Harry Siebert Optics Standard 3.4mm

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Brand and Model:Harry Siebert Optics Standard 3.4mm
Price ($USD):$89.00
Type:Misc Wide Angle
Focal Length:3.4 mm
Barrel Size:1.25 in
Apparent FOV:65.0 degrees
Field Stop Dia.:0.0 mm
Eye Relief:7 mm
Elements:5
Weight (lbs):0.0
Description:

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Harry Siebert Optics Standard 3.4mm
I have a Discovery EQ 8 inch reflector that is an F/5, which I like very much. After much research trying out different eyepieces I decided to purchase an entire line on Siebert Eyepieces as I felt that they would give me the most for my eyepiece dollar. I have the 3.4mm, 4.9mm, 7mm, and 10mm 1.25” standard series; the 15mm, 21mm 1.25” Premium deep sky series; and the 32 Ultra Plus 2” eyepiece. Harry has been a pleasure to deal with and in the many times that I have spoken with him he has given me excellent advice as to which eyepieces would benefit me the most given my telescope and what I like to observe. He truly took the time to tailor my eyepiece selections to me and I don’t think that you can get that service easily anywhere else.

3.4mm review --> 300x, objects stay for a long time in the field of view because of the wide angle, and the eyepiece glass is enormous. Excellent clarity and detail. Just a great easy to use and easy to enjoy high power eyepiece that makes high power observation a pleasure instead of a peephole chore. Opened up a whole new level of useable magnification for me. I cannot stress enough how much the wide glass and wide field makes high power viewing so much more enjoyable.

Overall Rating: 10
Optics:10 Value:10
Weight: 10 (Trustworthy Vote)
Date:
By:
Link to this vote: http://www.excelsis.com/1.0/displayvote.php?voteid=111479

Harry Siebert Optics Standard 3.4mm
[webmaster note: vote moved from description]

I've been using this EP for about a month and can't rate it highly enough. The views of both Jupiter and Saturn, when the viewing conditions permit, have been truly amazing. The Cassini, as I keep telling everyone, looks like it's been drawn in with pencil. When I took my scope down to an obversation evening the more experienced observers were quite simply stunned by the views on offer. I haven't got anything to compare this EP against except using a 6.3mm Plossl with a Barlow which is not a fair contest with the Siebert 3.4mm. It's difficult to find anything negative about this EP, as the eye relief is more than adequate. I haven't considered the issues of off-axis aberrations and FOV as neither of these are of interest to me in an EP I'm only going to use for planetary work. Anyway votes are as follows:

VFM: 10+
Optics: 10
Overall: 10+

Regards

Dave Bendell.

Overall Rating: 10
Optics:10 Value:10
Weight: 10 (Trustworthy Vote)
Date:
By:
Link to this vote: http://www.excelsis.com/1.0/displayvote.php?voteid=83572

Harry Siebert Optics Standard 3.4mm
I have only used this eyepiece during one session with an Orion 8" f/4. The seeing was acceptably good, but not absolutely stable. Transparency was at mag. 5. The eyepiece provided an astonishingly excellent view of the trapezium in Orion, with lots of brilliant and detailed nebular context. It also performed well on Saturn, showing the Cassini division, even though the skies weren't perfectly stable. Sharpness was excellent at the edge, and the field was flat. Color was brilliant, due to a minimal number of high quality elements. The wide field of view is helpful for keeping things in view at higher magnifications. My only complaint is the 7mm eye relief, which is not too bad -- but I would prefer a bit more relief.

Here's an update for July 17, 2003: Living in the wet East, we get very few opportunities for viewing anything other than clouds! Nevertheless, there are a few days when the humidity is below 50% and the sky is calm. Such was Thursday 7/17/03, and I went onto the Blue Ridge Parkway to continue my Messier list. I saw ten globulars in all before the moon and Mars took over. Because I refuse to cheat with go-to systems I could only find ten! (Ha... at least I KNOW where these things are.) The viewing was so-so, and I found things with my 22mm Lanthanum SWA in my Orion 8" f4 Newtonian.

Usually the best view was NOT from my 22, or even my 8 SWA, but from my 3.4mm Siebert. This eyepiece excelled because the skies were under a high pressure dome, but primarily because the light pollution from my city was negated by the increasing contrast brought about by higher magnifications. This eyepiece is extremely contrasty and sharp, and the color is perfect. I am getting used to that 7mm eye relief as the only imperfection. I like the 65 degrees field of view. There were several globulars that showed no stars at all (even with a good 6mm) until I used Harry's 3.4. Then out popped stars and incredible detail. Looking at M5 was a semi-religious experience.

Then it was time for Mars and the moon: Mars isn't too large in my f4 scope, even with a 3.4. Nevertheless, even though Mars was only about 15 degrees above the horizon, the 3.4 clearly showed the southern ice cap AND significant (tiny) detail on the planet! Then I looked at the Moon and saw the finest view I ever have.

All this for way less than a hundred bucks!

Overall Rating: 10
Optics:10 Value:10
Weight: 5 (Veritable Vote)
Date:
By:
Link to this vote: http://www.excelsis.com/1.0/displayvote.php?voteid=211196

Harry Siebert Optics Standard 3.4mm
I am very impressed with this EP.Great separation on the Double-Double very good light throughput the stars were Bright and sharp.Was able to see the 13.2 mag. star on the edge of the Ring Neb.for the first time.Using 8in Dob F-6 1220 FL.This EP gives me 359x on my scope.The 65*FOV is sharp to the edge.Great buy for $89.00

Overall Rating: 10
Optics:10 Value:10
Weight: 3 (Unreliable Vote)
Date:
By:
Link to this vote: http://www.excelsis.com/1.0/displayvote.php?voteid=127248

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