Northmere Fjord 8x42 ED binoculars, with parallelogram mount
8x magnification · 42 mm objectives · 7.0° field
$3,069
Catalog preview. Not available for purchase.
- Package
- With parallelogram mount
- Optics
- ED glass, fully multi-coated
- Armor
- Desert tan armor
- Edition
- 2023 edition
Specifications
| Magnification | 8x |
|---|---|
| Objective diameter | 42 mm |
| True field of view | 7.0° |
| Exit pupil | 5.3 mm |
| Dawes limit | 2.76 arcsec |
| Limiting magnitude | 10.1 |
| Eye relief | 18 mm |
| Close focus | 2.0 m |
| Prisms | BaK-4 roof with ED objective elements |
| Weather sealing | Waterproof, nitrogen-purged |
| Weight | 880 g |
| Package | With parallelogram mount |
| Optics | ED glass, fully multi-coated |
| Armor | Desert tan armor |
| Edition | 2023 edition |
Description
The Fjord 8x42 ED binoculars combine 8x magnification with 42 mm objectives and extra-low-dispersion glass in the objective lenses. The 8x power gives an exit pupil of 5.25 mm, which suits most observers under dark skies, and the 7.0-degree true field produces an apparent field of 56 degrees. That view is wide enough to frame the Pleiades, the Double Cluster in Perseus, and large star fields along the Milky Way in Cygnus.
The ED elements reduce colour fringing around bright stars such as Vega, Capella, and Sirius, and the edge of the Moon appears more defined than in standard-glass models at the same power. The BaK-4 roof prisms carry phase-correction coatings, and all air-to-glass surfaces are multi-coated to keep transmission high. The 42 mm objectives gather less light than 50 mm designs, so fainter stars are slightly harder to see, but the 5.25 mm exit pupil matches the dilated pupils of many observers and keeps the sky background dark.
The 18 mm eye relief lets you keep your glasses on and still see the full field. The central focus wheel and right-eye diopter adjust with a smooth, low-friction action, and the twist-up eyecups lock at two positions. At 880 g, these binoculars are practical for hand-held sessions of up to half an hour. For longer sessions, rest your elbows on a wall or a car roof, or use a tripod adapter to keep the view steady.
Start with the Moon a few days after new, and note how the crater edges look along the terminator. Then sweep Cygnus, and return to the Double Cluster on a darker night to compare. Keep the objective caps on when the binoculars are not in use, and wipe the lens surfaces with the supplied cloth rather than a dry tissue.
About this configuration
All configurations of the Northmere Fjord 8x42 ED binoculars share the same magnification and objective size; the options below change the package and finish. 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. ED glass reduces the color fringing that otherwise appears around bright objects such as the Moon and Venus.
The tan armor is easy to spot when you set the binoculars down on the grass in the dark. This is the 2023 edition of the Fjord line, the earliest version that is still listed in the catalog. The magnification, field, and exit pupil figures in the specifications table apply to every configuration of the Fjord line.
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 binocular harnesses and parallelogram mounts rated for 1 kg binoculars.