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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Pinewood" data-source="post: 3481144" data-attributes="member: 10255">Hello Adhoc,I welcome this diversion from the American elections!I have, among other binoculars, a 6.5x35, a 7x42, a 10x32, and several 8x30/32 binoculars which are most used.  For bird watching, I tend to use binoculars in pairs:  6.5x and 10x; 7x and 10x; and 8x and 12x.  The latter combination when I anticipate viewing at fair distances.  I certainly reject using a 10x on its own. The difference between the lower and upper power are always significant.  I avoid using a 'scope, as do most Americans.  For astronomy,  when looking for planets at dawn and dusk, I like a 7x.  For other astronomical observing, my first choice is the 12x50.  Asterisms like the Pleiades or Orion's Belt need that power and more.  I can do better with a 15x60 but that has to be used on a tripod.Even with a monopod, there is something about using binoculars which is a marvel.  An excellent binocular simply becomes an extension of one's eyes, making the invisible apparent.  When one's optics, binocular or spotting 'scope, are on a tripod, the optics are more "fiddly," becoming more intrusive; the effort to use them more palpable.To answer your question directly, I must write that the 12x50 is a specialty tool.  Is that helpful?Happy bird watching,Arthur :hi:</blockquote>