Quillon Thistle 10x42 binoculars, with photo tripod

Specifications

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

This listing covers one configuration of the Quillon Thistle 10x42 binoculars, defined by its package, optical coatings, armor color, and edition year. This package adds a photo tripod and an adapter, so you can hold the binoculars steady without further purchases. A tripod works well for objects at low and medium altitude, though viewing near the zenith becomes awkward on one. Multi-coated optics reduce reflections at the main glass surfaces while keeping the price of this binocular low.

The slate gray finish makes the binoculars easier to find on a dark table than the black armor does. The 2025 edition keeps the same optical figures as the earlier years of the Thistle line. Before you add a mount or adapter later, check the compatibility notes for the thread and fitting that this binocular uses.

What's in the box

• Binoculars with neck strap
• Objective and eyepiece caps
• Padded soft case
• Lens cleaning cloth
• L-shaped tripod adapter
• Aluminum photo tripod with pan head

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.