Lanthorn Wickmark 10x80 binoculars, with parallelogram mount

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

This listing covers one configuration of the Lanthorn Wickmark 10x80 binoculars, defined by its package, optical coatings, armor color, and edition year. 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. 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. This is the 2025 edition, which added a firmer diopter lock so the setting holds when you pass the binoculars around. Compare the exit pupil in the specifications with your sky conditions and your age, since both affect how bright the view looks.

What's in the box

• Binoculars with neck strap
• Objective and eyepiece caps
• Padded 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 2 kg binoculars.