Canon 10×20 IS binocular review

The biggest appeal of the Canon 10×20 IS binoculars is that they are small, lightweight, and have built-in image stabilization. That means they are eminently pocketable and could be one of the best compact binoculars, but they also provide adequate and stable views of stars and nature subjects.

I also reviewed the Canon 8×20 IS binoculars, which are identical in all but the magnification size (8x instead of 10x) and the fact that the 8x versions are 10g lighter (420g versus 430g excluding the CR123A lithium battery), which I would say is unnoticeable when in use.

Its curved shape is complemented by an anthracite gray color, pleasant to the eye and touch. Despite their portability, they are not water or fog resistant. They are waterproof, so use in light rain is permitted, but this would only be a problem when stargazing if they are not stored during periods of rain.

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Canon 10×20 IS Binoculars Review

Canon 10×20 IS: Design

• Compact and lightweight
• Hidden strap accessories
• The hard, smooth plastic makes them prone to slipping on uneven surfaces.

I would classify the Canon 10×20 IS binoculars as compact binoculars because they are only 10g heavier and slightly larger than the 8×20 versions, which are the lightest in Canon’s image stabilization line, at the time of writing. I could feel this immediately when wearing them because they feel lighter than they look. Weighing 430g without the CR123A battery, they can easily be used in handheld mode for longer periods without fatigue, especially when looking at the night sky.

The battery is a CR123A lithium unit, smaller than traditional AAA or AA batteries, which slides into the center of the binoculars. However, I find that they are not as commonly found in stores, so I recommend carrying spares when you travel.

These binoculars do not have a tripod mount, so stargazers with poor grip or arm strength may have difficulty using them for extended periods. However, serious astronomers will probably opt for larger binoculars that have higher magnification and larger objective lenses that are better suited for night sky observations.

However, they are cleverly designed, with the straps hidden beneath the neckline of the eyepieces, flush with the body.

The housing of the binoculars is made of hard plastic, which I found to be a blessing and a curse. They are beautiful, soft and curved, and feel great in my hands. I love the color and think they look stylish enough to display on the shelf at home when not in use. The grip areas (where your hands rest) are peppered with texture to improve grip, but the hard plastic casing can be slippery. That makes it difficult to place them on uneven surfaces like rocks or conspicuous fences or posts. I discovered this on the coast, to my detriment, saving them from falling onto the sand only by the hair of my teeth. Placing the lens with the lens facing down reduces this problem, as there is a rubber ring around the front edge of the binoculars that prevents them from slipping. But I would advise readers against doing this on surfaces that are not flat, in case the front glass elements get scratched.

Canon 10×20 IS: Performance

• Image stabilization helps stargazing
• Some chromatic aberration that can be excused at this price.
• Minimal coma distortion during use.

You could be forgiven for expecting me to tell you that these are not suitable for astronomy. After all, they are small, have only 10x magnification (best for wide-field observations), and the objectives are only 20mm, which is restrictive for the faint starlight falling on Earth. However, it’s primarily their image stabilization that puts them firmly in the “good for stargazing” camp.

The image stabilization works very well and keeps views stable without problems. Because of this, it is possible to observe fainter constellations and distant nebulae for longer periods. The eyes adapt very well to the dark sky and details can be captured even through the smallest 20mm lenses, although these details are lost due to shaky hand movements when using traditional unstabilized binoculars.

I encountered a little chromatic aberration around brighter stars and planets (Vega and Jupiter, for example), with sometimes pinkish and sometimes blue shifts around the edges of the points of light. But at this price, for this size and the fact that they have stabilization, this can be forgiven. Coma distortion was minimal in the center of the image circle during my stargazing use, but it is certainly greatest toward the edges of the view. However, to counteract this, I simply moved the binoculars so that the night sky object I wanted was in the center. It does restrict peripheral vision a bit, making star jumping a little trickier for the uninitiated stargazer, but it’s not drastic enough to deter my recommendation.

Canon 10×20 IS: Functionality

• Only two adjustments for the eyepieces.
• Easy to hold with one hand
• Without fog protection
• The focus wheel is excellent.

The Canon 10×20 IS binoculars work well for stargazing and general use, such as observing wildlife during the day. They are lightweight and small, easy to hold even with one hand, so those with grip or strength issues will benefit from this.

The rubber eyecups are comfortable but only have two adjustment points to take advantage of the 13.5mm eye relief. It’s arguably not big enough for some glasses wearers to feel comfortable with, but I found them to be good enough to work with my glasses.

As mentioned above, they are not waterproof (just water resistant), so don’t expect to take them out in a downpour. They are also not fog proof. The lack of fog protection is only a problem if you move between hot and cold climates (inside and outside houses/cars), as internal condensation can build up before you are fully acclimatised. But since they are designed with travel in mind, I would expect most stargazers to spend enough time outdoors with them that this doesn’t become an issue very often.

The focus wheel is excellent, providing precise and fast focusing when needed during daytime use and is easy to “set it and forget it” for stargazing. I found the knurled texture to be easy to grip with both bare and gloved hands, and it felt smooth and premium.

The revolutionary feature is in the image stabilization (IS). Press the button on the top of the binoculars and a green light will illuminate for as long as stabilization remains active. After five minutes, it will automatically disconnect to conserve battery, enough time for stargazing between rest periods. If you don’t want to press the button twice (and why would you? That sounds like hard work!) to turn IS on and off, you can simply press and hold the button to keep IS active, and then releasing the button will automatically disable stabilization without further pressing.

User reviews of Canon 10×20 IS binoculars

Online reviews rank favorably near the top score, averaging 4.8 out of 5 stars. One user said: “The size and weight are wonderful: 261 grams, 9 ounces lighter than the [Canon 12×36 IS III]”.

Other users rate them for their usability in the water: “Excellent binoculars for a cruise! Sturdy, comfortable and with excellent viewing stability!” which I can attest to, having used them on smaller fishing boats for waterfowling.

How we tested the Canon 10×20 IS binoculars

Used for a month, I tested the Canon 10×20 IS binoculars for stargazing in local areas with Bortle classes ranging from 3 to 6 during the summer months. Vision ranged from poor to fair, and on the best nights, when it was good, Mars was moderately bright in the twilight sky. The weather was mixed with some thin strata and fragmented cumulus clouds, obstructing views at times.

At 10x magnification, I used them primarily for observations of constellations and asterisms, but I also observed the bright summer stars in the northern hemisphere (Vega, etc.) and for observing planets such as Jupiter and Mars.

Should you buy the Canon 10×20 IS binoculars?

Canon fans who like to stargaze while traveling should seriously consider these binoculars. No, they’re not the traditional astronomy binoculars you might expect to find in our recommendation guides, but their solid image stabilization and compact size make them more useful than many for handheld stargazing. This feature is especially useful for those who have grip or strength problems or for whom using a tripod is not possible.

If the Canon 10×20 IS is not for you

Maybe you’re not a Canon fan or you want to be able to leave your compact binoculars perched on any old flat rock nearby and not worry about them slipping. In that case, I recommend you take a look at the Nikon 12×25 Compact Stabilized Binoculars. They also have good stabilization built in and are again lighter and even smaller thanks to their roof prism design. The sights were a little darker through these and they cost about $100 more, but the trade-off between size and weight is worth it.

Maybe size or budget isn’t important to you and you just want the best bang for your buck? In that case, I would wholeheartedly recommend the Canon 10x42L IS WP, which is also image stabilized, has a higher 10x magnification, and larger 42mm lenses. They’re three times more expensive than the Canon 8×20 IS (around $1,500 at the time of writing), but the exit pupil is large, the views are generous, and the sharpness is perfect from edge to edge with minimal, if any, chromatic aberration.