Get the Vaonis Vespera II: bit.ly/3YZVp4B (Vaonis) or bit.ly/40QA3sT (HPS) Main Vaonis Website: bit.ly/3V3GogL One additional note I learned after making the video: it has an integrated dew heater... But apparently, unless I'm mistaken, it can only be used if you buy their $120 hygrometer chip. Then the dew heater will be activated at the right time with the right power settings to function optimally while using as little power as possible. While this is nice it is also quite annoying to have to purchase yet another element, when a software switch/dew heater power setting would also work well... My Patreon: www.patreon.com/cuivlazygeek My Merch Store: cuiv.myspreadshop.com/ Amazon affiliate: amzn.to/49XTx01 Agena affiliate: bit.ly/3Om0hNG High Point Scientific affiliate: bit.ly/3lReu8R First Light Optics affiliate: tinyurl.com/yxd2jkr2 All-Star Telescope affiliate: bit.ly/3SCgVbV Astroshop eu Affiliate: tinyurl.com/2vafkax8
Vespera recognizes the original filters with its contacts on the filter holder. For DIY purposes, You simply need to touch both pins with an resistor with the following values: * 4.7kΩ: the Solar filter is installed * 10kΩ: the CLS filter is installed * 22kΩ: the dual band (DB) narrowband filter is installed
Great review. I wish the S50 had that automation. We are in the infancy of smart telescopes. The advancements over the next 5-10 years will be fun to watch as they play out.
Very useful, as I am almost going to call it a day with the standard kit for astrophotography and move over to one of these all in ones as my main option. The standard kit may gain more detail and have much more flexibility, but having to assemble and disassemble it each and every time, as well as all the set-up just to get it all to work as one, makes it somewhat tiring and frustrating when it does not go to plan. I am not after Hubble space pictures but something I can enjoy as in building a year by year portfolio of the astronomical delights.
Thanks for your efforts on this. It makes me feel very happy with my Seestar (1yr old on 5 Dec) choice. I could never justify this price for a better sensor. That I don’t have to go outside once setup to add/remove filters is a bonus and Seestar are making significant improvements to the firmware/software packages all the time. This is very obvious if I compare my early images to the same observations today. It suits me perfectly and is/was entirely affordable with good value for the price. Thanks again, Cuiv!
it's not only a better sensor. It's a robust build, best optics, much wider FoV, mosaic mode (much larger than the tiny of the S50), multi night .... it's just worth it. Now the S50 is doing great for its price as well.
@@legrandtrip Well with 4x the price it should mean the components and their performance offerings are worth the extra they cost. I'd be hard pressed to say the cost of base unit plus options is built for anyone except those with well heeled wallets. It's kind of discouraging this is the premium 50mm and it requires ala carte extras to level the playing field with something 4x less.
That's pretty impressive for a smart telescope but this is what I expected from the Vespera which builds on the Stellina which was also revolutionary for its time and actually set the stage for smart telescopes IMO. Excellent review and wow the results are amazing. Thanks for the video!
Excellent video, I just took delivery only yesterday of the Vespera II with a complete set of filters. I am in a Bortle 5 area - I notice you commented about not really needing filters in that kind of Bortle sky but would I still benefit (colour detail wise) using the dual band filter ? Your image of the Veil nebula was especially outstanding. Steve (Muston Observatory)
This is a very good review. Thanks Cuiv. I have a Vespera II and agree with Cuiv's comments, strengths and weaknesses. Spot on. Regarding price - if you can afford to watch Cuiv's channel then the Vespera II is a bargain. I can trace most of my spending to watching videos here. It is inspiring but expensive.🤣😂
Memory is only an issue for fits users… if you turn those off it’s a non issue… not sure why they skimped on the battery, my classics battery life is over twice as long… but really no biggie because most use an external battery anyway
Another great review. You make it a very tempting purchase but I still think the price is going to make me think carefully. Thanks for the heads up on the comment about how RUclips looks at viewership. For some reason I thought they also looked at comments, shares, etc. Wish ZWO had gone with a larger scope in the Seestar line but to be honest I am not sure that is the direction they are headed. I just don't see a Seestar S80+.
I ve got the V2.. amazing scope. I had an esvcope 2 from Unistellar before about x3 times the price, it's a piece of crap ! I don't understand how people still buy it now the competition is so much better.... Vespera2 is simply amazing, you get amazing images especially of nebulae with the wider FoV + the Mosaic mode is exceptionnal ! it's about 3-4 times the price of a Seestar S50 but it's defintely worth it, you know what you re paying for, it's so much better ! I also did the full Veil nebula and none of the other smart scopes in the market can do that ( same for other nebulae... I did a few like that: Eagle+omega / Cat's Paw + lobster / Trifid+lagoon...)
Nice review Cuiv. The thing I worry about with these ‘smart’ all-in-one telescopes is that they’re a bit throw-away as the next generations are released as there is really no upgrade or re-usability path. I’m trying to understand the market. Maybe for those who will not really get into AP or Astronomy with full sized telescopes it’s a way to be casually introduced to the hobby, or maybe for those who are getting too old to lug around AP stuff, it might be something to enjoy the hobby with in our older years.
Agreed, so there should be a fairly robust after market supply of these as they age out and the next, more expensive ones come on line. At the sub $500 mark for used, they should be snapped up pretty quickly by the next bunch of would be Hubbles.
YES! That is my main worry with these. I really like the positives of those scopes, but the obsolescence will really hurt... At least I expect all of these scopes to be sold on the used market, checking the "Reuse" checkbox for a while... But they definitely run counter to the "Reduce" checkbox
@@CuivTheLazyGeek I’m at 3 years with my classic but every time I feel like I have gotten as good as I can get, Vaonis updates the software adding more life, the latest multinight feature has me beating my best images by a lot…. No idea if the lifespan but still going strong
Great review. I'm intrigued now whether the D3 will be able to switch filters internally within it's shoot scheduling. Im expecting delivery any day so will report back! Loving watching the evolution of these smart scopes.
@@CuivTheLazyGeek Amazing! The scheduling is going to be a game changer. I really enjoy the regular feature updates with Dwarflab, gives the scope a new lease of life every couple months. I think their mosaic mode could be next.
Nice Review Cuiv, the only thing I saw you missed that users may be interested in, when framing your mosaic you can rotate the target to fit whatever framing you have chosen
Very interesting device. First time I saw it, I thought the focal length would be more than the S50. I have both Seestars and they're great. I don't know if the 585 sensor is enough for me to pay the higher price. Definitely a thinker. I'm really enjoying the battle of the smart scopes!
Cuiv, thanks for a good overview of the strengths and weaknesses of the V2. I've bumped my S50 around a bit and never had issues with breakage so that's an odd thing to happen. I find the price of the V2 and the need to buy options included on the lower priced S50 a strange marketing ploy, perhaps along the lines of "Well if they want to pay X for the V2 then surely they boot us more profit on these other bits." I do like the performance, though I do think as you that it was short-sighted to use an abysmally small onboard memory, wifi-download, and 4hr battery. I like that I can plug my S50 into the laptop and download (and/or delete) all files on the S50 by merely selecting the MyWorks folder, alternately I can choose individual folders and zip them off. And that is pretty quick with the USB-C. I guess if one's pockets are deep the limitations can be 'lived with' for the price, but given the other side of the aisle with the Origin has greater storage, battery life, and aperture I wonder if paying 2x the V2 is the more premium choice?
Wow, Cuiv, you sold me! I used your link and purchased one after watching this. It was when you were describing the build quality that you got me -- but then when you described how the internal stacking is so good that you don't bother to keep FITS files, I was astounded. And obviously they did a much better job implementing mosaics than the Seestar team. You mean I can get great images without waiting 24 hours for PixInsight to stack them? Ok, I'm in! Thanks for the great review. I think I'll keep the FITS files for a while and then compare the native stack with a PixInsight re-stacking!
You will be very happy.. and another nice feature is you can download the unstretched tiff to your camera roll at anytime during the exposure without stopping… it’s a cool scope
I have the Vespera classic (original) then I bought the pro and compared them side-by-side. The classic out performed the pro as far as signal accuracy (noise) so I sold the pro. Then they came out with multi night stacking so that might’ve improved the pro dramatically, but I will never know. I am happy with the classic, but when they come out with a longer battery life and more storage in the II, I will sell my classic and get that. Until then it fits in my arsenal at the lower end as far as quality and time invested. My upper ends are Stellarvue 70, 90 and 140. That said, I am happy with the classic. Wish you could use the USBC for data transfer as well, but now it is only power.
I’m still very happy with my classic, it has served me well… I still think they will eventually make a second generation stellina and so I am content to wait for that
So true, people tend to think cheap is better but it is a false economy!! I like cry once option as im the only one smiling during star parties when i compare quality of my stuff to the other cheaper options
@CuivTheLazyGeek your videos are always useful! Can you please do a tutorial how you prefer to combine OSC dual narrowband and RGB data, like from the Seestar? For example, targets with both reflection and emission components like the Trifid Nebula.
Hi Cuiv and thanks for the review. A bit steep a price for what the seestar can do. Hopefully, planning and multiple nights on a target without saving files will be in future firmware upgrades. Curious, does it have an automated dew heater that when turned on will do new calibration frames? If I know dew is iminanant with my seestar I turn it on before and calibrate to avoid hot pixels. Thanks again.
The internal storage is frustrating, especially when the cheaper options have it. I can live with less internal battery as I’m already supplementing my Seestar S50 with a small power station. With the light pollution filter and tripod, and converting to Canadian it is over $3000 plus shipping and plus taxes/VAT. It’s almost worth considering just getting the ZWO ASI585 MC Pro and the ASiAir Plus, a Redcat 51 or ZWO FF 65 APO. and the 3D printed star tracker or a used star tracker for slightly less money. Granted not as portable, and more time to set up but better potential image results. Can probably pick up a used SeeStar S50 for the price difference. What I am glad about is that maybe this will push ZWO to come up with a version 2 of the SeeStar with the 585 chip and better optics for a much cheaper price. Be great to get that with an EQ type mount (which I doubt they will do). But at this point, to get better images than the SeeStar S50 can provide this will lead me to looking at a bigger set up. Thank you for the review, as I was considering getting the Vespera II before I calculated the landed price to Canada.
I know some people have been setting them up in EQ but as it wasn't designed to be used like that, I imagine they could be concerned about the devices breaking after regular use in EQ.
Their on the right track, honestly, I hope they build a more extensive unit. Even if it cost $10k, as long as it’s got all the bells and whistles, it’s still competitive with a home built unit. Do the math, EQ mount, focuser, filter wheel, filters, telescope, reducer, cameras, PC, cables and such, easy $10k. But much more compact and smarter. 43:03
❤ great review I do have one question you said there was a 4-Hour battery life what kind of external battery pack did you use for the full night setup because you started it at 1600 and ended at 400 hours which is a 10-hour period I would like to see you do a comparison between this 1690 smart scope in the dwarf 3 those are the two I'm now looking at any help you can give me would be greatly appreciated
Thats a very good sign with the Trapezium, I have not seen a smart telescope that has delininated it successfully yet, its normally blown out. I do think you should get the ancillary equipment with the Vespera II, not as add ons.
@@CuivTheLazyGeek it will be interesting what they do when they move away from the vespera design…. At the time it was born they did not have any competitors so they were taking advantage of revenue streams that seemed more justified, however the landscape has changed with cheap competitors providing built in filters/ dew heaters etc…. It would make more sense for them to do the same, we will see how that plays out
Thanks for the review, seems very limited for the price. Looks like I'll stick with my plan of chilling out with the Dwarf3 and several bottles of good wine!
The biggest question is if I can take something like ASI585, AT60ED and AZ GTi... and get something equivalent in same price range but flexible? Big thing about Dwarf III, SeeStar 50/30 is price performance. This is not in same category.
Especially since nowadays you don't need even a mini PC and you can do it all on Android. Cuiv I dropped an interesting update to you regarding O.L.S. via mai l
Ti dico la mia esperienza: totalmente soddisfatto di S50 per il suo rapporto qualità/prezzo eccellente, fa foto fantastiche, è leggero e pronto all'uso in pochi secondi. Poi quando voglio fare meglio, uso il mio 102ED su EQ5 e mi sento un re! 😊
I personally would choose v2 over pro…. As far as origin..I admire its output… but size/weight/price/value are pretty major things to consider, I chose to pass for now and see what all the next generations look like
@@EricWZ … mostly a personal choice… the pro is capable of better images but the combination of optics and chip it uses I think makes it much slower…. However Vaonis is still considering turning on high performance gain and they have yet to implement auto dark frame subtraction so my mind could be changed….. but anyway my recommendation right now is most would be happier with the v2…. And the v1 is no slouch if you find a good deal on a used one
Magic... uhmm.. seems far advanced backlash compensation and much better optics.... means better results... of course.. with a good Sake... thanks for share
The price is acceptable I think but for my used case it is too large😅 Edit: I`d prefer a red light around the on/off button The imaging plans are nice upgrade to the competitors
Hi could you make a video about processing the Dwarf 3 images with Siril, gimp and Graxpert? I'm curious to know how the include the dark frames. Thank you.
Does anyone know if there is a smart telescope with an equatorial mount and not an alt-azimuth mount? I can’t seem to find any, even on the really expensive ones which cost like £4000+.
Not technically, but both the Dwarf and the Seestars can be used in an EQ mode. The Dwarf can do it right out of the box, while the S50 can do it with some inexpensive hardware and tricking the software. I believe the Celestron Origin will eventually get a wedge to allow EQ operation.
The Dwarf 2 and 3 are the only smart scopes currently officially supporting EQ mode. The S50 EQ mode either has limitations, or requires third party control software to use...
Are you saying they installed the 585 sensor just for you? Lol! On a serious note I suspect with each new version of the Vespera the price will need to come down even further if they are to seriously compete with Dwarf and ZWO smart telescopes. Or they may create another version equivalent.
Hi Cuiv, It is un my wish list,nor maybe with the Unistellar Odyssey ( another french tool ^^), but I have no information if the camera they out in it. Another thing that is not with the vespera and it is in the Seestar is the dew heater 😢 The app from Vaonis, and the mosaic mode is insane, No information of mosaic mode on the Odissey 😢
Expecting plan my night and mosaic imminently on d3, however this will be their first time so it may take a while to refine, Vaonis has been at this a while so it’s pretty mature at this point… although mosaics in plan my night is new
@@CuivTheLazyGeek if you were keeping it I would just send you my stl file so you could print that and use 2” filters… I know you have a bunch of those that would be fun to try on the v2, I currently just use the l’enhance on mine for emmision and baader neodymium for everything else… those have worked well for me in bortle 5
Vespera seems limited for the price. Minimum storage, no dew filter, no ir-cut filter. I almost ordered one but ended up with a Seestar instead. Its less than half the price, and includes even a sun filter. 😀
A loaded Vespera gets you closer to the price of a Celestron Origin with its 150mm f/2.2 optical train. Of course, more size equals less portability. Personally, for a grab'n-go smartscope, I'd prefer spending a bit more ($750) for a SeeStar s50+ with a sensor upgraded to an ASI585 and one of the new "do all" guad filters. Otherwise, give me an AM5n, 90mm Petzval refractor, and an ASI2600CM Air.
While it's a nice scope, it's definitely not 4 times nicer than a Seestar S50 (which I own) or a Dwarf3. The plan feature seems great (technically you can do this with Seestar using the ALP software, but it's not the easiest thing to use, so ZWO really needs to add it to the base software app), but not having the DB/LP filter integrated really hurts. Planning is also not helped by the fact that while the Vespera evidentially has a dew heater, the only way to control it is with the Hygrometer accessory, so add another $120 to the total. It's got a great sensor, but again, it's limited by the feeble on board storage. That seems to be the pattern with this thing, great features kneecapped by strange design choices.
Yep I agree with a lot of those points - at the minimum it should have had 64 or 128GB of internal storage, and a dew heater switch in the software (didn't realize the dew heater could only be used with the hygrometer when I made the video). I still think it gets really good results :)
When a friend sends me his Vespera shots it seems the scope automatically applies contrast and color enhancement. I guess in Bortle 5 that's a good thing. Would be nice to see a comparison of S50 light pollution filter to the Vespera filter. I've been tempted to stick a camera filter in front of the S50 to see results.
He did not mention it in his review but you can use standard 2” filters with it via a 3d printed adapter, I use the l’enhance and baader neodymium with mine, works great
It does not know, you will need to be aware of your surroundings, I consult sky safari with a custom horizon made with observer pro… that allows me to plan observing sessions around all my trees
The problem appart the unjustified price, is that after purchase Vaonis support does not exist, so i will never go with them. Very happy with my s50 at less than third of the cost
Yep - afaik right now the only smart scopes with EQ support are the humble Dwarf 2 and Dwarf 3!! Although I believe it is planned for the Celestron Origin. My guess is that vendors fear users would improperly set up the scopes, causing them to tip over, etc.
RFID NFC if wireless, or what I have, wired, resistors serving as identities for my scopes, automatically setting the filenames, and I use network cables and connectors, because I have plenty of those. It's really no rocket science.
Do any of the smart telescopes have future guarantees that the software will remain supported in the future? I feel like I have too many things made into paperweights by abandonware unnecessarily. It really keeps me away from all the smart telescopes :(
Historically Vaonis has kept up software updates for all of their scopes… however the software is getting more advanced and they will eventually have to stop supporting stellina because it has a Rasberry 3, all the vesperas have the pi4 board
Don't get me wrong, I like some of these self contained solutions. I have an S50 as well as my C8/Hyperstar rig. But aiming so high in the market seems counterintuitive. For your £2k or thereabouts, you could get a nice 50mm refractor, a 585 sensor camera, an EAF, an OAG, a tripod, a mini PC and some decent filters, with all the versatility (and I grant you, headaches) of such a set-up. No, you won't get a mount, but there are relatively inexpensive and comparable items available if starting out. And the target group, are surely more likely the 'geeks' who want to be able to tweak and chop and change, and upgrade. It's like hifi, you don't buy an all in one unit if you want to go high end, unless you like the styling of Bang & Olufson.
You are paying for convenience … which a lot of people with money will go towards smart option rather than wanting to geek out on details.. vespera have done well and build quality.. same for luxury cars, regular people cannot justify high cost but those who have disposable income can afford do
@@CuivTheLazyGeek I think what throws me is how they have almost deliberately made their target audience very small, which inevitably keeps the price high and locks things in a circle.. High price - > only rich, fairly keen audience - > small demographic - > low number sales (relatively) - > high price. ZWO have followed the opposite philosophy by keeping the price low and profiting by high volume. I guess you pay your money and take your choice, but I prefer the option that brings the wonder of the night sky to a greater audience, and allows me as a geek to have an extra option rather than a choice between devices.
Well I guess it will be a hard pass for me. Too much stuff you have to buy extra. It should all come with the scope. I'll just stick to my Seestar for now. It came with all the extras for WAY less money.
Not worth the price for sure. Thanks for the review. I’m going to get a smart telescope eventually but I think I’m waiting for the next iteration of the Seestar or Dwarf and see what improvements they make.
Yeah, added some info to the pinned comment, it does have one but you need to shell out $120 for the hygrometer... there should be a switch in the software as an alternative...
I use a 585 camera with my Red Cat 51 which gives more or less the same field of view but I do have the advantage of field rotation so I can (just about) get the Andromeda galaxy in the frame. I really like the 585 sensor too, I'm suprised that ZWO haven't fitted this to the SeeStar S50. I have no need of a smart scooe at the moment but If I did I don't know whether I would buy this, seems a bit expensive and I don't like being locked in to the manufacturers limited filter set. I do like the planer, but to be honest there aren't that many nights that are clear all the way trough. Good review anyway Cuiv. Clear Skies
Bit more of what you'll get into with Vaonis. The touch thingy has failed on updates. They are making one app for 4 scopes and trying to consolidate 4 different sensors into one flow that isn't doing so well with one on one update, and another on the next. Filters are from Vaonis only and there is a lottery in play that is a fight to get replacements. Promised a great experience with the Eclipse and try and find anyone that had success. The added features are game changers and hopefully will just drive the others to follow suit.
Interesting, thanks for the heads up! I've had it for around 3-4 months now and haven't had such failures yet, hopefully it's a thing of the past. Do you have more data on the filters? The LP filter is broad enough that I can't imagine a faulty one (mine was fine on my spectrometer), and even the dual band one with its 12nm bandpasses should be really hard to mess up...! I do hope the features get picked up by the competition as well!
I saw success on the eclipse with vespera on fb, I personally chose to use dwarf2 for the eclipse though…it did remarkably well… actually find the dwarfs the best for lunar and solar, it’s always the scope I grab for that
ill be brief, not worth the money. seestar s50 hands down has the best value and does a good job.. for te preice of one of those, i could have 3 s50 shooting mosaics all night... The better image sensor is not worth the extra money
Yup. EQ6 Mount Body Weight: 15.4kg, Tripod Weight: 7.5kg. I take my Vespera II to nice dark nights on a plane in its backpack under the seat in front of me. 5kg.
@compadrechuma Portability is important, no doubt, but when it comes to maximizing flexibility and value, an equatorial mount truly shines. It allows you to use everything from a DSLR with a lens to telescopes with various cameras, giving you the freedom to explore and grow in your astrophotography journey. Investing in versatility now means you're not limited to a basic alt-azimuth setup that might feel restrictive as your skills and ambitions expand. Technology is always advancing, and new gear will come along, but by choosing a tool that adapts with you, you'll be ready to evolve without starting from scratch every few years. Think long-term, and make each decision a step toward your ultimate goals.
@@BeyondLumen Thanks. I do have a NYX 101, 125mm Triplet APO and use my Nikon Z6ii. I love it all. But in the UK if it is dark it is winter, so cloudy, wet and cold. If it is warm and clear it is summer, so it isn't dark. This rig lets me go somewhere warm, clear and dark. Horses for courses. Cheers
@@compadrechuma if I'm not mistaken I think it was cuiv that had said a while back that there's a wedge or an equatorial feature on the sea star s50 now that if true that is portability and it encompasses EQ you're still limited because obviously it's all in one system but at least you have better tracking
Another great video so no fault to you Cuiv on what I am saying below I am not a fan of this telescope and all the automation. Astronomy and astrophotography are very scientific yet we have people creating these devices trying to make the hobby more accessible but this is very misguided in my opinion. People are going to buy these toys and never take the time to learn the science of astronomy and just like everything else in our culture it lets people pretend to be something they are not. I was talking to a guy at a party recently and he was telling everyone he was an amateur astronomer and showing pictures from his toy and when I asked him questions about those images he couldn’t answer a simple question I asked him. These toys are creating lots of pretend astronomers and it does a huge injustice to our beloved hobby
I very much disagree here - people having fun capturing cool images without understanding the science underneath doesn't cheapen the hobby in my opinion. I don't see them as pretend astronomers/astrophotographers - they ARE astronomers/astrophotographers per the very definition of the term. And many will learn from their curiosity, maybe upgrade to full astrophoto rigs, etc. And those that don't? That's perfectly fine too! I much prefer to see amateur astronomers with not much understanding of the fundamentals than people who have no interest at all in the night sky. Heck, give me a dob and I can't for the life of me find targets manually, I'm too used to GoTo mounts. But I'll be (and have in the past) moving the Dob across the Milky Way, being absolutely wowed by what I see, even if I don't know exactly what I'm looking at.
@@CuivTheLazyGeek I’ve had a good bit of expensive Astro equipment and my Vespera has seen more light than any of it…. I think people just need to experience robotics to fully appreciate it…. There is not much you can say to convince people til they take the leap. It’s not for everyone but it for me it definitely made me a better astronomer
@@CuivTheLazyGeek the real fun comes from the challenge of dealing with new issues every night. When you have an equatorial mount, a auto focuser, a camera, rotator, a flat panel, a mini pc, an OAG it becomes a new adventure every night. It excites me to setup my gear not knowing what new issues I will be troubleshooting in the middle of the night because so many things can go wrong and usually do. The adventure of that aspect along with pulling out my star catalogs and looking for something interesting to go image. A single function integrated telescope like a Seestar or a Vespera take all that adventure away. I have a Seestar and earlier this year I had ordered a Vespera and canceled my order before it shipped and bought a new camera and new telescope because I hardly use my Seestar so way spend all that money on a Vespera Pro. To each is own that is why I like living in America it’s a free country and people can choose their own path and can also freely express their own opinions.
@@longhornastro You said it - to each their own. You enjoy the challenge that each night will bring. Others enjoy other things. I don't begrudge anyone either.
Overly difficult life elitist. Going to the supermarket is just zero-effort food gathering. Just because it's not like it used to be doesn't mean it's not good.
@@jgilchristmusicnope it is dumbing down our hobby based on my comment in a different thread Very frustrating to have so many pretend astronomers that have no understanding of the science we all love.
Get the Vaonis Vespera II: bit.ly/3YZVp4B (Vaonis) or bit.ly/40QA3sT (HPS)
Main Vaonis Website: bit.ly/3V3GogL
One additional note I learned after making the video: it has an integrated dew heater... But apparently, unless I'm mistaken, it can only be used if you buy their $120 hygrometer chip. Then the dew heater will be activated at the right time with the right power settings to function optimally while using as little power as possible. While this is nice it is also quite annoying to have to purchase yet another element, when a software switch/dew heater power setting would also work well...
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Vespera recognizes the original filters with its contacts on the filter holder. For DIY purposes, You simply need to touch both pins with an resistor with the following values:
* 4.7kΩ: the Solar filter is installed
* 10kΩ: the CLS filter is installed
* 22kΩ: the dual band (DB) narrowband filter is installed
very smart
Justement les caractéristiques que je recherchais. MERCI !
Interesting
Simply...
That's such a simple but super cool way to recognize those filters!
Great review. I wish the S50 had that automation. We are in the infancy of smart telescopes. The advancements over the next 5-10 years will be fun to watch as they play out.
Yeah, I agree, we're only scratching the surface of what's possible!
Very useful, as I am almost going to call it a day with the standard kit for astrophotography and move over to one of these all in ones as my main option. The standard kit may gain more detail and have much more flexibility, but having to assemble and disassemble it each and every time, as well as all the set-up just to get it all to work as one, makes it somewhat tiring and frustrating when it does not go to plan. I am not after Hubble space pictures but something I can enjoy as in building a year by year portfolio of the astronomical delights.
Yeah I completely understand the feeling. I had a disastrous night a couple of nights ago, nothing would work... except the smart scopes lol
Thanks for your efforts on this. It makes me feel very happy with my Seestar (1yr old on 5 Dec) choice. I could never justify this price for a better sensor. That I don’t have to go outside once setup to add/remove filters is a bonus and Seestar are making significant improvements to the firmware/software packages all the time. This is very obvious if I compare my early images to the same observations today. It suits me perfectly and is/was entirely affordable with good value for the price. Thanks again, Cuiv!
it's not only a better sensor. It's a robust build, best optics, much wider FoV, mosaic mode (much larger than the tiny of the S50), multi night .... it's just worth it. Now the S50 is doing great for its price as well.
@@legrandtrip Well with 4x the price it should mean the components and their performance offerings are worth the extra they cost. I'd be hard pressed to say the cost of base unit plus options is built for anyone except those with well heeled wallets.
It's kind of discouraging this is the premium 50mm and it requires ala carte extras to level the playing field with something 4x less.
Yes, if there was internal filters you could have the plan switch them for different targets. My main gripe with S50 is the limited sensor.
That's pretty impressive for a smart telescope but this is what I expected from the Vespera which builds on the Stellina which was also revolutionary for its time and actually set the stage for smart telescopes IMO. Excellent review and wow the results are amazing. Thanks for the video!
Thanks Dave as always!
Excellent video, I just took delivery only yesterday of the Vespera II with a complete set of filters. I am in a Bortle 5 area - I notice you commented about not really needing filters in that kind of Bortle sky but would I still benefit (colour detail wise) using the dual band filter ? Your image of the Veil nebula was especially outstanding.
Steve (Muston Observatory)
For emission nebula the LP filter or the Dual Band filter would work well, but the Dual Band filter seems very overpriced for what it is
Excellent thorough review, thanks for sharing.
Glad you found it useful!
This is a very good review. Thanks Cuiv. I have a Vespera II and agree with Cuiv's comments, strengths and weaknesses. Spot on.
Regarding price - if you can afford to watch Cuiv's channel then the Vespera II is a bargain. I can trace most of my spending to watching videos here. It is inspiring but expensive.🤣😂
Sorry haha
I agree with you the limited memory and battery is no go for me.
Memory is only an issue for fits users… if you turn those off it’s a non issue… not sure why they skimped on the battery, my classics battery life is over twice as long… but really no biggie because most use an external battery anyway
Another great review. You make it a very tempting purchase but I still think the price is going to make me think carefully. Thanks for the heads up on the comment about how RUclips looks at viewership. For some reason I thought they also looked at comments, shares, etc. Wish ZWO had gone with a larger scope in the Seestar line but to be honest I am not sure that is the direction they are headed. I just don't see a Seestar S80+.
We'll see what the future brings for the Seestar line!
I ve got the V2.. amazing scope. I had an esvcope 2 from Unistellar before about x3 times the price, it's a piece of crap ! I don't understand how people still buy it now the competition is so much better.... Vespera2 is simply amazing, you get amazing images especially of nebulae with the wider FoV + the Mosaic mode is exceptionnal ! it's about 3-4 times the price of a Seestar S50 but it's defintely worth it, you know what you re paying for, it's so much better ! I also did the full Veil nebula and none of the other smart scopes in the market can do that ( same for other nebulae... I did a few like that: Eagle+omega / Cat's Paw + lobster / Trifid+lagoon...)
I've never tried the Unistellar scope, but that's quite the endorsement! I agree, it can get amazing results!
Nice review Cuiv. The thing I worry about with these ‘smart’ all-in-one telescopes is that they’re a bit throw-away as the next generations are released as there is really no upgrade or re-usability path. I’m trying to understand the market. Maybe for those who will not really get into AP or Astronomy with full sized telescopes it’s a way to be casually introduced to the hobby, or maybe for those who are getting too old to lug around AP stuff, it might be something to enjoy the hobby with in our older years.
Agreed, so there should be a fairly robust after market supply of these as they age out and the next, more expensive ones come on line.
At the sub $500 mark for used, they should be snapped up pretty quickly by the next bunch of would be Hubbles.
YES! That is my main worry with these. I really like the positives of those scopes, but the obsolescence will really hurt... At least I expect all of these scopes to be sold on the used market, checking the "Reuse" checkbox for a while... But they definitely run counter to the "Reduce" checkbox
@@CuivTheLazyGeek I’m at 3 years with my classic but every time I feel like I have gotten as good as I can get, Vaonis updates the software adding more life, the latest multinight feature has me beating my best images by a lot…. No idea if the lifespan but still going strong
Thats why the celestron origin might be the better choice for some. Its a lot pricer, but in the future, youll be able to upgrade the camera.
Great review. I'm intrigued now whether the D3 will be able to switch filters internally within it's shoot scheduling. Im expecting delivery any day so will report back! Loving watching the evolution of these smart scopes.
I just got the beta version of the app and yes you can switch filters within its scheduling!
@@CuivTheLazyGeek Amazing! The scheduling is going to be a game changer. I really enjoy the regular feature updates with Dwarflab, gives the scope a new lease of life every couple months. I think their mosaic mode could be next.
Nice Review Cuiv, the only thing I saw you missed that users may be interested in, when framing your mosaic you can rotate the target to fit whatever framing you have chosen
Good point!
Whick the S50 allows within reason.
Very interesting device. First time I saw it, I thought the focal length would be more than the S50. I have both Seestars and they're great. I don't know if the 585 sensor is enough for me to pay the higher price. Definitely a thinker.
I'm really enjoying the battle of the smart scopes!
Cuiv, thanks for a good overview of the strengths and weaknesses of the V2.
I've bumped my S50 around a bit and never had issues with breakage so that's an odd thing to happen.
I find the price of the V2 and the need to buy options included on the lower priced S50 a strange marketing ploy, perhaps along the lines of "Well if they want to pay X for the V2 then surely they boot us more profit on these other bits." I do like the performance, though I do think as you that it was short-sighted to use an abysmally small onboard memory, wifi-download, and 4hr battery.
I like that I can plug my S50 into the laptop and download (and/or delete) all files on the S50 by merely selecting the MyWorks folder, alternately I can choose individual folders and zip them off. And that is pretty quick with the USB-C.
I guess if one's pockets are deep the limitations can be 'lived with' for the price, but given the other side of the aisle with the Origin has greater storage, battery life, and aperture I wonder if paying 2x the V2 is the more premium choice?
Wow, Cuiv, you sold me! I used your link and purchased one after watching this. It was when you were describing the build quality that you got me -- but then when you described how the internal stacking is so good that you don't bother to keep FITS files, I was astounded. And obviously they did a much better job implementing mosaics than the Seestar team. You mean I can get great images without waiting 24 hours for PixInsight to stack them? Ok, I'm in! Thanks for the great review. I think I'll keep the FITS files for a while and then compare the native stack with a PixInsight re-stacking!
You will be very happy.. and another nice feature is you can download the unstretched tiff to your camera roll at anytime during the exposure without stopping… it’s a cool scope
@@mercury7 That really is a nice feature! Can't wait to try it!
Congrats, and thanks for using my link! Enjoy it!
I have the Vespera classic (original) then I bought the pro and compared them side-by-side. The classic out performed the pro as far as signal accuracy (noise) so I sold the pro. Then they came out with multi night stacking so that might’ve improved the pro dramatically, but I will never know. I am happy with the classic, but when they come out with a longer battery life and more storage in the II, I will sell my classic and get that. Until then it fits in my arsenal at the lower end as far as quality and time invested. My upper ends are Stellarvue 70, 90 and 140. That said, I am happy with the classic.
Wish you could use the USBC for data transfer as well, but now it is only power.
I’m still very happy with my classic, it has served me well… I still think they will eventually make a second generation stellina and so I am content to wait for that
Good to know! And yeah, it's weird the USB C can't be used for data transfer!
Higher Price: cry once, smile thereafter. Lower Price: smile once, cry thereafter.😊
So true, people tend to think cheap is better but it is a false economy!! I like cry once option as im the only one smiling during star parties when i compare quality of my stuff to the other cheaper options
Thanks for your review!
Glad you found it helpful!
I love my vaonis vespera pro. It’s amazing.
Great review Cuiv. Hope you do the Origin soon.
If I can get my hands on one...
I was waiting for this review for so long!
Hopefully it was useful!
@CuivTheLazyGeek your videos are always useful!
Can you please do a tutorial how you prefer to combine OSC dual narrowband and RGB data, like from the Seestar? For example, targets with both reflection and emission components like the Trifid Nebula.
Hi Cuiv and thanks for the review. A bit steep a price for what the seestar can do. Hopefully, planning and multiple nights on a target without saving files will be in future firmware upgrades. Curious, does it have an automated dew heater that when turned on will do new calibration frames? If I know dew is iminanant with my seestar I turn it on before and calibrate to avoid hot pixels. Thanks again.
The internal storage is frustrating, especially when the cheaper options have it. I can live with less internal battery as I’m already supplementing my Seestar S50 with a small power station. With the light pollution filter and tripod, and converting to Canadian it is over $3000 plus shipping and plus taxes/VAT. It’s almost worth considering just getting the ZWO ASI585 MC Pro and the ASiAir Plus, a Redcat 51 or ZWO FF 65 APO. and the 3D printed star tracker or a used star tracker for slightly less money. Granted not as portable, and more time to set up but better potential image results. Can probably pick up a used SeeStar S50 for the price difference. What I am glad about is that maybe this will push ZWO to come up with a version 2 of the SeeStar with the 585 chip and better optics for a much cheaper price. Be great to get that with an EQ type mount (which I doubt they will do). But at this point, to get better images than the SeeStar S50 can provide this will lead me to looking at a bigger set up. Thank you for the review, as I was considering getting the Vespera II before I calculated the landed price to Canada.
Yep, agree!
i love that software. it is like full automate night.
Yeah that planning software is awesome!
great video as always, i am waiting hopefully for ZWO to release some software to give the s50 EQ mode so we can put it on a wedge
Not holding my breath tbh...
They would be mad not too as this is what makes the dwarf 3 a better buy
I know some people have been setting them up in EQ but as it wasn't designed to be used like that, I imagine they could be concerned about the devices breaking after regular use in EQ.
by the way great review!!
Thank you! Glad you found it helpful!
Their on the right track, honestly, I hope they build a more extensive unit. Even if it cost $10k, as long as it’s got all the bells and whistles, it’s still competitive with a home built unit. Do the math, EQ mount, focuser, filter wheel, filters, telescope, reducer, cameras, PC, cables and such, easy $10k. But much more compact and smarter. 43:03
Yep, there's still some cool stuff smart scopes can evolve with
❤ great review I do have one question you said there was a 4-Hour battery life what kind of external battery pack did you use for the full night setup because you started it at 1600 and ended at 400 hours which is a 10-hour period I would like to see you do a comparison between this 1690 smart scope in the dwarf 3 those are the two I'm now looking at any help you can give me would be greatly appreciated
I used a Renogy battery (specifically this one: amzn.to/4d04oIS )
I know a fellow who built his own rig made from discreet parts. Camera, telescope (4.5”), cables, wires laptop, generator. $10000!
I'd say most viewers of my channel have built their own rig - I have several myself :)
Thats a very good sign with the Trapezium, I have not seen a smart telescope that has delininated it successfully yet, its normally blown out. I do think you should get the ancillary equipment with the Vespera II, not as add ons.
I agree, I don't like the nickel and diming part...!
@@CuivTheLazyGeek Purely out of interest, I have been to Japan twice and enjoyed it, I was wondering are you a Japanese speaker?
@@jules2545 Yes!
@@CuivTheLazyGeek it will be interesting what they do when they move away from the vespera design…. At the time it was born they did not have any competitors so they were taking advantage of revenue streams that seemed more justified, however the landscape has changed with cheap competitors providing built in filters/ dew heaters etc…. It would make more sense for them to do the same, we will see how that plays out
Thanks for the review, seems very limited for the price. Looks like I'll stick with my plan of chilling out with the Dwarf3 and several bottles of good wine!
Dwarf 3 is a fun scope, whether I grab it or vespera just depends on the target… they are very different and people who can afford should have both
Dwarf 3 and chill! I like it!
@@mercury7 🤣 people who can afford this price should have the D3, some great wine, and order a new AM5n... mine's on the way, finally!
The biggest question is if I can take something like ASI585, AT60ED and AZ GTi... and get something equivalent in same price range but flexible?
Big thing about Dwarf III, SeeStar 50/30 is price performance. This is not in same category.
Especially since nowadays you don't need even a mini PC and you can do it all on Android. Cuiv I dropped an interesting update to you regarding O.L.S. via mai l
Ti dico la mia esperienza: totalmente soddisfatto di S50 per il suo rapporto qualità/prezzo eccellente, fa foto fantastiche, è leggero e pronto all'uso in pochi secondi.
Poi quando voglio fare meglio, uso il mio 102ED su EQ5 e mi sento un re! 😊
Would you recommend the Vespera Pro or the Celestron Origin??
I haven't tested either (only Vespera II) so I can't say!
I personally would choose v2 over pro…. As far as origin..I admire its output… but size/weight/price/value are pretty major things to consider, I chose to pass for now and see what all the next generations look like
@ price aside, why v2 over pro? I understand the FOV on the v2 is a bit bigger, but that’s it?
@@EricWZ … mostly a personal choice… the pro is capable of better images but the combination of optics and chip it uses I think makes it much slower…. However Vaonis is still considering turning on high performance gain and they have yet to implement auto dark frame subtraction so my mind could be changed….. but anyway my recommendation right now is most would be happier with the v2…. And the v1 is no slouch if you find a good deal on a used one
Magic... uhmm.. seems far advanced backlash compensation and much better optics.... means better results... of course.. with a good Sake... thanks for share
i was wondering, can you put it onto a wedge, to eliminate field rotation? will it still work? You did it to with the Seestar 50 , didn't you?
The price is acceptable I think but for my used case it is too large😅
Edit: I`d prefer a red light around the on/off button
The imaging plans are nice upgrade to the competitors
It is indeed significantly longer (but thinner) than the S50!
Wish we could combine the best features from these escopes into one dream scope.❤
Yess!
Still going to go with the D3
The Eq mode of the D3 is great
The plan schema is very cool
Hi could you make a video about processing the Dwarf 3 images with Siril, gimp and Graxpert? I'm curious to know how the include the dark frames. Thank you.
Does that sensor need dark frames?
when did you get a turrent!!! I love to get one! Love Portals.
Hahaha those murderous turrets are so cute :)
Does anyone know if there is a smart telescope with an equatorial mount and not an alt-azimuth mount? I can’t seem to find any, even on the really expensive ones which cost like £4000+.
Not technically, but both the Dwarf and the Seestars can be used in an EQ mode. The Dwarf can do it right out of the box, while the S50 can do it with some inexpensive hardware and tricking the software. I believe the Celestron Origin will eventually get a wedge to allow EQ operation.
The Dwarf 2 and 3 are the only smart scopes currently officially supporting EQ mode. The S50 EQ mode either has limitations, or requires third party control software to use...
Obviously, you are a Seestar fan. You said the word Seestar so many times I thought I was watching a Seestar commercial.
Ha! No, but this is the most obvious main competitor to this telescope, and what people measure it against
Better than the Seestar but really expensive.
Yep, definitely diminishing returns territory
Please make a video about your 5 minute processing in PI.
After your review I ordered one 😅
Congrats! Hope you enjoy it!
Does it make sense to buy rhe vespera Pro, just because it captures more blue colors?
Are you saying they installed the 585 sensor just for you? Lol!
On a serious note I suspect with each new version of the Vespera the price will need to come down even further if they are to seriously compete with Dwarf and ZWO smart telescopes. Or they may create another version equivalent.
Hahaha yes absolutely lol! But yeah, I hope to see them compete on price as well as quality!
Hi Cuiv,
It is un my wish list,nor maybe with the Unistellar Odyssey ( another french tool ^^), but I have no information if the camera they out in it.
Another thing that is not with the vespera and it is in the Seestar is the dew heater 😢
The app from Vaonis, and the mosaic mode is insane,
No information of mosaic mode on the Odissey 😢
The Dwarf 3 marketing mentions an all night Astro Plan feature as well as mosaic mode - not sure what the timeline is for their release.
Expecting plan my night and mosaic imminently on d3, however this will be their first time so it may take a while to refine, Vaonis has been at this a while so it’s pretty mature at this point… although mosaics in plan my night is new
I just got the beta today and will test!
I "booped" the Vespera against the wall, and the wall fell down.
Mwahahaha exactly!
Looks like a massive tic tak!
Sugaaaaaarrrrr!
Dwarf 3 can schedule now!
I'm testing the beta app!
Did they send you the dual filter?
Couldn't get that one, do you have it?
@@CuivTheLazyGeek if you were keeping it I would just send you my stl file so you could print that and use 2” filters… I know you have a bunch of those that would be fun to try on the v2, I currently just use the l’enhance on mine for emmision and baader neodymium for everything else… those have worked well for me in bortle 5
Vespera seems limited for the price. Minimum storage, no dew filter, no ir-cut filter. I almost ordered one but ended up with a Seestar instead. Its less than half the price, and includes even a sun filter. 😀
Many have done that due to cost…. But if you ever get a opportunity to get a used vespera at a good price then jump on it
Did the backpack recover from the drop? =)
Amazingly it di!
When they start selling them with a self PAing EQ mount, then I'll pay attention.
That would be awesome!
A loaded Vespera gets you closer to the price of a Celestron Origin with its 150mm f/2.2 optical train. Of course, more size equals less portability.
Personally, for a grab'n-go smartscope, I'd prefer spending a bit more ($750) for a SeeStar s50+ with a sensor upgraded to an ASI585 and one of the new "do all" guad filters.
Otherwise, give me an AM5n, 90mm Petzval refractor, and an ASI2600CM Air.
While it's a nice scope, it's definitely not 4 times nicer than a Seestar S50 (which I own) or a Dwarf3. The plan feature seems great (technically you can do this with Seestar using the ALP software, but it's not the easiest thing to use, so ZWO really needs to add it to the base software app), but not having the DB/LP filter integrated really hurts. Planning is also not helped by the fact that while the Vespera evidentially has a dew heater, the only way to control it is with the Hygrometer accessory, so add another $120 to the total. It's got a great sensor, but again, it's limited by the feeble on board storage. That seems to be the pattern with this thing, great features kneecapped by strange design choices.
It’s just like buying any premium scope… worth it to some, not worth it to others… luckily there are smart scopes for every budget now
Yep I agree with a lot of those points - at the minimum it should have had 64 or 128GB of internal storage, and a dew heater switch in the software (didn't realize the dew heater could only be used with the hygrometer when I made the video). I still think it gets really good results :)
When a friend sends me his Vespera shots it seems the scope automatically applies contrast and color enhancement. I guess in Bortle 5 that's a good thing. Would be nice to see a comparison of S50 light pollution filter to the Vespera filter. I've been tempted to stick a camera filter in front of the S50 to see results.
He did not mention it in his review but you can use standard 2” filters with it via a 3d printed adapter, I use the l’enhance and baader neodymium with mine, works great
Target acquired. I want mine to say that when it finds its target.
Mwahaha a Portal sound pack for smart scopes would be awesome!
Wondering how you would compare it to the Celestron Origin? IOW, if you really wanted to spend too much money. 😅
That's a tough one! I'll have to see if I can get my hands on one.
How does it know the surroundings /building around blocking possibly the view?
It does not know, you will need to be aware of your surroundings, I consult sky safari with a custom horizon made with observer pro… that allows me to plan observing sessions around all my trees
The problem appart the unjustified price, is that after purchase Vaonis support does not exist, so i will never go with them. Very happy with my s50 at less than third of the cost
I waited half of the video for you saying dwarf3😂
No - it’s not EQ… for THAT pricetag a bummer
I completely agree. With proper EQ support and built in filter, this would be a deal.
…or a rotating camera chip
Let’s wait til 2027 😢
Yep - afaik right now the only smart scopes with EQ support are the humble Dwarf 2 and Dwarf 3!! Although I believe it is planned for the Celestron Origin. My guess is that vendors fear users would improperly set up the scopes, causing them to tip over, etc.
CovslENS makes eq unnecessary but would still be nice for longer subs
Does it have a dew heater?
Yes, but you need the Hygrometer add on for it to work. From what I've found, there's no way to manually turn it on like you can with the S50
Yes - but as Michael says, need to get the hygrometer module to use it... I added this information to a pinned comment
RFID NFC if wireless, or what I have, wired, resistors serving as identities for my scopes, automatically setting the filenames, and I use network cables and connectors, because I have plenty of those. It's really no rocket science.
Apparently just resistors!
Do any of the smart telescopes have future guarantees that the software will remain supported in the future? I feel like I have too many things made into paperweights by abandonware unnecessarily. It really keeps me away from all the smart telescopes :(
Historically Vaonis has kept up software updates for all of their scopes… however the software is getting more advanced and they will eventually have to stop supporting stellina because it has a Rasberry 3, all the vesperas have the pi4 board
Nope! For now the manufacturers have been very good at updating the software but....! At least some have been very welcoming of open source software
did you do a dwarf 3 vs seestar 50
I filmed it, but the S30 came out so I will need to film it again I think!
@@CuivTheLazyGeek I bet that comparison will be hard to review…. So many caveats when your getting so cheap and cutting capabilities
Don't get me wrong, I like some of these self contained solutions. I have an S50 as well as my C8/Hyperstar rig. But aiming so high in the market seems counterintuitive. For your £2k or thereabouts, you could get a nice 50mm refractor, a 585 sensor camera, an EAF, an OAG, a tripod, a mini PC and some decent filters, with all the versatility (and I grant you, headaches) of such a set-up. No, you won't get a mount, but there are relatively inexpensive and comparable items available if starting out. And the target group, are surely more likely the 'geeks' who want to be able to tweak and chop and change, and upgrade. It's like hifi, you don't buy an all in one unit if you want to go high end, unless you like the styling of Bang & Olufson.
You are paying for convenience … which a lot of people with money will go towards smart option rather than wanting to geek out on details.. vespera have done well and build quality.. same for luxury cars, regular people cannot justify high cost but those who have disposable income can afford do
I get you! In the end it's all a matter of which end user wants to achieve what, and what they are willing to accept to reach that goal!
@@CuivTheLazyGeek I think what throws me is how they have almost deliberately made their target audience very small, which inevitably keeps the price high and locks things in a circle.. High price - > only rich, fairly keen audience - > small demographic - > low number sales (relatively) - > high price. ZWO have followed the opposite philosophy by keeping the price low and profiting by high volume. I guess you pay your money and take your choice, but I prefer the option that brings the wonder of the night sky to a greater audience, and allows me as a geek to have an extra option rather than a choice between devices.
Why is no vendor considering a proper flat panel ? The Images would be 100% better.
I actually didn't feel so for this scope - I think they might have factory flats because the images don't show vignetting, but I don't know for sure.
Any combination of Askar + Zwo 585mc gives better value-to-money ratio. This Vespera thing is just hard to understand
True - it's really about convenience in the end
Kawasaki ... Ne me dis pas que tu ne vas pas en moto au travail, je ne te croirais pas ;)
🤣
Does it have a built in dew heater?
Yes but you need to buy the Hygrometer for $100.........
As Brian says... they really should have a switch in the app as well... I know hygrometer will use the dew heater optimally, but still...
Well I guess it will be a hard pass for me. Too much stuff you have to buy extra. It should all come with the scope. I'll just stick to my Seestar for now. It came with all the extras for WAY less money.
Not worth the price for sure. Thanks for the review. I’m going to get a smart telescope eventually but I think I’m waiting for the next iteration of the Seestar or Dwarf and see what improvements they make.
It was definitely worth the price for me, best purchase I ever made
There has to be a way to open it and upgrade the memory. Someone will figure that out soon.
Would be better if it came with like 64GB out of the box, but yeah!
Mi tengo volentieri il mio S50 e quando voglio fare meglio monto il mio 102ED su EQ5 con AA+ e sono apposto 😂
Hahaha that works too!
what about dew? built in heater?
Yep
yes, but it looks like it only works if you spend an extra $120 for the hygrometer.
Yeah, added some info to the pinned comment, it does have one but you need to shell out $120 for the hygrometer... there should be a switch in the software as an alternative...
I use a 585 camera with my Red Cat 51 which gives more or less the same field of view but I do have the advantage of field rotation so I can (just about) get the Andromeda galaxy in the frame. I really like the 585 sensor too, I'm suprised that ZWO haven't fitted this to the SeeStar S50. I have no need of a smart scooe at the moment but If I did I don't know whether I would buy this, seems a bit expensive and I don't like being locked in to the manufacturers limited filter set. I do like the planer, but to be honest there aren't that many nights that are clear all the way trough. Good review anyway Cuiv. Clear Skies
Completely get it! Thanks for the feedback!
dwarf 3 vs s50
I've filmed the video, but both apps have evolved since then so I need to re-film it!!
Dwarf 3 is a bargain compared to this.
Yes - different approach though (but yeah I love my D3!)
D3 is great but a different animal, I have both, I actually recommend everyone have both if the can afford
@@CuivTheLazyGeek love my d3 too, it’s been a great companion to my vespera
Bit more of what you'll get into with Vaonis. The touch thingy has failed on updates. They are making one app for 4 scopes and trying to consolidate 4 different sensors into one flow that isn't doing so well with one on one update, and another on the next. Filters are from Vaonis only and there is a lottery in play that is a fight to get replacements. Promised a great experience with the Eclipse and try and find anyone that had success. The added features are game changers and hopefully will just drive the others to follow suit.
Interesting, thanks for the heads up! I've had it for around 3-4 months now and haven't had such failures yet, hopefully it's a thing of the past. Do you have more data on the filters? The LP filter is broad enough that I can't imagine a faulty one (mine was fine on my spectrometer), and even the dual band one with its 12nm bandpasses should be really hard to mess up...! I do hope the features get picked up by the competition as well!
I saw success on the eclipse with vespera on fb, I personally chose to use dwarf2 for the eclipse though…it did remarkably well… actually find the dwarfs the best for lunar and solar, it’s always the scope I grab for that
Yes his pictures are better.
NO!! For that price or less you can get a 10" reflector with clock drive.
👍👍👍👍👍👍👍
No equatorial mode, short memory and short battery... And too much money. No thanks, will wait for the next generation playing with my Dwarf 2.
$3000 aussie dollars you can built a rig cheaper,...
ill be brief, not worth the money. seestar s50 hands down has the best value and does a good job.. for te preice of one of those, i could have 3 s50 shooting mosaics all night... The better image sensor is not worth the extra money
I personally prefer the D3 to the S50 (although they're very complementary) but absolutely for bang for the buck, these are unbeatable
If you had one you would change your mind on that most likely
First…
Wait a minute isn't the EQ6 $1699 yeah hard pass
Yup. EQ6 Mount Body Weight: 15.4kg, Tripod Weight: 7.5kg.
I take my Vespera II to nice dark nights on a plane in its backpack under the seat in front of me. 5kg.
@compadrechuma Portability is important, no doubt, but when it comes to maximizing flexibility and value, an equatorial mount truly shines. It allows you to use everything from a DSLR with a lens to telescopes with various cameras, giving you the freedom to explore and grow in your astrophotography journey. Investing in versatility now means you're not limited to a basic alt-azimuth setup that might feel restrictive as your skills and ambitions expand. Technology is always advancing, and new gear will come along, but by choosing a tool that adapts with you, you'll be ready to evolve without starting from scratch every few years. Think long-term, and make each decision a step toward your ultimate goals.
@@BeyondLumen Thanks. I do have a NYX 101, 125mm Triplet APO and use my Nikon Z6ii. I love it all. But in the UK if it is dark it is winter, so cloudy, wet and cold. If it is warm and clear it is summer, so it isn't dark. This rig lets me go somewhere warm, clear and dark.
Horses for courses.
Cheers
@@compadrechuma if I'm not mistaken I think it was cuiv that had said a while back that there's a wedge or an equatorial feature on the sea star s50 now that if true that is portability and it encompasses EQ you're still limited because obviously it's all in one system but at least you have better tracking
Another great video so no fault to you Cuiv on what I am saying below
I am not a fan of this telescope and all the automation. Astronomy and astrophotography are very scientific yet we have people creating these devices trying to make the hobby more accessible but this is very misguided in my opinion. People are going to buy these toys and never take the time to learn the science of astronomy and just like everything else in our culture it lets people pretend to be something they are not.
I was talking to a guy at a party recently and he was telling everyone he was an amateur astronomer and showing pictures from his toy and when I asked him questions about those images he couldn’t answer a simple question I asked him. These toys are creating lots of pretend astronomers and it does a huge injustice to our beloved hobby
Gatekeeper
I very much disagree here - people having fun capturing cool images without understanding the science underneath doesn't cheapen the hobby in my opinion. I don't see them as pretend astronomers/astrophotographers - they ARE astronomers/astrophotographers per the very definition of the term. And many will learn from their curiosity, maybe upgrade to full astrophoto rigs, etc. And those that don't? That's perfectly fine too! I much prefer to see amateur astronomers with not much understanding of the fundamentals than people who have no interest at all in the night sky.
Heck, give me a dob and I can't for the life of me find targets manually, I'm too used to GoTo mounts. But I'll be (and have in the past) moving the Dob across the Milky Way, being absolutely wowed by what I see, even if I don't know exactly what I'm looking at.
@@CuivTheLazyGeek I’ve had a good bit of expensive Astro equipment and my Vespera has seen more light than any of it…. I think people just need to experience robotics to fully appreciate it…. There is not much you can say to convince people til they take the leap. It’s not for everyone but it for me it definitely made me a better astronomer
@@CuivTheLazyGeek the real fun comes from the challenge of dealing with new issues every night. When you have an equatorial mount, a auto focuser, a camera, rotator, a flat panel, a mini pc, an OAG it becomes a new adventure every night. It excites me to setup my gear not knowing what new issues I will be troubleshooting in the middle of the night because so many things can go wrong and usually do. The adventure of that aspect along with pulling out my star catalogs and looking for something interesting to go image. A single function integrated telescope like a Seestar or a Vespera take all that adventure away. I have a Seestar and earlier this year I had ordered a Vespera and canceled my order before it shipped and bought a new camera and new telescope because I hardly use my Seestar so way spend all that money on a Vespera Pro. To each is own that is why I like living in America it’s a free country and people can choose their own path and can also freely express their own opinions.
@@longhornastro You said it - to each their own. You enjoy the challenge that each night will bring. Others enjoy other things. I don't begrudge anyone either.
Astrophotography for zero-effort zoomers.
I am sure Galileo would say the same to your red cat with tracking mount and guide scope and pixinsight and everything else
Or just another advance in technology that makes it easier. It will certainly improve and the quality will increase as well.
@@dwaipayansinha You don't even have to go back that far. 20-30 years ago, you were a pariah if you dared to use computerization.
Overly difficult life elitist. Going to the supermarket is just zero-effort food gathering. Just because it's not like it used to be doesn't mean it's not good.
@@jgilchristmusicnope it is dumbing down our hobby based on my comment in a different thread
Very frustrating to have so many pretend astronomers that have no understanding of the science we all love.
Overpriced.