SV503 80ED Refractor Telescope for Beginner Astronomy

This is a very nice scope, especially for its price point. I've taken some lovely images using this scope. From the start, I've used the focal reducer and found I could never get round stars to the corners; it doesn't give a very flat image. This scope is undoubtedly a good buy and perfect for getting into "serious" astrophotography. **Pros:** - Well built - Allows for very nice images with some post-processing. - The dew shield is retractable, which makes it easier to move around. - It looks really nice! - Sold at an excellent price, especially considering its good quality. - The tube rings are moveable and have a built-in handle. - Many more cool features! Love this unit. **Cons:** - I couldn't get round stars to the corners, but post-processing can overcome this. This is a really nice scope. You can get high-quality images at a relatively budget price. I liked it enough I bought the 70ED as well. I would not hesitate to recommend this scope. Like almost anything in astrophotography, you'll want to upgrade to a more flat field scope at some point.

The SVBony SV503 is a very good small ED refractor at a very attractive price. I purchased it primarily as a "Grab & Go" visual scope, but it appears well suited for astrophotography as well. I've only had the opportunity to use it once so far for viewing the moon. Yes, there was a very slight color fringe on the moon's limb, but it was not disturbing. In general the view and moon detail were excellent. I pushed the magnification to over 100x and there was no breakdown of the image at all - not bad for an 80mm scope. Since the SV503 utilizes an objective doublet with one element made from Ohara FPL-51 ED glass it is not a true apochromatic scope. There is some chromatic aberration (CA) on bright objects, like the moon, but it appears to be minimal. The optical tube assembly (OTA) is very solid and well made with three internal baffles. It has a built-in dew shield that is retractable for easy storage. The focuser is a 2", two-speed fine pitch helical track rack and pinion (R&P) style that can rotate 360 degrees for better framing of photographs or more convenient viewing if mounted on an equatorial mount. My scope arrived with significant backlash in the coarse focuser adjustment. This is not a cheap or bad focuser, however. There are several 1.5mm set screws on the focuser that control the alignment and tension of the focuser mechanism. Although these are not meant to be user adjustable, I found the correct set screw and I was able to slightly tweak it to completely eliminate the backlash. I have another scope with a true Crayford style two-speed focuser and after adjusting the SV503 R&P focuser it is virtually every bit as smooth and free of play or backlash as the Crayford focuser. The R&P focuser helical gearing also eliminates the "creep" that can occur on a Crayford style focuser that has no gears and relies solely on friction to move the focus tube. Overall the fit and finish of this scope is excellent - nothing appears to be "cheap" on this OTA. It has the "feel" of a much more expensive instrument. I deducted one star from this review due to the out of adjustment focuser and the fact that it ships with absolutely no instructions or user manual - in fact no paperwork at all! Some scopes of this class come with a storage case, but at a much higher price. I was able to find a very nice third party case (sold by Amazon) at a good price that suits this scope well. As a Grab & Go scope the SV503 is exactly what I was looking for and I may even try some astrophotography with it. Pros: Excellent price for an 80mm ED scope. Good ED doublet objective lens. Retractable dew shield. Good Helical R&P 2", two speed focuser. Focuser can rotate 360 degrees. Both the 2" focuser and the included 1.25" adapter have compression fittings. Light weight (OTA, tube rings & mounting plate weigh 6.2 lbs). Nice metal lens cap. Good fit & finish. Cons: Some slight CA, but this is not unusual on a short focal length ED doublet design.

Purchased this scope because I figured with the Ohara FPL51 ED optics it should be half way decent but was really surprised with it performance vs price ratio. I owned way too many scopes in the past 30 years but wanted a decent ED refractor with a good built quality and a focuser that would not slip with a big load on the back of it. This scope delivers and the built quality is excellent, it reminds me of the Willian Yang scope I have owned in the past. Focuser is excellent, smooth and precise plus no slippage like some crayford focuser I have owned. The rings are sturdy and I cannot knock anything about this scope. Now for how it works under the stars cause that is were the rubber meets the road and it sure does. Star test is like a two element 102mm objective with an ED element, it has a little bit of color on one side of focus and none on the other side but you can detect concentric diffraction rings that are a perfect circle but at focus there is NO CA, NO FALSE COLOR at all even when looking at the brighter planets and the moon. I have had this scope out on a good steady night and when seeing allows it does stupid higher powers like 275X but I have no other eyepiece/barlow combo that will go higher but the image is still sharp just get slightly dimmer but it takes power well. At F7 its just fast enough to get some really nice views of the brighter DSO's plus does a great job at splitting doubles but it works great on planetary and lunar. Years ago a scope with this type of performance would cost way over a Kilowbuck so this is an excellent value. I also like the fact if there was something wrong with the scope they would either refund your payment or replace the scope, many retailers would leave you out to dry if there were optical issues. Yes I am pleased and I would like to see them come out with a larger ED scope in the future.

I purchased the SVBONY SV503 Telescope in Jan 2024 and have been using it for about 9-10 months now, and it has exceeded my expectations in every way. This telescope is a fantastic choice for both visual observation and astrophotography. Though I have primary used it for astrophotography. Here are some of the pros and cons I’ve experienced: Pros: Exceptional Optics: The 80ED F7 OTA with a 560mm focal length provides stunningly clear and bright images. The 80mm aperture allows for excellent light gathering, making it perfect for both planetary and deep-sky observations1. Compact and Portable: Despite its powerful capabilities, the SV503 is lightweight and easy to transport. This makes it ideal for stargazing trips and quick setups2. High-Quality Build: The telescope is well-constructed with durable materials. The dual hinged mounting rings and Vixen style dovetail make it easy to mount on various EQ or AzAlt mounts2. Versatile Use: Whether you’re a beginner or an experienced astronomer, this telescope is user-friendly and versatile. It’s great for capturing high-resolution images of celestial objects and for general sky watching1. Value for Money: Given its features and performance, the SV503 offers excellent value for its price. It’s a great investment for anyone serious about astronomy3. Cons: Limited Accessories: The telescope doesn’t come with a lot of accessories, so you might need to purchase additional eyepieces or a diagonal separately to get the most out of it4. Manual Focus: While the manual focus is precise, it can take some time to get used to, especially for beginners. An electronic focuser would have been a nice addition5. Overall, the SVBONY SV503 Telescope is a remarkable piece of equipment that delivers exceptional performance for both viewing and astrophotography. I highly recommend it to anyone looking to explore the night sky with clarity and detail

The quality of the optics, focuser, and hardware are better than I would expect for the price. During visual observations of Jupiter and the moon at 143x I was not able to see any color fringing. I bought the 102mm to replace a Takahashi FC-100 I sold long ago and I am very happy with my choice. I am more comfortable with a FPL-51 lens because it is more rugged than a fluorite lens. The tube is light making it easier to mount on a lightweight mount. I use it on a CG4 with a custom wood tripod. I will end up using it more than my AP 155mm FPL-53 doublet and G-11 mount because it is far lighter and easier to set up

Very good product 👌

I have the the 80mm version of this scope. I think for the price it's very good. It's not as good as a triplet but the difference is not big, mainly slight halos on bright stars. It's well built and nice to use. I have the reducer for it as well. It's my go to scope and I really like it.

This 80mm refractor is worth well more than I paid for it! The first time I took it out for a night of observing the sky, the sharp, contrasty views of star clusters and nebulae impressed me and my observing buddies. They spent as much time looking through this scope as through their own, much larger, reflector telescopes. The objective lens gives wonderful views. The "mechanics" of the scope are well-made and put together, including the retractable dew/light shield at the lens end and the rotating focuser assembly at the eyepiece end. Two small quibbles: The main focuser is a bit tight to turn, but another owner tells me it will loosen as I use the fouser. (The fine-focuser worked very well right out of the box!) There was no user manual or documentation include with the telescope. But I found some pages of information and directions, particularly about the focuser, at a Svbony page online. I plan to use this refractor purely for observing, not astro-imaging.

This is an amazing chose for capturing deep space objects. it has a wider field of view so you can capture any surrounding structures you want! has lots of support for ZWO mods too. I'm running a ASI 183 MC pro and haven't noticed anything majorly wrong. overall must get.