topic Re: Canon 12x36IS II Binoculars in General Discussion

Canon 12x36IS II Binoculars: Rubber coating becoming gummy

Poses — Fri, 21 Mar 2025 13:21:07 GMT

I have a pair of Canon 12x36IS II Binoculars I bought in 2008 and The rubber coating on my binocular is becoming gummy, moveable and imprints everything, I took these on one trip when I bought them new otherwise they are stored on a shelve in my living room in the case, I pull them out once or twice a month for use. Is this normal? why is this happening and what can be done to stop this?

Re: Canon 12x36IS II Binoculars

Tim — Thu, 21 Aug 2014 21:43:38 GMT

Hello Poses,

We are very sorry to learn that your binoculars seem to have developed this issue where the grip has started to become gummy. We're not aware that this a normal issue and regret you've experienced it thus far on your binoculars. The best course from here would most likely be for you to send these to Canon for evaluation.

You can set up and arrange a repair on our web site at your earliest convenience. You would also be able to use the same web link to get in touch with our support team, if you needed technical assistance.

12 x 36 IS II Binoculars

Re: Canon 12x36IS II Binoculars

ads — Sun, 07 May 2017 00:51:57 GMT

Good Evening, I just discovered the same problem with my binoculars. They were stored for approxy. 6 months. I always remove the batteries when storing it. It was not exposed to excessive heat or any chemicals. The rubber finish is gummy just as the other post described. It left black stains on the shirt I was wearing. I tried cleaning them but nothing would work. Please help me, I have hand tremors and love the IS on these binoculars but can't use them in the condition they are in.

Thank you in advance for your help.

Re: Canon 12x36IS II Binoculars

Richard — Sun, 07 May 2017 01:28:56 GMT

Hi Ads,

Thanks for posting.

Based on your description, your binoculars will require service to correct this issue.

You may set up the repair of your bimoculars by clicking here.

Once on our site, click on "Request Product Repair". On the next page, you may create an account or log into your existing account. These options make it easier to request the repair of more than one product. You may also choose the "Continue" button to "Continue without an Account".

Re: Canon 12x36IS II Binoculars

ads — Thu, 11 May 2017 19:02:05 GMT

I am very disappointed. They want to charge me over $ 300.00 to fix what amounts to a factory defect. The finish should not be deteriorating. I hardly use them. I did not abuse them. I have bought canon products for years and never had a problem. This is clearly a manufacturer's defect from a faulty process. Now they will probably want to charge me to send them back to me. I will be re-thinking any future purchase of Canon products.

Re: Canon 12x36IS II Binoculars

rexster314 — Mon, 19 Mar 2018 21:02:56 GMT

I joined this forum because I have the same problem with my 12X36 IS binoculars as well. I bought mine in 2008 and have noticed the non slip coating degrading over the years. I might just get something like a windshield scraper and scrape all that stuff off. Makes my hands sticky

Re: Canon 12x36IS II Binoculars

VIVIANB — Thu, 30 Jan 2020 15:23:41 GMT

I have these binoculars and they are pealing and sticky

how do I get them repaired

thanks

Viv

Re: Canon 12x36IS II Binoculars

Tim — Sat, 01 Feb 2020 04:28:17 GMT

VIVIANB,

Based on your description, your binoculars will require service to correct this issue.

You may set up the repair of your binoculars by clicking here.

Re: Canon 12x36IS II Binoculars

ads — Sat, 01 Feb 2020 10:47:35 GMT

They wont cover their defective product. Want to charge me $ 300 to fix a detective product.

Re: Canon 12x36IS II Binoculars

darthjab — Wed, 25 Mar 2020 21:53:57 GMT

It is now 2020 and this same problem has been going on for a long time now. 12x36 is ii has the body getting gummy and sticky even though they were not abused and were in the box for a few years. I noticed that several others have been told they need to mail them in for evauluation and to get a cost on repair. This cost is generally $300, and Canon doesn't seem to take responsibility for the problem. I called Canon today and was told the same thing.

I'm writing to see if Canon has finally heard from enough people having the same issue to take responsibility for their defective product. Is Canon ready to repair these $800 binoculars because they built them with a faulty finish? Can you offer me some hope, or is it just, "Send them, pay us $300"?

Re: Canon 12x36IS II Binoculars

johndp — Mon, 28 Sep 2020 20:36:57 GMT

New to the forum--signed up for this very reason. Same problem here, and am hoping that someone at Canon will respond, as I have two pairs and $300 each (even for one) isn't acceptable. Love the binoculars, but this is very disappointing to hear. Calling them this week...

Canon UK Doing a Better Response- Re: Canon 12x36IS II Binoculars

WoodElk — Fri, 22 Jan 2021 15:51:16 GMT

Canon in UK fixed the same issue at no cost to the customer. Do a better job Canon USA!

<link removed per forum guidelines>

Re: Canon 12x36IS II Binoculars

yadav2brand — Sat, 17 Apr 2021 10:51:10 GMT

vidmate instasave

Re: Canon 12x36IS II Binoculars

kettonox — Thu, 13 May 2021 22:18:15 GMT

I had a problem with corrosion from leaky batteries and my battery compartment parts corroded. I have bought new parts from Canon but I find I need an exploded diagram or other instuctions to help me open up the body of the binocuars and replace the parts.

I would appreciate some help or information on this, hopefully from Canon, since I have paid for their parts.

Thank you.

Re: Canon 12x36IS II Binoculars

Jeffbrew — Wed, 08 Sep 2021 14:10:36 GMT

My IS binoculars have been getting worse and worse for years until this year they finally melted down till they felt like a melted blob of tar. Totally unusable. They even deposited goopy rubber onto my fingers.

I tried some of the on-line suggestions - which only made them worse - but I was determined to bring them back because they still worked so well.

It occurred to me that lacquer (the kind intended to finish wood and metals) has a reputation for being able to coat and dry over any previous finish, so as a desperate last measure, I decided to try using this to coat them. I simply covered the eyepieces with a couple of medicine bottle caps, cut a little piece of masking tape to cover the power button, removed the strap, and stood them on a small board. objective lenses down. I sprayed them with lacquer from a spray can (Minwax brand works well and sprays nicely). The lacquer dries quickly - in about 30 minutes if you don't spray too thickly. I gave them four coats and let them dry overnight.

The results are spectacular. The stickyness is completely gone and they feel and work great. Of course they look a bit different - somewhat shinier (i used semi-gloss) and lumpy where the worst of the goopyness was - but frankly, I like the look - the well-worn feeling of old friends (after all, I have had them for over ten years!) and not having them look spiffy-new probably makes them less likely to be pinched. They still work as well as the day I got them.

I think that this is a permanent fix, but if they ever get sticky again, I will simply coat them once more. After all, it only took about ten minutes (except for the drying times).

Re: Canon 12x36IS II Binoculars

jojoaiders — Sat, 02 Oct 2021 05:15:32 GMT

I just tried to use my 12x36 IS II for the first time in a year and they're gummy! They've always stayed in the case, in my bedroom, which is set to 65 degrees. They have not been exposed to chemicals.

Has anyone had success in getting assistance from Canon US?

So frustrating!

Re: Canon 12x36IS II Binoculars

Cfinn — Sat, 27 Nov 2021 00:07:17 GMT

I contacted Canon about 6 years ago and sent mine in. Was told they had never heard of this but would repair for $300! Now I find this forum... how disappointing that Canon won't stand behind their products.

Re: Canon 12x36IS II Binoculars

johndp — Sat, 27 Nov 2021 00:19:50 GMT

I really liked @jeffbrew's suggestion above. Unfortunately, it was too late for me--I ended up taking all sorts of toxic chemicals to both of mine and removing the sticky stuff. The binoculars look like crap, but they're not sticky anymore. I figure that they're less of a target for theft now...

Still, the fact that a problem like this is not addressed, let alone acknolwedged...that's pretty bad. My wife and I have been Canon fans for some time. Not any more. And we're spreading the word, FWIW.

Re: Canon 12x36IS II Binoculars

pidloop — Thu, 20 Jan 2022 22:05:39 GMT

Me too. Come on Canon, you're better than this.

Re: Canon 12x36IS II Binoculars

jkzt1000 — Thu, 30 Jun 2022 12:19:19 GMT

I used rubbing alcohol and a lot of paper towels to remove the sticky layer on my dad's binoculars. Even touching them would leave black residue all over my hand. He had been using duct tape to try to hold them. Here's a picture after the cleaning:After cleaningBefore cleaning