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Tele Vue Panoptic 27mm 68° Eyepiece - 2"
The Tele Vue Panoptic 27mm is often described as the "pearl" of the series, offering a sophisticated balance between magnification and true field of view. By utilizing high-index glass in a six-element design, it provides an expansive 68° field that remains sharp and high-contrast across the entire frame. It is the ideal primary low-power eyepiece for a wide variety of telescope types, delivering more "punch" and a darker sky background than 35mm or 40mm alternatives while still capturing large-scale celestial structures.
Balanced Magnification and Field Performance
With a 30.5mm field stop, the 27mm Panoptic serves as a versatile workhorse for scanning the Milky Way or framing mid-sized deep-sky objects like the Orion Nebula (M42). In a standard 8-inch f/10 SCT, it yields 74x magnification and a 0.9° true field, providing a more detailed view than a 40mm Plössl while effectively suppressing light pollution through its smaller exit pupil. The optical correction is specifically tuned to minimize edge-of-field aberrations, ensuring stars remain pinpoint even in faster f/5 instruments.
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Controlled Astigmatism: The Panoptic design excels at maintaining edge sharpness, preventing the "smearing" of stars that often plagues simpler wide-angle eyepieces.
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19mm Eye Relief: This generous distance provides a comfortable viewing experience for most observers, allowing the full field to be seen without strain.
Handling and Ergonomics
Weighing in at just over 1 lb, the 27mm Panoptic offers a substantial feel without being unwieldy, making it easy to balance on smaller mounts. It features a tapered top and a scalloped rubber grip ring for a secure, tactile hold in the dark, even when wearing gloves. The fold-down rubber eyeguard helps block stray peripheral light and provides a stable reference point for eye placement, ensuring a consistent and immersive "spacewalk" experience during long observing sessions.
Operational Comparison and System Fit
The 27mm Panoptic occupies a strategic middle ground in the Tele Vue lineup, balancing exit pupil size against field of view.
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vs. Tele Vue 24mm Panoptic: While the 24mm is a 1.25-inch format favorite, the 2" 27mm Panoptic provides a 13% larger true field of view, making it the superior choice for those committed to a 2-inch accessory train.
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vs. Tele Vue 35mm Panoptic: The 27mm offers higher magnification and a smaller exit pupil (5.4mm vs 7mm in an f/5 system), which provides a darker sky background and more detail on faint clusters in suburban skies.
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Will the Tele Vue Panoptic 27mm work well with my f/5 telescope?
Yes, it is excellent for f/5 systems. It produces a 5.4mm exit pupil, which fits well within the average dark-adapted human eye, ensuring all light collected by the telescope reaches your retina without being wasted.
Can I wear eyeglasses with the Tele Vue Panoptic 27mm?
The 19mm eye relief is sufficient for many eyeglass wearers to see the entire field. However, if you have thick lenses, you may need to fold down the rubber eyeguard or position your eye carefully to avoid vignetting the edges.
Is this eyepiece compatible with Dioptrx?
Yes, the 27mm Panoptic is compatible with Tele Vue Dioptrx astigmatism correctors. This allows you to observe without your glasses while still correcting for your specific eyesight astigmatism.
How does the 27mm Panoptic compare to the 31mm Nagler?
The 31mm Nagler provides a much wider 82° field and a larger field stop, but it is twice as heavy and significantly more expensive. The 27mm Panoptic is a more compact and balance-friendly alternative for most observers.
Will I see a secondary mirror shadow in my Newtonian?
No, with a 5.4mm exit pupil (at f/5) or smaller, the secondary mirror shadow is typically not visible at night. This only becomes a potential issue with much longer focal length eyepieces in very fast telescopes.
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| Model # |
EPO-27.0 |
| Focal Length |
27 mm |
| Barrel Size |
2" |
| Apparent Field of View |
68° |
| Eye Relief |
19 mm |
| Field Stop Diameter |
30.5 mm |
| Weight |
16.4 oz (1.03 lb) |
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27mm Panoptic Eyepiece
× 1
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TeleVue 5-Year Limited Warranty
