Product Description
This Astro-Tech 3.2mm Paradigm Dual ED eyepiece is excellent for medium high to high power magnification viewing with short to medium focal length refractors and reflectors. It is also usable with long focal length refractors and catadioptric scopes under good or better seeing conditions.
The six lens/four group design and two ED (Extra-low Dispersion) glass elements of the 5mm 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, excellent for such a short focal length eyepiece. Combined with the twist-up eyecup design, the long eye relief makes it a good choice for eyeglass wearers.
This new Astro-Tech 3.2mm Paradigm Dual ED eyepiece will make you rethink your expectations about how much sheer short focal length eyepiece excellence you can get for such a reasonable price.
Tech Details
Reviews
Review by: JFM
I recently decided to purchase a high power eyepiece to round out my collection, but was limited on budget. I had read positive things about the Paradigm Dual ED series, and got the 3.2mm. I have used it now 5 or 6 times and have been extremely impressed with its performance. Nice apparent FOV, dark background, and outstanding eye relief, especially for such short focal length. Fantastic price to performance ratio. (Posted on 10/28/2019)
Review by: Aaron
Love this range of eyepieces. The 3.2 certainly gets the least use of my set of 3, but it performs just as well as the others. In my 130PDS it held up great under strong moonlight. Seeing certainly was a bigger issue than any optical issues introduced by the eyepiece. Comfortable eye relief and the adjustable eyecup is a nice feature. (Posted on 10/19/2019)
Review by: Greg
Well built eyepiece. No complaints. Very good for high power views of the moon. For me when I look at planets I get floaters with this size which I would get with any eyepiece of this size. Looking forward to good viewing to to see what this can do with the planets. (Posted on 9/5/2019)
Review by: Lumix.guy
I love the whole Paradigm eyepiece family. I've got several short refractors including the AT60ED and the AT72ED and you really love an eyepiece like this 3.2mm when the seeing is good. Don't fight with inserting a barlow here or there and having to rack focus like crazy to get sharp again. Just drop in this wonderful parfocal 3.2mm Paradigm and start enjoying the view. This eyepiece provides 112X on my AT60ED and the views are great with excellent eye relief. (Posted on 1/4/2019)
Review by: David Pastern
I bought this eyepiece (and the 15mm) late last year. Before purchasing, I did a lot of research on eyepieces, and people kept recommending the Paradigms. I was curious, so I decided to take a chance of them. I am so glad that I did!
I have used the 3.2mm several times on Jupiter, Saturn and Mars during the latest opposition, and have been thoroughly impressed with it. I have compared it to my much more expensive TeleVue 3.5mm Delos, and it's pretty close!
Pros:
Price
Optical quality
Very comfortable to use
A wide enough AFOV as to make planetary observing at higher magnifications at bit more relaxing, especially with a Dobsonian scope that lacks tracking!
Eye relief and eye placement was a LOT more comfortable than the TeleVue Delos, even when using the TV's adjustable eyecup. No Blackouts or kidney beaning with the Paradigm!
Cons:
Not quite as sharp as the vastly more expensive TeleVue option, but certainly, still very good, at any price point let alone USD $60 that Astronomics is asking for them.
Contrast is slightly inferior to the TeleVue 3.5mm Delos that I compared it to, but not by a lot!
At the price, they are a bargain and wholly recommended. Overall, a 5 star product at an entry level price. I have already recommended the AT paradigm range of eyepieces to several friends who are thinking about getting into Astronomy after observing with my scope. (Posted on 11/11/2018)
I have used the 3.2mm several times on Jupiter, Saturn and Mars during the latest opposition, and have been thoroughly impressed with it. I have compared it to my much more expensive TeleVue 3.5mm Delos, and it's pretty close!
Pros:
Price
Optical quality
Very comfortable to use
A wide enough AFOV as to make planetary observing at higher magnifications at bit more relaxing, especially with a Dobsonian scope that lacks tracking!
Eye relief and eye placement was a LOT more comfortable than the TeleVue Delos, even when using the TV's adjustable eyecup. No Blackouts or kidney beaning with the Paradigm!
Cons:
Not quite as sharp as the vastly more expensive TeleVue option, but certainly, still very good, at any price point let alone USD $60 that Astronomics is asking for them.
Contrast is slightly inferior to the TeleVue 3.5mm Delos that I compared it to, but not by a lot!
At the price, they are a bargain and wholly recommended. Overall, a 5 star product at an entry level price. I have already recommended the AT paradigm range of eyepieces to several friends who are thinking about getting into Astronomy after observing with my scope. (Posted on 11/11/2018)