Binocular Guide
| Key Specifications | |
|---|---|
| Magnification | 7× |
| Objective Diameter | 50mm |
| Exit Pupil | 7.1mm (optimal for dark-adapted observing) |
| Field of View | ~7.1° (wide — excellent for Milky Way sweeping) |
| Optics | ED (Extra-low Dispersion) glass — reduced chromatic aberration |
| Coatings | Fully multi-coated · BAK-4 prisms |
| Waterproofing | Waterproof, nitrogen-purged |
| Weight | ~1kg (hand-holdable) |
| Best For | General stargazing, Milky Way, comets, planets, wide-field |
| Price | ~£189 |
The 7×50 specification is the traditional astronomy binocular configuration — and there are good reasons it's endured for decades. The 50mm objectives gather plenty of light, while the 7× magnification keeps the image stable enough to hand-hold. Most importantly, it produces a 7.1mm exit pupil: very close to the maximum diameter of a fully dark-adapted human eye.
That large exit pupil means maximum light throughput to your retinas. Stars are brighter, fainter objects are more visible, and the view has a natural, immersive quality that higher-power binoculars can't match. For wide-field sweeping of the Milky Way, hunting comets, or scanning for planets without a precise target, 7×50 is hard to beat.
The SkyMaster Pro ED takes this proven formula and upgrades it significantly over the standard SkyMaster range. ED (Extra-low Dispersion) glass reduces chromatic aberration — the colour fringing you sometimes see on bright stars and planets — resulting in sharper, more colour-accurate views. BAK-4 prisms and full multi-coating deliver noticeably better contrast and brightness.
These are the ideal upgrade from the Opticron Adventurer 10×50 if you want ED glass and premium coatings, or if you'd prefer the more stable 7× magnification for extended observing sessions.
The 7×50 specification won't resolve planetary detail the way a telescope will — that's not the point. What it delivers is a wide, bright, natural view of the sky that reveals far more than the naked eye:
ED (Extra-low Dispersion) glass uses special optical elements that bring different wavelengths of light to a common focus more precisely than standard glass. The practical result is reduced chromatic aberration — that purple or cyan fringe you sometimes see on bright stars, the Moon's limb, or planets near the edge of the field.
In standard 7×50 binoculars, chromatic aberration is usually mild and often goes unnoticed. The benefit of ED glass in a binocular is more subtle than in a telescope, but it's real: bright stars appear sharper, edges across the field are crisper, and the overall image has higher perceived contrast. If you're comparing identical specifications side by side, the ED version consistently looks cleaner.
Combined with BAK-4 prisms (better internal geometry than BK-7) and full multi-coating on every air-glass surface, the SkyMaster Pro ED is noticeably superior to standard-range 7×50s at this price point.
7×50 is the classic recommendation — and it still holds. On Stargazers Lounge and CN, the 7×50 specification comes up repeatedly as the ideal beginner astronomy binocular. Wide field, bright image, stable enough to hand-hold indefinitely.
ED glass at this price is unusual. Most ED binoculars start significantly higher. The SkyMaster Pro ED brings proper ED optics to an accessible price point, which owners consistently notice in the quality of the image.
Waterproofing matters in the UK. The nitrogen-purged, waterproof body keeps moisture and fog out of the optics on cold or damp nights — a genuine practical advantage for UK observing conditions.
Higher magnification, narrower field. Better for picking out faint detail on extended targets like galaxies. Less stable to hand-hold. Good alternative if you prefer 10× power.
~£60 Read our guide →Much larger aperture and magnification — but requires a tripod. The serious step up if you want telescope-level views in binocular form. Not hand-holdable.
~£229 Read our guide →If you're ready to move to a telescope, the Heritage 130P is the step up that opens up planetary detail and deep-sky object structure the 7×50 can't reach.
~£159 Read our guide →