingViews]

It’s up to you! You can look up the field of view and make a choice. 15x is a nice compromise but I don’t think you’d be disappointed with the 18x.

[@AstroBiker]

⁠ thanks, I got the 18x50 and happy so far. By the way I also have a C11 but clouds in London over the last year have been quite frustrating. Hopefully better by Q4.

[@jnmmoore]

Just got mine. Any recommendations for something to protect the objective lenses?

[@RefreshingViews]

Oh wow, I hope you are enjoying them. I bought a pair of camera lens dust covers for mine.

[@SaltMakerE]

Hi, have you noticed any kind of stickiness or degradation on the rubber Armour of these? There are very high amounts of reports of the rubber on these "melting" and becoming sticky over the years. Always really wanted a set, but the thought of that kind of scared me.

[@RefreshingViews]

After 15 years I have a small, postage stamp sized sticky patch so have yet to paint some varnish on to get it to go away.

[@danielle_dufault]

Hi! Do you know if I can attach a phone mount to take photos and videos effectively through these binoculars? Would love to know, thanks!

[@RefreshingViews]

You should be able to. I’m away with work at the moment so I’ll check when I get home.

[@RefreshingViews]

Hi Danielle - yeah the phone mount works on these eyepieces. Worked well on the moon and bright stars although the limits of low power and no tracking were soon apparent!

[@marioarias9942]

How do the 15x50 compare to the 10x42 is wp ?

[@RefreshingViews]

I don’t have a pair of 10x42 so can’t comment on their quality but they will be cheaper, lighter and wider field of view. If you get a pair let us know your thoughts.

[@husky9088]

Concordo sul fatto che per il prezzo che hanno dovevano includere quel tipo di accessori .

[@RefreshingViews]

Thanks Husky. Yes they cost pennies and didn’t include them!

[@alexj9111]

Would a pair of Sunagor 30-160x70 mega zoom binoculars be good for astronomy? I've heard a lot of mixed reviews over it and don't know what to believe? Thanks.

[@RefreshingViews]

I'd avoid megazooms if I were you, Alexander. The optical performance is often quite poor particularly at high powers and means you can't hold them steady. Bear in mind x160 is pretty high for an affordable telescope - let alone a pair of binos.

[@alexj9111]

@@RefreshingViews Thanks for that advice, I'll look for a more appropriate pair. Cheers.

[@Tech_Advisor_to_CXOs]

How would you compare this binoculars to a 7x50 Nikon OceanPro that doesn't have stabilisation? Would the former be as good as the latter? I'm asking because I have shaky hands and I find the Nikon Trailblazer 8x25mm too shaky.

[@RefreshingViews]

I’m not sure as I don’t have those binos. Have you tried using a tripod to hold them steady?

[@miertjestoer9525]

At Amazon the reviews are less good. Maybe I save for the 10x30 is for only € 500 ! Thanks!

[@RefreshingViews]

The 10x30IS won't let you down - great views and lighter and cheaper too.

[@DouglasLippert]

To observe the zenith with a tripod, you just mount the binoculars on backwards on the tripod.

[@RefreshingViews]

Tried that but it makes no difference. You’ll have to send me a picture as I’m not sure what you mean! Tipping the tripod onto two legs helped though.

[@toniodomene]

Fraser S250 and M25E are the best stabilized binos on the planet. period. canons are toys

[@RefreshingViews]

Wow - hadn't heard of these. Bit overkill for pottering around in the garden looking at stars but I see what you mean! And then I saw the price ....

[@HappyCamper2324]

They also look to be approximately 5x the price of the Canon binocs.

[@kennethwilson8633]

You didn’t really talk about the good points much.

[@davidemazzi6414]

estetucamente sono orribi

[@Astronurd]

How many people starting out with binoculars have image stabilizing ones? Minuscule. 👎