Review on 🔭 SVBONY SV503 Telescope 80ED F7 OTA: Enhanced Views & Astrophotography by Jon Joung

The SVBony SV503 is a very good small ED refractor at a very attractive price. I bought it primarily as a pick-up-and-go oscilloscope, but it seems to work well for astrophotography as well. I've only had a chance to use it once to watch the moon. Yes, there was a very bright rim at the moon's edge, but it didn't bother. Overall, the visibility and details of the moon were excellent. I increased the magnification to over 100x and the image didn't break at all - not bad for an 80mm scope. . There is some chromatic aberration (CA) with 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 an integrated dew guard that retracts for easy storage. The focuser is a 2-inch, two-speed, fine-pitch, rack and pinion spiral track that rotates 360 degrees for better framing or more comfortable viewing. when mounting on an equatorial mount. My scope arrived with some play in the focuser coarse adjustment. However, the focuser is neither cheap nor bad. There are several 1.5mm set screws on the focuser which control the alignment and tension of the focus mechanism, although they are not intended to be adjusted by the user, I found the correct set screw and was able to turn it up a bit to adjust to completely eliminate the game. I have another scope with a true Crayford style dual speed focuser, and after adjusting the SV503 R&P the focuser is as smooth and free of play as the focuser in almost every way. The R&P focuser's screw drive also eliminates "creep". " that can occur with a Crayford-type focuser, which has no gearing and relies on a Sol. Friction must be used to move the focus tube. Overall the fit and finish of this scope is excellent - there is nothing "cheap" about this OTA. It has the "feel" of a much more expensive instrument. I'm taking a star off this rating because the focuser is misaligned and it comes with no instructions or user manuals - no paperwork really at all! higher price. I was able to find a very good third party case (sold by Revain) at a good price that goes well with this scope. As a scope, the Grab & Go SV503 is exactly what I was looking for and I might even try astrophotography with it. {Please see attached images: Case and accessories must be purchased separately and are not included with the SV503} Pros: Great value for an 80mm ED scope. Nice dual ED lens. Retractable dew guard. Good screw-in R&P 2", 2-speed focuser. Weight (OTA, tube rings and mounting plate weighs 6.2 lbs.) Good metal lens cap. Good fit and finish. Cons: Scope came with focuser not adjusted or warranty card on small CA, but that's not unusual for a short focal length ED doublet design.