Can a 4” ED be everything you need?

[@bierrollerful]

The evolution of star-gazers: 'A 10" dob is all you need!' 'A 10" dob and a 4" ED is all you need!' 'A 10" dob, a 4" ED and a 2" f/4.9 APO is all you need!'

[@MrCornweda]

Funny but true.

[@amp2amp800]

but FIRST a pair of 11x80 binoculars!

[@moappelbaum9396]

What is APO

[@marcstergeorge7065]

@@moappelbaum9396stands for “apochromatic” and refers to refractors that use lenses that produce no (or virtually no) chromatic abberation

[@AndyUkLeic]

I have the svbony 503 80ED and the sv550 122mm ( partly purchased after watching your review your). I started astrophotography seriously at the end of last year. I'm a real fan of the Svbony brand and really do think this scope will make your astrophotography a real joy. I'm looking forward to following your journey Andy

[@batfirewaf123]

Well I was impressed with your presentation. I have been a Celestron SCT owner since 1976, from the 8" (easy to take out for viewing ) up to the SCT 11" in my observatory. I have also a AR 102 from high point scientific which has been a great scope. Its the one I'm thinking of replacing but upon checking out the Svbony site I ran across the 122mm ED. Now I'm looking maybe to replace the 102mm with the 122mm giving me extra light gathering capability. I actually have never heard of the Svbony until I watched your video. Its constructed is much like my AR102 but with better optics in ED vs Apo. Thanks for the great video, looks like my pocket book will be a few dollars lighter now.......lol Keep up the great videos.

[@allancopland1768]

I bought the SV503 80 and I'm very happy with it's performance and build quality.

[@mikesimpson7007]

Really nice video. I also had a mc102 as my scope of choice for a few years and eventually reluctantly upgraded. It's still my main recommendation for new astronomers. I would love a 100mm ED. Some of the reports of SvBony quality control put me off them for big purchases though, I'm sure some are excellent but maybe not all of them.

[@edf2953]

Glad to hear that you are enjoying your new SVBony telescope. Sounds like you made an excellent choice. Great video. Very informative and interesting. Thanks for sharing. Looking forward to future productions.

[@toodvanbeekster2461]

This is my 2nd scope. Svbony SV503 102ED is a bit of an unknown at small star parties. Nevertheless, the performance for visual astronomy has been great. I'm under Bortle 8 skies, so even my C6 has contrast issues . Yet, the Svbony, under full magnification 200x (using your favorite Baader Zoom and barlow set) at Jupiter and Saturn worked very well. The only problem I had with the scope, was my TV31T5 and my slight near-sightedness. The focuser need to be pushed in all the way, but I still could not focus. I bought a Svbony 2" diagonal, and trimmed of 2.1 mm from it's edge (machine shop) . It works, wonderfully now. My TVN22 and higher mag eyepieces work great without modification. Many seasoned guys enjoyed the views from the scope, doing a bit better than a 14" Meade! (under Bortle 8). A great review, but I already knew all of this ;)

[@BogdanDamian]

@toodvanbeekster2461 Thanks for your input! I'm glad to read that your experience with the SV503 is in line with mine. I didn't know about the focussing issues with the TV31T5, that's good to know. It might help others with the same setup. It's also very interesting to see that it works better than the 14" Meade under Bortle 8 skies.

[@limebulls]

Your still satisfied? I’m thinking of buying the 102ED instead of a 203/800 GSO 8“ f4 Newton as first scope. I live under 8“ skys as well. What do you recommend? Is the quality difference of 8“ newton and 102ED under bortle 8 worth the portability trade off?

[@limebulls]

@@BogdanDamianwould love to hear your opinion as well!

[@k.h.1587]

​@@BogdanDamianthe 14" scope underperfoming to a 4" scope was likely due to poor seeing rather than light pollution, and the target was likely a planet. Point them both at a globular cluster or planetary nebula under any conditions and the game changes

[@elongatedmust1951]

I just ordered it and hoping my sky adventurer 2i can carry it. Else I will have to wait a bit to get a suitable EQ tracking mount for astrophotography.

[@mikemuha7537]

Thanks for all your input. I ordered the SV550 122mm mostly based on your reviews of these scopes. I also have a Meade 12" ACF.

[@BogdanDamian]

@mikemuha7537 That's great! Let me know how you like the new telescope and how it compares to the ACF.

[@AmatureAstronomer]

I recently purchased a 6 pound Bresser 102mm refractor with a 460mm focal length, giving a f4.6. I did consider the SV503 102mm and the Sky Watcher 102mm. All are good choices.

[@BogdanDamian]

@AmateureAstronomer Congrats on the new telescope! I'm sure that's a great telescope as well. Clear skies!

[@rickdurham264]

Have you tried out the Bresser refractor yet?? I think I was chatting to you about it on my channel....

[@BogdanDamian]

@rickdurham264 No, it wasn't me and I haven't had the chance to test the Bresser refractor yet. But I did put it on the list of telescopes to review.

[@AmatureAstronomer]

@@rickdurham264 asked about the Bresser. Yes, I took it out last night for the second time. Weather has been cloudy and I have not been out much. The tube Bresser sent me was missing the screws to hold the spotting scope in the holder. Okay, because I always use a 90 degree angle spotting scope due to bad back and knees. The spotting scope holder was held by two screws which did not line up with my universal dove tail base, but I did find two holes in the optical tube I could use, though I had to shim one side to properly align my spotting scope. Turns out I really didn't need the 9x50 spotting scope, because with 2" 25mm eyepiece I had just about the same field of view with the optical tube as with the spotting scope. Very broad. The dispersion glass (FPL 51?) helped with the achromatic aberration, but the focal length is so short that a tiny bit appeared on Jupiter. None on Saturn or dimmer objects, so I did not have had to use my Baader Planetarium Yellow 495nm Long-Pass Filter, which removes the purple fringe and leaves a yellow cast that you have to remove in post, if photographing. Was very pleased with the quality of the lens, with nice pinpoint stars. Looked at Jupiter and Saturn. A 10mm eyepiece and a x5 Barlow lens brought the magnification to x230, a bit over the x204 recommended, but no distortion or blurriness. Could see the bands on Jupiter and the rings on Saturn clearly. But, this scope was designed for broad views and planetary close ups not possible. M92 and M34 were party obscured by clouds and could only see a few stars in each. Did reaffirm my distrust of small aperture refractors. Should I grow stronger, I will buy a nice 8" Newtonian to grasp more light. I would recommend scope to any who want a very broad field view at low magnification and the cheapest 102mm almost semi ED APO 6 pound scope on the market. Hope this helps.

[@zevapini6485]

​@@AmatureAstronomer I bought this exact OTA a month ago and I totally agree. I tried planetary photography and the results surprised me a lot. I had to use a Barlow which increased the back focus beyond the available focuser travel but with some creativity I was able to take some beautiful images

[@3dfxvoodoocards6]

I owned a 102/1000 mm F10 Bresser achromat for some time, now I purchased the Svbony 102mm ED FPL51 and its significaltly better with a lot less chromatic aberrations. I like this refractor a lot, especially because it's sold for an excellent price of just 460$ now.

[@oninoyakamo]

If you subtract the area of the secondary from the area of the primary, the SkyMax 102 performs like 97.1mm of clear aperture, but if you factor in the light loss from the 94% transmission of the primary and secondary, it probably performs closer to 85.8mm of clear aperture or 84% of the SV503. Easily enough of a difference for you to prefer the refractor!

[@billducas]

I agree. But there is also some light loss going through a refractor. I also have the Starmax 102 and an Explore Scientific AR02 refractor, in which the slight CA is acceptable for visual use on planets and is not an issue with deep sky. I rarely view the moon, so CA is not much of an issue. Using Televue or Explorer Scientific eyepieces, both give excellent views from my backyard and at our clubs dark site. The refractor does give a wider FOV due to the shorter focal length with minimal CA. I like both telescopes.

[@oninoyakamo]

@@billducas I didn't include the light loss from the refractor or the meniscus on the Mak as I couldn't find values on either. I'd expect they'd be similar though

[@stevenlarkin1706]

Best way to solve obstruction loss in a catadioptric scope is to go with an oversized mirror and get a full 4” of aperature.

[@MrCornweda]

Thanks for the review. I own a NexStar 8SE SCT, Explorer Scientific AR102 achromatic refractor and the SVBony SA401 85mm APO spotting scope with 1.25 inch eyepiece adapter. I was very surprised by the views I had of Saturn and Jupiter I had with a cheap 2.5mm planetary eyepiece I had with the spotting scope. I was pushing the spotting scope to its limits and using such a short focal length eyepiece on a fast scope would normally give very bad views. The spotting scope easily beat the AR102 refractor. I even tried collimating the diagonal and objective lens to try to improve sharpness in the AR102. This helped a little bit, but the spotting scope still was sharper. ED/APO refractors can really outperform their size. The average atmospheric seeing normally is worse than all three scopes can actually achieve.

[@MountainFisher]

Try a yellow/green filter to get rid of blue fringe on that AR refractor. I had the 1000mm focal length one and it wasn't bad, but still needed a light yellow for bright objects. My son bought me a 102 triplet and I sold the AR asap.

[@BogdanDamian]

@MrCornweda That is very interesting! Now I have to give the SA401 a try.

[@MrCornweda]

@@BogdanDamian The SA401 is a good grab and go all purpose scope. It is rugged, waterproof and very portable. It's main disadvantage is you can't use wide field of view 2 inch eyepieces. The second problem is for astronomical viewing it has a 45 degree angle. This makes it harder to align on the object. You also need to be positioned seated or use a telescopic tripod for easy viewing. I normally just sit on the terrace on top of my building for stable views and comfortable head position. To find the target I use the widest field of view eyepiece I have then quickly switch eyepieces once I found the target. It is as fast as aligning my AR102 this way. I will never take out my SCT without first checking the seeing conditions with my spotting scope first.

[@stefanfeichtenbock6949]

As always, very nice and precise review of this scope. I also think, that the general build quality of Svbony is a feature, that seperates this brand from the "big players" like Skywatcher, Bresser, etc. They do not skimp on features and material when setting up a new scope. The SV503 telescopes are awesome for this price-range. And especially the 102mm is the best choice for both visually observing and astrophotography. Looking forward to yor next video 👍 Regards!

[@vampolascott36]

Congrats! It's a beautiful instrument. I found that the Takahashi 4mm TOE eyepiece is perfect for planetary observing with a 4" apo refractor. I could see more detail with it.

[@BogdanDamian]

@vampolascott36 Thank you! I'll have to try out the 4mm Tak then. It sounds like it's a very good eyepiece.

[@Antares1982]

A Dark Sky is all i need! I have a 80mm ED and a 8 inch Dob. The Dob doesnt showed me more under my bad Sky...

[@MountainFisher]

My son bought me an Explore Scientific Carbon Fiber 102 f7 triplet. My triplet had zero fringe even when I cranked up the power to 223x using a Tele Vue Plossl and an apo 2.5x Luminos Barlow under Bortle 2 and good seeing conditions after a rain had cleared the dust out so we could get a good view of Scorpius which is getting lower in the sky in September. Looking at the daytime waxing Moon with a polarizing filter at 50% light transmission I thought was good, but a Moon and Skyglow filter was even better. I also highly recommend getting a good UHC filter, although expensive I bought the Lumicon UHC filter. No OIII or Ha filters just the UHC makes nebulas really stand out and cuts down light pollution when I don't feel like driving out of town. OIII and Ha filters are more for photography than viewing especially with only a 102mm aperture. Try a #11 yellow/green filter for an achromat, it is helpful with blue fringe, cheaper than a Baader Apo filter.

[@BogdanDamian]

@MountainFisher That 102 ES triplet seems to be an excellent instrument. Glad you are enjoying it so much. I have an UHC filter from astronomik that I still have to test in combination with the sv503. I'm curious how it will perform on some DSOs. Clear skies!

[@dwightandersen8053]

Thank you for your videos. I love your channel and find your videos wonderfully informative and to the point! Keep up the great work.

[@k-d-n]

I have the 503 102 for over a year now, and I love it. I also have newtonians and SCT's but the SV503 have become my primary telescope. I use it for astrophotography only. I can recommend using a MONO camera and HA, S2 and O3 filters. You will be amazed with the results. Best thing is the SV503 is very easy to maintain. No calibration or corrections. Just point and capture, and explorer the universe.

[@k-d-n]

Oh, almost forgot. The SVbony Field Flattener is amazing. You will need it to make deep sky photos of big nebulas.

[@mikemuha7537]

What HA filters/etelon do you have for it?

[@BogdanDamian]

@k-d-n This sounds great! Thanks for your feedback. I have an o3 filter and the flattener on my shopping list and will be ordering them soon. As for the camera I just got a decent one for planets and will be trying it out soon. What guiding software do you use?

[@k-d-n]

@@mikemuha7537 I am using the Astronomik H-alpha 6nm Filter. The O3 and S2 I've got from svbony.

[@k-d-n]

@@BogdanDamian The HA filter will give you the most data, but you really need all 3 filters for narrowband imaging. I am using a Celestron Advanced VX mount, so I am using the Celestron CPWI software for telescope control. I use PHD2 for tracking and ASI studio for image capturing.

[@jonwilliams23]

Great video, helped to make up my mind on buying this scope!

[@3dfxvoodoocards6]

Now Svbony sells the 102/714 mm 503 ED with just 499$, which is a fantastic price since all other companies sell this model with 750-800$

[@MrVintageValues]

Where?

[@dgdave2673]

Agree and they are a great value !

[@elongatedmust1951]

AliExpress, the price is about 465USD today

[@3dfxvoodoocards6]

How big is the difference in image quality, sharpness, resolution between the 90/900 mm EvoStar achromat and the SvBony 102/714 mm for visual observations? I have a Bresser achromat 102/1000 mm but I noticed that on Ali Express the SvBony 102/714 FPL-51 is sold at an excellent price of 550 - 650 euro without mount and I wonder if it makes sense to buy it or if the difference isn’t that big compared to my achromat, maybe I should skip the 102/714 mm and look for the bigger 122 mm SvBony version? What is your opinion? I use it for visual observations only. Thank you!

[@BogdanDamian]

@3dfxvoodoocards6 In terms of resolution both telescopes (your Bresser 102 and SV503) deliver similar results because of the identical aperture. Compared to the Evostar 90, the SV503 offers a slightly better resolution. The improvements if upgrading to the SV503 are going to be better contrast and brightness and a better corrected image. This means that there will be less chromatic aberrations visible. If you already own a 102mm achromat, than it's not worth getting the SV503 in my opinion. The difference in image quality won't be that big. Better look for a 5" refractor as an upgrade. Hope this helps.

[@3dfxvoodoocards6]

​@@BogdanDamian Thank you a lot :)

[@BenediktM.Kramer-Rouette]

Hello Bogdan, thanks for the great review, not least of your report I finally decided to buy the 503 ED102 and I am very impressed by the built of this telescope. There is one question I would like to ask you and hope you might be able to answer it: can I use a 2" zenith prism with it or will I face back focus problems? Looking forward for your next video!!!

[@BogdanDamian]

@user-qe5xh5ne2x Hi! Congrats on the new telescope! Glad you are enjoying it. I haven't tried it out with a 2" diagonal yet so I don't know for sure if you will run into focus problems, but I honestly don't think that you will. The light path might be a couple of cm longer than with a 1.25" diagonal and that should be well within the limit for the back focus.

[@limebulls]

Your still satisfied? I’m thinking of buying the 102ED instead of a 203/800 GSO 8“ f4 Newton as first scope. I live under 8“ skys. What do you recommend? Is the quality difference of 8“ newton and 102ED under bortle 8 worth the portability trade off? (80% Visual, would like to tinker around with Astrophotography only)

[@BogdanDamian]

@limebulls Yes, I'm still enjoy the 102ED very much and I would pick it over the f/4 reflector. The reason being the very fast focal ratio of the GSO. It will be very demanding on the eyepieces. You would need some premium ones. The 8" of aperture would however be very good in Bortle 8 skies. If you have access to an f/6 or even an f/5 8" reflector, than get that one over the 102ED. It will be better for your skies.

[@MrLink-dk7yn]

Hello, have you tried it with 2 inch eyepieces? How’s the field curvature (visually)?

[@M0unta1n777]

Great review! Do you it is worth paying almost triple the price for the SV550 instead of this? Obviously the 550 has better optics but it's also a lot heavier thus requires a better mount for proper tracking (which means $$$ for a better mount).

[@BogdanDamian]

@M0unta1n777 It depends on what you want to do with the telescope. If your focus is on serious astrophotography than the SV550 122mm + mount is worth the money. For visual observations and casual astrophotography I would go with the SV503 102mm.

[@M0unta1n777]

​@@BogdanDamian Thanks! After having the infamous Celestron Astromaster 114EQ for 8 years I'm itching for an upgrade so I can start doing a bit of proper astrophotography in both planetary and deep space. I did some beginner planetary imaging with the 114EQ but found myself to be mostly limited by its poor optics so the SV503 will be a major upgrade in every way. According to other reviews the SV503 performs admirably for wide field imaging but I wonder if it would be hindered by chromatic aberration for planetary imaging, after all it's a relatively fast F7 ED doublet. Can't wait to see your imaging results on this scope 😁

[@Pakoki1]

Thank you for your review, Bogdan! One question: I have a Skywatcher 90/900, do you think the upgrade to a SV503 would make sense? Or it is not worthy for the difference I would notice?

[@BogdanDamian]

@Pakoki1 In terms of overall look and feel, I would say yes. The difference in build quality is significant. But if you are looking only at optical performance, then no. I mean you will get a better image with the sv503, but it's not twice as good, like the price would suggest. If I were to upgrade from the Evostar 90, I would go much bigger like the 5" APO or something similar.

[@Pakoki1]

@@BogdanDamian Thank you!!

[@jeansamson4079]

Hi Bogdan! I really admire the time you put in your videos and just wanna say congrats to your new travel scope! Really apreciated the fact you compared it to the 90mm Evostar Refractor. I have an 80mm f/11 Celestron achro refractor (which is more or less similar to the evostar) but always wondered how it would perform compared to a more premium one like the Svbony 503 102mm which has an ed glass. Your thoughts have been very helpful! I mostly do planetary and bright dso observations so I'm consodering this scope as a future upgrade.

[@BogdanDamian]

@jeansamson4079 Hi Jean! Glad you enjoy my videos. The SV503 is definitely worth considering as an upgrade. Let me know how you like it should you end up getting it.

[@MrVintageValues]

Bogdan, love the videos. You are creating relevant content. I too am looking for a budget friendly decent, portable telescope to complement my 10” Dob. Also descendent of Decebal 😊. I have a hard time finding information about tripods. Can you please share what tripod you got for your sv503 102 mm? Thank you in advance and keep up the good work!

[@BogdanDamian]

@MrVintageValues Thanks! I'm glad you are enjoying the videos. In the video I'm using the AZ Pronto mount from Skywatcher, but lately upgraded to the SV225 from Svbony. Check out that review as well if you want: kzbin.info/www/bejne/eXmblKOtfMdnf5o Clear skies!

[@MrVintageValues]

Thank you Bogdan! I will check them out.

[@JackHudack]

8 inch f/6 dob is honestly probably the best APT out there still. I've seen them bury 5 inch APOs in planetary and simply outperform same size SCTs optically.

[@3dfxvoodoocards6]

I don’t think a 8 inch newtonian is better on the planets than a 5 inch APO. At best at the same level, if it is perfectly collimated and if the main mirror is new and clean.

[@toliscy]

I have a 10'' dobsonian and consider selling it so I can get into astrophotography as well. I am wondering how would this compare to my dobs for planetary observation

[@DavidShaneTrueCosmology]

The Dob will still be much better for planetary observation. Just because of the larger aperture.

[@AndriiMarusiak]

I`m a owner of 10'' and binoviewer WO. And the combo is very efficient for planetary observation. Don't sell the dob, just buy additional telescope. 90/900 for instance

[@BogdanDamian]

@toliscy A dob with a longer focal length and a larger aperture, like the 10" dob you have, will allow for much higher magnifications up to the limit imposed by the local atmospheric conditions. At the same magnification levels there isn't a big difference between the two in terms of brightness/contrast. Planets like Saturn and Jupiter are very bright objects and a small aperture is more than enough to capture a lot of light. For DSOs that are very faint noting can touch the light gathering capacity of a dob. Where the refractor offers better optical performance is sharpness. If you can keep the dob and buy a smaller refractor for planets. I own a 12" dob and I prefer observing planets with the smaller 4" refractor as long as I'm satisfied keeping the magnification below 200x.

[@toliscy]

@BogdanDamian I love my dob but dso look like a smudge for me it's only worth for planets. Thanks for the reply!

[@DavidShaneTrueCosmology]

@@toliscy DSO are going to look that way through any type of telescope you use. The only way to clearly see DSOs is through long exposure photos. And even then a lot of them are very faint and require stacking in order to see fine detail and definition. A bigger aperture, with a fast focal ratio (16” Dob at F/4) would improve your views more than a refractor for visual observation.

[@ScrapYardDog64]

I returned 2 via Amazon UK, gave up, terrible on planets, especially on Venus, M45 also showed bloated stars and chromatic aberration compared to my old Sky-watcher ED80 Pro, could not see the 3rd star in Polaris either even my Bresser 127 L shows the 3rd star. Influencers like yourself are entertaining as there is a lack of regularly posted content . keep subbing you :)

[@3dfxvoodoocards6]

So a Bresser 127/1200 mm achromat is better than the Svbony 102/714 mm FPL51 ?

[@alasdairmacdonald6730]

Was this telescope really ok on the Pronto mount? I assumed it would be too heavy for it.

[@BogdanDamian]

@alasdairmacdonald6730 Yes, not a problem for the mount including eyepieces and accessories/camera. The limit for this mount is somewhere around 7-8kg. I would say that the sv550 122mm + eyepieces/ accessories was the maximum this mount could handle.

[@alasdairmacdonald6730]

@@BogdanDamian thanks for the reply. Interesting to know that if I were to upgrade my scope I might get to keep my mount. Good luck with the astrophotography. I'm looking forward to seeing how you get on.

[@dks13827]

what kind of mount ? cost ?

[@Sw87sw87]

I got one of these a few months ago. Pretty happy with it. I’m curious to watch someone start at the beginning of astrophotography. Something I’ve thought about dabbling with myself 😂

[@PauI__]

Salut Bogdan. First let me congratulate you for the scope, beautifull thing. Can you please advice me a bit if you can. I am looking for my first scope, just for observation. I need something light, little maintanance, decent quality, allarounder that does not brake the bank, well the kinda scope that probably does not exist. I started looking at c5, then mak127 then….I started looking at 102ed (tsoptics)and 80ed(ts optics and skywarcher). Now I can not get refrracters out of my head. This scope you bought unfortunatly is not imported in Romania but I can get one from amazon de. Is this worth getting from amazon? Or should I look for alternatives at specialized stores in RO? One more thing if I may, what kind of investement I have to make in diagonal, mount, eyepieces for this one? Just enaugh to start. Did I mentioned the telescope behind you looks gorgeous ? 😊 Thanks

[@BogdanDamian]

@Paul__ Salut! The TS Optics 102/714 WD looks to be basically the same telescope as the SV503 102ED, but I can't say for sure. I ordered my telescope on amazon.de as well and I didn't have any issues whatsoever. If the return policy on products delivered to Romania is okay, then you could give it a try. Another alternative would be the Skywatcher Evostar 102/1000 on the eq3-2 mount. It doesn't have an ED element, but for visual observations it is very good. Should you get only the OTA, then I would recommend getting something like the eq3 go-to from Skywatcher as a mount. As for eyepieces and accessories plan another 2-300 Euros. You will need at least one high power eyepiece (3-5mm) and a medium/low power one (17-24mm). A mirror diagonal like the sv188p from Svbony should do just fine in the beginning. You will also need a finder. Here I recommend a red dot finder. They don't cost a lot and work very well. Hope this helps

[@PauI__]

@@BogdanDamian thank you for the answer Bogdan, regarding the mount I read the some use for 102ED's (only visual so no finder, camera etc) they use it on AZ GTI (5kg), or maybe AZ GTIX (6kg or 10kg for double scopes) do you seen those mounts? Azimutal ones look uncomplicated, I notice you have a nice lightweight one rated for only 3kg? without experience I thought motorized will be easier (but pricier also)

[@BogdanDamian]

@PauI__ Only for visual observations the GTi should be enough for the 102ED. If you plan on loading the telescope up in the future with additional items, then maybe go for the gtix version for future proofing. And yes, a motorized mount that can search and track objects automatically is indeed very easy to use, making a lot of sense for beginners. Even though the AZ Pronto mount is rated for 3kg in reality it can handle 5kg without a problem. Most mounts can handle more than what they are rated for.

[@PauI__]

@@BogdanDamian as you ware in front of the 80ed vs 102ed decision and you went the 102ed way, can you please let know what I will be missing if I go the 80Ed route (just to favor portability), you said you will be loosing more stuff than you want with 80ed. I mean with good eyepieces, the ones you reviewed, 80ED is able to "see" decently some DSOs? what about planets? Is 80ED only suitable only for astrophotography as I will do only visual Lastly let me congratulate you for the videos you make, I did checked some of them, objective and clean communication, bravo

[@BogdanDamian]

@Paul__ Thank you! Glad you enjoy my videos. The main aspect that pushed me towards the 102 was the aperture size. For planets, moon, sun and astrophotography the difference between the two isn't that big. But I wanted a chance to observe some fainter DSOs as well with the telescope. The 80 will mostly be limited to the brighter ones like M42 or M45. The increase in terms of maximum theoretical magnification for the 102 was also something I found very interesting.

[@walterwadlow9438]

Thanks!

[@pietroa6375]

Is the az pronto mount really ok for the weight of the scope? No unbearable vibrations?

[@BogdanDamian]

@pietroa6375 Yes, it supports my telescope plus a binoviewer with two Morpheus eyepieces without a problem. The vibrations are minimal. If you want something rock solid, then maybe get a more heavy duty tripod, but the AZ Pronto mount head is very stable.

[@pietroa6375]

@@BogdanDamian Thanks for the info! It also gives me hope that the very lightweight aluminum tripod will be OK. I guess we bought the same scope (skymax 102 in bundle with the mount & tripod).

[@alexikzekee8769]

Salut Bogdan ai putea sa faci faci un video cum sa conectezi und dslr pentru astrofotografie? Modalitati de conectare avantaje si dezavantaje.😊

[@BogdanDamian]

@alexikzekee8769 Salut! Am pus pe lista 🙂

[@larrydunn4626]

well, here's the thing. The 4" ED refractor, when mated with eyepieces suitable to F7, is more than twice the cost of even a 5" MAK. 5" Mak can do great with Astrotech Paradign, two of those being $140. Whereas the 4" ED will need the Delos or delite or ES 68 or Morpheus eyepieces. Two of those you're already at $600. Then your $50 handle. Add it up, and you're at $1,250 for your 4" ED Refractor, incl eyepieces, which will not outperform a 5" Mak, total cost about $550 incl 2 eye pieces. Why didn't you upgrade to the 127mm Mak? Much more portable, more grab and go, as well... but not as well suited to Astrophotography or DSOs... but you mentioned that wasn't your original goal.

[@3dfxvoodoocards6]

Maybe but the 102 ED FPL51 most probably has a similar image quality to a 150 mm MAK.

[@larrydunn4626]

@@3dfxvoodoocards6 don't think so. I've generally read that the refractor vs. mak is +1 in inches, meaning 4" refractor similar image quality to 5" Maj, not 6" Mak as you propose.

[@joseluisvilches7592]

compre el refractor de 102mm svbony 503; desearia saber si le coloco barlow x2 y focal resultante f 14 veria mejor los planetas y reduciria la aberracion cromatica? gracias

[@BogdanDamian]

@joseluisvilches7592. Congratulations on your new telescope. You can use a 2x Barlow to obtain higher magnifications, but make sure not to go above 200x - 220x. This won't eliminate the chromatic aberrations, though.

[@marcusa3177]

Good work here. So how does the SVbony diagonal and eyepiece combo fare vs your high-end gear? I'm thinking of getting both for the SV550 80mm when I just want to take a quick look at the planets, maybe some globs, etc. Did you buy something else to connect the diagonal to the SV503? Thanks!

[@BogdanDamian]

@marcusa3177 Thanks! The sv188p works great in combination with the sv215 zoom. When comparing the sv188p to the Baader prism, it is slightly less bright and also a little less sharper. It's definitely not by much, but still noticeable. The sv215 is capable of offering very nice views. It's only flaw being the short eye relief. I believe both will work very well with the sv550. No other accessories are going to be needed. Hope this helps.

[@ericbarnett6771]

After debating with myself (and comparing prices over several months) I decided to go instead with the Astro-Tech 102ED for $619 USD. I am almost certain that it is the same scope as the SV102ED just with a different name on it.

[@BogdanDamian]

@ericbarnett6771 Both are indeed very similar if not identical. The only difference I can see is that the Astro-Tech uses one objective element made to the FK-61 standard where the SV503 uses the SFPL-51 standard. However, both standards are very similar.

[@givenfirstnamefamilyfirstn3935]

The F/9 Skywatcher Evostar ED 100 would presumably have significantly better chromatic aberration but it costs a lot more. What about the TS Optics 102 ED f/11? Too long?

[@Юрий-е2н2е]

Мой любимый рефрактор! 👍

[@rajamanohar8004]

Great telescope sir

[@Bobi_203]

Здраво Богдан, поздрав од Македонија

[@BurningFlame1999]

Hello Bogdan, is the difference in chromatic aberrations big or small between the 90 mm Evostar and the SvBony 102 ED ? Does the 90 mm Evostar have a lot more chromatic aberration than the Svbony 102 ED or is the difference minimal?

[@BogdanDamian]

@BurningFlame1999 The difference is definitely noticeable and therefore significant, but it's not day and night. The EvoStar 90 does a pretty good job of dealing with CA thanks to the smaller aperture and slower focal ratio. The differences in CA correction become more noticeable the higher magnification gets. Around 100x both telescopes are comparable. At 150x the SV503 starts to pull ahead and at 200x there is a significant difference between the two.

[@BurningFlame1999]

@@BogdanDamian Thank you for your answer.

[@edufau815]

I have read very good reviews of this SvBony model along the lines of yours, but I have also read that it presents problems of lack of intra-focus when observing with long focal length 2" eyepieces or installing a 2" diagonal that extends the light path... Have you verified that this is the case?

[@BogdanDamian]

@edufau815 I never had any issues reaching focus using the SV503 102ED in combination with 2" eyepeices and 2" diagonals. The SV503 has a maximum of 116mm of back focus. This is obtained by bypassing any adapter and screwing in the diagonal straight onto the focuser's draw tube. The length of the light path of a 2" diagonal, like the 2" BBHS Prism diagonal from Baader, is 50mm. This means that there shouldn't be any problems whatsoever with reaching focus when using 2" eyepieces with this telescope. There is plenty of back focus to play with.

[@edufau815]

@@BogdanDamian Ok. Thanks for your clarification and congratulations on your videos. 🙏

[@PureAwareness76]

Why not upgrade to a 127 Mak? 🤭

[@MichalKatrik]

Hello, thanks for the review. Did you measure the weight of the OTA with tube rings? A ask because a found conflicting information on the internet. SvBony states the weight as 5.5 kg. But in some review was stated 3.3 kg without tube rings. And in some other review here on youtube (kzbin.info/www/bejne/hJrZgn1nd56jjpI) there was 4kg with tube rings. If you could measure it's weight with tube rings I would be grateful. Thanks

[@BogdanDamian]

@MichalKatrik Hi! Yes I measured the OTA including the rings, dovetail bar, finder socket, dust cover and the 1.25" adapter. Basically the OTA like it's being delivered by Svbony.

[@jcarra8963]

My question to anyone knowledgeable; I will not necessarily be interested in astrophotography but I am looking forward to terrific views with a telescope with good max power and less aberration around views. Is this too much telescope for me? Should I look at a 80mm SV503?

[@MrSummitville]

You will *not* see any object, that looks like any photograph, in that telescope. Go to a local astronomy club and ask to look through a tiny scope. Then look through a larger scope.

[@Stephen-gp8yi]

Sorry to bother you bogdan but I just tried to collimate my 8 inch dob for the first time but I could only get the laser just outside the circle on the primary mirror about 3-4 mill from the centre.I didn’t want to over tighten the screws and break them.is that good enough or will it affect my views?thanks have a good weekend boss✌️

[@BogdanDamian]

@Stephen-gp8yi No worries. You want for the laser to hit exactly in the middle of the target. The better aligned the mirrors are, the better the views. I know that the first times collimating the telescope can be a bit difficult, but it gets easier with practice. In your case I would loosen all three screws a bit and try again. You did good by not over tighten the screws. Things can break if you do.

[@Stephen-gp8yi]

@@BogdanDamian ok bogdan I will loosen all three and try again thanks!

[@constantinelind]

Hello, thank you for the review. Whats the highest magnification can hold your 102mm svbony?

[@BogdanDamian]

@constantinelind I often times observe with it at 238x without loosing too much of image quality. I haven't tried it beyond that.

[@supermario8416]

@@BogdanDamian Do you use a Barlow for such a high magnification or just a 3 mm eyepiece ?

[@BogdanDamian]

@supermario8416 No Barlow, just their 3-8mm zoom eyepieces set to 3mm.

[@chrisg9602]

Is this good for view the moon and planets maybe astrophotography in the future

[@palmereldrich]

If you like FPL-51@F/7 try FPL-53@F/9 Bogdan You'll ❤ that combination Evostar you can get right ? Then 100ED😮😮😮 Tak killer🎉🎉

[@BogdanDamian]

@palmereldrich I heard that the 100ED Evostar is supposed to be very good. I'll have to try it out too. Thanks for your input. Clear skies!

[@MrCornweda]

Refractors definitely give better views of the planets when they have a longer focal ratio. Also cheaper eyepieces can become almost as good as the most expensive eyepieces in and F12. But you give up on portability and wide field of views. It is hard to have a one scope fits all and even harder if you are doing both astrophotography and visual observing. Throw in terrestrial viewing and you really have to compromise or buy 3 scopes.

[@lock_]

If Jupiter comes like in the thumbnail, it’s a safe win. 🙃

[@anandarochisha]

Don't get too excited about 4 Chinese inches..

[@plumberman19]

images or it didn't happen..

[@krzysztofjanicki4886]

Talking, talking, showing gardens, rooms, telescopes in the background with other decorations... but where are pictures ???!!! 99% of the people showing nothing. I like your video and the way you present facts on paper but please, can you tell something where can I see results ? I am counting on you.

[@MrSummitville]

That 4" telescope can't do it all. It would be a great "lens" for astrophotography, of many large objects. Then what? Visually? You will run out of objects after one summer.

[@kimbuuu241]

no practice pictures, only bla bla. thumbs down

[@omerturk9462]

Hello sir , what tripod you havé with your télescope please ?

[@BogdanDamian]

@omerturk9462 Hello, it's the AZ Pronto mount from Skywatcher.

[@SkyWatch07]

Thanks for posting this video, it’s very informative (as always). Looking forward to your journey into planetary imaging 🤙🏼🪐🤙🏼