Northmere Holm 8x42 ED binoculars
8x magnification · 42 mm objectives · 7.4° field
$649
Catalog preview. Not available for purchase.
- Package
- Binoculars only
- Optics
- Multi-coated optics
- Armor
- Desert tan armor
- Edition
- 2023 edition
Specifications
| Magnification | 8x |
|---|---|
| Objective diameter | 42 mm |
| True field of view | 7.4° |
| Exit pupil | 5.3 mm |
| Dawes limit | 2.76 arcsec |
| Limiting magnitude | 10.1 |
| Eye relief | 17 mm |
| Close focus | 2.0 m |
| Prisms | Phase-corrected BaK-4 roof |
| Weather sealing | Fully sealed, nitrogen-purged |
| Weight | 880 g |
| Package | Binoculars only |
| Optics | Multi-coated optics |
| Armor | Desert tan armor |
| Edition | 2023 edition |
Description
The Holm 8x42 ED binoculars pair 42 mm objectives with extra-low-dispersion glass elements that reduce colour fringing around bright stars and the Moon. The 8x magnification gives an exit pupil of 5.3 mm, which suits most observers under moderately dark skies. The 7.4-degree true field produces an apparent field of about 59 degrees, enough to fit the Double Cluster in Perseus, the Pleiades, and a long stretch of the Milky Way in Cygnus into a single view.
Brace your elbows against your chest or rest the binoculars on a fence post or a car roof to hold the view steady. Use the central focus wheel to set sharpness on a distant star, then turn the right-eye diopter until that star is equally sharp with your right eye. The 17 mm eye relief lets you keep eyeglasses on and still see the full field, and the twist-up eyecups set the eye distance for both glasses and bare eyes. The phase-corrected roof prisms and multi-coated lenses keep star images round and contrast high across the field.
At 880 g, the Holm 8x42 is comfortable for hand-held sessions of an hour or more, and a parallelogram mount or tripod adapter reduces fatigue on longer sweeps. The fully sealed body is purged with nitrogen and resists fogging, so the binoculars can move from a warm room into cold night air without internal condensation. The 2.0 m close focus lets you view nearby foliage or a dew-covered garden, and the wide field helps when you follow a satellite pass or a comet across the sky. Observers whose maximum pupil is 5 mm or less may find that a higher-magnification binocular shows more detail under the same sky.
About this configuration
The Northmere Holm 8x42 ED 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. Multi-coated optics reduce reflections at the main glass surfaces while keeping the price of this binocular low.
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 Holm line, the earliest version that is still listed in the catalog. 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 rain guard caps
- Padded carrying case
- Lens cleaning cloth
Compatibility notes
- The central tripod socket accepts a standard L-shaped binocular adapter with a 1/4-20 thread.
- Fits parallelogram mounts and harnesses rated for binoculars up to 1 kg.