At a Glance
30mm
Focal Length
82°
Apparent FOV
20mm
Eye Relief
2"
Barrel Size
Score Breakdown
Overview
The Explore Scientific 82-degree 30mm eyepiece is built for one thing above all else: giving you the widest, most immersive low-power views your telescope can deliver. With its 30mm focal length, this eyepiece produces low magnification, which is exactly what you want when hunting down nebulae, open clusters, or large galaxies that need breathing room to be appreciated. The 82-degree apparent field of view is genuinely wide, making initial object location easier and letting you take in extended targets like the Orion Nebula or the Pleiades in a single, sweeping view.
The optics use low-dispersion, high-refractive-index glass with edge-blackened elements to keep contrast strong and stray light minimal. The EMD coatings on every element help maximize light transmission, which matters at low power when you are trying to detect faint extended objects. The waterproof, gas-purged housing is a practical bonus for observers who use their gear in variable outdoor conditions.
At $349.99, this is a serious investment for a single eyepiece. It is best suited to observers with mid-to-large aperture telescopes who want a premium wide-field option, not a casual starter purchase. With only 12 Amazon reviews, long-term reliability data is limited, though the 4.4 rating is encouraging.
Key Features
- 30mm focal length delivers low magnification ideal for extended deep sky objects and rich star fields
- 82-degree apparent field of view provides an immersive, comfortable viewing experience and simplifies object framing
- EMD multi-layer coatings on all optical elements help maximize light transmission for faint object detection
- Low-dispersion, edge-blackened glass elements improve contrast and reduce internal reflections
- O-ring sealed and inert gas purged housing protects internal optics from moisture and dust in field conditions
- 2-inch barrel size fits most mid-range and premium telescopes, though compatibility with smaller focusers should be confirmed before purchase
- US-based customer support available, which is a practical consideration for warranty or technical questions
Specifications
| Focal Length | 30mm |
| Apparent FOV | 82° |
| Eye Relief | 20mm |
| Barrel Size | 2" |
| Field Stop | 34mm |
| Design | Modified Nagler |
| Elements/Groups | 8/5 |
| Series | 82° |
| Coating | EMD (Enhanced Multi-layer Deposition) |
| Waterproof | Yes |
Popular Telescopes for This Eyepiece
Sky-Watcher FlexTube 300 SynScan
50x / 6.1mm exit pupil / Dobsonian
Sky-Watcher FlexTube 300P
50x / 6.1mm exit pupil / Dobsonian
Celestron EdgeHD 800 OTA
68x / 3.0mm exit pupil / Schmidt-Cassegrain
Celestron NexStar 127SLT
50x / 2.5mm exit pupil / Maksutov-Cassegrain
Amazon Reviews
I love Explore scientific eyepieces, they're very well made and tested to last a life time. I'm not too good at describing the technical aspects of optics, this is just a really nice eyepiece. I primarily use a 10" Dob and this is a perfect fit to my eyepiece collection. I have Nagler's but Explore ...
It's seriously crazy that you can buy eyepieces in China now that rival the previous 10 years of Japanese made glass. This is extremely underrated - it's like a 31mm nagler, with better eye relief, for half the cost. Wowza.... In your hurry to buy one, don't overlook the weight. This is a beast, and...
Got this eyepiece for use with my Meade LX90 12" scope. Love the wide field and sharp views - stars are pinpoints and the view is solid right our to the edge of the FOV. Also have an ES 2X Focal Extender, which I use frequently with this eyepiece for that same great results. Highly recommended!
Try this eyepiece in our calculators
See how this eyepiece performs with any telescope.