svbony 8-20mm sv230 super zoom
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neil Nevill
Nov 30, 2024, 12:21:10 PM11/30/24
to croydonastro
Ah ha! finally i've found how to start a conversation! for some reason the button doesnt show on my galaxy s22.anyway, please excuse the non chatty and somewhat boring first post!
Im getting into observing and thinking about the svbony superzoom to replace 3 or 4 baader hyperions i use in a mak127 and C8. Still not many real world reviews of it but Bogdan rates it highly. its on flash sale again at 25% off but still £226. However if you buy 2 the discount is slightly higher at 28%, £430, or 2x£215. Are there any other observers thinking of this EP and interested in going halves on a pair to save £11 each?
I'm located in a light polluted upper norwood.
Neil
William Bottaci
Nov 30, 2024, 6:18:15 PM11/30/24
to croydo...@googlegroups.com
Hello Neil, we welcome your first post.
Your post, your chat (and eyepieces are never boring to me :).
I think this eyepiece is new so I can't say a lot about it specifically, but considering general eyepiece characteristics goes a long way. These are some, maybe all the things to take into account; you'll experience any number at any time depending on what you're looking at and the telescope you use.
The important ones, in no specific order:
- Field of View (Apparent)
- Eye relief
- Exit pupil
- Field curvature (flatness of the field/view)
- Magnification <> focal length
- Quality (all the aberrations, coatings, build, design...)
- Parfocal (for a zoom or a set)
You can do an internet search on a review of the Svbony, but they make more than one and they're different.
Your post, your chat (and eyepieces are never boring to me :).
I think this eyepiece is new so I can't say a lot about it specifically, but considering general eyepiece characteristics goes a long way. These are some, maybe all the things to take into account; you'll experience any number at any time depending on what you're looking at and the telescope you use.
The important ones, in no specific order:
- Field of View (Apparent)
- Eye relief
- Exit pupil
- Field curvature (flatness of the field/view)
- Magnification <> focal length
- Quality (all the aberrations, coatings, build, design...)
- Parfocal (for a zoom or a set)
You can do an internet search on a review of the Svbony, but they make more than one and they're different.
Some of the above characteristics are more important for some people than others.
Do you wear glasses (eye relief)?
Are you interested in the immersiveness of the whole field or more in detail (field curvature, exit pupil)?
Your age (exit pupil).
Your prime object interest (exit pupil, field curvature).
How important is detail (quality)?
The focal ratio of your telescope (field curvature). For a Mak 127mm and even a Celestron 8-inch you're unlikely to have an issue with curvature.
Baader is highly rated, you may be stepping down with a Svbony, but Baader also does a zoom, the Mk IV 8-24mm.
Zooms tend to be a compromise on quality, and characteristics, but you get convenience and a cost saving (maybe). Some people use a zoom only to gauge the best magnification for the seeing and then switch to a fixed focus. Be aware that at low magnifications you don't get a good field of view.
A quality eyepiece will last a lifetime; wait until you can afford the best (buy once, saves on money later).
If you plan on doing any outreach, it's the zoom.
On cost you'll probably understand, you can't make a good eyepiece cheap, but you can overpay for any item, but on that you only need to shop around, very easy with the Internet.
On going halves (sorry to spoil anything) be prepared that if there's any fault you'd need the receipt, most likely the box, managing the return could be complicated.
Personally I would never 'replace' your Baader Hyperions with a zoom, or with anything - get the zoom as an addition.
I hope this helps. I have more but I'm not at home with my notes.
Do you wear glasses (eye relief)?
Are you interested in the immersiveness of the whole field or more in detail (field curvature, exit pupil)?
Your age (exit pupil).
Your prime object interest (exit pupil, field curvature).
How important is detail (quality)?
The focal ratio of your telescope (field curvature). For a Mak 127mm and even a Celestron 8-inch you're unlikely to have an issue with curvature.
Baader is highly rated, you may be stepping down with a Svbony, but Baader also does a zoom, the Mk IV 8-24mm.
Zooms tend to be a compromise on quality, and characteristics, but you get convenience and a cost saving (maybe). Some people use a zoom only to gauge the best magnification for the seeing and then switch to a fixed focus. Be aware that at low magnifications you don't get a good field of view.
A quality eyepiece will last a lifetime; wait until you can afford the best (buy once, saves on money later).
If you plan on doing any outreach, it's the zoom.
On cost you'll probably understand, you can't make a good eyepiece cheap, but you can overpay for any item, but on that you only need to shop around, very easy with the Internet.
On going halves (sorry to spoil anything) be prepared that if there's any fault you'd need the receipt, most likely the box, managing the return could be complicated.
Personally I would never 'replace' your Baader Hyperions with a zoom, or with anything - get the zoom as an addition.
I hope this helps. I have more but I'm not at home with my notes.
Good luck; let us know how you get on; your experience guides our practice (I made that last one up :).
Regards, William
neil Nevill
Nov 30, 2024, 7:42:02 PM11/30/24
to croydonastro
Thanks William,
indeed Baader are good, I have a set of Morphs and a number of Hyperions. The Hyperions are fine for Long FL scopes and the moderate FOV is ample for a mak or cat which is a little restricted. The hyperion zoom is...not well rated though, its not a great EP.
You shouldn't dismiss svbony as worse than baader though, I suggest you try the 3-8mm zoom, the 215, it is superb, and surprisingly low cost.
The sv230 is new yes, but early reviews seem to place it as a quality EP, parfocal, wide FOV, good contrast, little distortion, decent colour trueness, bright, very lowcolour fringing and solidly built, good eye relief. Bogdan has a detailed review against delites and it fairs well, both in fast and longer FL scopes. I'm fairly confident it will out perform the Hyperions while being much more convenient than several EPs and tuning rings, but no, I don't plan on selling the Hyperions and rings until I've tried the zoom myself and compared. in particular the extra weight of the zoom might cause problems so ....I can but try.
the 8-20mm is much more expensive though, its more than a Morpheus at full price, so the slight nervousness due to lack of reviews combine with the potential to save a few pounds in the sale have me willing to explore teaming up IF there is another nearby that has looked into it and is keen to try it in their own set ups.
As for outreach, yes I'd love to shove one of the cheap zooms i have in when 4 yo kids from boys brigade, or the 6yos at Beaver scouts are grabbing at the scope, but even with the morpheus's wide FOV some that age (and older) struggle to see anything so I chose to risk the kit in order to make the experience easier and, with luck, a bit more fun for them, although I was a nervous wreck! haha. (that was in a st120 btw, with 2" visual back making full use of the wide fov)
Thanks
Neil
William Bottaci
Dec 3, 2024, 6:48:23 PM12/3/24
to croydo...@googlegroups.com
Hello Neil, thanks for the informative reply.
A few members have that Baader Hyperion zoom, and I've looked through mine and two others, and I'm pleasantly surprised at the quality, I hope this feedback helps. A few things:
- Size and weight: the Mark IIIs are fairly bulky, but if they have to hold larger lenses for wider fields then that’s the price to pay. The specifications read as wider angle than standard zooms. The Mark IVs are 1mm narrower (thanks a lot, Baader :).
- Focus: not fully parfocal, a definite focus shift between magnifications, but again I'd rather that compromise that optimising for it at the expense of quality.
- The 24mm setting: in line with all zooms the field of view narrows at the longer focal length (lower magnification) which is not what you want in a low power (a low power is only for the wider field of view, not as if you really want to make something look smaller just for its own sake), so comparing the 21mm view and going to 24mm, it narrows as it gets smaller, you end up with the same wideness, so what's the point? Marketing. Try selling an 8-21mm zoom when everyone else is selling 8-24mm. The only time I go to 24mm is to check what setting I'm on in the dark.
I did a quick look at reviews. Some people report the Svbony as not as good, generally. Well, that could be because they likely already have the Baader zoom; who knows. Others find it favourable - you can't win. But I have heard (and now just seen figures) that the Svbony SV230 also has wider fields than average, better than the Baader, which is already better than average, and looking at the price it may be a good buy. Can't say anymore, I've not looked through one, but I would probably take a chance if I needed another zoom.
I just found out, the SV230 is 8-20mm! Well, after what I said about the Baader, that's a big plus for Svbony :). I also like the click-stops for each mm.
Here's a review that's worth looking at, though the images he illustrates can't be relied upon, we have to go only by how he describes:
Svbony SV230 SuperZoom 8-20mm - Full Review
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7vn8j3DrnR0
I must say I'm warming to it.
For me some features are more important than others. Sharpness beats field of view for instance.
For my binoculars I have to buy a pair, so a cheaper 2nd would be great, but I've already got the Mark IV's, thanks.
Good luck, let us know how you get on.
William
A few members have that Baader Hyperion zoom, and I've looked through mine and two others, and I'm pleasantly surprised at the quality, I hope this feedback helps. A few things:
- Size and weight: the Mark IIIs are fairly bulky, but if they have to hold larger lenses for wider fields then that’s the price to pay. The specifications read as wider angle than standard zooms. The Mark IVs are 1mm narrower (thanks a lot, Baader :).
- Focus: not fully parfocal, a definite focus shift between magnifications, but again I'd rather that compromise that optimising for it at the expense of quality.
- The 24mm setting: in line with all zooms the field of view narrows at the longer focal length (lower magnification) which is not what you want in a low power (a low power is only for the wider field of view, not as if you really want to make something look smaller just for its own sake), so comparing the 21mm view and going to 24mm, it narrows as it gets smaller, you end up with the same wideness, so what's the point? Marketing. Try selling an 8-21mm zoom when everyone else is selling 8-24mm. The only time I go to 24mm is to check what setting I'm on in the dark.
I did a quick look at reviews. Some people report the Svbony as not as good, generally. Well, that could be because they likely already have the Baader zoom; who knows. Others find it favourable - you can't win. But I have heard (and now just seen figures) that the Svbony SV230 also has wider fields than average, better than the Baader, which is already better than average, and looking at the price it may be a good buy. Can't say anymore, I've not looked through one, but I would probably take a chance if I needed another zoom.
I just found out, the SV230 is 8-20mm! Well, after what I said about the Baader, that's a big plus for Svbony :). I also like the click-stops for each mm.
Here's a review that's worth looking at, though the images he illustrates can't be relied upon, we have to go only by how he describes:
Svbony SV230 SuperZoom 8-20mm - Full Review
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7vn8j3DrnR0
I must say I'm warming to it.
For me some features are more important than others. Sharpness beats field of view for instance.
For my binoculars I have to buy a pair, so a cheaper 2nd would be great, but I've already got the Mark IV's, thanks.
Good luck, let us know how you get on.
William
On Sun, 1 Dec 2024 at 00:42, neil Nevill <neil....@gmail.com> wrote:
Thanks William,
indeed Baader are good, I have a set of Morphs and a number of Hyperions. The Hyperions are fine for Long FL scopes and the moderate FOV is ample for a mak or cat which is a little restricted. The hyperion zoom is...not well rated though, its not a great EP.
You shouldn't dismiss svbony as worse than baader though, I suggest you try the 3-8mm zoom, the 215, it is superb, and surprisingly low cost.
The sv230 is new yes, but early reviews seem to place it as a quality EP, parfocal, wide FOV, good contrast, little distortion, decent colour trueness, bright, very lowcolour fringing and solidly built, good eye relief. Bogdan has a detailed review against delites and it fairs well, both in fast and longer FL scopes. I'm fairly confident it will out perform the Hyperions while being much more convenient than several EPs and tuning rings, but no, I don't plan on selling the Hyperions and rings until I've tried the zoom myself and compared. in particular the extra weight of the zoom might cause problems so ....I can but try.
the 8-20mm is much more expensive though, its more than a Morpheus at full price, so the slight nervousness due to lack of reviews combine with the potential to save a few pounds in the sale have me willing to explore teaming up IF there is another nearby that has looked into it and is keen to try it in their own set ups.
As for outreach, yes I'd love to shove one of the cheap zooms i have in when 4 yo kids from boys brigade, or the 6yos at Beaver scouts are grabbing at the scope, but even with the morpheus's wide FOV some that age (and older) struggle to see anything so I chose to risk the kit in order to make the experience easier and, with luck, a bit more fun for them, although I was a nervous wreck! haha. (that was in a st120 btw, with 2" visual back making full use of the wide fov)
Thanks
Neil
2024-1-30
Hello Neil, we welcome your first post.
Your post, your chat (and eyepieces are never boring to me :).
I think this eyepiece is new so I can't say a lot about it specifically, but considering general eyepiece characteristics goes a long way. These are some, maybe all the things to consider; you'll experience any number at any time depending on what you're looking at and the telescope you use.
The important ones, in no specific order:
- Field of View (Apparent)
- Eye relief
- Exit pupil
- Field curvature (flatness of the field/view)
- Magnification <> focal length
- Quality (all the aberrations, coatings, build, design...)
- Parfocal (for a zoom or a set)
You can do an internet search on a review of the Svbony, but they make more than one and they're different.
Some of the above characteristics are more important for some people than others.
Do you wear glasses (eye relief)?
Are you interested in the immersiveness of the whole field or more in detail (field curvature, exit pupil)?
Your age (exit pupil).
Your prime object interest (exit pupil, field curvature).
How important is detail (quality)?
The focal ratio of your telescope (field curvature). For a Mak 127mm and even a Celestron 8-inch you're unlikely to have an issue with curvature.
Baader is highly rated, you may be stepping down with a Svbony, but Baader also does a zoom, the Mk IV 8-24mm.
Zooms tend to be a compromise on quality, and characteristics, but you get convenience and a cost saving (maybe). Some people use a zoom only to gauge the best magnification for the seeing and then switch to a fixed focus. Be aware that at low magnifications you don't get a good field of view.
A quality eyepiece will last a lifetime; wait until you can afford the best (buy once, save on money later).
If you plan on doing any outreach, it's the zoom.
On cost you'll probably understand, you can't make a good eyepiece cheap, but you can overpay for any item, but on that you only need to shop around, very easy with the Internet.
On going halves (sorry to spoil anything) be prepared that if there's any fault you'd need the receipt, most likely the box, managing the return could be complicated.
Personally I would never 'replace' your Baader Hyperions with a zoom, or with anything - get the zoom as an addition.
I hope this helps. I have more but I'm not at home with my notes.
Good luck; let us know how you get on; your experience guides our practice (I made that last one up :).
Regards, William
On Sat, 30 Nov 2024 at 17:21, neil Nevill <neil....@gmail.com> wrote:
Ah ha! finally i've found how to start a conversation! for some reason the button doesnt show on my galaxy s22.anyway, please excuse the non chatty and somewhat boring first post!
Im getting into observing and thinking about the svbony superzoom to replace 3 or 4 baader hyperions i use in a mak127 and C8. Still not many real world reviews of it but Bogdan rates it highly. its on flash sale again at 25% off but still £226. However if you buy 2 the discount is slightly higher at 28%, £430, or 2x£215. Are there any other observers thinking of this EP and interested in going halves on a pair to save £11 each?
I'm located in a light polluted upper norwood.
Neil
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