The Canon 8×20 IS binoculars fall nearly into the compact binocular class. At simply 14.82 oz (420 g) with out the battery, they’re Canon’s lightest picture stabilized binoculars and you are feeling that instantly when holding them. They’re powered by a lithium-ion battery that has benefits (much less waste) and disadvantages (proprietary charging).
Total, they’re enticing in an anthracite grey colour and with sweeping, curved design. The rubber eyecups match comfortably across the eyes, although solely give two choices for eye reduction (folded up and unfolded). They carry out effectively for stargazing, primarily for wide-field remark of asterisms and constellations because of the 8x magnification.
Canon 8×20 IS binocular evaluate
Canon 8×20 IS: Design
- Porro prism design
- Good placement of strap holders below eyepiece sections
- Attractive anthracite gray giving variation from normal black color
The Canon 8×20 IS binoculars are indeed compact binoculars. Canon states they’re its lightest model without the battery (as of Canon Inc research, September 19, 2019) and we would have to agree. They feel incredibly light in the hand. Surprising considering that, while they are small, they’re not the smallest compact binoculars (or smallest image stabilized compact binoculars) I’ve ever tested. They look like they should be heavier than they are, and to my mind I am pleased because I prefer something a little more chunky, something about it just feels ‘right’ in my hands. They feel legitimate. This is all probably due to their porro prism design, an optical system that directs light through the lenses in such a way that generally improves views over the roof prism design, but is certainly bulkier. But the shoulder line (down the length of the binoculars) still remains slim, and I’m particularly impressed with Canon’s decision to place the strap holders on and just below the eyepiece sections, rather than out to the side of the binoculars, as on many competitor models.
Specifications
Magnification: 8x
Objective lens diameter: 20mm
Angular field of view: 6.6 degrees
Eye relief: 13.5 mm
Weight: 14.9oz (420 g)
The outer armor is a rigid plastic with a recessed, dotted texture. It feels solid and the texture that envelopes the top, eyepiece sections and underneath the thumb grips helps with grip. However, they are very smooth. I found them slipping, nearly to the ground, on a few occasions that I placed them down on a nearby flat rock whilst moving between the binoculars and a camera whilst stargazing. I would love to see the addition of some rubber feet on the underside of the binoculars to prevent this, as it’s eminently fixable, should Canon desire to. Or failing that, simply encasing these binoculars in a rubberized armor coating as seen in other Canon models (the 15×50 or 18×50 IS) would remedy this.
They come in a lovely anthracite gray color and have a speckled, metallic appearance which I find very attractive compared to the standard black most binoculars come in.
Canon 8×20 IS: Performance
- Good image stabilization performance
- Limited to wide-field observations due to magnification
- Would suit hobbyists or beginners to stargazing
I would not have immediately thought these Canon binoculars would be stargazing worthy, based on their magnification and size of objective lenses. In general, a larger aperture (objectives) allows more light in and as such provides more detailed views of the dim stars. However, in practice, I found them very capable. They weren’t the brightest views I’ve ever seen, but I would say four out of five stars (no pun intended) for this. What bumps up their usability further is the all-important image stabilization (IS).
With the stabilization turned on, it’s almost as if I had them mounted to a tripod. Smaller hand shakes and bodily sways were greedily absorbed by the IS. On some nights when the winds bent the trees over in front of me, I had to reposition by stepping backwards and sideways slightly on flat, open ground and this was the only time I found the IS’s limits.
The binoculars we tested had 8x magnification which meant only wide-field observations of the night sky were possible. That would not be an issue for the hobbyist or newcomer and would actually be ideal to accompany a more powerful telescope. But if this became frustrating for those who wanted to use the binoculars more generally, say, for daytime bird spotting, then I’d recommend grabbing the 10×20 versions instead.
There was some color fringing around the brighter stars like Vega and it was noticeable when observing the moon when the moon was not completely centered in the middle of the image circle. A little softness around the edges crept in also but would not spoil views if keeping targets towards the center of view. Overall, I was impressed with the quality of the optics in such a small form factor.
Canon 8×20 IS: Functionality
- Texture of focus wheel is optimal for all-weathers
- Simple, faff-free engagement of IS
- Small battery keeps these binoculars compact
These binoculars are easy to operate and hold with one hand, once you’ve set the diopter correctly for the right eye. Said diopter ring was slightly too loose on the model we’ve reviewed here — we found it slipped once or twice during the several week’s use, but perhaps a brand new pair would be stiffer.
The eyecups are rubber and have two positions for those with and without spectacles. They simply stand protruding out from the eyepieces and feel soft, comfortably forming a good light-seal around the eyesocket which reduces flare from the sun during the day or streetlights and car lights at night. I’m not a huge fan of the fact that they fold back for spectacles wearers. I prefer eyecups that adjust in three or more increments as they twist into the eyepieces (easier for differently set eyesockets or size of eyeglasses to get a good view) but they are perfectly usable.
The focus wheel (the heart of binocular operation) is fantastic. The knurled texture is super and provides awesome grip for either bare hands or when wearing gloves of any material. This makes it easy to use when hands are cold and/or wet.
Image stabilization (IS) can be engaged with a button on the top of the binoculars. A single press turns it ‘on’ and ‘off’ and whilst it is on, the IS lamp glows green and the light and IS will remain on for five minutes before automatically disengaging to preserve battery. By pressing and holding down the button, stabilization is engaged for the entire time the button is depressed but turns off as soon as you let go. I found the IS button didn’t sit under where my fingers naturally rest on the binoculars, but from experience, preference for this largely depends on the size of your hands.
The stabilization is powered and requires a single CR123 battery that is inserted into the center of the binoculars between the eyepieces. Having such a small battery is handy to reduce size and weight. However, finding a CR123 battery in any given store might prove slightly trickier than the standard AA or AAA batteries most stores stock, so take a spare if you’re going on longer trips.
User reviews of the Canon 8×20 IS binoculars
Reviews online are positive with an average rating of 4.8 out of 5 stars. One user highlights their image stabilization, stating that “I’ve developed a tremor making it hard for me to hold a normal pair of binos steady. The image stabilization is remarkably good here so I keep them handy…”.
While another user compared them to a pair of Leica binoculars (a brand which we are familiar with in testing and love), to say, “Image stabilizing works wonderfully. Because of the stabilization, I can see more detail than with my Leica 8×32 Ultravids. It is like having the binoculars on a tripod.”
Some do mention a dislike for the plastic-feeling neckstrap and state that the eyecup covers tend to fall off and are easily lost, something which we would agree with.
How we tested the Canon 8×20 IS binoculars
Tested over four weeks, I reviewed the binoculars for stargazing in areas with Bortle Classes of 3-6 during the summer. Cloud cover was mixed with some nights remaining clear and others with thin stratus that occluded views but did not prevent observations of the brighter stars. Seeing ranged from poor, to fair and good and on the best nights Mars was the only planet still in the twilit sky and it was moderately twinkling.
I used them for general star hopping between constellations but also attempted views of the brighter galaxies and star clusters in the night sky, normally only observable with averted vision.
During stargazing with the Canon 8×20 IS binoculars, I used them two- and one-handed to test the image stabilization. I also took them for general daytime wildlife observing, testing them in sheltered bird hides, out in the open in clear weather and up hills with stronger winds and light rain.
Should you buy the Canon 8×20 IS binoculars?
If you love Canon and want a compact and lightweight binocular with in-built image stabilization then these are worth the money at around $500. They’re beneficial for those that like to travel light but still want to observe stars and wildlife in equal amounts. Even though the 20mm objective lenses aren’t ideal for night time viewing (restriction of light), the image stabilization more than makes up for this and gives observers the opportunity to see details otherwise lost to hand shake. Also, those with tremors in the hands and arms or who have grip or strength issues may want to try these binoculars because of the in-built stabilization and lower weight.
If the Canon 8×20 IS isn’t for you
Perhaps you’re not a Canon fan, or want to be able to leave your compact binoculars placed down on any old nearby flat rock and not worry about them sliding off. In that case, I’d recommend you take a look at the Nikon stabilized 12×25 compact binoculars. They, too, have good stabilization built in and are lighter again and even smaller in size thanks to their roof prism design. Views were a tad darker through these and they’re around $100 more expensive but the trade-off on size and weight is worth it.
Perhaps size or budget isnt important to you and you just want to get the best bang for your buck? In that case, I’d heartily recommend the Canon 10x42L IS WP which are also image stabilized, have a larger 10x magnification and bigger 42mm objective lenses. They are three times more expensive than the Canon 8×20 IS (around $1500 at the time of writing) but the exit pupil is large, views are generous and sharpness is perfect edge-to-edge with very minimal chromatic aberration, if any.
