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Message: <blockquote data-quote="14Goudvink" data-source="post: 3481650" data-attributes="member: 106538">David and others,From my personal experience I wouldn't recommend 15X or 12X for handheld use. For a quick look ok, but not for more extensive birding. I experience the same as David: the balance of highpower bins is often at the objective end so I have to reach back to focus which is uncomfortable and induces more shake/movement. And like Adhoc observed, for me too following a moving object is easier with high power bins than looking at a stationary one.My remarks about the difference between 8x vs 12X and 8x vs 15X are based on casual observations instead of serious experiments. For a year I used a set of a high quality 8x32 and a high quality 12X50 and almost every time found myself testing if the 12X showed more relevant detail than the 8X. Sure, the bird looked larger, but did I really see so much more detail that it really helped in ID-ing or offered more enjoyment? Was it really worth carrying a second bin? Nowadays I use a 8x30 and 15x56 combo and all doubting/wondering is done and over with <img src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7" class="smilie smilie--sprite smilie--sprite1" alt=":)" title="Smile    :)" loading="lazy" data-shortname=":)" />What I was trying to say is: If you are going to carry a tripod, you might as well buy a 15X instead of a 12X. 15X will always show you more detail than 12X. And Meopta makes a very fine 15x56 that doesn't cost much more than the 12x50 and doesn't weight that much more either.Regarding 15X bins compared to a scope I have read in various places and from experienced observers (Binomania?) that 15X on bins can be compared to 20-25X on a scope. If you have a 8X and a 10X bin you can see this for yourself. Just compare the 10X looking through one tube only with the 8X looking through both tubes. The idea is that using both eyes will give you more visual information than when you use just one eye (two eyes see more than one) so this offsets a difference in magnification. GeorgePSI just saw David's last post with more scientific material on the bins - scope issue.If you have only one bin you can also see the effect: just compare the image using only one tube/eye with the image when you use both eyes/tubes.</blockquote>

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