Corvane Sedge 8x60 binoculars, with parallelogram mount

Specifications

Description

The Sedge 8x60 is a Porro-prism binocular with 60 mm objectives and 8x magnification. At this power the exit pupil is 7.5 mm, which matches or exceeds the open pupil of many dark-adapted eyes, so the view under dark skies stays bright. The 7.5-degree true field gives an apparent field of about 60 degrees, enough to frame the Pleiades, the Double Cluster in Perseus, and broad star fields in Cygnus within one view.

Eight-power magnification is steady enough for hand-held use during short sessions, though the 1000 g body is easier to hold for longer periods when you rest your elbows on a wall, a car roof, or the arm of a reclining chair. The central focus wheel moves both barrels together, and the right-eye diopter corrects for the difference between your eyes. The 18 mm eye relief lets you see most of the field with glasses on, provided the rubber eyecups are folded down. The 3.5 m close focus allows you to check nearby terrestrial subjects during daytime setup.

The BaK-4 prisms produce round exit pupils, and the lens surfaces are multi-coated to reduce stray light near the edges of the field. The housing is rubber-armored but not sealed, so keep the objective caps on in damp conditions and dry the instrument before you store it. The 57-80 mm objective band is the largest that keeps the exit pupil at or below 8 mm at 8x. A larger objective at this power would produce a pupil that the eye cannot fully use.

For a first night out, start with the Pleiades at low power, then sweep the Milky Way from Cygnus toward Cassiopeia. Note which open clusters and double stars you can resolve, and return to them on a darker night to see how much the sky background changes the view.

About this configuration

The Corvane Sedge 8x60 binoculars comes in several configurations, and the notes below explain what this particular combination includes. The parallelogram mount keeps the binoculars at eye level while you move them across the sky in smooth arcs. A parallelogram mount lets observers of different heights share the same view without aiming the binoculars again. With fully multi-coated optics, bright stars show less ghosting and the background sky looks darker.

Desert tan armor stays cooler in direct sunlight, which helps during daytime use before an evening session. The 2023 edition uses the same prisms and objectives as later years, with small differences in the eyecups. Before you add a mount or adapter later, check the compatibility notes for the thread and fitting that this binocular uses.

What's in the box

• Binoculars with neck strap
• Objective and eyecup caps
• Soft carrying case
• Lens cleaning cloth
• Parallelogram mount with counterweight
• Tripod adapter

Compatibility notes

• The central tripod socket takes a standard L-shaped binocular adapter with a 1/4-20 thread.
• Fits most binocular harnesses and parallelogram mounts rated for 1 kg binoculars.