Fantastic optics

The Svbony SV503 isn't a beginner's telescope. Well, it can be but you should be prepared to buy a load of essential accessories like a tripod, mount, diagonal, eyepieces... you get the idea. If you already have all that and want to add a compact and versatile rich-field telescope with premium optics to the collection for... not very much money, the SV503 is happy to oblige.

Setup 7.5

Ease of use 8

Features 7.5

Optics 9

Value 8.5

User Ratings (0 Votes) 0

At some point, after picking up a telescope (and sticking with it) you’ll wonder if a more expensive telescope provides better views. We’ll spare you the optical glass rabbit hole that follows and just tell you straight: it does. But extra-low dispersion (ED) glass doesn’t come cheap. At least, it didn’t. Svbony‘s 80mm SV503, one of a family of ED glass refractors, puts higher-quality views into your hands for what is, relatively, not much money.

There’s more to this optical tube assembly (OTA) than just fancy glass, but there are also drawbacks to plonking down R9,900 for one. On the upside, the bits supplied are of uniformly excellent quality. On the downside, not all the bits are supplied. But if you’re taking astronomical observation seriously, that’s less of a drawback. If you’re just starting out, a kit telescope might be a better first choice.