159 replies to this topic

[Jon Isaacs]

A reviewer on Amazon measured the actual objective diameter as 52-53mm instead of 60mm. Here's his picture of him measuring it. Does this seem accurate?

 

IMG_0560.jpeg

 

I believe the objective lens is a full 60mm but there is a retaining piece that holds the solar filter in place that reduces the effective aperture so somewhere around 50mm.  

 

I have a Svbony 60mm that Tony Spina gave me that appears to be identical, the dew shields are interchangeable, it measures 60mm.  

 

I am not too concerned... The PST is only 40mm.

 

Jon

[Nautilus]

I removed the tripod from the backpack and our Orion ST80 fits nicely in there with room for accessories.

[Dave Novoselsky]

Gosh, I must have waaay overspent on my Lunt DS 60 H-alpha scope when I could have had this instead

[edsmx5]

Gosh, I must have waaay overspent on my Lunt DS 60 H-alpha scope when I could have had this instead

I doubt that, but tell me: have you tried it?

[Dave Novoselsky]

My Lunt?  Of course!

[edsmx5]

My Lunt? Of course!

Ok, never mind

[Nautilus]

It is a nice little scope for someone who just wants a quick view to see what the sun looks like in real time and to share with others who might want to take a look as well.

Worth the price of admission.... yes sirreee

[Dave Novoselsky]

Ok, never mind

No, I haven’t tried this scope but have no need to as I already have several white light solar options to choose from.  Regardless of the pros and cons of the Svbony, there are a lot of low price options for those who already have a small refractor.

[edsmx5]

No, I haven’t tried this scope but have no need to as I already have several white light solar options to choose from. Regardless of the pros and cons of the Svbony, there are a lot of low price options for those who already have a small refractor.

To be fair Dave, it wasn't aimed at your level of expertise. It was marketed for the eclipse, no doubt, and now they're offing excess stock.
I had never looked at the Sun ( except sunrise/sunset photography) and probably wouldn't have, if not for this little thing.
Is it a Lunt or a PST ? No, of course not, nor do I think it was meant to be. It did show me sunspots, something I'd only seen in pictures before.
Ed

PS- at full price, a solar filter would be better, no doubt. But for 20 bucks?? . . .

[Jon Isaacs]

To be fair Dave, it wasn't aimed at your level of expertise. It was marketed for the eclipse, no doubt, and now they're offing excess stock.
I had never looked at the Sun ( except sunrise/sunset photography) and probably wouldn't have, if not for this little thing.
Is it a Lunt or a PST ? No, of course not, nor do I think it was meant to be. It did show me sunspots, something I'd only seen in pictures before.
Ed

PS- at full price, a solar filter would be better, no doubt. But for 20 bucks?? . . .

 

 

I think it's quite a bargain for $20.. It's a decent white light solar scope and has a very effective solar finder, it would be great if Svbony would market them.  It also has the advantage that the solar filter is built in, one cannot forget it nor can it accidentally fall off.   

 

Jon

[Skywatchr]

 

I think it's quite a bargain for $20.. It's a decent white light solar scope and has a very effective solar finder, it would be great if Svbony would market them.  It also has the advantage that the solar filter is built in, one cannot forget it nor can it accidentally fall off.   

 

Jon

This safety factor is paramount!  It makes it incredibly safe for beginners and the inexperienced.  Which is the general "at large" target for the price.

Plus it can double as a "solar finder" itself on a larger Solar Scope with even a cheapie low magnification eyepiece.  

[Skywatchr]

Some of us purchased ours for $19.95 through Amazon, and it appears they’re still in stock,

 

https://www.amazon.c..._fed_asin_title

 

AngelEyes sells a solar filter mounted in a very nice aluminum cell which looks similar to the filter on the SvBony SV510, but which is different and gives a very much inferior view. Here’s a link:

 

https://www.aliexpre...ler|query_from:

 

The filter mounted in the SV510 is more similar to Baader AstroSolar film in that it’s mounted loosely like the Baader film, and needs to be for maximum resolution. In terms of performance it’s far better than the AngelEyes filter, but not as good as the Baader AstroSolar film. In combination with the scope it’s surprisingly good, and for $19.95 a perfectly acceptable instrument to introduce anyone to solar viewing.

 

The included mount is pretty much unusable as a telescope tripod but might be handy as a portable hat stand?

I just ordered one.  I could use another Hat Stand anyways.

[Nautilus]

You mean, Skywatchr, that you would have to off that wonderful hat you have to put on the tripod/mount?

 

 

Here are two videos on the rascal.

 

https://www.youtube....h?v=PKNxnB1vM_I

https://www.youtube....h?v=BK0jEwR6OBg

[Skywatchr]

You mean, Skywatchr, that you would have to off that wonderful hat you have to put on the tripod/mount?

 

 

Here are two videos on the rascal.

 

https://www.youtube....h?v=PKNxnB1vM_I

https://www.youtube....h?v=BK0jEwR6OBg

Oh I wear several hats depending on what I am doing.   I'll have a handy-dandy place for swapping hats out in the sun too.  

[Skywatchr]

Mine arrived a few days ago.  Pretty nice for a whopping $20 landed.  The diagonal is a mirror diagonal, the focuser all plastic except for the eyepiece holder, which is aluminum. It's not bad with only a little wobble, very tolerable.  The scope tube itself is aluminum.  I verified it by removing a screw that holds the focuser on, and taking an exacto knife to scratch in the hole. Yep, it's shiny under the paint.   The drawtube does have a baffle in it a ways in like many small refractors have had in the past too. The 20mm Kellner eyepiece isn't bad and is pretty lightweight. The solar finder isn't bad being all plastic too, but the curve is for an even smaller diameter tube.  So don't be snugging it down too tight, or it will warp over time. Of course I have been unable to try it out in the Sun. The tripod mount?   It may be useful fully retracted for a small "all sky cam" on a calm night.

[Nautilus]

Well, it finally happened. Amazon doe not have this scope available now.

I wonder if they will restock and at what price.

[edsmx5]

Well, it finally happened. Amazon doe not have this scope available now.
I wonder if they will restock and at what price.

It is on the svbony website, but not at $20. IIRC, more like $60. A month or so ago they were asking for offers; a message couldn't hurt. (I will say, at $20 it's a nice little scope. At a higher price? Well. . .)


https://www.svbony.c...avel-telescope/

Edited by edsmx5, 28 November 2024 - 05:59 PM.

[Nautilus]

and surprisingly at Svbony.com they are providing free shipping with the scope

[Nautilus]

The wife and I had this little mongrel out and the skies were crystal clear.

we used a vixen10mm plossl. There were plenty of large sunspots in view.

[Nautilus]

Since probably 90% of us do not read manuals this might be of interest to you:  Not that you would have it that long or that it would last that long but the scope’s period of obsolescence is 10 years.

Edited by Nautilus, 30 November 2024 - 12:04 PM.

[Highburymark]

For those who have one, it’s worth trying a green filter which can further sharpen the image with an achromat white light scope.

[Polyphemos]

Since probably 90% of us do not read manuals this might be of interest to you:  Not that you would have it that long or that it would last that long but the scope’s period of obsolescence is 10 years.

How does the manual present that, exactly?

 

After 10 years Solar service a minute’s work with a sharp X-Acto blade and you’ve got a handle little lightweight spotter.

[Polyphemos]

For those who have one, it’s worth trying a green filter which can further sharpen the image with an achromat white light scope.

Have you tried it and if so how were the results?

[Skywatchr]

Have you tried it and if so how were the results?

Yes, a green filter can help block some of the atmospheric light scatter by blocking wavelengths in that range.  The Baader filters are slightly better controlling tighter bandwidth ranges, and are visually green as well..

[Nautilus]

Has anyone tried a higher magnification with this scope beyond the eyepiece that was provided?

We used a 10mm plossl (40X) and the view was fine.