The Canon 8×20 IS binoculars almost fall into the compact binocular category. At only 14.82 ounces (420 g) without batteries, they are Canon’s lightest image stabilized binoculars and you feel this immediately when holding them. They are powered by lithium-ion batteries which have advantages (low waste) and drawbacks (proprietary charging).
Overall, they are attractive with an anthracite gray color and a wide, curved design. The rubber eyecups fit comfortably around the eyes, although only offer two options for eye relief (folded and open). They perform well for stargazing, primarily for wide-field observations of stars and constellations due to the 8x magnification.
Canon 8×20 IS Binoculars Review
Canon 8×20 IS: Design
- porro prism design
- Good location of strap holders under eyepiece sections
- An attractive anthracite gray that contrasts the usual black
The Canon 8×20 IS binoculars are truly compact binoculars. Canon says this is its lightest model without a battery (according to Canon Inc. research, September 19, 2019) and we’d have to agree. They feel incredibly light in the hand. Surprisingly, although they are small, they are still not the smallest compact binoculars (or the smallest image stabilized compact binoculars) I have tested. They look like they should be heavier than they are, and in my mind I’m happy because I prefer something thicker, something about it feels ‘right’ in my hands. They feel validated. This is all likely due to their Porro prism design, an optical system that directs light through the lens in a way that generally improves the view over roof prism designs, but is certainly heavier. But the shoulder line (down the length of the binoculars) still remains thin, and I’m particularly impressed by Canon’s decision to place the strap holders further down on the eyepiece sections, rather than on the side of the binoculars, like many competing models.
Specifications
Magnification: 8x
Objective lens diameter: 20mm
Angular field of view: 6.6 degrees
Eye relief: 13.5 mm
weight: 14.9 ounces (420 grams)
The outer shell is a hard plastic with a recessed, dotted texture. It feels solid and the texture on the top, eyepiece sections, and bottom of the thumb grip helps with grip. However, they are very smooth. I found them almost sliding along the ground, on a few occasions I placed them on a nearby flat rock, rotating between the binoculars and the camera while they looked at the stars. I would love to add some rubber feet on the bottom of the telescope to prevent this, as Canon can fix this completely if they want. Or failing that, wrapping these binoculars in a rubberized armor coating as seen on other Canon models (15×50 or 18×50 IS) will solve this problem.
They come in a beautiful anthracite gray color and have a speckled, metallic appearance that I find very attractive compared to the standard black most binoculars.
Canon 8×20 IS: performance
- good image stabilization performance
- Limited to wide-field observations due to magnification
- Suitable for stargazing enthusiasts or beginners
I wouldn’t have immediately thought that these Canon binoculars would be capable of seeing the star based on their magnification and the size of the objective lens. In general, a larger aperture (objective) allows more light and thus provides more detailed views of faint stars. However, in practice, I found them to be very capable. They weren’t the brightest scenes I’ve ever seen, but I’d say four out of five stars for it (without any fanfare). What further enhances their usability is the all-important Image Stabilization (IS).
With stabilization on, it’s almost as if I’ve mounted them on a tripod. Small handshakes and physical gestures were greedily adopted by IS. On some nights when the winds bent the trees in front of me, I had to change position by stepping slightly back and to the side on flat, open ground and this was the only time I became aware of the IS’s limitations.
The telescopes we tested had 8x magnification which meant that only wide-field observations of the night sky were possible. This will not be a problem for the hobbyist or newcomer and in fact it would be ideal to go with a more powerful telescope. But if this became frustrating for those who wanted to use binoculars casually, for example, for daytime bird watching, then I would recommend getting the 10×20 version instead.
There was some color fringing around bright stars like Vega and this was noticeable when observing the Moon when the Moon was not perfectly centered in the middle of the image circle. There was also a little softness around the edges, but aiming toward the center of the scene won’t spoil the scene. Overall, I was impressed with the quality of the optics in such a small form factor.
Canon 8×20 IS: Functionality
- Focus wheel design is optimal for all seasons
- Simple, faff-free connection of IS
- Small batteries keep these binoculars compact
Once you have set the diopter correctly on the right eye, these binoculars are easy to operate and hold with one hand. The diopter ring was a little too loose on the model we reviewed here – we found it slipped once or twice over several weeks of use, but perhaps a brand new pair would be tighter.
The eyecups are rubber and have two positions for people with and without glasses. They simply stand out from the pupils of the eyes and feel soft, comfortably forming a nice light-seal around the eye socket that blocks out sunlight during the day or street lights and car lights at night. I’m not a big fan of the fact that they fold back for glasses wearers. I prefer eyecups that adjust in three or more increments when twisted into the eyepieces (handy for different set eye sockets or glasses sizes to get a good view) but they are perfectly serviceable.
The focus wheel (the heart of binocular operation) is fantastic. The curly texture is great and provides amazing grip with bare hands or when wearing gloves of any material. This makes it easier to use when hands are cold and/or wet.
Image stabilization (IS) can be engaged from a button on the top of the binoculars. Pressing once turns it ‘on’ and ‘off’ and when it is on, the IS lamp flashes green and the light and IS will remain on for five minutes before automatically turning off to conserve battery. By pressing and holding the button, stabilization remains on for the entire time the button is pressed, but it turns off as soon as you release the button. I found the IS button not to be located below where my fingers naturally rest on the binoculars, but from experience, the preference for it largely depends on the size of your hands.
Stabilization is powered and requires a single CR123 battery that is inserted into the center of the telescope between the eyepieces. Having such a small battery makes it easy to reduce size and weight. However, finding CR123 batteries in any store may prove a little more difficult than the standard AA or AAA batteries available in most stores, so carry a spare battery if you are going on long trips.
User reviews of Canon 8×20 IS binoculars
Online reviews are positive with an average rating of 4.8 out of 5 stars. One user highlighted their image stabilization, saying “I have developed a tremor which makes it difficult for me to hold a normal pair of Binos steady. The image stabilization here is remarkably good so I keep them handy…”.
While another user compared them to a pair of Coca-Cola binoculars (a brand we’re familiar with in testing and loving), saying, “The image stabilization works wonders. Because of the stabilization, I can see more detail than I can with my Coca-Cola 8×32 ultravids. It’s like holding binoculars on a tripod.”
Some people mention a dislike of the plastic-feeling neckstrap and say the eyecup covers fall off and get lost easily, which we’d agree with.
How we tested the Canon 8×20 IS binoculars
After four weeks of testing, I reviewed telescopes for stargazing in areas with Bortel orbits of 3-6 during the summer. Some nights were clear due to cloud cover and some with light layers, which blocked the view but did not hinder the observation of bright stars. Seeing ranged from poor to fair to good and on the best nights Mars was the only planet still in the twilight sky and it was moderately twinkling.
I used them for general star jumping between constellations, but also tried to spot bright galaxies and star clusters in the night sky that could normally only be seen with retro vision.
While stargazing with the Canon 8×20 IS binoculars, I used them two- and one-handed to test image stabilization. I also took them out for wildlife observation during normal daytime hours, tested them in sheltered bird hides, outdoors in clear weather and on hills with strong winds and light rain.
Should you buy Canon 8×20 IS binoculars?
These are worth around $500 if you like Canon and want a compact and lightweight binoculars with built-in image stabilization. They are beneficial for those who prefer to travel light but still want to observe the stars and wildlife in equal measure. Even though the 20 mm objective lens is not ideal for night time viewing (light restrictions), the image stabilization compensates for this and gives observers the opportunity to see details that would otherwise be missed by hand. Additionally, people who have tremors in their hands and arms or who have grip or strength issues may want to try these binoculars due to the in-built stabilization and low weight.
If the Canon 8×20 IS Not for You
Perhaps you’re not a Canon fan, or you just want to keep your compact binoculars on an old flat rock nearby and not worry about them slipping. In that case, I would recommend you to take a look at the Nikon Stabilized 12×25 Compact Binoculars. They also have good stabilization built-in and they are again lightweight and also small in size due to their roof prism design. The views were a little darker through these and they’re about $100 more expensive, but the tradeoff of size and weight is worth it.
Perhaps size or budget isn’t important to you and you just want to get the best bang for your buck? In that case, I would heartily recommend the Canon 10x42L IS WP which is also image stabilized, has 10x larger magnification, and a larger 42mm objective lens. They’re three times more expensive than the Canon 8×20 IS (about $1500 at the time of writing), but the exit pupil is large, the views are generous and sharpness is perfect edge to edge with very little chromatic aberration, if any.
