why look at the trees when you can see the whole forest

[edwincjones]

I like binoculars for deep sky viewing. The wide field views, natural image (up is up, left is left), using two eyes is just more fun for me. I will use telescopes for those smaller objects requiring high magification, but binoculars are my first choice. In 10 years of amateur astronomy I have collected a quality collection of binos:

6.5x21 pentax papilios--great for hiking, small objects like flowers, bugs
8.5x44 swift audubons-- for hand held birding
22x60 miyauchis-- a two eyed spotting scope for birds, other wildlife
20/26/37x100 miyauchis--smaller star parties with setup/down an issue
25x150 fujinons--where size becomes inportant and portability is not.

I would love to recruit the telescope crowd to binoculars, but at the least preach that binoculars compliment telescopes/telescopes compliment binoculars.

ecj

[budguinn]

Ed, I agree.....I have an nice chair that I spend my time in.....The scope and camera are happily clicking away, and I'm observing with my binos.

[David Neal Minnick]

I never observe without field glasses nearby. And, when asked what type scope I recommend for first-timers, I tell them "none of the above, get a pair of glasses, a sky atlas, and learn your way around, first".

[tvuejohn]

Originally Posted by edwincjones

I would love to recruit the telescope crowd to binoculars, but at the least preach that binoculars compliment telescopes/telescopes compliment binoculars.
ecj

I just assumed that everyone used binos at the scope...
I started with Bushnell 7X35 searching for Halley's comet and currently own / use :
Orion 14X70 Celestron 20X80's and Vixen 8X42.

Even with the widefields of the Tele Vue scopes that I demo, I have a
pair of 8X42's with me.