My wife and I love bird watching. Identifying birds requires attention to detail. Since I have only one good eye, this has been difficult, but no more. Canon image stabilization makes that normally jumpy binocular view as steady as a photo you are holding right in front of you. The effect of IS is amazing. You can see detail like never before. We bought the Canon 8x25 IS binoculars a month ago and were so impressed that I bought the Canon 12x36 IS II model ten days ago. Everyone I show them to goes "Wow". I bought them from a highly rated supply store to use on a trip to see the spring bird migration on the Mississippi, and they came on time , perfect and ready to use. No regrets.