Lanthorn Wardlight 7x50 binoculars, with photo tripod

Specifications

Description

The Wardlight 7x50 is a large-aperture binocular for dark-sky observing, with 50 mm objectives and 7x magnification. The combination gives an exit pupil of about 7.1 mm, which suits the dark-adapted pupil of a young observer and keeps faint nebulosity bright. The 7.0-degree true field produces an apparent field of about 49 degrees, so broad star fields along the Milky Way in Cygnus and Sagittarius stay in view without constant sweeping.

Large open clusters such as the Pleiades, the Hyades, and the Double Cluster in Perseus fill the field with room to spare, and the Andromeda Galaxy shows its bright core and dust lanes against a dark background. The 2.0 m close focus lets you examine nearby terrestrial features at a short distance. The central focus wheel moves both barrels together, and the right-eye diopter adjusts independently. The 18 mm eye relief allows observers who wear glasses to see most of the field if the rubber eyecups are folded down.

The BaK-4 Porro prisms give round exit pupils, and the lens surfaces are multi-coated. The housing is nitrogen purged, so it resists internal fogging when moved between cold and warm air. At 1150 g, the instrument is heavy for long hand-held sessions. Rest your elbows on a wall or a car roof, or use a parallelogram mount to keep the image steady during extended observing.

Observers whose maximum pupil is 5 mm or less will not use the full 7 mm exit pupil, and a higher-power binocular of the same aperture gives a darker sky background at a similar star brightness. For a first session, begin with the Moon a few days after new, then sweep along the Milky Way from Cygnus toward Cassiopeia and note which clusters you can see. Return to the same fields on a darker night to compare.

About this configuration

All configurations of the Lanthorn Wardlight 7x50 binoculars share the same magnification and objective size; the options below change the package and finish. This package adds a photo tripod and an adapter, so you can hold the binoculars steady without further purchases. A tripod works well for objects at low and medium altitude, though viewing near the zenith becomes awkward on one. Fully multi-coated optics treat every air-to-glass surface, which raises light transmission and image contrast.

Black rubber armor protects the body from knocks and gives a firm grip when your hands are cold. 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 eyepiece caps
• Soft carrying case
• Lens cleaning cloth
• L-shaped tripod adapter
• Aluminum photo tripod with pan head

Compatibility notes

• The central tripod socket accepts a standard L-shaped binocular adapter with a 1/4-20 thread.
• Fits binocular harnesses and parallelogram mounts rated for binoculars of about 1.2 kg.