Trading some magnification and aperture for a more stable view and/or better optics may be worthwhile for some (not all) users.VinSnr wrote: I don't really recommend 8x42 for astro use, although you can still see much of the sky with them. I started with a 8x30 nearly 27 years ago! Back then a decent 7x50 would a cost a bomb, so not much choice for a poor teenager then.
If possible, a 10x50 would be quite ideal in terms of portability, light-gathering and magnification for a beginner without stretching your budget.
Personally, I have very weak arms I think. 7x50s and 10x50s still feel heavy after a short while and the view starts shaking. If a person's arm can hold them steadily, then they should give better overall experience. Depends on how the user enjoy binocular astronomy too. If it is only a very short few minutes once in a while, then the weight/stability issue can be compromised for a higher magnification + bigger aperture. Else, for long duration observing, the compromise may be made the other way round.