Is this smart scope worth its $1690 Price Tag?! FULL & HONEST review of Vaonis Vespera II!

[@CuivTheLazyGeek]

Get the Vaonis Vespera II: bit.ly/3YZVp4B (Vaonis) or bit.ly/40QA3sT (HPS) Main Vaonis Website: bit.ly/3V3GogL For any affiliate link purchases, make sure to accept cookies if prompted! Also, browser plugin "Honey" may steal commissions from creators if you interact with it (even just clicking on "OK" to the "No coupons found" message)! 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

[@waynewheaton3210]

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.

[@CuivTheLazyGeek]

Yeah, I agree, we're only scratching the surface of what's possible!

[@64gkb]

One presumes that automation could be added to the Seestar via a (fairly substantial) firmware update. After all, the third-party software seestar_alp already offers it, I believe. (I haven't tried it myself though, as I am basically noctural anyway, and work at night, changing the Seestars' targets during my coffee breaks.)

[@marvinwhisman3333]

I agree, this is just the beginning of this technology.

[@mathiasscheurer4873]

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

[@fmsilva11]

very smart

[@SBRCoach]

Justement les caractéristiques que je recherchais. MERCI !

[@fazergazer]

Interesting

[@michaelharland3008]

Simply...

[@CuivTheLazyGeek]

That's such a simple but super cool way to recognize those filters!

[@JohnRitson78]

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.

[@CuivTheLazyGeek]

Yeah I completely understand the feeling. I had a disastrous night a couple of nights ago, nothing would work... except the smart scopes lol

[@fazergazer]

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.

[@Solrac924]

Thumbs up for mentioning that it resembles a turret from Portal. i thought the same when i first saw it.

[@rustynailz178]

Seestar s50 is the best telescope on the market the latest firmware update was a game changer the framing and rotation features take the Seestar to the next level with ultra wide images. I have been looking though telescopes and imaging for 35 years+ and the best first telescope is one you use and the ease of use and wow factor you get plus a community of fellow new astromers finding their love of astronomy with a Seestar s50 cant be beat for its price. 👍

[@waheex]

great point. I was going to get the Vespera but opted for the S50 at least for now, due to the cost /features balance.

[@deep_space_dave]

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!

[@CuivTheLazyGeek]

Thanks Dave as always!

[@paulcopley2794]

Thanks, Cuvi - another purchase thanks to you. I think I’ve managed to overcome most of the negatives. I already have a number of portable power packs so that’s not much of an issue, apart from even less portable. After a bit of fiddling I’ve set up my main computer to regularly - every 30mins- move the image files from the Vespera to the computer using data backup software that can communicate with the ftp server - so hopelessly small storage is overcome. I already have a number of 2” filters - simply pushing the male thread of a 3mm M48 extension tube into the provided ‘empty’ filter holder the filters can be screwed in to the female thread - the extension tube can be fixed in the holder with a couple of drops of superglue - I’ve bought a couple of extras. I’ve attached mine to the rear of the holder and the holder still fits in place, is closer to the lens and allows the Vespera to still close. The filter is the ‘wrong way round’ but I don’t think that matters for broadband filters. Thought these tips may be useful for other owners.

[@CuivTheLazyGeek]

Now that's a way to overcome limitations, that's super cool! I hadn't thought of having a real time backup over the ftp server, but it makes so much sense! Hope it works great for you!!

[@billoconnor2727]

Paul, you are a wizard! I hope Cuiv reads this!

[@billoconnor2727]

I am very impressed with this telescope--and as usual--very impressed with your review!

[@mycarolinaskies]

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?

[@PagsPayback]

That Veil Nebula mosaic is insane. 🤯 Really impressed by the Vespera 2. Something that really bugged me about most smart telescopes until now is the limited resolution and limited FOV. But the new sensor really works wonders with this machine.

[@Deeked]

I would die to have this thing. All I ever loved was the cosmos. Since Carl Sagan made us all fall in love with the night sky and the mystery it holds.

[@davidgrandy4681]

This review made a lot more sense once I realized that you were saying "Autofocus", rather than "Out of Focus". 😀😀 Good review though!

[@CuivTheLazyGeek]

Hahahaha I'm so sorry about that lol!

[@CosmicDigs]

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)

[@CuivTheLazyGeek]

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

[@lordman]

Nice review! Would be nice to have seen some results of the multi-night mode.

[@terrizittritsch745]

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.

[@jimmurphy6095]

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.

[@CuivTheLazyGeek]

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

[@mercury7]

@@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

[@EricWZ]

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.

[@zalllon]

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.

[@CuivTheLazyGeek]

Yep, agree!

[@the3gamingnerds458]

Yo this video was sick. Im getting my son into the space stuff. He's only 5 and knows more about our solar system then I do. Great video.

[@NGC008]

Excellent thorough review, thanks for sharing.

[@CuivTheLazyGeek]

Glad you found it useful!

[@legrandtrip]

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...)

[@CuivTheLazyGeek]

I've never tried the Unistellar scope, but that's quite the endorsement! I agree, it can get amazing results!

[@BruceDumes]

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!

[@mercury7]

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

[@BruceDumes]

@@mercury7 That really is a nice feature! Can't wait to try it!

[@CuivTheLazyGeek]

Congrats, and thanks for using my link! Enjoy it!

[@artyombeilis9075]

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.

[@artyombeilis9075]

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

[@Lorix_music]

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! 😊

[@jacoblee679]

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]

I just got the beta version of the app and yes you can switch filters within its scheduling!

[@jacoblee679]

@@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.

[@waheex]

Top notch video. Straight to the point and lots of useful information. I have a 127mm scope which is excellent but I have little time noe for the complex setup so something like this telescope would be ideal

[@Tom-i7m7i]

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.

[@mercury7]

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

[@CuivTheLazyGeek]

Good to know! And yeah, it's weird the USB C can't be used for data transfer!

[@TheHelicapt]

Does it have a dew heater ? If not how does it stop dew build up ?

[@JLEBELGE]

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.

[@hawkesworth1712]

Does that sensor need dark frames?

[@zafod101]

I agree with you about battery capacity and memory,it would have been better to have an external battery and an SD card connector. If the battery was external the scope itself could have been made smaller and lighter 😊😊

[@bobcarn]

I'm disappointed when you told us how your Seestar broke from bumping it, but glad I now know to treat it like something very fragile. I like the way the Vespera gives you plans. Maybe they already had an investment in certain hardware so that it wasn't economical to upgrade RAM and battery. You're right though in that for the price, the battery life should be about twice what it is. It really should be able to run a full night and have the storage for at least a couple nights of images. I'd also like to see backpack and tripod and filters included. The build quality and image quality are nice though. If I had the money, I'd be leaning towards this simply for being able to set up a plan that lets it run all night.

[@CosmicTweaks]

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?

[@AjG007]

Can this telescope do ground based targeting such as passing ships?

[@abdulrafay9580]

Hey man , thanks a lot for the honest reviews and detailed explanations.. I am planning to buy my first telescope. I love the seestar s50 but the only draw back is field of view. Can you suggest between s50 vespera 2 and vespera pro? Most importantly what are your views on vespera pro?

[@CuivTheLazyGeek]

I haven't tested the Vespera Pro so I can't say much on it - it fixes both the battery life and memory of the Vespera II, and comes with the hygrometer. I can say that if I had the choice between S50 and V2 and money was no issue, I'd go for the V2. But I'd probably also buy the Dwarf III for its equatorial mode!

[@CuivTheLazyGeek]

Oh and of course there's the Celestron Origin, which gets excellent reviews for now!

[@abdulrafay9580]

@@CuivTheLazyGeek after I watched your video on seestar mosiac mode.. I ordered right away.. now waiting for it 🔥🔥

[@CuivTheLazyGeek]

@@abdulrafay9580 enjoy it!!

[@MatiasKiviniemi]

Can you do planets at all or are they too large for the optics?

[@CuivTheLazyGeek]

Planets are too *small* for the optics (in terms of arcangle) - yes you can view the rings of Saturn or the clouds of Jupiter with this, but you won't be wowed. To be wowed by planetary viewing, I'd say you need at the very least a 6 inch or 8 inch SCT like the Nexstar 8SE!

[@EmperorStorky]

Could the lack of storage capacity / internal battery not part of to make people rather buy the pro model instead?

[@CuivTheLazyGeek]

Likely strategic choice as you mention

[@mercury7]

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

[@CuivTheLazyGeek]

Good point!

[@mycarolinaskies]

Whick the S50 allows within reason.

[@fazergazer]

Wish we could combine the best features from these escopes into one dream scope.❤

[@CuivTheLazyGeek]

Yess!

[@RyanM-ke2gu]

I'll be sticking w my s50. Not because I don't want to upgrade, simply because it's not in the budget at the moment. killer review though, thank you!

[@CuivTheLazyGeek]

The S50 is really the king of bang for the buck together with the Dwarf III!

[@jplprog1]

@@CuivTheLazyGeek A voir la durée de ces produits dans le temps ?

[@CuivTheLazyGeek]

@@jplprog1 En effet!

[@TheHelicapt]

How bad is thr field rotation seeing there is no eq mode ?

[@Naztronomy]

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!

[@mikefarris1623]

Hi Cuiv from Minoh Osaka. Thanks for the review and I have been thinking about getting another scope since I moved to Japan 2.5 years ago. If you ever make your way to Minoh, let me know.

[@jerryeubanks491]

❤ 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

[@CuivTheLazyGeek]

I used a Renogy battery (specifically this one: amzn.to/4d04oIS )

[@64gkb]

Thanks - interesting video, as always. Excellent and detailed summary of pros and cons. It clearly produces some beautiful images, but that small memory is terrible (backing-up needed each time it's used, basically), and the inability to change filters at all between shots without manual intervention makes the "killer app" feature of programmed targeting far less valuable. I think. However, I have a rather different view of the Seestar S50's durability and build quality. This is because mine fell several feet and landed hard on a very solid surface. So hard that I assumed it had to be broken totally beyond repair and ordered a replacement immediately. But after I had then opened the case to see what was smashed* (finding nothing obvious) and closed it up again, it has worked flawlessly. I think it might even track better than the new one. So I'm rather impressed by it in this respect. And I am now much more careful with where I put them, and make a point of protecting them when it's windy, etc. I'll soon be finding out how they handle very cold weather (so far OK down to -10 C). * Initially the casing was partially open and it made bad noises when slewing, so there was reason to think the damage was serious.

[@CuivTheLazyGeek]

Glad the Seestar has been a survivor for you!!

[@bobbryant4410]

I agree with you the limited memory and battery is no go for me.

[@mercury7]

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

[@HaiLsKuNkY]

can you live view for example look for random comets etc?

[@ryanperkowski9892]

Keep up the great work.

[@skullhqx]

Thanks Cuiv, now I wonder how the Vespera Pro compares

[@ull4h]

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+.

[@michaeldiaz4942]

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.

[@CuivTheLazyGeek]

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...

[@jonathanbush1936]

Cuiv, first of all, you have a wonderful channel that is chock full of helpful information for me, an astro newbie, and I thank you for putting so much time into this endeavor. Although I am a long time photographer, I am completely new to astro and still assessing entering this hobby and buying the necessary equipment. One question I have for you (or for anyone else with astrophotography experience) is, how many celestial targets are on your bucket list of must-have captures? I ask this only because I wonder if astrophotographers ever hit a wall and say, okay, I’ve captured everything I wanted, now what? I realize that this could sound ridiculous because the answer could be that you are limited only by the number of stars in the sky, or planets, nebula, etc, but is there a more realistic number? Or maybe if you do get to the “now what?” stage the answer is “I need a more powerful telescope!”

[@jplprog1]

Cela fait 2 ans en possession d'un Vespera Classic et n'as pas compléter leur catalogue. Surtout qu'il est possible de rajouter un objet en mode manuel si pas lister. Donc aucune limite en ne dépassant pas la magnitude 13 pour le Classique

[@ronaldvanderstam8662]

What I would like to know if these smart telescopes also will track comets??? Does it need (regular) software updates or is it pre-programmed???

[@icecorebaby]

I love my vaonis vespera pro. It’s amazing.

[@jiinx72]

Another great review. Went with the S50 to try AP and see if it's something I want to do long term. Tbh the Vespera does cost more but as you stated they have to out source for lens's internals etc. The V2 wasn't that great vs the VI in the terms of upgrades. The Pro is a bigger improvement add their mosaic mode is much better(user's reviews) also the images look alot better. Not saying S50 cannot produce great images the Vespera just look better. It's all down to what the buyer want's. Alot(including me) don't want to drop a huge amount of money trying something new out and the S50/D3 fit's that market perfectly. The Vespera 2/Pro is for those wanting to upgrade but stay with a smart scope set up or people who don't mind dropping 2+k on a new hobby. I think the Vespera's also have dithering mode??? as all reviews I've seen never mention field rotation issues, could be wrong but it's something I've never seen in a Vespera review.

[@CuivTheLazyGeek]

The Vesperas all do dithering with mosaics!

[@EricWZ]

Would you recommend the Vespera Pro or the Celestron Origin??

[@CuivTheLazyGeek]

I haven't tested either (only Vespera II) so I can't say!

[@mercury7]

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]

@ price aside, why v2 over pro? I understand the FOV on the v2 is a bit bigger, but that’s it?

[@mercury7]

@@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

[@knuubs]

@@mercury7I own the Pro and Speed is not an issue. Yes the Sensor needs more light but the difference is not so big imho. I think Vaonis takes a Slow but very solid approach Update-wise. I‘m confident the pro will evolve and be Feature complete in the Future. Vaonis is perfect for a very solid and hasslefree experience when cost is secondary…

[@marvinwhisman3333]

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 KZbin 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+.

[@CuivTheLazyGeek]

We'll see what the future brings for the Seestar line!

[@bobgriffin316]

I heard in another video that someone knew someone who heard that ZWO Seestar are thinking of making a S70 telescope. My guess is that it will take a long time to come out if they do choose to make it.

[@icecorebaby]

Did they send you the dual filter?

[@CuivTheLazyGeek]

Couldn't get that one, do you have it?

[@mercury7]

@@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

[@wojciechtyblewski]

Does it make sense to buy rhe vespera Pro, just because it captures more blue colors?

[@andyrawlins]

For me, astro is about the journey and the craft not really the results - after all I can never take as good images as are already freely available online. So really a set-and-forget holds little interest for me. Saying that, out in the field on a cold night wondering why my tracking won't work, I'd probably eat my words :) Great, informative video as always, thanks Cuiv. If I had more money than I knew what to do with, to I'd probably get a Vespera. That Veil picture was insane!

[@360Fov]

OMG THOSE PICTURES ARE INCREDIBLE!!!!

[@joshuamuller9705]

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

[@CuivTheLazyGeek]

It is indeed significantly longer (but thinner) than the S50!

[@DonnyHooterHoot]

When I was a younger man, I had a Kawasaki motorcycle! I loved that bike! I wish I could afford this telescope. Peace!

[@rodmunch69]

No one that drinks wine while using this has ever had a hard days work in their life.

[@Twlight-Astrophotography]

when did you get a turrent!!! I love to get one! Love Portals.

[@CuivTheLazyGeek]

Hahaha those murderous turrets are so cute :)

[@tma2001]

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.

[@mercury7]

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]

I just got the beta today and will test!

[@robertpapps3618]

Thanks for your review!

[@CuivTheLazyGeek]

Glad you found it helpful!

[@jules2545]

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]

I agree, I don't like the nickel and diming part...!

[@jules2545]

@@CuivTheLazyGeek Purely out of interest, I have been to Japan twice and enjoyed it, I was wondering are you a Japanese speaker?

[@CuivTheLazyGeek]

@@jules2545 Yes!

[@mercury7]

@@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

[@bronte65]

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!

[@legrandtrip]

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.

[@mycarolinaskies]

@@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.

[@woody5109]

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

[@CuivTheLazyGeek]

Yep, there's still some cool stuff smart scopes can evolve with

[@dettie1948]

I hope when the next more advanced version of Seestar is launched that they have the sense of letting you review it (something I value) and that they take note of the features of this scope (really hoping for a S80 pro varient)

[@fmsilva11]

i love that software. it is like full automate night.

[@CuivTheLazyGeek]

Yeah that planning software is awesome!

[@bobhawkey3783]

That memory is a deal breaker but the price isn't. Many years ago I paid 1600 US for just a CGEM mount and tripod. Easily over $4000 total with lenses, a 6" refractor, focuser, etc. Under 2000 for a small, portable set and forget instrument is a bargain in my book. Thanks for this review!

[@CuivTheLazyGeek]

Cheers! I'm now wanting to test the Celestron Origin :)

[@BrianKushner]

Great review Cuiv. Hope you do the Origin soon.

[@CuivTheLazyGeek]

If I can get my hands on one...

[@anarkicio]

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

[@adventurerofthethirdplanet]

What are you talking about ? there's a customer support like there's one for ZWO.

[@anarkicio]

@adventurerofthethirdplanet yeah yeah... It seems you are not very well informed. Just find comments at cloudynyghts and other forums. Thats what im talking about

[@anarkicio]

@@adventurerofthethirdplanet It seems you dont know what are you talking about. 2 weeks in receiving an answer which never helps, and 2 weeks in the best of the cases. As you are totatlly ignorant about this topic, you can find info about Vaonis customer service un forums like Cloudynights. Thats what im talking about

[@JohnBairBirch]

I tried clicking your seastar 50 links and keep getting 404 error. Bad links. Love the videos. I would also like for you to showcase some planetary objects also. Tks

[@meianoitee01]

I think we don't need necessarily EQ mount in smart telescopes. If the camera senso spin a bit after each shot, then it could solve the problem of azimuth, right?

[@jplprog1]

Si tu l'utilise entre +20 et -80 dégrées et en plus avec mode multi-nuit pas besoin de monture EQ et de toute façon c'est pas fait pour ça.

[@PhilPassmore]

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.

[@AsKyOdA]

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 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!

[@PhilPassmore]

@@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.

[@Ebonyqwe]

Does it have a dew heater?

[@michaeldiaz4942]

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

[@CuivTheLazyGeek]

Yes - but as Michael says, need to get the hygrometer module to use it... I added this information to a pinned comment

[@mevansmrichard]

Did the backpack recover from the drop? =)

[@CuivTheLazyGeek]

Amazingly it di!

[@DurinRhohan]

did you do a dwarf 3 vs seestar 50

[@CuivTheLazyGeek]

I filmed it, but the S30 came out so I will need to film it again I think!

[@mercury7]

@@CuivTheLazyGeek I bet that comparison will be hard to review…. So many caveats when your getting so cheap and cutting capabilities

[@radomirsretenovic8492]

what is comparison: Vaonis Vespera II vs Celestron NexStar 8 SE ???

[@CuivTheLazyGeek]

They're two completely different types of telescopes!

[@radomirsretenovic8492]

@CuivTheLazyGeek thank a lot. I know that but i need to decide what to buy. I am complete beginner. My understanding is that Celestron is better for planets.

[@CuivTheLazyGeek]

@radomirsretenovic8492 it's FAR better for planets, by several orders of magnitude. But it's terrible for deep space astrophotography (good for deep space visual observing though)

[@radomirsretenovic8492]

@@CuivTheLazyGeek OK. Tell me what to buy and I will do. I prefer deeper space onservations. Seestar S50 or Vespera II or CELESTON 8. S50 is so cheap and almost good as Vespera. So your recomendation for deeper space. I will retire next year and I will spend summers in the mountain without light polution. I am structral engineer. My planed budget is about $2000. Or over.

[@timdunbar-e4c]

by the way great review!!

[@CuivTheLazyGeek]

Thank you! Glad you found it helpful!

[@AstroIsland]

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.

[@CuivTheLazyGeek]

Hahaha yes absolutely lol! But yeah, I hope to see them compete on price as well as quality!

[@mattpenn3972]

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!

[@mercury7]

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

[@CuivTheLazyGeek]

Dwarf 3 and chill! I like it!

[@mattpenn3972]

@@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!

[@nuforuk]

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

[@CuivTheLazyGeek]

Not holding my breath tbh...

[@nuforuk]

They would be mad not too as this is what makes the dwarf 3 a better buy

[@jacoblee679]

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.

[@nuforuk]

@@jacoblee679that’s a good point I didn’t think of that

[@Sammus43]

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 :(

[@mercury7]

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

[@CuivTheLazyGeek]

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

[@MrRulululu]

How does it know the surroundings /building around blocking possibly the view?

[@mercury7]

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

[@spookysandwich1355]

Still going to go with the D3

[@CuivTheLazyGeek]

The Eq mode of the D3 is great

[@stevenlarkin1706]

I know a fellow who built his own rig made from discreet parts. Camera, telescope (4.5”), cables, wires laptop, generator. $10000!

[@CuivTheLazyGeek]

I'd say most viewers of my channel have built their own rig - I have several myself :)

[@nightwaves3203]

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.

[@mercury7]

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

[@Chorge1972]

No - it’s not EQ… for THAT pricetag a bummer

[@ToumalRakesh]

I completely agree. With proper EQ support and built in filter, this would be a deal.

[@benson7731]

…or a rotating camera chip

[@NotJGonzo]

Let’s wait til 2027 😢

[@CuivTheLazyGeek]

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.

[@mercury7]

CovslENS makes eq unnecessary but would still be nice for longer subs

[@360Fov]

It's so quiet there! No packs of cars blaring their horn at each other or loud music playing or anything!

[@fazergazer]

Higher Price: cry once, smile thereafter. Lower Price: smile once, cry thereafter.😊

[@AsKyOdA]

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

[@HrvojeCrvelin]

Strange to see they didn’t send VPro since that one addresses battery and storage topics (I still think VPro is is what V2 should have been).

[@davethorup]

Wondering how you would compare it to the Celestron Origin? IOW, if you really wanted to spend too much money. 😅

[@CuivTheLazyGeek]

That's a tough one! I'll have to see if I can get my hands on one.

[@BennyColyn]

Lack of an internal (or at least: remotely controllable) filter wheel is a deal breaker for me.

[@CuivTheLazyGeek]

Completely understand!

[@constantinelind]

After your review I ordered one 😅

[@CuivTheLazyGeek]

Congrats! Hope you enjoy it!

[@nassermohd2317]

But why expensive sincd s50 or dwarf 3 are doing the same

[@jparth167]

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 😢

[@perry3928]

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.

[@_TK-421_]

Does it have a built in dew heater?

[@BrianKushner]

Yes but you need to buy the Hygrometer for $100.........

[@CuivTheLazyGeek]

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...

[@_TK-421_]

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.

[@BrianKushner]

@@_TK-421_ Yeah that's pretty bad that the dew heater is already part of the $1690 scope but you need another $100 to turn it on. GREED!!!!

[@gblargg]

It sure devotes a lot of space to the non-telescope portion. I can't imagine the electronics, motor, and battery filling anywhere near the volume of the main portion.