Pentax SMC-XW Series 23mm Wide Angle Eyepiece with 85 Degree Field of View

For astrophotography enthusiasts and stargazers seeking an unparalleled celestial viewing experience, the SMC-XW Series 23mm Wide Angle Eyepiece stands out with its expansive 85-degree apparent field of view. This premium eyepiece is part of the renowned SMC-XW Series, celebrated for delivering some of the broadest vistas in its class. With a generous 20mm eye relief, users can enjoy comfortable, full-frame observations of nebulae, star clusters, and other astronomical wonders without the need for constant repositioning. Crafted with precision by Pentax, a leader in optical innovation, this eyepiece is designed to elevate your stargazing sessions.

The high-quality, wide-angle optics are ideal for use with top-tier spotting scopes, offering a versatile range of applications from casual sky watching to serious astrophotography. The SMC-XW Series 23mm eyepiece boasts high-grade optics that include high-refraction, extra-low-dispersion lanthanum glass elements. These specialized components work in harmony to produce impeccably balanced images with minimal chromatic aberration, ensuring that every celestial object is rendered with clarity and sharpness. Pentax's proprietary multi-layer coating technology is applied to all air-to-glass surfaces, enhancing light transmission efficiency to impressive levels - over 90 percent across the visible spectrum, peaking at an astonishing 96 percent at 550nm.

This meticulous coating process ensures that every view through the eyepiece is bright and true to color. To further enhance image quality, Pentax has integrated advanced light-shielding technology within the XW series. Utilizing sophisticated computer simulations, a strategically placed light-shielding diaphragm significantly reduces internal reflections, resulting in images that are brighter and exhibit higher contrast. The SMC-XW Series 23mm Wide Angle Eyepiece is part of a comprehensive lineup, offering a range of focal lengths to suit all viewing preferences. Whether you're engaging in low-magnification sweeps of the Milky Way or high-magnification studies of planetary surfaces, there's an XW eyepiece tailored to your needs.

Durability is also a hallmark of this eyepiece, featuring a weatherproof body that meets JIS Class 4 standards. This robust construction allows for uninterrupted viewing in a variety of conditions, from a light drizzle to the dewy embrace of the night sky. However, it's important to note that while weather-resistant, the XW-series eyepieces are not intended for underwater use. The SMC-XW Series 23mm eyepiece accommodates a range of telescopes with its dual installment diameters, offering both the American-standard 31.7 mm and the larger 50.8 mm (two-inch) versions. Additionally, the removable screw-on eyecup reveals a 43mm diameter screw thread with a 0.75 pitch, providing further versatility for attachment.

In summary, the SMC-XW Series 23mm Wide Angle Eyepiece is a high-quality, durable, and user-friendly choice for anyone passionate about exploring the cosmos. Its innovative design and versatile features make it a standout selection for achieving an immersive and vivid stargazing experience.