Product Description
This Astro-Tech 18mm Paradigm Dual ED is an excellent medium to medium low power eyepiece for lunar observing, encompassing globular clusters, picking up detail in emission and reflection nebulas, etc. This 18mm focal length is a good choice for filling in the gap between the 25/26mm eyepiece that comes standard with most telescopes and a high power planetary/binary star splitting eyepiece. It 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 medium to low power eyepiece well suited to scanning the crowded star clouds of Sagittarius. For example, with the 430mm focal length f/6 Astro-Tech AT72ED it provides 24x, a field five times as wide as the full Moon, and a 3mm exit pupil that is excellent for rich field observing and revealing large nebulas.
It is also a good choice for medium power observing with long focal length refractors, reflectors, or catadioptric scopes. On an 8" f/10 catadioptric, for example, it yields 111x, with a 0.54° field. This is a very useful magnification for observing compact planetary nebulas and globular clusters, as well as lunar observing. Its high contrast makes observing small features along the lunar terminator a nightly delight as the terminator creeps across the face of the Moon.
The six lens/four group design and two ED (Extra-low Dispersion) glass elements of the 18mm 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. Combined with the twist-up eyecup design, the good eye relief makes it a sensible choice for eyeglass wearers.
This new Astro-Tech 18mm Paradigm Dual ED eyepiece will make your nightly views of the heavens sharper, clearer, and more entrancing than ever before. The Paradigm will change your mind about how much truly high-end optical performance not much money can buy.
Tech Details
| Barrel Size | 1.25" |
|---|---|
| Eye Relief | 13mm |
| Field of view | 60 |
| Focal Length | 18mm |
| Number of optical elements | 6 |
| Weight | 5.6 oz. |
| Warranty | 1 year |
Reviews
Review by: Joseph
Good contrast and view, a delight to use and a good deal for the money. I now use the 18mm on my homemade finder scope, which is a much better eyepiece than you normally get on a finder scope. With this eyepiece and a narrow band filter, I was able to see North America Nebula from a dark sky site. (Posted on 9/9/2019)
Review by: Ronald
I have several Pentax XL's and a smattering of TeleVue eye pieces but my full kit of Paradigm and Titan eye pieces get used the majority of the time. They don't perform all that well in fast refractors (for planets were you focus on the object and not the whole view they are fine and I still use them), in my two SCT they are excellent. Recommended - especially if you do out reach. (Posted on 7/22/2019)
Review by: Martin Wilson
I use this 18 mm Dual ED eyepiece as my "ideal magnification" eyepiece in my 10" f/4.7 (1200mm FL) Dobsonian. Ideal magnification is where the exit pupil is just slightly under the size of a fully dilated pupil. The eye picks up finer details when it's not fully dilated, and you get a slightly more magnified image, without losing too much light (although you do lose a little compared to minimum useful magnification).
Anyway, this little eyepiece definitely performs well. It provides a well resolved image across the entire FOV, and it's a nice FOV for the price. The eye relief is also a very nice length.
However, I'm not a fan of the retractable solid eye cup. I find it much more difficult to judge the correct eye relief without bumping the eye cup and shaking the image than with a flexible rubber eye cup. You could retract the eye cup more, but then you might get too close and get oil from your eyelashes on the lens, and the eyecup won't give you any tactile feedback that you're getting too close until it's too late.
Overall, after a few nights you'll forget about the eye cup and judging the correct eye relief will become second nature, so it's a minor issue and only worth taking off a star.
Can't wait to view the lunar eclipse with my 10" dob and this little eyepiece! It just happens to be exactly a full disk image of the moon. (Posted on 12/28/2018)
Anyway, this little eyepiece definitely performs well. It provides a well resolved image across the entire FOV, and it's a nice FOV for the price. The eye relief is also a very nice length.
However, I'm not a fan of the retractable solid eye cup. I find it much more difficult to judge the correct eye relief without bumping the eye cup and shaking the image than with a flexible rubber eye cup. You could retract the eye cup more, but then you might get too close and get oil from your eyelashes on the lens, and the eyecup won't give you any tactile feedback that you're getting too close until it's too late.
Overall, after a few nights you'll forget about the eye cup and judging the correct eye relief will become second nature, so it's a minor issue and only worth taking off a star.
Can't wait to view the lunar eclipse with my 10" dob and this little eyepiece! It just happens to be exactly a full disk image of the moon. (Posted on 12/28/2018)
Review by: Sterley
I own this and the 12mm version. Both have performed excellently for many years. Terrific construction, excellent flat field of view, sharp and bright views - what's not to love! Highly recommended. (Posted on 11/18/2018)
Review by: ferness261
This 18mm is my favorite eyepiece aside from my Astro-Tech 27mm Flat Field. It looks and feels like a quality eyepiece, and it is, doing a great job in my Meade Infinity 102. I haven't yet used it or my other two Paradigms in a better scope, but I expect they'd do an even better job. Optically it's very good, and the eye relief is welcome, too. Definitely worth the price, especially if you're on a budget. (Posted on 10/24/2018)
Review by: William
I purchased this EP about 2 years ago. I liked it so much I purchased the 5mm, 12mm and 25mm also. They have an eye relief adjustment that really ads to their value. Although they are not noted to be par-focal, they are very nearly so to the extent that very little adjustment has to be made when changing powers. If you're interested in an eyepiece that is high in performance and modest in price, any of the Paradigm Dual EDs will deliver beyond your expectations. (Posted on 10/6/2018)
Review by: Jonathan
This is my eyepiece for looking at stars and finding where I am before putting in my 8mm to zoom in. I enjoy the wide field of view and its good for the Orion nebula and other similar objects. I especially like it so that I can star hop. It has a nice field of view and it beats out cheaper eyepieces for sure! (Posted on 10/6/2018)
Review by: Jack Hood
For the money, you can't beat it! Great eyepiece! (Posted on 8/4/2017)
Review by: Thomas Brown
This is my go to ep. Use it in both my 80mm and 100mm scopes as well as my 130mm newtonian. Excellent contrast and great views of planets, nebulas etc... For the price you can not go wrong with this EP. Love the twist up eyeguard. This is a MUST HAVE for anyone looking for and excellent eyepiece at a great price. (Posted on 8/4/2017)
Review by: christian alvarez
Amazing eyepiece, especially considering the price. Higher contrast then expected with a neutral to cool color tone. Reminded me of a 17mm Hyperion with a smaller field and no 20mm eye relief but better edge correction. With a 3x TV Barlow makes a great planetary eyepiece too. (Posted on 8/4/2017)
Review by: Stephen Sherrod
I bought one to test in my 8", f/7 Newt and the image was so sharp, with excellent contrast, that I tried it on another, smaller f/6 scope. Same results. I now own 5 different FL Paradigms and they are my "Go-To" eyepieces in all scopes of f/6 or longer. The edge sharpness is as good as center-of-field and the 60* AFOV is a big plus in any Dob. Eye relief on all Paradigms is good so I can avoid spending big $$ on expensive LER eyepieces.
I have "Big-Brand" eyepieces of $200+ each, and still prefer the Paradigms. The price is WAY under what you get in performance. (Posted on 8/4/2017)
I have "Big-Brand" eyepieces of $200+ each, and still prefer the Paradigms. The price is WAY under what you get in performance. (Posted on 8/4/2017)
Review by: alvaro Cruz-cabrera
This is my first Paradigm, which I use with a 3x Barlow for planetary afocal astrophotography. Also, in combination with 32 mm Plossl is my go to piece for DSO's, which I am just starting to do. With this the experience from using this piece, I am thinking in eventually getting the 25mm one for DSO work, and maybe use it to replace the 32mm Plossl. I would consider getting the 12 and 15 mm if they became available.
Alvaro (Posted on 8/4/2017)
Alvaro (Posted on 8/4/2017)
Review by: Nate Roman
Very nice eyepieces for the money! If you're looking for something inexpensive, but good quality, I think these are just right. The optics seem very good, the FOV is fine for most uses and the adjustable eye cup is a nice touch. I use these and the 82 degree ES eyepieces most and while the ES have a larger FOV and are nicer in some ways, these don't give up much for being so much less expensive. Nothing about them feels cheap. (Posted on 8/4/2017)
Astro-Tech 18mm Paradigm Eyepiece 
