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: Tobi
Maybe I'm stuck in the olden days with those tiny high powered plossls, as this 3.2 Paradigm is the first high power eyepiece I've purchased in a long time. My 5mm plossl I nearly had to press against my eyeball! This 3.2 Paradigm is such a relief. Used it with the Astro-Tech 115 triplet and observed 12 bands + GRS on Jupiter on a night with average seeing conditions for Michigan. Could plainly detect N/S equatorial belt wavey edges. Compared the 3.2 to my old 5mm and 6mm Celestron plossls. The 3.2 gave a slightly more crisp view and did a little better on the "tropical and temperate belts". The eye relief of the 3.2 was a clear winner. Very happy with the Paradigm and considering a few more to replace my old eyepieces. You can't beat the price/performance ratio. (Posted on 11/16/2023)
Review by: Brett
I expected this 3.2 eyepiece to be super difficult to look through, and while it was a slight bit more temperamental than the 5 and 8 I purchased, It was not "difficult" to look through at all! There were no aberrations I noticed of any kind, looking through my 90x600 f6.67 refractor at 184X.
We viewed the comet Lemmon last night, and it was spectacular!! I will say that without the adjustable eye cup, it would have been more challenging, but once the eyecup was tuned in, you just viewed through it without thinking about it. Thats about the highest praise I can give for that category. It was good enough that I ordered the rest of the set.
This is not to say that other eyepieces might be 5% better in contrast or sharpness, but what good is that without comfort? Overall, you are hard pressed to find a better eyepiece without spending almost 5 times as much. The only caveat is a slightly smaller field of view, but I didn't notice once I was done comparing them to my other 68-degree eyepieces. (Posted on 11/11/2023)
We viewed the comet Lemmon last night, and it was spectacular!! I will say that without the adjustable eye cup, it would have been more challenging, but once the eyecup was tuned in, you just viewed through it without thinking about it. Thats about the highest praise I can give for that category. It was good enough that I ordered the rest of the set.
This is not to say that other eyepieces might be 5% better in contrast or sharpness, but what good is that without comfort? Overall, you are hard pressed to find a better eyepiece without spending almost 5 times as much. The only caveat is a slightly smaller field of view, but I didn't notice once I was done comparing them to my other 68-degree eyepieces. (Posted on 11/11/2023)
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)
