New Svbony sa401 Apo 85mm released. (2 Viewers)

[wllmspd]

After a brief blog post on this during the summer Svbony have just released their 85mm Apo spotter.

The new APO spotting scope-SA401

The best spotting scope for birding, hiking, and star watching.

www.svbony.com

It bears a resemblance to other simimat models, I am wondering if the APM/swaro bayonet adapter might enable 1.25” eyepiece use….
Other Svbony models have got some positive reviewed, so it’ll be interesting nd to see how this one performs.

Peter

 

[Tringa45]

And in their ad they post a picture of someone shooting at birds! I don't see any relevant connecton between the two activities either.

John

 

[Tringa45]

I've just scrolled down and see further pics of hunters training shotguns on birds, one of them on a raptor!!!
How insensitive and downright stupid can these marketing people get?
I hope no-one on BF buys a bloody Svbony.

John

PS:- A Steller's Sea Eagle on the Red List of the International Union for Conservation of Nature.

 

[wllmspd]

If I get a response to my optical queries I’ll pass on the message that they should consider their potential markets carefully and avoid needlessly turning people (the likely majority of potential sales) away.

Peter

 

[paddyluke]

I've just scrolled down and see further pics of hunters training shotguns on birds, one of them on a raptor!!!
How insensitive and downright stupid can these marketing people get?
I hope no-one on BF buys a bloody Svbony.

John

PS:- A Steller's Sea Eagle on the Red List of the International Union for Conservation of Nature.

i'm know Swarovski and zeiss have pics of shooters on their ads/websites

 

[wllmspd]

Another rapid response from Svbony. The focal length of this scope is 450mm. The. Eyepiece is removable, but apparently does not use a fitting that can be adapter to 1.25” eyepieces directly (I asked about the APM/swaro adapter that many scopes use – no). I also passed on the sentiment that they may appeal more to a far wider audience if they toned down the hunting imagery.

Peter

 

[SGBirder]

Not considering this, my SV406P works well for half the price and more versatile with the 1.25" eyepieces

 

[DRodrigues]

i'm know Swarovski and zeiss have pics of shooters on their ads/websites

Yes, but don't do these marketing "shoots on their feet" - translating word by word from a Portuguese common saying...

 

[nkbj]

Not considering this, my SV406P works well for half the price and more versatile with the 1.25" eyepieces

Same for me. The SV406P is also a lot lighter, which is an advantage when carrying the scope all day long.

 

[Postwashman]

After a brief blog post on this during the summer Svbony have just released their 85mm Apo spotter.

The new APO spotting scope-SA401

The best spotting scope for birding, hiking, and star watching.

www.svbony.com

It bears a resemblance to other simimat models, I am wondering if the APM/swaro bayonet adapter might enable 1.25” eyepiece use….
Other Svbony models have got some positive reviewed, so it’ll be interesting nd to see how this one performs.

Peter

Hi, I have bought one and it arrived 2 days ago (took 5 days to arrive from China to UK). I had a SV46 but decided to upgrade. It is absolutely amazing. The clarity is amazing. My friend has a Swarovski scope and he was speechless when he tried it. Weather a bit glum at the moment but it still picked up the smallest detail. It is quite heavy, was surprised at that but I use it with a backpack. Only problem most will have is that there are no agents/stockists (none that I could find anyway) so only way you can try it is actually buying it, which could have been a risk but I'm over the moon with it. I also bought the small 'Hummingbird' ED scope they do too. Cracking little scope, very compact and lightweight

 

[KC Foggin]

Hi, I have bought one and it arrived 2 days ago (took 5 days to arrive from China to UK). I had a SV46 but decided to upgrade. It is absolutely amazing. The clarity is amazing. My friend has a Swarovski scope and he was speechless when he tried it. Weather a bit glum at the moment but it still picked up the smallest detail. It is quite heavy, was surprised at that but I use it with a backpack. Only problem most will have is that there are no agents/stockists (none that I could find anyway) so only way you can try it is actually buying it, which could have been a risk but I'm over the moon with it. I also bought the small 'Hummingbird' ED scope they do too. Cracking little scope, very compact and lightweight

I'm just going to jump in here and wish you a warm welcome to you from those of us on staff here at BirdForum
We're glad you found us and please join in wherever you like

 

[wllmspd]

Great news. How “heavy” are we talking? I’ve been known to lug 4kg binoculars around… though my back probably wish I didn’t.
Does the eyepiece come out and what is the minimum diameter of the eyepiece hole… they say it won’t take 1.25” eyepieces, but they show the eyepiece can be removed… but then don’t provide any alternative ones?!
Does the view degrade/chromatic aberration become more visible at the highest powers (apart from dimming - which happens to all scopes).

Thanks
Peter

 

[OrdinaryLight]

Svbony lists the 85APO at 2192g and the 80ED at 1625g - so about ~1.25lbs (~35%) heavier than the 80ED but well below your 4kg threshold.

 

[sillyak]

And in their ad they post a picture of someone shooting at birds! I don't see any relevant connecton between the two activities either.

John

Typical Chinese marketing. Ridiculous pictures made by someone who has never hunted, gone birding or maybe even used a spotting scope a day in his/her life.

Wingshooters don't use spotting scopes, nor do they hunt endangered eagles. Any half hearted attempt at a stock image would probably have some dorky dressed couple using it to look at a bird, and another with some random camo guy looking at an Elk, but this is the Chinese marketing department.

 

[wllmspd]

To their credit the marketing material is now mostly birding and nature and minimally hunting, so they listen to their potential customers and are open to suggestions.

Peter

PS I’m at a loss to understand why the eyepiece is removable if there is no alternative fixture or other eyepiece to replace it with…. Supposedly not 1.25” compatible, but maybe the Baader zoom with its spotting scope thread adapters might work…..?

 

[Prestdj]

are all these new scopes made in china? they look very similar or have similar features

im curious as i have a hawke 85mm ed which looks the same as a kowa 883

would like to learn more

 

[wllmspd]

Many of the models are essentially the same, but it’s hard to be sure as this would help to understand how they might perform and what eyepiece options they might have.
Peter

 

[BKoh]

Apart from

are all these new scopes made in china? they look very similar or have similar features

im curious as i have a hawke 85mm ed which looks the same as a kowa 883

would like to learn more

Apart from Nikon, Kowa, Leica, Zeiss, Pentax, Meopta and Swarovski, almost all other scopes are simply rebrands from OEM factories. Bosma (China) and Long Perng (Taiwan) for example are clearly the actual OEMs for quite a few scopes, you will recognize them by their shapes:

BOSMA

BOSMA

www.bosmaoptics.com

Long Perng / Long Perng Co., Ltd. 龍鵬實業有限公司

The most specialized and recognized manufactures of telescope and spotting scopes in the world!! 龍鵬實業有限公司為全台灣最專業的望遠鏡製造商 Long Perng

www.longperng.com.tw

This also answers the question of why things that would seem logical, like using standard eyepiece fittings or Arca Swiss feet, don't get addressed - because the original manufacturers decided otherwise, and the rebranders can only take it or leave it.

 

[Grigory]

K9 prism? Why not BaK4? What about ED prism?

 

[CatalanBirder]

Ordered one two days ago. 785€ with shipping and everything. Will give feedback after I try it.

It seems to share design with Vortex Optics spotting scopes but the Svbony is way cheaper even if some specifications are higher.

The APO Vortex scopes price is near 2.000$.

I'll come back when I get the scope!