Cameras and Lenses
Fujinon Techno-Stabi Binoculars
Anyone out there using either the 12x32 or 14x40 versions of these? Are these the same as Nikon's stabilized?
Right out of the gate, they have two major advantages over the Canons by being waterproof and having a lifetime warranty. Older threads haven't been too complimentary but I'm wondering what the story is now, maybe they've been improved?
I've shied away from both high power standard bins and Canon IS bins, but the Fujis look pretty attractive. Especially the 12x32s as they're not crazy heavy.
Hi Kevin:
Maybe I can help out a bit here, having picked up the Jr's recently; I planned to post a review in the equip section and may yet if I can find the time- unfortunately I purchased these at a way steep discount, and so my pair carries only a 1 yr warranty.
Being on an IS bin jag of late, these caught my attention as a complement to the Canon 10X42 L IS I got ahold of last summer. I blown away after looking thru a friend's pair and just couldnt believe how much difference IS made in my birding enjoyment. There is a review on the net where the author compared a range of Canons to the 14X40 Fujis, I think, and much preferred their view to the Canons. He complained of not being able to get accustomed to the small scale jitter/judder/shudder/stutter whatever you call it, those small scale oscillations of the image sometimes present in the Canons. The Fujis have a different kind of IS mechanism that does not display this slight dithering. Compared to the 12x36 Canons I was also looking at, the Fujis have a nearer close focus of 12 feet or so, while the Canons come in only as far as 19, maybe 20 feet.
The Fujis are a mixed bag (what bin isn't?) both optically and mechanically. The Jr's have an outboard battery compartment, and a hand strap that is an integral part of that arrangement, which I like in some ways. The hand strap helps to, um, stablize the bin during use. Unfortunately, after about a month of use, the rascal basically self destructed. The whole affair is secured via some small rubber protusions that snap into some equally small holes when the strap loops thru the plastic guide and doubles back on itself. It's a little hard to explain w/out being able to look directly at the contraption, but trust me it is a poor way to carry the weight of the battery compartment and the strain of having a hand inside, and pressing against the strap. I told Fuju customer service as much. They were sympathetic, but hastened to add that "plastic and rubber parts are not covered under warranty"- if I had shelled out full retail for the things, I would have really been one riled up birdwatchin' hillbilly. As it was, I had no choice but to haul out the ol tube of super glue and tack the thing together forever and ever amen. This means I am no longer able to adjust the strap, but it beats having the thing flapping in the breeze, especially when the wire running from the battery box is part of this design, and would soon, I suspect, pull loose from the body of the bin. If you can look at a pic of this glass on the net maybe you can see what I'm talking about.
These are PC and MC roofs, about on a par with such bins as Monarchs; maybe just a tad softer. They certainly don't have the clean etched image or snap to focus of alpha roofs or decent porros. Color is OK, seems neutral enough, focus is smooth, though not anywhere near the caliber of the Canon L's. They also seem to suffer from what I think has been tagged "veiling glare" by some of the participants in this forum; a sort of cresent moon shaped translucent glow of light, centered at the bottom of the field, with the "horns of the moon" extending up around the periphery of the view about a third of the way around, both sides. Actually this reflection is more prominent than I am used to, and seems to appear, in some circumstances, even on cloudy days when viewing away from the sun. Eyerelief is just adequate at 15mm, but OK for me and my thin progressive lenses. I think the apparent field is about 60-degrees or thereabouts.
So how does the Fuji's IS functioning compare to the Canons? Well, the Fuji is advertised as having a 3 degree error correction, while the Canon's spec is maybe around 1 degree. Well, MAYBE there is a 3-degree stabilization effect, but what I think I am seeing is some manifestation of hand tremor WITHIN that error correction field, if I am characterizing that correctly. The Canons, OTOH, are rock steady, like on a tripod. By the way, my L's do have a bit of that image judder, while my friend's has not a whit of this kind of periodic softness.
Don't want to come down too hard on the JR's- IS is so special, I'll take it warts (whatever form that takes, Fujis or Canons) and all. If one is interested in using such a bin at close quaters, then the Fuji might be more useful. If mostly for long range use, I would definitely recommend a Canon 12X36 audition, or even side by side shoot out, if possible.
Hope this helps,
UTC
Excellent feedback UTC, thank you!
I think I need to audition both, plus the Nikon. I want to have a good look at the body of the Fujis to size up their mechanical integrity, besides having a lengthy look at what their servo goodness does for me. After reading your post (several times) and knowing a little about the Canons, I'm left with the feeling that stabilized binos are not a mature product, yet.
At the risk of being obvious, I'd like the following to be found in my IS bins:
Excellent optical quality
Shudder free workings
Ergos that are better than a toaster oven
Waterproof (actually)
Solid mechanicals
Reasonably close focus
You probably have the best one available in the 10x42L IS, but 10x isn't enough of a carrot for me to go IS. Steady magnification is the lure.
I'm a little surprised at your description of flare in the Fujis as (and you may already know) Fuji's porros are stunningly free of any ghosting or flare and their EBC process is universally lauded.
Thanks again for your post 