The best image-stabilized binoculars are next-level tech when it comes to detailed views of the night sky, wildlife and athletes at a sports game, where a shaky view can ruin the whole experience. Cameras and lenses have benefitted from image stabilization for many years, but there are also some binoculars with image stabilization to smooth out any judders and give you a much clearer and steadier view.
While the best binoculars are typically cheaper and smaller than those with image stabilization, there are some lightweight and relatively affordable options in this list. The best compact binoculars and binoculars for kids are even smaller still, and the best binoculars for stargazing tend to be mounted on a tripod for stability.
The quick list
Best overall
Best overall
These beefy binos provide rock solid views for wildlife observation and stargazing, plus they’re waterproof — but they aren’t cheap.
Read more below
Best midrange
If you don’t need a waterproof pair or your budget can’t stretch to the 10×42 model, these are the next best option and are still incredibly capable.
Read more below
Canon 15×50 IS All Weather
Best for stargazing
For shake-free views of the night sky, the 15x magnification and 50mm objectives are the perfect combination for stargazing.
Read more below
Best compact
A fantastic pair of image-stabilized binoculars you can carry in your pocket — ideal for hiking, camping trips and travel.
Read more below
The best image-stabilized binoculars we recommend in 2025
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Best overall
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Buy it if
✅ You want exceptional quality all around: They’re expensive but worth it.
✅ You want to use them in wet or humid weather: They’re both waterproof and fogproof.
Don’t buy it if:
❌ You want a lightweight pair: They can get quite heavy after long periods — the Canon 10×20 IS are more lightweight.
❌ You’re on a budget: They are on the pricey side — there are some more affordable models that are still fantastic.
The bottom line
🔎 Canon 10x42L IS WP: Priced at a premium, but they offer exceptional optics, comfort and waterproof shake-free observations. ★★★★
When it comes to image-stabilized binoculars, you can’t get much better than the Canon 10x42L IS WP. Although these 10×42 specs on their own aren’t necessarily known for particularly wobbly views, image stabilization is surprisingly useful for birdwatching and obviously useful for stargazing.
As part of Canon’s L-series — typically reserved for its high-end camera lenses — these binoculars feature exceptional quality glass that delivers sharp, bright and true-to-life images. The 10x magnification provides a great balance between detail and field of view, while the 42mm objectives gather enough light to make them effective even in low-light conditions. During our Canon 10x42L IS WP review, we noted that the ED glass was certainly doing its job, as we couldn’t spot any chromatic aberration while looking at trees against the bright sky. We thought they were fantastic for getting detailed views of the lunar surface, although they’re probably a little bulky if you want to travel with them.
To add to their impressive specs, they’re also Canon’s first waterproof pair of image-stabilized binoculars — giving them an edge over the competition if you’re using them for wildlife observation. They are also nitrogen-purged to prevent fogging.
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Attributes |
Notes |
|---|---|
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Design |
Weight to hold, but heavy after long periods. |
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Performance |
A birdwatcher’s dream. |
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Functionality |
Canon’s first waterproof image-stabilized binos. |
Best midrange
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Buy it if
✅ You want a pair for all-around use: They’re fantastic for birdwatching and basic astronomy.
✅ You’d forget to turn the IS off: They have a clever mechanism that auto-shuts off the IS when they’re held vertically for more than 10 seconds.
Don’t buy it if:
❌ You want to use them in wet or humid weather: They aren’t waterproof or nitrogen-purged, so they are susceptible to fogging.
❌ You want no optical defects: Although it doesn’t affect their use, there’s a noticeable amount of chromatic aberration.
The bottom line
🔎 Canon 10×32 IS: Clear and detailed optics mixed with a clever battery-saving design and smooth and efficient image stabilization, these binoculars are a fantastic choice if you can afford them. ★★★★½
If you can’t quite stretch your budget to the 10x42L IS WP pair we mentioned above, perhaps the Canon 10×32 IS might be a better fit.
The Canon 10×32 IS offers a compelling mix of a compact design and high-quality optics with image stabilization. The 32mm objectives are great for birdwatching, although they might be a little small if you want to do any stargazing with them. We were able to make out three of Jupiter’s moons and observe larger constellations like Orion, but you’ll want a pair of the best binoculars for stargazing if you want better night-sky observations.
During our full Canon 10×32 IS review, we thought they had extremely clear and sharp optics, although we did notice some chromatic aberration. That said, this optical defect didn’t affect their use. They are also not waterproof or fogproof, like the 10x42L pair are — but the cheaper cost and lighter weight were always going to come with compromises.
Not only are these binoculars stylish, with excellent optics, they’re also extremely clever. If the IS was activated all the time, the batteries would drain incredibly quickly. So Canon has added an in-built mechanism that switches off the IS when the batteries are stored or held vertically for more than 10 seconds, meaning you won’t waste any battery power when you’re not looking through them.
They have two IS modes. One gives a steady view when you’re scanning over a wider area (general IS), and the other is for locking on to one specific focus point and keeping the view rock-solid (powered IS).
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Attributes |
Notes |
|---|---|
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Design |
Rugged design, but still quite heavy. |
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Performance |
Crystal clear observations. |
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Functionality |
Not waterproof or fogproof. |
Most affordable
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Buy it if
✅ You want to take them traveling: These compact and lightweight binoculars can easily fit in a coat pocket.
✅ You’ll only use them in the daytime: They’re better suited for daytime viewing.
Don’t buy it if:
❌ You want to use them in low light: The smaller 20mm lenses aren’t the best for astronomy or wildlife observation at dawn or dusk — try the Canon 15×50 IS All Weather binoculars.
❌ You want a waterproof pair: They’re not waterproof or fogproof.
The bottom line
🔎 Canon 10×20 IS: The most compact and lightweight pair in Canon’s lineup, they’ll easily slip into a coat pocket for shake-free observations on the go. ★★★★
If the other offerings from Canon haven’t hit the mark so far, the Canon 10×20 IS binoculars are the company’s most compact and lightweight option. Weighing just 0.95 pounds (430 g) without the battery, they’ll easily fit into your coat pocket and are great for traveling and hiking, but we noticed in our Canon 10×20 IS review that Canon has sacrificed the view quality in favor of portability with this model.
That said, we found the image stabilization feature worked incredibly well when we used it at a wildfowl sanctuary. When activated, the view was instantly smoothed out and appeared to glide when we panned from side to side.
Like the 20×32 variant, they aren’t waterproof or fogproof, which we think is a little stingy for such an expensive pair of binoculars. If environmental protection is a dealbreaker for you, you’ll have to invest in the much more expensive 10x42L IS WP model.
We tried the 10×20 binoculars in failing light, and while they weren’t a total write-off, we’d recommend a pair with larger objective lenses if you want binoculars you can use comfortably in low-light or for stargazing. Still, for carrying with you on a hike or birdwatching on a camping trip, you can’t go wrong if you can afford them.
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Attributes |
Notes |
|---|---|
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Design |
Lightweight and pocketable. |
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Performance |
Noticibly dim views in failing light. |
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Functionality |
Not waterproof or fogproof. |
Best for stargazing
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Buy it if
✅ Your focus is on astronomy: Their 15x magnification lends itself perfectly to stargazing.
✅ You want to use them in all weather: As the name suggests, they’re suitable for use in all weather.
Don’t buy it if:
❌ You want a lightweight pair: While a heavy weight comes with the territory of a 15x magnification, they’re not lightweight by any stretch.
❌ You want wide views: 15x magnification also provides a narrow field of view — a pair with 10x magnification will be better for wide views.
The bottom line
🔎 Canon 15×50 IS All Weather: For stargazers who want shake-free observations without needing a tripod, here’s your answer. That said, make sure you can handle their heavy weight if you want to use them handheld. ★★★★
It’s easy to assume that image-stabilized binoculars won’t need to be mounted on a tripod, but in this case, we would disagree (for stargazing, anyway). While it eliminates the need for a tripod in most situations, and you can certainly still use these binoculars for handheld stargazing — some users stated they could even see Jupiter’s moons through them — they are, unsurprisingly, very heavy, so we’d still recommend using a tripod if you want to do long stargazing sessions.
This is because a tripod still doesn’t guarantee completely steady views when using this magnification. When we reviewed the Celestron 15×70 binoculars, we noticed that any movements to the focus wheel and diopter, and even a small amount of wind, would knock the binoculars and create wobbles. Having image stabilization while mounted on a tripod will give much smoother, wobble-free views. Thankfully, there’s a tripod thread on the underneath side of the binoculars.
The other draw to these binoculars is the “all weather” aspect. While Canon hasn’t stated whether they are nitrogen-purged to prevent fogging, they are water-resistant, giving them an advantage for long-distance wildlife viewing or marine use. It’s a shame that none of the more affordable models in Canon’s lineup are weather resistant, but you get what you pay for.
Overall, users say they have excellent image quality with bright and sharp viewing and easy focusing. We can’t wait to get our hands on a pair to test them out.
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Attributes |
Notes |
|---|---|
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Design |
Not particularly compact or lightweight. |
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Performance |
Excellent images that are sharp and bright. |
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Functionality |
Waterproof, but no information on fogproofing. |
Best compact
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Buy it if
✅ You want a pair to travel with: They’re incredibly small and lightweight — perfect for travel.
✅ You want something simple: There’s just a simple power button to activate the IS.
Don’t buy it if:
❌ You want to stargaze with them: Their 25mm objectives will likely be too small for any meaningful stargazing — the Canon 15-50 IS All Weather will be better.
❌ You’re on a budget: They’re quite expensive for such a small pair.
The bottom line
🔎 Nikon 12×25 S: A tiny, compact binocular for slipping into your jacket pocket on hikes, camping trips or general sightseeing. They have a simple design and excellent Nikon optics. ★★★★
If you love the thought of image-stabilized binoculars but don’t want to carry around anything too large or heavy, these tiny little Nikon binoculars will be perfect.
There are two options in the stabilized range — a 10×25 and a 12×25, and we’d recommend the latter in order to get the most out of the stabilization. We are continuously impressed by the quality and performance of Nikon optics, even though we haven’t yet reviewed this specific pair. Due to the small objective lenses, they are best suited to daytime use and would struggle to let enough light in for stargazing.
There’s a simple power button to switch the stabilization on and off, and users have stated that the stabilization works incredibly well, although, for the price, it’s disappointing that there are no rear lens protectors that come with the binoculars. They require two AA batteries that Nikon claims to give approximately 12 hours of battery life, and there’s an auto-power shut-off feature that automatically turns off the power after 60 minutes of it being unused, in order to conserve the battery life.
They do have quite a short eye relief of 12.3mm, so you’d need to take your glasses off while using them, and the exit pupil is on the smaller end, at 2.1mm.
- Want more compact options? Read our full best compact binoculars guide
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Attributes |
Notes |
|---|---|
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Design |
Very small and lightweight. |
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Performance |
Quality optics from Nikon. |
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Functionality |
Simple power switch to turn on stabilization. |
Best image stabilized binoculars: comparison
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Name |
Magnification |
Objective lens diameter |
Eye relief |
Batteries |
Weight |
Dimensions |
|
Canon 10x42L IS WP |
10x |
42mm |
16mm |
2 x AA |
2.2lbs (1.1 kg) |
5.4 x 6.9 x 3.4-inches (17.6 x 13.7 x 8.5 cm) |
|
Canon 10×32 IS |
10x |
32mm |
14.5mm |
2 x AA |
27.5 oz (780 g) |
6.7 x 5.6 x 3-inches (17 x 14.2 x 7.6 cm) |
|
Canon 10×20 IS |
10x |
20mm |
13.5mm |
1 x CR123A lithium battery |
0.95 lbs (430 g) without battery |
4.7 x 5.6 x 2.7-inches (11.8 x 14.2 x 6.9 cm) |
|
Canon 15×50 IS All Weather |
15x |
50mm |
15mm |
2 x AA |
41.6 oz (1,180 g) without battery |
6.0 x 7.6 x 3.2-inches (15.2 x 19.3 x 11.8 cm) |
|
Nikon 12-25 S |
12x |
25mm |
12.3mm |
2 x AA |
13.9 oz (395 g) |
3.9 x 3.5 x 2.6-inches (10 x 8.9 x 6.5 mm) |
Best IS binoculars Frequently Asked Questions
Are image stabilized binoculars worth it?
It depends on how important the clarity of the image is to you. Casual or beginner users likely won’t need image stabilization, but serious wildlife observers and marine use will require a much steadier image.
What is image stabilization?
Image stabilization uses technology to compensate for any movement or shakes in order to maintain a steady view. This allows for clearer, steadier views, easier tracking of moving subjects, more comfortable viewing and reduced eye strain.
Do you need image stabilization for birdwatching?
You don’t need it, necessarily, but we’ve found image stabilization to be surprisingly useful for birdwatching as it makes it easier to track birds in the sky, as the IS will give a steadier view. That said, many of the best binoculars for birdwatching don’t have image stabilization and are still fantastic optics.
Do you need image stabilization for stargazing?
Image stabilization can be very useful for stargazing, but it’s not a necessity. IS can produce much steadier views for handheld stargazing, but the best binoculars for stargazing are usually larger optics that need to be mounted on a tripod for stability.
What are the cons of image stabilization?
Image-stabilized binoculars are usually more expensive than non-IS binoculars, and they’re often heavier than regular binoculars.
What do the numbers mean when buying binoculars?
The first number is the magnification, and the second number is the diameter (in millimeters) of the objective lenses — so a 10×42 pair of binoculars will have 10x magnification and an objective lens diameter of 42mm.
The higher the strength of magnification, the further you can see with them, and larger objective lenses let more light in than smaller ones, making larger objectives better for low light viewing.
Are there any lightweight binoculars with image stabilization?
Yes, the Nikon 12×25 S binoculars only weigh 13.9 oz (395 g) and are incredibly compact.
Can you see planets with binoculars?
Yes! With a larger pair of the best astronomy binoculars, you can see Jupiter’s moons and Saturn’s rings.
How we test the best image stabilized binoculars
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Testing image stabilized binoculars includes all the tests our expert reviewers do for standard binoculars, plus an additional focus on the image stabilization technology.
We’ll test the optical performance by assessing the clarity of the image, sharpness across the entire frame and color reproduction, comparing them across the board so we can determine their value for money and quality based on their price point.
We’ll use them in real-world situations for a range of activities, including stargazing, wildlife observation and general hiking to assess their comfort, both while using them and while carrying them in our bag or coat pocket.
To test the performance of the image stabilization, we directly compare the stability of the image when the stabilization is turned off with how smooth and steady the view becomes once it’s switched on. We’ll also track moving targets, like birds in flight, to determine the effectiveness of the image stabilization while panning and moving the binoculars.
