Paradigm Dual ED

Merriam-Webster’s Online Dictionary defines a paradigm as "an example, pattern, an outstandingly clear or typical example or archetype.” And so it is with the new Astro-Tech Paradigm Dual ED eyepieces. They establish a whole new pattern of eyepiece design, a design whose performance advantages are indeed “outstandingly clear.”

The new Astro-Tech Paradigm Dual ED lens eyepieces use a six-lens optical system with two ED elements in a design available for the first time in the United States. The Paradigm Dual ED eyepieces are not simply a repackaging under a different brand name of an existing ED eyepiece line (some of which have been on the market for over 15 years), as is often the case with the “new” eyepiece designs of other manufacturers. Instead, the Paradigm Dual ED optical design is truly totally new and unique to the Astro-Tech Paradigm eyepieces. The six lens/four group optical layout can be seen in schematic to the right.

Each Paradigm uses two separate ED (Extra-low Dispersion) glass elements of different glass types in its optical system to provide exceptional color fidelity (with vanishingly low levels of chromatic aberration) so that the true color differences between binary star pairs and planetary surface details are easily visible. Their 60° field of view is very flat, particularly with telescopes f/5 and above in focal ratio. They are uniformly sharp edge-to-edge, with markedly low astigmatism. Barrel distortion is essentially non-existent, eliminating the annoying “goldfish bowl” distortion of the image seen in some eyepieces when panning across a star field.

Each air-to-glass surface in a Paradigm eyepiece is fully multicoated for high light transmission and exceptional contrast. The high contrast makes them a good choice for splitting close binary stars, for examining low contrast lunar and planetary detail, and for ferreting out small and faint planetary nebulas against a truly dark sky background. The lens edges are blackened to eliminate internal reflections and further improve contrast.

Their chrome barrels are threaded for standard 1.25” filters, and a shallow safety groove is machined into each barrel. This groove engages the thumbscrew or compression ring of your focuser or star diagonal to prevent the eyepiece from falling should the thumbscrew loosen accidentally during use. The Paradigms are parfocal, minimizing the amount of refocusing needed when switching from a low power eyepiece to a higher power within the series.

Their very well-made and substantial bodies are clad in shock-absorbing rubber, with nine scalloped grooves around the circumference to provide a secure grip in all temperatures. The soft rubber eyecup incorporates an internal twist-up design that lets you smoothly raise and lower the Paradigm eyecup to precisely match the eye relief to your eyesight. The eye lenses are large in diameter, making it easy to comfortably center your eye on the exit pupil. At 13mm to 15mm, the usable eye relief allows for comfortable eyeglass use,

These newly-designed (and available in the United States for the first time) Astro-Tech Paradigm Dual ED eyepieces will make you rethink your expectations about how much sheer eyepiece excellence you can get for such a reasonable price.