The photographer in me sometimes carries over to my
binocular astronomy. On some nights, I am less concerned with the technical side of binocular performance and a bit more aware of the aesthetic side. When observing the gorgeous Pleiades, for instance, I want a binocular that frames this open cluster just enough to be pleasing to my eye. I prefer 10-12x, though some of my friends prefer 20x in a conventional 20x80, such as the
Celestron Skymaster. I want the subject to look just right for my tastes. Once a photographer, always a photographer, I guess. Maybe that's why binocular astronomy so appeals to me. Gives me the option of looking at the big picture, now and then, rather than zooming in on fine detail.