REVIEW:
Svbony SV535 105mm f/2.8 Astrograph
First published March 2026
Intro
The Svbony SV535 is a compact 105mm f/2.8 astrograph designed for widefield astrophotography. On paper, it promises fast imaging speeds, huge fields of view, and an unusually low price. It’s certainly tiny — but is it mighty?
In this review, I put the Svbony SV535 through its paces from my Bortle 8 city centre location. I’ll cover image quality, usability, real-world performance, and whether it’s worth buying for beginner and experienced urban astrophotographers alike.
Svbony SV535 overview
Long-time readers will know that I usually image using an Askar 130PHQ telescope, a fantastic instrument capable of producing incredible results. With a focal length of 1000mm, you can really fill the frame with sweeping nebulae.
What intrigued me about the Svbony SV535 is just how different its focal length is: a mere 105mm, which allows for completely different framing of targets. I used to image with an Askar FRA400 (400mm focal length) and that was fairly wide; the Svbony SV535 takes that to the extreme.
It’s also fast, being f/2.8. (In astrophotography terms, speed is about how quickly you can collect photons of light to build up your signal-to-noise ratio). In theory, it’s over seven times faster than my Askar 130PHQ!
The Svbony SV535 also has a neat feature: you can screw your existing 2″ filters onto the front. The neatly side-steps a common pitfall of super-fast telescopes, that being the need for rarer (and more expensive) filters. It makes me happy that I never bought a filter wheel, instead using filter drawers.
It’s also tiny and light, which would make for a nice change of pace from my Askar 130PHQ. And then there’s the price, coming in at under £300. That’s incredibly cheap for astro gear.
Put all that together and I decided to bite the bullet and give it a go, figuring it could be a nice device to complement (but not replace!) my beloved Askar 130PHQ.
Svbony SV535 specifications
Here are the key specifications, just to quick overview of what to expect before diving into real-world performance.
Optical design: 7 elements in 5 groups (APO with ED glass)
Focal length: 105mm
Focal ratio: f/2.8 (fixed aperture)
Aperture: 35mm
Weight: 482g
Back focus: 24mm
Focuser type: Helical manual focuser
Rear connection: M42 × 0.75 thread
Filter compatibility: 2” filters (front-mounted, M48 thread)
Sensor compatibility: APS-C and full-frame supported
Mounting: Vixen-style dovetail + Arca-Swiss compatible
Building the rig
My initial plan was to piggyback the Svbony SV535 onto my Askar 130PHQ. My StellarDrive X 6R PRO mount is easily capable of handling the additional weight. But then I realised that I’d be limited to targets I was imaging using the main telescope, and those might not be optimal for the Svbony SV535, given their vastly different focal lengths. So instead, I built a mostly separate rig while reusing the most expensive components (the mount and camera).
Final rig setup:
- Svbony SV535 telescope
- SV219 300mm dovetail + Losmandy plate
- Finder bracket
- Svbony 30mm guidescope
- ZWO ASI120MM Mini (guiding)
- ZWO ASIAIR Mini (control)
- ZWO EAF + 3D-printed Deep SkyLab bracket
- Dew heaters
- Components shared with my main Askar 130PHQ rig: ZWO ASI 2600MC Pro camera, and StellarDrive X 6R PRO mount.
This approach keeps costs down while still giving me a stable, capable platform.
Switching between rigs is quick — I just swap the camera (about 30 seconds) and rebalance the mount (a couple of minutes).
Skip to the Where to Buy section for direct links to many of these items.
Notes on usability
The EAF bracket was designed by Deep SkyLab, with the .stl file kindly provided free of charge here. I ordered it via Graphite AM (in the UK) for £30 including delivery. I bought the belt and pulley kit from Amazon. I consider an EAF to be a key astrophotography accessory, so if you’re thinking about buying this telescope, the Deep SkyLab bracket is worth having made. Installation instructions are included in this YouTube video. Thanks, Deep SkyLab!
I did run into a small issue: the ASI2600MC Pro is quite large, so the finder bracket wouldn’t sit flush. I solved this with longer bolts. Slightly annoying, but manageable.
If I were building from scratch, I’d seriously consider a camera with a built-in ASIAIR. That would simplify the setup and significantly reduce cable clutter.
First light
As expected, buying new gear summoned clouds. My first test window was just a 30-minute gap, but enough to get a feel for the scope. Even with that short integration time, the results were promising.
The field of view is enormous. At 105mm, it easily captures the Orion Nebula, Horsehead Nebula, and surrounding regions in a single frame. Orion’s Belt sits neatly within the composition, giving a great sense of scale.
I also noticed that subframes are quite undersampled at this focal length, so drizzling x2 is a good idea during processing.
Star test: image quality and corner performance
The quality is solid straight out of the box. Stars do exhibit some abberations in the corners, but nothing unexpected at this price point. BlurXTerminator fixes these very effectively. Note I’m using an APS-C sensor, although Svbony say the SV535 should be fine for full-frame.
Check the slider view below to compare stars from the centre and edges of the frame. On the left is the normal view; on the right is after BlurXTerminator has been applied.
First full image (deep sky performance)
About a week later and I had a decent run of clear weather, so could put the Svbony SV535 properly through its paces. I decided to image the Heart and Soul Nebulae, plus their surroundings, so I could try my go-to technique of producing an SHO image using an OSC camera. To do this, I’d use three filters:
* Optolong L-Quad Enhance (RGB broadband)
* Optolong L-Ultimate (Hα/OIII)
* Askar E2 (SII/OIII)
Rotating the camera to get the desired framing is a bit fiddly. You need to loosen the lens holder using a big silver thumb-screw, which is tricky to access when you’ve got the camera and accessories attached. The system does work, but it’s not as slick as a proper camera rotator.
Changing filters requires unscrewing the entire lens hood to gain access to the telescope’s front element, which is threaded to accept 2″ filters. Once you’ve fixed your filter into place, you then screw the lens hood back on. It’s a bit laborious, but if that’s the price we have to pay to use any 2″ filters with this telescope, then fine.
At f/2.8, it gathers light quickly. My final image used around 11 hours of exposure, and the result is impressively detailed — especially considering I’m imaging from a Bortle 8 location.
Drizzling significantly boosts resolution. The final image scales up to around 12,000 × 8,000 pixels, giving plenty of flexibility for cropping.
Svbony SV535 Verdict
The good:
* Very light and compact
* Incredible value for money
* Good star quality (excellent after BlurXTerminator)
* Supports standard 2” filters
* Extremely fast at f/2.8
* Huge field of view for large targets
* Very forgiving to use (tracking doesn’t need to be perfect)
* Genuinely fun to image with
The not-so-good:
* Lens hood is fiddly when swapping filters
* No lens cap for the hood included
* Finder bracket fit can be awkward with larger cameras
* No in-built rotator
* No backfocus space to fit accessories like filter wheels or OAGs
* Requires a custom/3D-printed EAF bracket
Final thoughts
The Svbony SV535 is a brilliant little telescope. It has a few minor niggles, mostly in its physical design, but these pale compared to its plus points. I give it a strong recommend as:
- A starter telescope for astrophotographers moving beyond DSLR lenses
- A secondary widefield scope for more advanced imagers
If you want to capture large areas of the sky quickly, especially under light-polluted skies, the Svbony SV535 is an easy recommendation.
Svbony SV535 FAQ
Is the Svbony SV535 good for beginners?
Yes, its short focal length (105mm) and fast f/2.8 optics make it very forgiving. You don’t need perfect mount tracking, and you can achieve good results relatively quickly. Note it’s not just for beginners though, as advanced users will find a lot to enjoy too.
Is the Svbony SV535 good for urban astrophotograpy?
Yes, the fast optics help to get a good signal-to-noise ratio quickly (which is essential to combatting light pollution).
What’s the star quality like?
Pretty good, and any abberations are fixed very neatly with BlurXTerminator.
What can you image with the Svbony SV535?
It’s best for large nebulae and sweeping star fields. It’s no good for planets (they’ll appear too small), and I don’t recommend it for galaxies either.
Does the Svbony SV535 work with full-frame cameras?
Svbony say it does, although I only tested it with an APS-C sensor. It should attach easily to whatever camera you have, but check with your supplier that it will come with the right adapter.
Can you use standard 2-inch filters with the Svbony SV535?
Yes, and this is one of its standout features. You can mount them directly onto the front of the telescope. The downside is that swapping filters requires removing the lens hood.
Does the Svbony SV535 have a rotator?
Unfortunately no, to adjust framing you need to loosen the lens holder thumbscrew and rotate the entire assembly. This is a bit fiddly.
Can you use a filter wheel or OAG with the Svbony SV535?
No, there’s not enough backfocus. Filters must be attached to the front, and you’ll need to use a guidescope for guiding.
Do you need an electronic focuser (EAF) with the Svbony SV535?
Technically you don’t need one to use the telescope, but I very strongly recommend one. It’ll make your imaging life so much easier! The SV535 doesn’t have native EAF support, so you’ll need a custom or 3D-printed bracket (such as the Deep SkyLab design used in this review).
Is the Svbony SV535 better than using a camera lens?
Almost certainly yes. Camera lenses are designed as a jack-of-all-trades, and as such aren’t optimised for the demands of astrophotography. Compared to camera lenses, the SV535 will give better star quality and easier integration into astrophotography rigs.
Is the Svbony SV535 worth it?
I think it represents excellent value. You get fast optics, a huge field of view, compatability with 2″ filters, and a lightweight design. It may not be perfect, but it’s pretty close, and the value for money is outstanding.
Gallery
Where to buy the Svbony SV535
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Telescope: Svbony SV535
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Camera: ZWO ASI 2600MC Pro
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Mount: StellarDrive X 6R PRO
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Buy EQ6-R PRO from Astroshop.eu
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Rebuilt into a StellarDrive X 6R PRO by DarkFrame Optics.
Svbony SV165 Guidescope
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Guidecam: ZWO ASI 120MM Mini
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Control: ASIAIR Mini
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I jujst read your review of DarkFrame and the work they did on your mount. I am rather excited because I have had major issues with my HEQ5-Pro. Dave emailed me last week to let me know that he hopes to send my mount back to me this coming week. The heat you guys have been experiencing in the UK prevented him from completing the final testing of my mount. You had extreme heat and I have had extreme rain with the heat in between the rain showers.
It is too bad that you were not able to test this scope with a full-frame camera. I have the Askar ACL200 and suffer from severe vignetting with my Sony a7RM3 – I use the WO e-mount adapter to connect the camera to the ACL200. With the SV535 entered in Stellarium, and with the a7RM3, there are some really interesting wide-field shots – if this lens truely supports FF without the serious vignetting that I experience using the ACL200.
Orion, and several others, frame up quite nicely on Stellarium with the Altair269C Pro-Tec – so this little lens has some good possibilities, if it really supports FF.
Thanks, I agree that full frame would be great on this camera, assuming the corners hold up. I’m having fun using it with APS-C though; my current imaging project uses this set-up. I just need one or two more clear nights…
I hope you get your mount back soon. Mine is still silky smooth since Dace worked his magic!
Lee, please do not take offense with this. I have been thinking about this for a while and with your reply to my comment, well, perhaps you might be the one to tell me that I am totally bonkers and belong in the loony bin, or I am the most brilliant thing to come into the astrophotogrphy world in 400-years.
So, to begin:
I just ordered the ToupTek AE676C camera. My wife, who was so very deeply involved with all aspects of this astrophotography business, died earlier this year. I am seriously thinking, when I have the AE676C and SV535, to post a challenge, in the name of my wife, to Nico Carver, Trevor Jones, Wido (we live just about 2-hours down the road from each other), Luke Newbould (he developed AstroWizard) and of course you if you would be interested.
The rules for the challenge would be very simple. The following is the only equipment that is to be used:
• ToupTek AE676C camera
• Svbony SV535 telescope
• AstroWizard for processing
• APT and PHD2: Using only these keeps things about the same with regard to imaging.
• I live at 52 degrees so the target for each session must be agreed to by all parties and be in the 52 +/- region.
No filters of any kind can be used. Period, end of story as far as the only equipment/software allowed.
These guys are doing all of their reviews of the different equipment and software. At times, they have had their own private challenges over processing/targets/etc that they “shared” with the commoners. All this time, they have been saying that X camera is good for Y audience, Z camera is better for the ADFH whatever group and so on.
They have reviewed the equipment I am looking at and made comments concerning the targeted audience for this equipment and the processing software it is best targeted for.
I think this would really be a fun type of open challenge!!! While the challenge would primarily be directed against the key players in this field, it would be open for everyone to submit their best work restricted to the equipment/software requirements stated above. My wife would definitely want this kind of challenge and I am so sorry that she is not here for this.
I would be doing all of the work as far as advertising, sponsorship, etc. ToupTek, Svbony and AstroWizard would be invited to provide judges and I think, something like this, would motivate them to provide prizes for what ever catagories are decided upon.
Tell me what you think about this idea. I now have nothing better to do so I have the time to make it happen – unless you think I am totally out beyond the far side of NGC7000.
So sorry to hear about your wife, it would be great to do something in her name. A competition is a good idea, and could capture the imagination of the community.
SVBony regularly run competitions (e.g. https://www.svbony.com/blog/sv535-boundless-starfield-imaging-challenge-is-live) so you could contact them about an SV535 with AE676C challenge? I wonder if also specifying processing and guiding software might make it too restrictive, and so discourage participants?