Review on Canon 18x50 Image Stabilization All-Weather Binoculars: With Case, Neck Strap, and Batteries - Perfect for Outdoor Enthusiasts by Chad Overturf

I've had other Canon IS binoculars and loved them. Wanted to give a family member an old pair of 10 x 30's (less than a year old) and 'upgrade' to a large jar! Was so amazed by the 18x magnification and low light stargazing possibilities. This was a big disappointment. The ergonomics are completely different from other pairs. The button placement for the IS is in an odd spot to begin with, making it more awkward to adjust focus while using IS at the same time. Unlike other pairs I've had but not a deal breaker. But the absolute WORST feature is the eyepiece settings. I've never had a problem getting the other pairs (10x30, 12x42) to sit comfortably on my face, even when sharing with friends who adjusted to their liking. It was so painfully uncomfortable to adjust. I couldn't get the eyepieces close enough to my eyes without leaving room for the bridge of my nose. To make the image look like a large circular field of view, I had to push the eyecups so far against my face that it was unbearable. Even in the picture on Revain you can see how tight the eyecups are, leaving almost no room for your nose (if you have narrow eyes, which I seem to need). The only way to make these binoculars work is to keep them away from my nose and eyes to the point where the field of view gets progressively narrower, defeating the purpose of getting these top-of-the-line 18x binoculars ! After working with them for over 30 minutes to ensure there was no user error, they were quickly put back in the box (which had obviously been opened in the past) and sent back. I have just bought a new pair of Canon 12x42 IS and am sure I will be happy with them as they have always been fantastic. I'm disappointed in how they turned out as I was really hoping they would be the "One" with 18x magnification and an all weather design. Add to that the lack of covers for the front lenses, the ultra-thin and not very protective "bag" and it's just a very expensive crap.