Astro-Tech 12mm 1.25″ Paradigm Dual ED Eyepiece

Description

This Astro-Tech 12mm Paradigm Dual ED medium power eyepiece has outstanding performance at a price that will make you wonder why other good quality eyepieces cost so much more . . .This medium focal length Astro-Tech 12mm Paradigm Dual ED eyepiece is usable with any telescope type, under virtually any seeing conditions – from fair to superb. (Rain, snow, or fog might limit its usefulness, however.)

With a short focal length refractor it is a low power eyepiece. With the 430mm focal length Astro-Tech AT72ED, for example, its six lens/four group multicoated dual ED (Extra-low Dispersion) glass optics provide 36x and a field over three times as wide as the full Moon. This is well suited for observing globular clusters such as M13 and M22. Both fit nicely into its 1.67 field with the AT72ED, with a framework of black sky around the clusters to set them off. Its sharpness and lack of astigmatism across the field make globular clusters sharp, vivid, and nearly three-dimensional.

It is also quite remarkable for medium high magnification observing with long focal length refractors, reflectors, or catadioptric scopes. On an 8″ f/10 catadioptric, for example, it yields 167x. This is an excellent magnification for planetary and close-up lunar observing, particularly when the high contrast of the eyepiece (rivaling that of orthoscopics and Brandons) is combined with its excellent color fidelity. Its overall performance makes it a much better choice as a second eyepiece than merely doubling the power of most scopes’ so-so standard 25-26mm eyepiece with a Barlow.

The six lens/four group design and two ED (Extra-low Dispersion) glass elements of the 12mm Astro-Tech Paradigm provides all of the optical virtues described at the top of this catalog page – high contrast, a sharp and flat field from edge to edge, excellent color fidelity, and exceptionally low astigmatism and barrel distortion. It has a usable eye relief of 13mm, very good for an eyepiece in this focal length range. Combined with the twist-up eyecup design, the long eye relief makes it a good choice for eyeglass wearers.

This new Astro-Tech 12mm Paradigm Dual ED eyepiece will make you drastically revise your expectations upwards when it comes to how much optical excellence you can get for such a reasonable price.

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