Astromania · Eyepiece
Astromania Planetary 3.2mm
Tight 3.2mm focal length for crisp planetary detail at an honest price that won't strain your budget
Performance Scores
Overview
The Astromania Planetary 3.2mm is built around one specific goal: pulling fine detail out of planets and the Moon at high magnification. Paired with a typical 700mm to 1000mm focal length telescope, this eyepiece will deliver magnifications in the range of 220x to 312x, which is where planetary observation gets genuinely interesting. The 58-degree apparent field of view is respectable for a short focal length eyepiece, and the 16mm eye relief keeps the experience comfortable rather than forcing you to press your eye uncomfortably close to the lens.
The five-element, three-group optical design with fully multi-coated lenses does solid work controlling chromatic aberration and maintaining contrast, both of which matter a great deal when you are trying to resolve Jupiter's cloud bands or Saturn's Cassini Division. Blackened lens edges and treated internal surfaces help suppress stray light, which is a genuine concern at these focal lengths. One honest note: at very high magnifications, atmospheric seeing conditions become the limiting factor more than the eyepiece itself.
On nights of poor seeing, no short focal length eyepiece will perform well regardless of price. For around $50, this is a capable and well-constructed option for visual planetary work.
At a Glance
3.2mm
Focal Length
Specifications
Key Features
- 3.2mm focal length delivers high magnification suited specifically to planetary and lunar observation
- 58-degree field of view is wider than many competing short focal length eyepieces in this price range
- 16mm eye relief provides comfortable viewing without pressing your eye directly against the lens
- Five-element, three-group fully multi-coated optics control chromatic aberration and maintain image contrast
- Blackened lens edges and treated internal barrel reduce stray light and improve image clarity
- Standard 1.25-inch barrel accepts standard filters, making it easy to add a lunar or planetary filter later
- Rotating barrel and foldable rubber eyecup allow quick adjustments when sharing the eyepiece at a star party
Customer Reviews
211 reviews
I bought this EP on an advertised Clearance over inventory sale for $30 dollars and wow its a keeper, great quality and excellent performance even for its regular price of $60. Yes these are copies of the Original Tomas Black Planetary EP's and there is all kinds of scuttle but going around the inte...
You know how some eyepieces seem to "snap" into focus? And how fun they are to use? Do you have a drawer full of low-grade eyepieces that have a muddy, incoherent focus? False color? Will not allow the usable magnification for your telescope? This Astromania 1.25" 4mm 58-Degree Planetary Eyepiece is...
I'll start with the eyepiece for those who are interested in my thoughts on it. I reassembled the eyepiece after removing it from it's box (see photo) and waited for dark. Given I received an obviously returned item I don't know if it has any defects or not with regards to visuals. Viewing Saturn an...