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Celestron Regal M2 vs Svbony SV406P (1 Viewer)
- Thread starter Sirpotato
- Start date
i had the Celestron regal 80 mm ed version. it was stolen and i replaced it with the sv 406p 80mm. so this is not a side by side comparison per se, but two scopes that i know very very well. in short. no contest. the sv 406p is the clear winner. clarity. brightness, eye relief, extra fine focus control, weight ....etc.
Sirpotato
Member
Ahh damn! I ended up buying the Celestron Regal M2 65ED.
Was your's the older version of the Celestron?
I had an email from Svbony offering me to trial the SA405 for $275 USD but I saw that email after I'd purchased it already too 😅.
I think the Celestron was still a steal for $395 AUD though!?
Was your's the older version of the Celestron?
I had an email from Svbony offering me to trial the SA405 for $275 USD but I saw that email after I'd purchased it already too 😅.
I think the Celestron was still a steal for $395 AUD though!?
henry link
Well-known member
What would be wrong with K9 (Bk7), as long as the focal ratio is above f5?
SUPPRESSOR
Well-known member
Not a blooming thing!
Yes, it was the older Celestron...from what i've read there were no improvements other than the weight, but i cannot say for certain ...
Sirpotato
Member
Ahh ok! I'll be able to test it out soon and if I'm not impressed I'll send back to Amazon and grab the Svbony!
Sirpotato
Member
Ahh ok, I had. Quick read and your right, as long as above f5 it doesn't matter on spotting scopes, so I presume its more of a binocular thing. Good to know though for future reference!
I had one sample of the 65mm SV406P but have no experience with the Celestron.
I purchased the SVBONY from Amazon, along with the WIFI camera, but returned it for two main reasons. One was insufficient eye relief. It was advertised as being 20 - 18mm. I did not measure actual eye relief but could not use it above ~20x with spectacles.
The second reason was that the color, or perhaps more correctly the contrast, did not seem very good. So it was hard to distinguish between different shades of similar colors.
It seemed to focus well at close range with good detail at 48x, but at longer distances it seemed hard to focus. And it appeared OK during a star test. I don't understand enough about optical design, and am still learning how to perform star tests and resolution comparisons, but for whatever reason it seemed like the lack of contrast was the bigger issue. However, there might have been something else wrong with it that I am ignorant about.
I did not try the WIFI camera, or a different eyepiece.
ETA - I didn't have another 65mm available for comparison, but used an 82mm.
I purchased the SVBONY from Amazon, along with the WIFI camera, but returned it for two main reasons. One was insufficient eye relief. It was advertised as being 20 - 18mm. I did not measure actual eye relief but could not use it above ~20x with spectacles.
The second reason was that the color, or perhaps more correctly the contrast, did not seem very good. So it was hard to distinguish between different shades of similar colors.
It seemed to focus well at close range with good detail at 48x, but at longer distances it seemed hard to focus. And it appeared OK during a star test. I don't understand enough about optical design, and am still learning how to perform star tests and resolution comparisons, but for whatever reason it seemed like the lack of contrast was the bigger issue. However, there might have been something else wrong with it that I am ignorant about.
I did not try the WIFI camera, or a different eyepiece.
ETA - I didn't have another 65mm available for comparison, but used an 82mm.
Last edited:
Have the SV406P 80mm. Came across the elestron Regal M2 65mm for 190 USD so picked it up to try.
Optically felt the SV406P were better, sharper and clearer image. Possibly contributed by the larger objective.
The bigger difference was the physical design. Celestron was very rear heavy as the prism seems to be the same as it's larger siblings. The cover for the eyepiece was also odd - a metal tube screwed over the whole eyepiece. Focusing knob was much smoother on Svbony, as was the tripod collar. There was also some oil seeping into the rubber armour from the tripod collar.
Returned the Celestron soon after testing.
Optically felt the SV406P were better, sharper and clearer image. Possibly contributed by the larger objective.
The bigger difference was the physical design. Celestron was very rear heavy as the prism seems to be the same as it's larger siblings. The cover for the eyepiece was also odd - a metal tube screwed over the whole eyepiece. Focusing knob was much smoother on Svbony, as was the tripod collar. There was also some oil seeping into the rubber armour from the tripod collar.
Returned the Celestron soon after testing.
The more expensive SA401 is now on sale on Amazon for $387 with coupon.
Sirpotato
Member
Funnily enough, I just purchased the SA401 last week and I'm writing a review up now. Will post a link when its completed. But so far I'm very impressed with it!
beacon hill
Well-known member
Should be OK with standard Plossls. Its the 5-6+ lens element UWA ones that wont focus. Can not use barlows with the Regals
Sirpotato
Member
My little review of the SA401 here: Link to review
KaterinBortle9
Active member
The little friends and the fries can be seen in your unboxing photo! 
More reviews of scopes are always good. I might do a review of the discontinued nikon monarch 60 eda with the wide angle zoom, which I am using for 2 years, when I can find the time.
More reviews of scopes are always good. I might do a review of the discontinued nikon monarch 60 eda with the wide angle zoom, which I am using for 2 years, when I can find the time.
Sirpotato
Member
Haha I know right, my partner had just brought me MacDonalds as I was opening it all up 😜. I agree, its very handy when there are reviews of scopes so you can make an informed decision. It was hard with the SA401 because there was so little online yet the scope looked really good...So it could have gone either, but I'm glad it turned out to be a very good purchase, to the point I listed my Celestron up for sale the next day 😂The little friends and the fries can be seen in your unboxing photo!
Eventually I'll get Kowa or Swarovski, but next on the list is a nice 8x pair of binoculars for when I'm having a bad day with my spinal injury and the Canon IS feels too heavy, so I atleast have an option if I want to do a little birding.
