Very many thanks for all the suggestions and feedback.
I went into a local camera store today and tried out the Canon 10x30 IS II. They were heavier than I expected and, while the IS was great, the button to activate IS was extremely stiff and could be an issue for someone with weaker than average fingers. The binoculars were also bulkier and heavier than I imagined they would be.
I tried a pair Nikon Monarchs and their ProStaff P3 8x30 model. Ergonomically, these seemed like a better option for my mum than the pair with IS. I liked the large focus ring and the adjustable eye cups. The diopter seem very stiff but that's probably ok if my mum is the primary user. Both Monarch and Prostaff models seemed of comparable weight with price difference due to quality I imagine.
I went into a local camera store today and tried out the Canon 10x30 IS II. They were heavier than I expected and, while the IS was great, the button to activate IS was extremely stiff and could be an issue for someone with weaker than average fingers. The binoculars were also bulkier and heavier than I imagined they would be.
I tried a pair Nikon Monarchs and their ProStaff P3 8x30 model. Ergonomically, these seemed like a better option for my mum than the pair with IS. I liked the large focus ring and the adjustable eye cups. The diopter seem very stiff but that's probably ok if my mum is the primary user. Both Monarch and Prostaff models seemed of comparable weight with price difference due to quality I imagine.