Whether or not image stabilized binoculars are worth it comes down to a matter of perspective. Objectively speaking, in slower-moving environments, such as bird watching or even hunting, the added cost of image stabilization is harder to justify since various hand-holding techniques can drastically improve your experience. On the other hand, in marine environments and astronomy, where objects are moving in opposing directions from your vantage point, image stabilized binoculars can have a noticeable effect during your use.