Interesting.
Well for one, skip alkaline batteries. They burn through them especially when it is cold. The lithium work very well.
Have carried both the 15x and 18x in lieu of a spotter & tripod. Not a substitute but rather a suitable lighter weight alternative in some areas holding game I hunt.
In Kansas this year, hunted the season on one set of batteries. I use them to get a better look-see at racks. In the past I used a 15x hand held Swaro. Shakes yes, but still revealed considerably more than my 8 or 10x. The Canon 15x or 18x do not approach the absolutely top tier view of the Swaro (new model) period. The 10x42 Canon does. However, the additional stabilized magnification gives me more detail than the Swaro did in spite of the difference in quality view.
Their ergos suck and it is the price paid for a shake-free look at stuff. Carol uses them for astro, seeing moons of Jupiter etc.
fwiw, ymmv
