These Canon 18×50 image-stabilized binoculars are my top choice for up-close stargazing — even cheaper than Black Friday

I’ve tested a bunch of image-stabilized binoculars and the Canon 18×50 IS all-weather binoculars not only have super-high 18x magnification, but have huge 50mm objective lenses for letting in plenty of light. This is a huge plus while stargazing as it improves the brightness of dim night sky objects like galaxies and nebulas. These are now at their cheapest price and even cheaper than their Black Friday deal, a huge 30% off the retail price.

You can get the Canon 18×50 IS all-weather binoculars on sale for $1155 from Amazon.

I gave them a huge four stars in my Canon 18×50 IS binoculars review, dubbing them ‘stargazing ready’ due to the 18x magnification and bright views from 50mm objectives. I really think that the premium features included in these binoculars are worth the price and now they are even cheaper.

Reviewed by

Reviewed by

Jase Parnell-Brookes

Jase Parnell-Brookes is the Managing Editor for e-commerce for Space and Live Science. Previously the Channel Editor for Cameras and Skywatching at Space, Jase has been an editor and contributing expert across a wide range of publications since 2010. Based in the UK, they are also an award-winning photographer and educator winning the Gold Prize award in the Nikon Photo Contest 2018/19 and named Digital Photographer of the Year in 2014. Since joining Space.com, they have reviewed a huge range of skywatching optics, including telescopes, binoculars and image-stabilized binoculars.

There are plenty of image-stabilized (IS) binoculars out there to choose from, so why might you buy the Canon 18×50 IS binoculars while they are on sale? You might want to get really up close with deep space objects or stars in the sky, but every time you have tried, shakes from your hand have made observing any detail impossible. The image stabilization on board these binoculars makes for steady viewing of any subject you are looking at, hence negating the need for a binocular tripod and giving you high-powered 18x magnification at your fingertips.

While some IS binoculars offered powerful image-stabilization or prioritise a lightweight approach, the Canon 18×50 IS binoculars don’t skimp out on the necessary optical quality needed to achieve bright and clear images of the night sky. 18x magnification gets you up close to stars and deep-space objects, while the 50mm objective lenses make sure that a great deal of light can reach your eye. This is especially helpful when observing dim objects like galaxies and nebulas, where every bit of light helps. They even have ultra-low dispersion lens elements to maximum sharpness and to prevent chromatic aberration in your observations.

I gave them four stars in my full Canon 18×50 IS binoculars review for their great value and premium features, which enabled a relaxing and powerful stargazing experience. With a strong grip, they are sturdy to hold in challenging conditions but do note that while they are water resistant to a degree, they are not fully waterproof. With this huge Cyber Monday deal, they have dropped a huge 28% from their retail price and any stargazer would be delighted with these in their arsenal. They are also perfect for wildlife watchers, where tracking moving subjects with precision is essential.

Key features: 18x magnification, 50mm objective lens diameter, 3.7-degree field of view, 15mm eye relief, 41.6 oz (1.2 kg).

Price history: The Canon 18×50 IS binoculars have a retail price of $1649 but often go on sale for $1549. This Cyber Monday deal from Amazon brings them down to $1155.

Price comparison: Amazon: $1181 | BHPhotoVideo: $1274 | Adorama: $1549

Reviews consensus: In our Canon 18×50 IS binoculars review, we praised their premium features that delivered bright views of the night sky with strong image stabilization for steady views.

Space: ★★★★

✅ Buy it if: You want a powerful pair of image-stabilized binoculars that are primed for stargazing with 18x magnification and bright 50mm objective lenses.

❌ Don’t buy it if: You don’t need image stabilization for observation but still want a bright view with high magnification, try the Celestron Skymaster 20×80 binoculars, which are also on offer for Cyber Monday.

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