Practical Binocular Stabilizers

Practical Binocular Stabilizers, Accessories and Image Stabilized Binoculars

On this page I present the lowdown on some of the best binocular stabilizer accessories including mounts, harnesses and image stabilized binoculars. A binocular stabilizer was one of the first things I invested in when I started looking at the stars as a kid. But, I remember it took me a long time to find one in the stores, and when I did it consisted of little more than a small G-clamp which screwed onto a tripod. Whether it's for astronomy, hunting, birdwatching or out on the water, nowadays there's more choice and sophistication in binocular stabilizers to ensure you get the best view.

Why Use Binocular Stabilizers?

The pros and cons of binocular mounts and image stabilized binoculars

               Public Domain Image

It's often difficult to keep a pair of binoculars steady during use. Windy, wet or cold weather conditions, movement, muscle fatigue or excitement, can all contribute to blurring the image that you see. As the magnification of the binoculars goes up, so does the effect of this 'binocular shake'. This is similar to the camera shake that causes photographs to come out poorly.

Viewing through unsteady binoculars can also be tiring on the eyes, is distracting and sometimes makes a good, sharp focus practically impossible to achieve.

There are a number of methods to solve this common problem:

(a). Fitting the binoculars to a tripod, using an adapter of some kind.
(b). Enhancing your grip and ensuring that your binoculars are to hand and ready when you are comfortable.
(c). Image stabilization technology built into the binoculars, to compensate for the shake instantaneously.

The first two of these are relatively inexpensive, although it isn't always convenient to use a tripod, especially in situations where you or your subject are moving. The third option is more expensive, but has the advantage that there's no need for any additional equipment.

Situations where a binocular stabilizer would be recommended include:

Nature Studies
Where it's important to catch every detail.

Sports Events
When following moving objects at the races, football, athletics, etc.

Astronomy
On those cold, dark nights when you want to observe the heavens with pin-point clarity.

General Viewing on Land, Sea or Air
When you're on a moving object, be it a jeep, boat, helicopter etc., for which your own stability makes the difference.

Binocular Tripod Adapters

By fitting your binoculars on a tripod you can achieve good stability

Take the strain out of holding your binoculars steady. There are a range of binocular-tripod adapters to help you see your subjects without the shake.

	Orion Paragon-Plus Binocular Mount. This specialized mount can hold binoculars with up to 80mm objective lenses. Sliding counter-weight for perfect balance. An excellent accessory for astronomy through binoculars.
Barska Accu-Grip Handheld Tripod System. As well as being hand-held, this grip can be fitted to a tripod. Has a non-slip finish and is compatible with a wide range of instruments, including spotting scopes, binoculars, cameras and camcorders.
	Leupold Binocular Tripod Adapter. A tripod adapter for selected Leupold binoculars. Good quality, and provides a steady mount. Be sure to check the compatible binocular models.
Celestron Binocular Tripod Adapter. Easy to connect and made of solid metal. Will hold large 80mm objective-lens binoculars steady with no problem.
	Bob Gear BOG-POD Binocular Rest. Constructed of high-strength, lightweight ABS plastic with a heavy-duty rubber strap. This adapter fits any pair of binoculars ranging in size from 7x to 20x, and any tripod that has a mounting bolt.

Binocular Harnesses

Ensure your binoculars are to hand when you're ready for action

Keep your binoculars on you at all times. These straps and harnesses are perfect for spreading the load of heavy binoculars, hanging them just right for you to be ready for action.

	Bushnell Deluxe Binocular Harness. This deluxe harness spreads the weight of your binoculars onto your shoulders and torso. Provides the perfect resting position for easy and quick sighting.
Leupold Quick Release Binocular Harness. This innovative binocular harness prevents swinging and holds your equipment close to the body. Works with any brand of binoculars or camera equipment.
	Nikon Prostaff Bino Harness. Binoculars are attached to elastic shoulder straps with a secure, quick-release connection. Comfortable, easily adjusted and works well.
OP/TECH USA Bino Harness - Elastic. Another innovative design of binocular harness, that self-adjusts for comfort over a range to fit most individuals. Includes 'Uni-Loop' quick disconnects.
	OP/TECH USA System Uni Adaptor Loop. Op/Tech Connector Uni Adapter Loop. 10.5-13.5" each side. Set of 2.

How Do Image Stabilized Binoculars Work?

Reactive optics that can instantly compensate for unsteady viewing

Illustration by site author (with deer image courtesy of Ohmega1982 / FreeDigitalPhotos.net)

In order to compensate for image movement, hand-held binoculars normally employ active stabilization systems. The diagram above shows an example of how this is achieved and is simplified to illustrate the general principle of operation (the precise configuration of the optics and the technology used will vary from one manufacturer to another, but the principle remains broadly the same).

Under steady viewing conditions (top), light from the object enters the binoculars through the objective lens and then passes through a stabilizing prism and the eyepiece lens, which all lie perpendicular (face-on) to the direction of the light. The light is transmitted in a straight line through to the observer’s eye with no deviation and a clear and steady image is seen.

With movement causing unsteady viewing conditions (bottom), the objective lens presents a slight angle to the light from the object (it no longer lies face-on to the light) and, under normal circumstances with no stabilization, the light that ultimately gets transmitted through the eyepiece lens will suffer a deviation from the straight line. In other words, the observer would see the image move. However, as can be seen in the diagram, by adjusting the orientation of the stabilizing prism (in this case keeping it upright), the light transmitted through the eyepiece can be maintained in line with the light received by the objective lens. In other words, the result of steady viewing is achieved.

In image stabilized binoculars, how the orientation of the internal optics is manipulated can be somewhat of a trade secret - but generally it involves the use of electronic gyroscopes to detect motion both horizontally and vertically. This motion is then transmitted to a microprocessor, which makes adjustments to the stabilizing optics according to the amount of motion detected. Manufacturers such as Canon and Nikon use systems like this to produce some superb binoculars.

Top Brand Image Stabilized Binoculars

Forget the accessories, with a pair of binoculars that do the stabilizing for you

With image-stabilized binoculars, you don't need a tripod, harness or any other accessories to see your subjects clearly. State-of-the-art technology ensures you get the best view.

	Canon 15x50 Image Stabilization All Weather Binoculars. With 50mm objective lenses and 15x magnification, these binoculars are great for looking at the Moon, bright stars, open clusters and more.
Nikon StabilEyes 14x40 Image Stabilization Waterproof Binoculars. Featuring a proprietary dual-mode operation, ON-BOARD or LAND, these Nikon binoculars are both waterproof and fogproof.
	Fuji High Power Image-Stabilized Binoculars. 'Wired' Magazine rated these as the best choice for nasty weather. From the reviews of satisfied customers, it does indeed seem that these binoculars can take pretty much whatever's thrown at them!
Magnar 20x50 Image Stabilization Binoculars. Unlike the other models of image-stabilized binoculars shown here, these require no batteries in order to function. Compact, lightweight, impact-resistant, practical.
	Carl Zeiss Optical 20x60 Image Stabilization Binocular. German engineering goes into these superb image-stabilized binoculars that are ideal for astronomy. With high-performance optical glass and premium lens-coatings, these binoculars are for those who are serious about having the best equipment.