Tag Archives: birding

Gadgets, Shooting Sports

SVBony SV29 25-75×80

The SV29 is a budget 25-75×80 mm spotting scope aimed at target shooters, birders, and anyone who wants high magnification without paying a premium-price. I got the tripod starter kit which comes with an SVBony light tripod, and a phone adapter for taking photos and video. In addition, the scope has a Vixen-style dovetail so you can slap on a red-dot or optical finder, a feature usually only found in astronomy telescopes.

The 1.25″ eyepiece is detachable, so you can swap in astronomical or electronic eyepieces from 3rd parties and SVBony. The tripod kit includes a forgetable but basic, light weight aluminmum tripod. While there are higher quality spotting scopes, I haven’t found many as good or feature packed as the SV29 for a street price under $200.

SHOP

SV29 –Only: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0H148WG9B?maas=maas_adg_FF8AD3737814C7837E1EC321C7E4694A_afap_abs&ref_=aa_maas&tag=maas&th=1

SV29 – Tripod Bundle: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0H1463VG3?maas=maas_adg_0CB5C353586E0782F4B7C9A8C9B49496_afap_abs&ref_=aa_maas&tag=maas&th=1

Scope:

Bundle:

Discount Code: SV29MOON
Valid through the end of October, 2026

SPECS

  • Magnification: 25–75×
  • Objective: 80 mm
  • Optical system: 4 groups / 6 elements
  • Apparent FOV: 40°–56°
  • Minimum Focus: 10m
  • Exit Pupal: 3.2mm-1.06mm
  • Eye relief: 16.3–18.3 mm (twist-up eyecups)
  • Prism: Silver-Coated Porro
  • Eyepiece: 1.25″
  • Length (Depth): 47 cm / 18.5″
  • Width: 17 cm / 6.7″
  • Height: 12 cm / 4.7″
  • Weight: 1.25kg / 44 oz
  • Finder interface: Vixen-style dovetail
  • Extras: phone adapter / aluminum tripod

Gadgets, Product Reviews

Maven B.3 6×30 Compact Binoculars

https://youtu.be/EFFqttX-Zww

The Maven B.3 series of compact binoculars are designed for those who want high performance in a small package. Despite its size, it offers a generous exit pupil for a big image. Its 30mm object Japanese ED glass offers extremely bright and clear image with a wide depth of field and field of view.

The body is covered in a rubberized grey armor with stylish color accents that can be customized on Maven’s website. It comes with retained lens covers and a neck strap. It has integral, rotate to extend eye-cups and a buttery smooth focus dial.

Maven is the most premium-looking American-made optics. They also offer the most customizable products of any optics maker. When purchased from the website, you can upgrade to a custom package which allows you to change or customize the color of its components and skin.

Maven is known for making some of the most luxurious-looking optics in the market, with stylish external design, colors, and user customization. They also produce some excellent performing pocket-sized binoculars in the B.3 series. I reviewed their 8×30 binoculars a year ago. This season I test its 6x model offering a wider field of view in an identical footprint.

The 6×30 produced a crisp, bright, and color-accurate image. It is lightweight and small enough to fit into a wide coat pocket. While this performance and style comes at a premium price, its performance is worth every penny.

SHOP

Amazon https://amzn.to/4jz2tPt

SPECS

Magnification: 6x
Objective Lens: 30mm
Glass Type: ED (Extra-low Dispersion) Glass
Lens Coating: Fully Multi-Coated (Scratch & Oil Resistant)
Prism Type: Schmidt-Pechan, with Phase Correction & Dielectric Coatings
FOV @ 1000 yrds: 8.5° (446 ft)
Exit Pupil: 5mm
Eye Relief: 18.3mm
Weight: ~16.1 oz (457g)
Width: ~4.7 in
Height: 4.6 in
Depth: 1.6 in
Close focus: 8.2 ft (2.5m)
Waterproof: IPX7

Shooting Sports

Athlon Midas G2 UHD 10×25

Athlon Midas G2 UHD 10×25 are Athlon’s smallest and lightest folding travel binoculars. But unlike other compact folding bino’s this has a decent eyebox and exit pupil which doesn’t look like you’re looking through a straw. And it features a decent sized 25mm objectives for good light gathering from its UHD glass.

It has a magnesium tube and frame which is light weight. Save for some plastic panels along the bridge, it is almost entirely metal. It comes with a nice padded case and neck strap but for maximum portability, it can fold compact enough that can fit into a shirt or pants pocket. This is practically an EDC kind bino that can be an excellent backup optic but with enough performance that it can substitute for a larger bino in a pinch.

BUY

Amazon https://amzn.to/42XllR2

SPECS

Objective Lens Diameter25 Millimeters
Magnification Maximum1 x
Specific UsesHunting and Shooting or Sports
Mount TypeTripod Mount
Eye Relief15.5 Millimeters
Prism TypeRoof Prism
Exit-Pupil Diameter2.5 Millimeters
CoatingPhase Coating
Water Resistance LevelWaterproof
Focus TypeFixed Focus
Zoom Ratio10 multiplier_x
Field of View5.4 Degrees