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Tele Vue DeLite 3mm 62° Eyepiece - 1.25"
The Tele Vue DeLite 3mm 62° Eyepiece is an ultra-short focal length optic engineered for maximum magnification in telescopes with short to medium focal lengths. It maintains the 20mm eye relief consistent across the series, specifically addressing the ergonomics and eye placement difficulties typically found in 3mm wide-angle designs. By utilizing a 62° apparent field, the eyepiece minimizes spherical aberration of the exit pupil (SAEP), facilitating stable on-axis viewing of high-contrast planetary features.
20mm Eye Relief and Mechanical Alignment
The 20mm eye relief is a critical mechanical constraint that allows for a full field of view while wearing eyeglasses, a rarity in the sub-5mm focal length class. The sliding eyeguard system locks into position to provide a physical reference for the eye, reducing the sensitivity to side-to-side head movement that can cause blackouts at small exit pupils.
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Dioptrx Integration: The top housing accepts the Tele Vue Dioptrx corrector, enabling observers to correct for eyesight astigmatism directly within the optical train.
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Compact Mass: At 7.8 ounces, the 3mm DeLite prevents the balance issues common when using larger, multi-element ultra-wide eyepieces on lightweight refractor mounts.
Extreme Magnification and Exit Pupil Constraints
In an f/7 apochromatic refractor, the 3mm focal length yields a 0.43mm exit pupil, providing high-power views for splitting tight double stars or observing small planetary nebulae. In an f/10 Schmidt-Cassegrain (SCT), it produces 666× magnification and a 0.3mm exit pupil, which typically exceeds atmospheric seeing limits but remains a viable tool for diffraction-limited testing in superior conditions.
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Small Exit Pupil Behavior: Observers may notice eye floaters more prominently due to the 0.6mm or smaller exit pupil produced in telescopes faster than f/5.
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Parfocality: This 3mm model is parfocal with Group B Tele Vue 1.25" eyepieces, including the Plössl and Panoptic series.
Operational Comparison
The Tele Vue DeLite 3mm serves as a high-resolution specialist compared to wider-field or zoom-based alternatives.
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vs. Tele Vue 3-6mm Nagler Zoom: The DeLite 3mm offers a wider 62° field (compared to 50°) and twice the eye relief (20mm vs 10mm), though it lacks the focal length flexibility of the zoom.
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vs. 3.5mm Delos: The DeLite is significantly smaller and lighter, making it preferable for travel or binoviewing, while the Delos provides a wider 72° field.
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Is the Tele Vue DeLite 3mm suitable for planetary viewing?
The Tele Vue DeLite 3mm is designed for very high magnification on planets, though its performance depends on atmospheric seeing; it produces a 0.6mm exit pupil in an f/5 system, which is ideal for resolving fine planetary bands on Jupiter.
Does the Tele Vue DeLite 3mm work with Dioptrx?
The Tele Vue DeLite 3mm is fully compatible with the Dioptrx astigmatism corrector, which replaces the need for eyeglasses by attaching directly to the eyepiece housing.
Is eye placement sensitive on the Tele Vue DeLite 3mm?
Due to the small exit pupil, eye placement is more critical than with longer focal lengths; however, the Tele Vue DeLite 3mm uses an adjustable, locking eyeguard to help the observer maintain the correct distance and alignment.
How does the Tele Vue DeLite 3mm compare to a Barlowed eyepiece?
While a longer DeLite paired with a Tele Vue Barlow can achieve similar magnifications, the Tele Vue DeLite 3mm is a dedicated single-eyepiece solution that reduces the number of air-to-glass surfaces and minimizes the weight of the focuser assembly.
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| Focal Length |
3 mm |
| Apparent Field of View |
62° |
| Eye Relief |
20 mm |
| Field Stop Diameter |
3.2 mm |
| Barrel Size |
1.25" |
| Weight |
7.8 oz (221 g) |
| Parfocal |
Group B |
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TeleVue 5-Year Limited Warranty for Telescopes and Accessories
