Quillon Thistle 10x42 binoculars
10x magnification · 42 mm objectives · 6.2° field
$389
Catalog preview. Not available for purchase.
- Package
- Binoculars only
- Optics
- Fully multi-coated optics
- Armor
- Black rubber armor
- Edition
- 2023 edition
Specifications
| Magnification | 10x |
|---|---|
| Objective diameter | 42 mm |
| True field of view | 6.2° |
| Exit pupil | 4.2 mm |
| Dawes limit | 2.76 arcsec |
| Limiting magnitude | 10.1 |
| Eye relief | 15 mm |
| Close focus | 2.5 m |
| Prisms | BaK-4 roof |
| Weather sealing | Nitrogen-purged, O-ring sealed |
| Weight | 780 g |
| Package | Binoculars only |
| Optics | Fully multi-coated optics |
| Armor | Black rubber armor |
| Edition | 2023 edition |
Description
The Thistle 10x42 is a roof-prism binocular with 42 mm objectives and 10x magnification. The exit pupil is 4.2 mm, which suits observers whose fully dark-adapted pupils measure about 4 to 5 mm and gives a bright view of the Moon, the Pleiades, and the larger star clusters in Cygnus and Scorpius. The 6.2-degree true field gives an apparent field of about 62 degrees, so the Milky Way fills a wide arc when you sweep across Sagittarius.
The 10x magnification separates close double stars such as Albireo in Cygnus and shows the brighter core of the Orion Nebula with some texture. At 780 g, the Thistle 10x42 can be held steady for a few minutes at a time, but for longer sessions brace your elbows against a wall, a fence post, or a car roof. The 2.5 m close focus lets you examine nearby objects at the edge of the field, and the central focus wheel turns smoothly with a light touch.
The BaK-4 roof prisms are fully multi-coated and phase-corrected, which keeps stars sharp to the edge of the field and limits scatter from bright stars. The 15 mm eye relief and twist-up eyecups let you keep glasses on and still see most of the field. The body is nitrogen-purged and O-ring sealed, so it resists internal fogging when you move it between a warm room and cold night air.
Observers whose maximum pupil is 5 mm or less use most of the 4.2 mm exit pupil in this model. Compared with a 7x50, the 10x42 has a narrower field and a smaller exit pupil, but it shows more lunar and planetary detail. For a first session, find the Double Cluster in Perseus, then sweep along the Milky Way from Cygnus to Cassiopeia and note how many faint stars each sweep reveals.
About this configuration
All configurations of the Quillon Thistle 10x42 binoculars share the same magnification and objective size; the options below change the package and finish. 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. With fully multi-coated optics, bright stars show less ghosting and the background sky looks darker.
The black armor is the standard finish of the Thistle line and matches its black lens caps. The 2023 edition uses the same prisms and objectives as later years, with small differences in the eyecups. The magnification, field, and exit pupil figures in the specifications table apply to every configuration of the Thistle line.
What's in the box
- Binoculars with neck strap
- Objective and eyepiece caps
- Padded soft case
- Lens cleaning cloth
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.