Lanthorn Wickmark 10x80 binoculars

Specifications

Description

The Wickmark 10x80 is a porro-prism binocular with 80 mm objectives and 10x magnification. The combination gives an exit pupil of 8 mm, which matches the dark-adapted pupil of a young observer and brings out faint diffuse objects under dark skies.

The 6.2-degree true field, or 62 degrees apparent, takes in the Double Cluster in Perseus and the Pleiades in a single view. Sweep along the Milky Way from Cygnus to Cassiopeia to see dense star fields and dark dust lanes. On a dark night the Andromeda Galaxy fills a large part of the field, and its bright core stands out against the glow of the disk. The Orion Nebula is a useful test target for the view.

At about 2.05 kg, the Wickmark 10x80 is too heavy for long sessions held by hand. Mount it on a tripod with a binocular adapter or a parallelogram harness, and set the height so the eyepieces sit at a comfortable angle. The 16 mm eye relief lets you keep your glasses on and still see the full field. The central focus wheel and right-eye diopter adjust smoothly, and the rubber eyecups fold down for use with glasses.

The optics are nitrogen purged and O-ring sealed, which limits fogging when the air changes temperature during a night outdoors. Keep the objective caps on while you carry the binoculars between sites. Older observers often have a maximum pupil of 5 mm or less, so part of the 8 mm exit pupil goes unused. In that case a 10x50 model gives a lighter instrument with a 5 mm exit pupil that matches the pupil more closely.

For a first night, begin with the Pleiades low in the east after dark, then sweep the Milky Way and note which clusters you can resolve. Return to them on a darker night to compare.

About this configuration

The Lanthorn Wickmark 10x80 binoculars comes in several configurations, and the notes below explain what this particular combination includes. Binoculars alone suit hand-held scanning of the Milky Way, bright star clusters, and the phases of the Moon. If you later want steadier views, the tripod socket between the barrels accepts a standard L-shaped adapter. The multi-coated version suits casual scanning of the night sky as well as daytime nature viewing.

Black rubber armor protects the body from knocks and gives a firm grip when your hands are cold. The optics in the 2024 edition match the other years; the changes concern handling details only. The magnification, field, and exit pupil figures in the specifications table apply to every configuration of the Wickmark line.

What's in the box

• Binoculars with neck strap
• Objective and eyepiece caps
• Padded carrying case
• Lens cleaning cloth

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 2 kg binoculars.