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SVBony zooms ... which is better optically?

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#1 sw196060

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Posted 12 March 2025 - 08:24 AM

I am planning on a basic zoom eyepiece  ... either 7-21mm range or 8-24mm.

SVBony has a few models which have me confused

 

SV191:   7.2 - 21.6mm

SV171:   8 - 24mm

SV135:   7 - 21mm    (6lenses, 4 groups)

 

Considering sharpness and contrast, are they equivalent?  Which is best?

 

There is also the standby Celestron 8-24mm zoom as well.

 

Thx


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#2 Polyphemos

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Posted 12 March 2025 - 09:43 AM

Have a look in Astro-talks

 

https://astro--talks...&_x_tr_sch=http

 

https://astro--talks...&_x_tr_sch=http

 

The SV135 7 - 21mm (6lenses, 4 groups)    IS recommended 

 

The SV191 7.2 - 21.6mm    is NOT recommended 

 

No review for the SV171


Edited by Polyphemos, 12 March 2025 - 09:54 AM.

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#3 scopewizard

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Posted 12 March 2025 - 10:14 AM

I have the SV191, more eye relief 18-20mm vs 15mm for SV135, wider field of view, SV191 42°- 65°, the best of 3 types x SV135 40°- 60° less on other 2.

The eyepiece was a little stiff to rotate initially but got easier over time.

I find it quite sharp. I use it on my solar scope.


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#4 sevenofnine

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Posted 12 March 2025 - 11:32 AM

Note that there are two SVB 7-21mm zooms available. The older 6 element and newer 7 element. The six gets the most positive C/N forum reviews but that may just be because it's older and more of them are out there IDK. I have the 6 element and other than quite narrow at 21mm, the view widens considerably as you zoom to 7mm. From 12mm to 7mm is it's sweet spot. Overall, it seems well made and an excellent value in a low cost eyepiece. Good luck! borg.gif

 

https://www.amazon.c...07Z64NK65&psc=1.


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#5 Look at the sky 101

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Posted 12 March 2025 - 11:37 AM

What is the purpose here?
For planets, moons, or solar .



#6 scopewizard

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Posted 12 March 2025 - 11:39 AM

Note that there are two SVB 7-21mm zooms available. The older 6 element and newer 7 element. The six gets the most positive C/N forum reviews but that may just be because it's older and more of them are out there IDK. I have the 6 element and other than quite narrow at 21mm, the view widens considerably as you zoom to 7mm. From 12mm to 7mm is it's sweet spot. Overall, it seems well made and an excellent value in a low cost eyepiece. Good luck! borg.gif

 

https://www.amazon.c...07Z64NK65&psc=1.

The older SV191 is not available anymore, see their website.

 

I have the newer 7 elements.


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#7 sevenofnine

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Posted 12 March 2025 - 11:55 AM

Another note wink.gif  The Amazon link shows the 6 element "In Stock" for how long...IDK waytogo.gif



#8 scopewizard

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Posted 12 March 2025 - 12:31 PM

Another note wink.gif  The Amazon link shows the 6 element "In Stock" for how long...IDK waytogo.gif

Your link is for the SV135 not the old SV191



#9 sevenofnine

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Posted 12 March 2025 - 08:15 PM

Just to be clear, there are two versions of the SVB 7-21 zoom. The latest is a 7 element and the older is a 6 element. Both are SV 135 with a range of 7-21mm. The SV 191 is a different zoom with a range from 7.2-21.6mm. Good luck with your choice! wink.gif

 

https://www.amazon.c...368&sr=8-2&th=1.


Edited by sevenofnine, 12 March 2025 - 08:18 PM.


#10 rfcooley

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Posted 12 March 2025 - 10:06 PM

One of the problems is that SVbony  has 3 SV135. Why they do this I don't know. I have SV135 40-57, this is the one Ernst reviewed. I do not have the other 2 SV135. I do however have all of the other zooms that SVBony markets. 3-8. 10-30, 9-27, 7-21, 8-24 super zoom. I like them very much especially for the price point.  What I have found is that some of the eps work better in different OTA than in others. I am not sure of the correlation of why. I am in the process of investigating this funny phenomenon. It is funny because at this point it seems inconsistent, that is why I am embarking on the project. I say inconsistent because I have confused  which ones seem to do it in which OTAs. The reason this occurred to me was that the other night I picked up one of my zooms and put it into the diagonal and it didn't look right. It seemed to be a little bit softer than I remember it looking. I put in another of my SVbony zooms in and it looked good. I stuck the ep in question into the diagonal of another members OTA, which was a different aperture and optical design and it looked good.

 

I primarily use the zooms for outreach, getting an idea of sky conditions and for my grab and go.set ups for their convenience.  The 3-8 and 7-21 (40-57) I think are the best of the line. I just received the 8-24 Super Zoom and have not taken it out for first light. If this phenomenon is actually something with different OTAs than it is the first fault I have found with the SVbony line of zooms. I am sure there are some that can pick them apart. But,  on the whole I find their products pretty good  and in some cases fantastic. I sat on the fence for a quite awhile about the $300 they want for the 8-24 Super Zoom.  I hope that I am not disappointed it would the first time for a SVbony product.

 

Never Lose the Wonder,

 

RF


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#11 areyoukiddingme

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Posted 12 March 2025 - 10:58 PM

Interesting, I hadn't noticed that they have an 8-20 superzoom. Hopefully you can drop a review . . . 



#12 SeattleScott

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Posted 13 March 2025 - 01:52 AM

Interesting, I hadn't noticed that they have an 8-20 superzoom. Hopefully you can drop a review . . .

There was a thread about it with reviews from early adopters. I got the impression it has its faults, but it has its strengths too, and might be a fair value at $300.

#13 spongebob@55

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Posted 13 March 2025 - 10:35 AM

I love my 7-21.  Was using a few nights ago and I couldn't believe how sharp it was in comparison to my fixed EPs.  A bit tight on effective eye relief  for glasses wearers jic that's important to you.

Bob



#14 DRodrigues

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Posted 13 March 2025 - 12:46 PM

Interesting, I hadn't noticed that they have an 8-20 superzoom. Hopefully you can drop a review . . . 

Is available already...

Is a good deal if you purchase it where the price isn't inflated!


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#15 areyoukiddingme

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Posted 13 March 2025 - 12:46 PM

There was a thread about it with reviews from early adopters. I got the impression it has its faults, but it has its strengths too, and might be a fair value at $300.

 

I found that thread last night. Not sure how I missed that one . . . sounds like it is possibly aping the Leica with an aspheric element and apparent field. That's a good development. The machine marks found by Crazy Panda were a little surprising.



#16 LDW47

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Posted 13 March 2025 - 01:34 PM

I really like the Svbony 30-10 for my WL and Ha scopes.



#17 LDW47

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Posted 13 March 2025 - 01:39 PM

I am planning on a basic zoom eyepiece  ... either 7-21mm range or 8-24mm.

SVBony has a few models which have me confused

 

SV191:   7.2 - 21.6mm

SV171:   8 - 24mm

SV135:   7 - 21mm    (6lenses, 4 groups)

 

Considering sharpness and contrast, are they equivalent?  Which is best?

 

There is also the standby Celestron 8-24mm zoom as well.

 

Thx

I have owned a half dozen or more zooms of various brands incl. the Baader. I like the Sv191, I believe the fov is greater than the SV135 and almost equivalent to the Baader which I sold after I compared it to the 191.


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#18 LDW47

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Posted 13 March 2025 - 01:42 PM

I have the SV191, more eye relief 18-20mm vs 15mm for SV135, wider field of view, SV191 42°- 65°, the best of 3 types x SV135 40°- 60° less on other 2.

The eyepiece was a little stiff to rotate initially but got easier over time.

I find it quite sharp. I use it on my solar scope.

Well said, I agree completely about the 191 except I like the 30-10 for solar.



#19 geekay

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Posted 19 March 2025 - 11:51 PM

Note that there are two SVB 7-21mm zooms available. The older 6 element and newer 7 element. The six gets the most positive C/N forum reviews but that may just be because it's older and more of them are out there IDK. I have the 6 element and other than quite narrow at 21mm, the view widens considerably as you zoom to 7mm. From 12mm to 7mm is it's sweet spot. Overall, it seems well made and an excellent value in a low cost eyepiece. Good luck! borg.gif

Is there an easy way to differentiate between the two?



#20 bblazer

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Posted 20 March 2025 - 12:20 AM

I have both of the svbony zoom eyepieces and I prefer the 191 over the 135.



#21 Ernest_SPB

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Posted 20 March 2025 - 01:43 AM

I am planning on a basic zoom eyepiece  ... either 7-21mm range or 8-24mm.

SVBony has a few models which have me confused

 

SV191:   7.2 - 21.6mm

SV171:   8 - 24mm

SV135:   7 - 21mm    (6lenses, 4 groups)

 

Considering sharpness and contrast, are they equivalent?  Which is best?

 

There is also the standby Celestron 8-24mm zoom as well.

 

Thx

SV135 is better in respect to control over field aberrations. 

SV191 has a bit more AFOV and exit pupil distance.



#22 LDW47

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Posted 20 March 2025 - 08:57 AM

SV135 is better in respect to control over field aberrations. 

SV191 has a bit more AFOV and exit pupil distance.

I'll take the 191, every time, I have both but the 135 is no slouch either. Especially vs the price comparison with the Baader which I also had and sold. Unless you are maybe a full time zoom user, the Svbonys are more than sufficent especially when you can buy almost 3 for the price of the Baader, eh.




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