DWARF 2 Smart Telescope - In-depth Review & Results

[@wagnercs]

Wow! What a review! Thanks for the effort! Astronomy is really something that must be encouraged. When people start to look up and to realize how amazing is our universe, they tend to get happier and in good spirits. And nowadays this is one of the most needed things in the world.

[@catchingphotons]

Thanks for the encouraging comment!! Outreach for astro and science in general is a super important thing! If DWARF can close a gap here, it would be cool.

[@woodswalker88]

Interesting comment about the benefit of astronomy. I became Starstruck a few months ago and it has really improved my emotional state. So far I have a binocs and I'm super leaning towards the Dwarflab as my first telescope!

[@jpastroguy]

By far, the best review of the DWARF II Smart Telescope! Well done. Thanks for all the effort in preparing this video!

[@catchingphotons]

Thanks man, you are very welcome!

[@Grumpzzz]

So far same image from other reviewer. We want actual image not image from the maker.

[@tonyboutle1315]

I am a reasonably experienced AP user, but I run a small Astronomy club and I have bought the Dwarf for outreach work. Also based in the UK, means that clear skies are at a premium- so fast setup is handy. Thanks for the data from the dark site.

[@catchingphotons]

You are very welcome. Thanks for your comment. Outreach can be a big thing, for sure. I thought about getting some for my school as well (observing moon phases on the smart board). The flexibility sure is an argument. Cheers!

[@MegaMistory]

Can we take photo of volcanos on the moon?

[@sputniksam]

Thank you for such a detailed review, including warts and all. Even though I was a seasoned astrophotographer, up until about 15yrs ago, I pre-ordered the Dwarf2 (camera) last month. I still own an eight inch F4 Schmidt Newtonian I used for deepsky, and a 127mm F9 refractor for planetary/Lunar imaging, I’ve been unable to use them for the last fifteen years due to a degenerative illness. So instead of photons they’ve been collecting dust. I’m in no way under the illusion that I’ll be able to obtain the same results with the Dwarf2 that I could with my two much more sophisticated rigs, but at least I’ll be able to do something again. And like you with your daughter the Dwarf2 is small and simple enough for my wife to setup outside for me while I can then connect and image from inside my house. When you consider the other functions of this camera for terrestrial use, including 4K video, object tracking, panorama, etc, it is actually a lot of “Bang for the Buck”. More so than the much more expensive Smart Scopes with their far superior optics, as they can only do one thing, and our weather in the Northern Hemisphere often limits the use of such a large financial investment when you want to do that one thing.

[@catchingphotons]

Hey sputniksam, thanks for your insights and thoughts. Yes: the portability and the easy setup is its greatest advantage. So I hope you can rejoin the photon-collecting-community using DWARFII! Best wishes and clear skies! -Chris

[@martinwhatman5027]

Hi, you might be able to build similar capability as the Dwarf 2. Cuiv the Lazy Geek has a youtube video where he does this kzbin.info/www/bejne/ZnvHpX9vapWFoLM Good luck and Clear Skies. Cheers.

[@sputniksam]

@@martinwhatman5027 Hi Martin. I’ve watched this video quite a few times in the past as, like all his videos, it’s interesting and informative. Unfortunately for me there’s portable, and then there’s portable. I have very restrictive mobility problems and even though I can’t argue the fact that such a rig is superior it would probably be too much for me to manhandle. The Dwarf 2 is a big compromise compared to what I was used to, but to paraphrase a popular phrase, the best telescope in the World is the one you can use.

[@critical_always]

I don't know you but I am always sorry to read when someone can no longer fully enjoy their passion. I am grateful I have never been made to face such limitations and admire people who do deal with such and focus on what they can do.

[@sputniksam]

@@critical_always Thank you. In the grand scheme of things, even though I do get frustrated at times, I still count myself as being on top of things. I have friends with greater mobility issues and I admire them greatly as they have achieved more than I have with much less.

[@martinwhatman5027]

I've already ordered the Dwarf 2. Can hardly wait to get hold of it and play. I can see a good public outreach role for it. I had thought of the barlow as well, glad you mentioned it. A tiny filter sized Batinov mask if they don't perfect the focusing routine. TBF with how responsive DwarfLab seem to be listening to their beta testers, I'd really like to see the Dwarf 3 with bigger glass, say 50-80 mm aperture. I know this puts them up in the EVscope range but their folded periscope optics would still be an advantage. Of course the software development is the crucial advantage that DwarfLab will have. Cheers and thanks for the considered review.

[@catchingphotons]

Thanks Martin! The bartinov mask is a cool idea, don't know if the remaining light coming though will be enough though. ... If DWARFLAB pulls off the auto folks it doesn't matter anyway ;-) since I switched to NINA with the great auto focus curves I haven't touched my bartinov mask again :-)) Clear skies!!

[@martinwhatman5027]

@@catchingphotons The sensor is the IMX415. It'd be cool if the sensor was outside the end of the rotating barrel of the Dwarf 2. Changing the sensor site in the axis of the rotating barrel to a 1.25" eyepiece hole, put the IMX415 sensor there by default, but, now it's able to be upgraded. Wacky idea eh :) Cheers.

[@gg80108]

How does one keep the software up to date?

[@Frantisek7403]

Hi Martin,hawe you bought it in Europe or is it needed to be ordered from US?

[@martinwhatman5027]

@@Frantisek7403 Bought it in the US. Should arrive to Australia in March. Clear skies everyone.

[@theretoni]

As a suggestion, for new updates of the application, I think it would be interesting to add the tracking of the object that we can mark on the screen, I think especially in the case of nearby comets, in which their movement with respect to the background is so fast that it would be impossible to photograph them.

[@catchingphotons]

Ah I see your point but especially for comes that's not so easy. You need to know the relative motion in beforehand to accurately track it. But even with modern scopes we do it like this: keep the exposure so low that you get the comet trailing-free and then tell the stacking-software where to look. DWARFLAB could integrate this feature that you tell it "hey there is the comet" and stacking will reveal the comet (but all the other stars will trail). I guess though that this advanced feature will be rather at the end of "still to do"-list. Cheers and clear skies!

[@indietonne]

I’ve seen another youtube presentation in November and were thinking boy if it only delivers 20%… I immediately ordered and wait gor it. You completely described my usecase. I don’t have the time to really step into astrophotography. I just want to make my own pics from the moon, sun and the galaxies nearby. Thanks for the great review and I really love what you wrote in your update.

[@catchingphotons]

Thanks for your kind words. I hope you'll have fun using the baby scope :-) may it be your entrance to the world of astronomy! Cheers and clear skies!

[@ChomomoVids]

Why can't all reviews be this thorough? Great video and thanks for helping me pull the trigger on getting one!

[@catchingphotons]

Thanks for your heartwarming comment! :-) Have fun!

[@metalmasher6251]

Thank you for the thorough review. I have purchased a Dwarf 2 through the Indiegogo crowd funding back in July. While I sift through updated product information and new reviews, I am happy to see that Dwarf Lab has been updating the software. I am one of the beginners that I think you are speaking to/of in your review. You are for sure right, at least in my case, that the planets are my big reason for buying a telescope. I currently have a Celestron StarSense Explorer DX and though it is nice for what it is. It is bulky, doesn't travel all that well given its size (I am sure my setup is not near the issue as most) and is completely manual (the app for finding what is available in the current night sky is very helpful but there is no GoTo feature). I am disappointed to hear that the Dwarf 2 will not be good for planet observation as this is my big reason for looking up at night. That being said, I am looking forward to seeing the galaxies and nebulae that I didn't bother with in a more travel friendly product. Unknown to me until just recently, it seems the Dwarf 2 requires the importing of the image files into perhaps a 1st stage software (DSS, Siril...) and then into a 2nd stage software like Photoshop for further tweaking and polishing. This for sure opens up more complications for us beginners as well. Now looking into file types and the need for shooting dark images, biased images (not sure if that's right :))...becomes overwhelming to an extent. I hope Dwarf Lab will help us figure out how to shoot the other needed image types. And to your point, going down a rabbit hole as more is needed (new computer in my case to run the software). But this is astrophotography as I am learning. I remain optimistic though a little disheartened and look forward to my Dwarf 2 arrival. As a side note, I live in mountainous area, so I had proposed to them a suggestion that it would be nice if the Dwarf 2 would be able to wake up when a "target" would be in view later in the evening and start to auto track and photograph. They said: " This function can be realized theoretically. After the essential functions are completed, we will upgrade the OTA software to add this function." Fingers crossed.

[@martinwhatman5027]

I have the StarSense Explorer DX 130 as well. For planetary I put a 90mm aperture, 1250mm focal length Maksutov on the mount for better shots and it makes it much more portable. I'm considering a 127mm Mak and think would be better still on that mount. Cheers and Clear Skies.

[@catchingphotons]

Maks are great! Looking for one myself. Cheers!

[@catchingphotons]

Hey! So set things clear: DWARF WILL stack the image and you can set it up to take darks on its own so the image will be even smoother on screen. The new stretching function will even increase the fun (I'll test it whenever possible). External software will still produce better results but for first glimpses it'll be ok I think. Stay tuned for any updates! Cheers and clear skies!

[@metalmasher6251]

@@catchingphotons I look forward to future episodes with it. Especially if you do one as stated. Letting it stack, do the darks with it and the newer stretch update without using external software. Would be good to see what the Dwarf 2 and the app results would be without the external processing. Especially since something like Siril seems to need focal length and pixel info. Not sure what to use for that with the dwarf 2.

[@elbass0]

If you are considering selling it and you happen to live in the EU, I would be happy to take it off your hands.

[@kevinlincoln9111]

Great review. Seems to take a long time to get the results shown compared to my eVscope. I usually go 20 to 30 mins max. Also requires more manual intervention but then for the price it's currently pretty good. I like the wider field of view and the mosaic feature particularly. If they take note of your and other reviewers feedback it will become a pretty good investment IMHO.

[@felipemacauliffe1528]

Thanks for your time and work reviewing the Dwarf-II telescope. A couple of request for the DwarfLab team: - Calibrate Add a quick message about the starting telescope position (unobstructed, etc) - In the target selection, please expand the catalogs and, rather than selecting from a list, please add a search text field - The ra/dec input based on list needs a revision. It's quite uncomfortable to use in my opinion - And of course auto-focus Thanks!

[@catchingphotons]

Thanks for those important suggestions!

[@fordcrews3362]

For stuff like scout troops, this could be really cool, especially if they can make a mode where everyone viewing can view it stacking on their own phone. Go on an over night trip, set this up, and watch it fill get better and better. There is just something about taking the images yourself, that really gets kids interested in science, compared to seeing it in a book/screen.

[@catchingphotons]

Totally agree. I would suggest using some sort of screen-sharing app or online-meeting like I did with my pupils during lockdown. Then I could use the phone up stack, create a meeting and every student could join. Interesting idea 🙂 Cheers and clear skies!

[@thesoundsmith]

Great idea, but I don't knoe if multi-person viewing is possible. I wanted to set up remote listening so i could set up a piano rig and allow passers-by to listen on their smartphones. Could not find a solution. So far...

[@fordcrews3362]

@@thesoundsmith The expensive ones have this, guess it would come down to if the webserver like code in this has the power to handle multiple connections and if it does they implement it.

[@farleyt]

Thanks for this lovely review! With 3 young kids, a super-tight budget and limited time, this is something I could learn and bring with us on our family trips and my dobsonian. Thought I would be purely visual forever, but love the accessibility (both in terms of cost and learning curve) of this device.

[@catchingphotons]

Dobsonian's forever! 😎👍

[@markzemanek2081]

@@catchingphotons My first three or four homebuilts are/were Dobsonians. RIP John Dobson!

[@Bareego]

Interesting device. I would recommend making a little lens hood for the tele lens to cut down on stray light. As long as it doesn't show on the image it will always help, especially in more light polluted areas.

[@harrison00xXx]

It made even a big difference on my 6" newton as i made a "lens hood" out of cardboard and a black sheet at the back/mirror part, even a street lamp at a bad angle can entirely lighten up the whole image and produce weird color shifts.

[@catchingphotons]

That would be awesome! Can you 3D print a lens hood for the shiped adapter? Would be awesome!

[@leboch65]

Since a wide lens is already built in, i want dwarf lab to somehow enable the wide lens to be able to autoguide a selected star to improve tracking accuracy.

[@TheAnoniemo]

Field rotation will probably ruin any longer exposures anyways, but it could help I guess.

[@leboch65]

@@TheAnoniemo The device is already limited to its 15 seconds max exposures anyway, so with autoguiding ebable with the wide lens .. the tracking accuracy will improve with less trailing.

[@catchingphotons]

I totally agree. I don't know if the focal lengths fit though. I use 200 guiding for my 750 imaging. Here we'd have small (probably 10-20) for long (600ish). But anyway: it would be awesome! Cheers and clear skies!

[@anthonywells563]

I have plege for dwarf 2 and i love looking through my Telescope and try to track some of universe,but I am deliberating now to stay with my telescope or keep my pledge and get the Dwaf, you have gone through all that is needed But it just sounds a tad to Technical for me??

[@catchingphotons]

Astrophotography is quite a bit fiddly, but there are fantastic tutorials out there. DWARF is rather simple but thereby limited by its capabilities. Cheers!

[@Allan_Melon]

Can't wait to get mine , very excited, thanks for the very thorough video and testing. One question, is it possible to let's say track the ISS or would the tracking be too slow?

[@catchingphotons]

Thanks Allan! I have thought about ISS tracking as well and will test it in the upcoming weeks. The homepage states it to be 30°/s so this should be fast enough .... If successful I'll do a video about this for sure! :-) clear skies!

[@justklaas4703]

I have a dobsonian which weighs a gazillion kilos. I use it only visually. This smart telescope shows so much more (e.g. M42). The one thing this smart telescope doesn't do compared to a big ass dobsonian, is planetary imaging or give you a physical work out 🙂

[@catchingphotons]

Yes Dobson scopes tend to be so heavy but I love them for their "bang for the bucks" - ratio. But yes: DWARF is massively smaller and lacks the ability to strengthen your muscle system. :-) Cheers and clear skies!

[@raydiocat]

Amazing review and tutorial... Well Done! My biggest dissapointment is the Dwarf II does not do Planetary capturing. I love your idea of the Barlow Lens. It is my sincere hope that Dwarf Labs listens to it customers and comes up with a suitable lens for viewing. This would make it a COMPLETE package and I really believe sales would zoom with it! Again, excellent resource video and I have become a subscriber!

[@catchingphotons]

I totally agree! Cheers!

[@paullewis7818]

Being a beginner of about 18 months, this would suit me to run alongside my 150mm reflector. Would be brilliant if they could improve the viewing/photography of planets. My current telescope is rubbish at any photography unless I attach a 2x Barlow, but, is then still very limited.. Maybe a Barlow lens connection for the Dwarf 2 as you suggest.might just be a game changer in this regard. I might just have ton wait for Dwarf 3.

[@catchingphotons]

Hey Paul! Is your Newton (I assume) specifically made for photography? If not you might need to modify it. But: planetary imaging for dwarf would be awesome but quality will be effectively limited by the small aperture. There is no scientific way around this limit. Your 150 will produce way better images. Are you taking planetary images with an adapter+phone? It's a great way to use your existing hardware. See my video about this :-) Cheers and clear skies!

[@paullewis7818]

@@catchingphotons Thanks for your really brilliant reply, Its my birthday on Wednesday 11th and I think my lovely wife has pre-ordered a Dwarf 2 for me. I got my Newtonian purely as a viewing scope and to be fair it fits that perfectly, ive also took some brilliant images of the moon and Sirius using a 2x Barlow and a Bahtinov Mask with my DSLR. However, planets are still fuzzy. Sometimes I cannot see the stars at all through my DSLR no matter how much I adjust the aperture/ISO, think its because of the Barlow lens really restricting the light. I'm going to give my phone a go and if I can catch the DSO's with the Dwarf 2 happy days matey.

[@donaldknight3634]

Thanks for such a step by step review. Just found your channel and subscribed and ordered the Dwarf 2. I appreciate you breaking it down for beginners like me. I've been watching astro photography youtube channels for a few years now and dreamt of getting the whole setup but never quite had the ability to shell out the investment for a good astro photography setup and the busy-ness of life. I have a telescope and this seems like a great way to get started and not have it hit the pocket book so hard. Knowing full well the quality of images aren't as great as those of yours and other astro photography creators on KZbin with the great setups you use. Thanks again for your great review and introducing such an affordable alternative to beginning astro photography enthusiasts like me.

[@catchingphotons]

Thanks Donald for your encouraging comment! Keeps me going! Cheers and clear skies!

[@IM.leg1]

Might be nice to have a power line/poe connection kit for longer runs. With long term improvements I could see attaching a retractable dome/base onto a solar install rail and help with object tracking/data gathering. Long way to go but some of the choices they made seem like that could be more viable in the next decade.

[@catchingphotons]

Gonna see what road they take :-)

[@richardmondio7216]

The review is honest and 100% on point. Dwarf 2 should calculate the object's location based on the GPS and calibrate for best gain and autofocus. Then it should stack all the pictures make a movie, and save it internally so I can connect Dwarf via wi-fi to my big 4K tv screen for viewing the final product.

[@catchingphotons]

Thanks for your encouraging words! Calibration includes GPS location. Gain and exposure time must be determined locally because this is just TOO dependent by local light pollution. Autofocus is under way but you can't pull this from GPS data because temperature indifferences your focus. So focus IS needed. Cheers!!

[@hakajiru264]

It's a pretty cool gadget, was about to order one, but then thought... why? I will then have some average photos of sky objects, along with every other one that bought it. What's the point then? Maybe if it would have some sort of "crowd astronomy" feature built in, perhaps I would be the lucky one to name some asteroid after me? Now that would be cool.

[@catchingphotons]

That would be very awesome 🙂👍

[@PowerScissor]

So many people got this telescope for review. I wish they would have also sent a few to their customers that already paid for it.

[@catchingphotons]

😂 fair point though.

[@ParedCheese]

Getting the scope ready to be reviewd by experts isnt quite the same as having it ready to ship to customers. Probably better for a beginner to wait for a bit than be a beta tester. :)

[@PowerScissor]

@@ParedCheese Eh, I've been part of many a beta testing programs and helped developed products or software. I'm not saying send it random people...but have an option to opt-in to beta program and get it before it's polished would be cool. There's enough technically proficient people that would classify as "astrophotography beginners" that would be able to provide good feedback from a beginner's perspective.

[@gpawood0193]

Amazing product and a great presentation. Looks like a good way to introduce young and old alike to astrophotography at an affordable price. Thank you for taking the time to make this wonderful video.

[@catchingphotons]

You are very welcome! Thanks for your encouraging comment! Cheers and clear skies!

[@draclark]

Mine is scheduled to be delivered tomorrow but I am frustrated that the app for Apple is not available yet so it will just be a paperweight for now! I understand the iOS app will be out at the end of the month so nothing to do but wait but obviously the app has existed before and is being updated and I wish I could use the old app now.

[@catchingphotons]

Yes they told me that iOS will be published soon. I asked them for additional connection methods (PC, remote...) but we'll see. Cheers!

[@draclark]

@@catchingphotons Thanks and I may just go pick up a cheap Android tablet today (I'm all Apple, Mac, iOS, here) just for viewing images since they are only $60+.

[@draclark]

@@catchingphotons I picked up a kids version Android tablet for my grandkids that I'll use until the iOS app comes out. Thanks again for your posts and I'm impressed that they listened to your critique and modified the software immediately.

[@Mrcloc]

Wow. For $400, this is an absolutely excellent product! Off the top of my head, the only competitor I can think of at the moment is something like an Svbony SV905C and SV106 bundle on an MSM tracker, but this won't plate solve or process or anything (I don't think the MSM can goto). I would then use a Raspberry Pi to run Astroberry for imaging. Such a setup would sacrifice imaging time for setup and fiddling. I don't even think this would match the Dwarf 2 for imaging quality, unless you're willing to put in a whole lot of extra effort. And an excellent video, thank you!

[@catchingphotons]

Thanks for your thoughts! Cheers and clear skies!

[@uweroddinger393]

Great review, thanx for that! Is there a chance to "see" a raw file? For example, the M31 pic? That would be nice and give me a personal impression, if the quality is ok for my purpose. Rgds, Uwe

[@catchingphotons]

DM me via mail.

[@georgiaguardian4696]

This looks promising. I have tried few low end Celestron telescopes and soon realized that I will need a better goto telescope with much bigger lens. And that will be extremely expensive and hard to carry and not to mention the efforts to set them up. This will work for me.

[@harrison00xXx]

The issue is, the reach is still very limited. Its AWESOME when you still want a nice, frame filling image from andromeda galaxy, big lagoon nebula etc, but anything smaller is pretty "unusable" even to observe. Also, where i think it would be very interesting... comets, which i havent heard anything about it in the review as he mentioned the targets in the database. I personally found a good compromise out of weight, size, price and reach/performance with a (2nd hand, very cheap!) 750mm 6" newton on a EQ3-2 GoTo, the most heavy part is the heavy duty tripod for EQ5 and better and i need a laptop since i dont want to afford a ASI Air yet. With full frame camera, so real 750mm i made more or less all targets fitted to it already and since i "downgraded" to a APS-C camera my actual targets are all the M1-M101, small galaxies and nebulas with the 1200mm FoV.

[@harrison00xXx]

My main concerns with this "smart" telescopes are the limited use and relying on partially some sketchy manufacturers on their software. Meanwhile, even with a compact 80mm APO and a small mount you can use the software you like, no limitations when using anyways a Astrocomputer like ASI Air or a real computer, and with limited performance since its just a 80mm aperture also visual observing, something i would even wish a 8 or 11" mirror telescope.

[@Tommyr]

Good video! Never heard of his scope until today. The price is EXCELLENT. I own an evscope (I was a backer) and it works great but costs a LOT more. Looking forward to seeing more videos on this telescope.

[@catchingphotons]

Thanks Tommyr!!

[@markzemanek2081]

I was a backer for the EvScope too and can't say I'm all that impressed with it. I certainly would not recommend the latest iteration to anyone...not for the price they want for it anyway.

[@Tommyr]

@@markzemanek2081 The evscope works fantastic but yes, the price is WAY out of line IMHO. I think the Dwarf will sell a hell of a lot more scopes, the price is certainly right! I hope they continue improving it.

[@johngiroux5795]

EVscope is even a BIGGER waste of $ than this thing.

[@PhilTParker]

Thank you for a great review of this product. I have one on order which should arrive in two or three weeks; can’t wait to start playing around with it!

[@catchingphotons]

Have a lot of fun with it! Cheers and clear skies!

[@russha5891]

Thanks, I have ordered it, but do fear that it will lead me down a path of wanting better images :-) It is the reviewers giving positive info about the software updates that makes me feel better about putting my money down.

[@catchingphotons]

For sure the improvements gave me a good feeling as well. I'm looking forward to seeing their future improvements and will report here. Cheers and clear skies!

[@bgilbert7208]

Great review of the DWARF II system. Thank you Chris

[@catchingphotons]

You are very welcome! 😃👍

[@LentoDK]

I have an Astromaster 114 right now (hated by many and even though we have a love/hate-relationship, I really like it lol) and I just have to admit, that I'll never spend the amount of money needed for a decent setup with telescope, mount with goto, camera and so on. This device might just be my next purchase, it really looks amazing for the money. Great review 🙂

[@catchingphotons]

Thanks for your kind words. I wish you a lot of fun and clear nights! Cheers!

[@thalesofmiletus2966]

Bought mine back in April and yesterday got it out its box and tried it out. Unfortunately it wouldn’t plate solve. An hour later still wouldn’t plate solve. Tried everything I could think of but to no avail. The app would also freeze (iOS) and the view would freeze. The OTA would still move around but the video or picture wouldn’t update. In the end the battery ran out of juice.

[@PaulStrauss]

Fantastic, in-depth review. Can't wait for my Dwarf 2 to arrive!

[@NMHC1978]

for around 50 to 60 US dollar you can buy on amazon a wedge. The Kenko S Equatorial Wedge - RED, TO6-SEW-R. can be well used i think for the dwarf II. I also ordered one 2 weeks ago. I hope will be delivered end of februari

[@catchingphotons]

Do you test it with DWARF? If so: please send me the results via mail, I'd be highly interested! Cheers!

[@jmarshallpresnell6719]

Questions for DwarfLabs, 1. will they be providing a web API to the unit for configuring, triggering exposures, retrieving data and images, etc (they already have a C API, but it's more for writing programs that run ON the unit) - having an app is cute, but for my application, I need a fairly beefy computer calling the shots, so to speak. :) 2. Can this run off of an external power supply such as an external battery or AC? This looks really really nice! Thanks for the review.

[@AstroOnBudget]

Such a great review. Well done Chris.

[@catchingphotons]

Thanks a lot!

[@inraelarroyo9542]

It would be nice an equatorial mode, to add compatibility with an equatorial wedge. It would improve tracking an time exposures without startrails.

[@foxdundee]

I found your review really useful and informative. Pls keep up the good work

[@blenderbuch]

It is like owning a DSLR and a mobile with good camera. Most of the times I will have my smartphone with me. Sure if I had my DSLR maybe some images would be a tad better. But boy how much nice and astounding images I would have missed . So I see a big point here.

[@catchingphotons]

That's exactly my take on everyday imaging. I seriously thought about getting myself a proper DSLR camera for daylight photography but as you said: the smartphone's always on hand and luckiest the image quality of those little devices gets better every day. Same with DWARF: the overall image quality's not perfect but for easy point and shoot it's super good enough.

[@1DesertPirate]

Great review and an honest appraisal of the DWARF II. It would be something someone traveling to the opposite hemisphere could toss into their luggage and allow them to bring home some images they might otherwise never be able to capture. One point of correction is that the companion galaxies to M31 are M32 and M110, not M32 and M101.

[@catchingphotons]

Thanks for your kind words and the correction of the galaxy's name. Cheers!!

[@MrStubbyd]

Great video, thanks for the info. One question from a long time astrophotography fan but that has avoided it due to costs... can you clarify why Dwarf II is NOT a planetary imaging platform, and why a barlow makes a difference? Thanks.

[@catchingphotons]

Hey thanks!! The focal length is just way too short for planetary imaging. You need at least 1.5m of focal length, better 2m to get some nice details. Looking at Jupiter with DWARF and it's native 100mm let's Jupiter look like a little dot. The aperture of 24mm doesn't help either. With planetary: size matters! :-) Cheers!

[@MrStubbyd]

@@catchingphotons LOL and thanks for the reply.

[@dinamush1342]

Hey, I think during your image processing you could saturate it more. These images look nice but lack that colour-pop you usually expect from astrophotography. If saturating increases the noise or gives any tinges, photoshop and siril have methods of removing it. Great review!

[@IAMDRREMULAKK]

If only this had something like a 400mm focal length. That's not long for a telescope, but there would be so much more to image. I love the portability of this thing. Maybe if the DWARF 2 is successful, then they'll come out with a DWARF 3 or 4 that has a wider aperture and a longer focal length, and only be a little larger and heavier. If they could pull that off, and keep the price reasonable, then they will sell lots of these things.

[@catchingphotons]

The producers from DWARFLAB think hard about upgrading the device to a slightly bigger and heavier version as many folks criticized the limited capabilities of such a small optic. BUT a heavier bulkier version loses many benefits of its current niche. Transportability, versatility and tracking will decrease or get exponentially more expensive and difficult.... It's definitely a trade-off but if I can take it anywhere (intercontinental flight) .... I'm willing to pay the price of small optics 😅👍

[@GalaxyArtMedia]

Hello Chris and Happy new year! Very thorough review! I was thinking also about a Barlow option, but i do not think it will work adding a Barlow in front of the lens, i believe it needs to be inside the telescope between lens and camera sensor. Until Fits files will be available in a future update, you can convert the tiff files using the conversion feature of Siril in to Fits (takes 2 seconds) and after stack the fits in dss or other software obtaining so a color image. I made a short video about it on my channel.

[@sputniksam]

It might be possible to use an add-on lens, similar to those that are sold to give mobile phones a telephoto capability. But preferably something with better optical qualities than those cheap addon lenses.

[@catchingphotons]

That would be cool!!

[@catchingphotons]

Thanks! Nice video about the fits conversion :-) we'll see what the software updates will bring us.

[@wyk3982]

@@catchingphotons Dwarf Lab built a 2x lens prototype, but decided not to produce the lens because it's weight and size affected the tracking of the scope. If you want to experiment with add-on lens, you need to accept the risk that the increase load could negatively impact the motors.

[@GalaxyArtMedia]

@@wyk3982 it was so heavy?

[@hvxcolors396]

I was looking for a Nikon P1000 until this caught my attention. Now I see that the Dwarf II only has 675mm equivalent focal length while the P1000 has 3000. Can I conclude that for use during daylight I better wait for a successor of the P1000?

[@catchingphotons]

I understand that the Nikon P1000 is a dedicated daylight photography DSLR like camera. This is a totally disjuncted category. The dwarf is a stationary camera, with its own strengths and weaknesses but with totally different objectives. It's like comparing motorbikes and cars. Both drive but... That's nearly all. Cheers!

[@hvxcolors396]

@@catchingphotons The Nikon P1000 is a multi purpose superzoom bridge camera which has been used over the years in a wide variety of fields like astrophotography, birding etc. In the end its always a combination of optics sensors and software. After doing more research a spotting scope with decent camera mount may be the more appropriate solution if Nikon decides to get out of the superzoom business.

[@thomas_didymus]

Thank you very much for your excellent detailed review of DWARF II! Do you have any more updates in the pipeline? As an insider, do you know why D2 is still in a pre-order status?

[@catchingphotons]

They go "online" anyday soon. I have another video in the pipe for further updates and a great trip using DWARF in Down Under. Cheers!

[@willpowerfpv3246]

Wow! Excellent video. Very thoughtful. If I weren't waist deep (and poor) from RC hobbies, living in a shoebox apartment, I'd buy this this second. Really man, great job. 👍

[@catchingphotons]

Thanks so much! All the best to you! Cheers and clear skies!

[@SpiderMan-x8h2l]

Thanks for the review! There's a new update in the firmware with an auto focus in astro mode. Wonder if it's effective?

[@charlesalexander8099]

How did you get this telescope to work away from your home without Wi-Fi? Be mighty careful out there by yourself and thanks for sharing your knowledge. You’re right being able to view planets would be a game changer. Also being able to upload images on your iPhone easier would be nice.

[@catchingphotons]

The dwarf telescope established connection by spanning a wireless LAN by itself so no other connection needed.

[@marcvietor730]

großartiges review! bin (beginner) an dem gerät interessiert. hätte eine frage: kann man damit auch evtl. ganz gute sturm/blitz-bilder machen? von der config scheint das möglich.

[@catchingphotons]

Storm and lightning images are somewhat the domain of wide field and long exposures, aren't they? This is "narrow field" and single exposures.... I can't overlap those fields in my head very well ..... Can anyone answer this question?

[@skylineuk1485]

You mention a Barlow lens for planets, what other accessories and attachments would be ideal for the dwarf 2 do you think? I have pre ordered one and I’m just waiting now 😊

[@DanielSchweinert]

Does the DWARF 2 has a "wedge" option? So it can be mounted on a wedge to work like a polar eq mount and get more than 15 seconds exposure time? Should be possible to also 3d print a wedge but the software has to be updated for this. LG Daniel

[@CosmologDiraEinstformula]

I like the stacking; 675mm telephoto cannot resolve craters on the moon, but im wondering how it would work with the 3m schmidt telescopes i build with flattened street mirrors, interferometry event horizon telescope im making i have to see black holes and analyze cosmic rays with my cosmic pi geigers😅

[@catchingphotons]

I wish you all the best :-D

[@dr.JohnMikes]

my wish is to get the dwarf 2 but i dont even have money for celestron 70az (i really like astronomy and i wanted to explore the universe)

[@steenodde77]

Would be nice to have an RA/DEC mode at a mount to do panoramic night sky

[@catchingphotons]

You can use it on a RA/DEC for regular DSO photography without field rotation... Cheers!

[@ntt2k]

Barlow! That's ingenious! I was thinking of ways to increase the focal length, and even modding the device. I hope you sent the Barlow idea as part of the feedback :)

[@catchingphotons]

I did and they are working on a solution!

[@fnersch3367]

You nailed it: software is everything and where improvements can be made. I use the eVscope & Vespera which both incorporate all of your suggestions for improvement.

[@catchingphotons]

Cool!

[@luisbracero7198]

They should add a stacking software as well with support and easy to use. Suggestion. Also add a polar alignment that could be a tripod.

[@catchingphotons]

It does stacking already as the single exposures are just 10s. So stacking is done to create the final image. The tripod part is unclear to me. Can you elaborate? Cheers!

[@bernardmcnamara]

A excellent talk on the Dwarf 2 astro imaging. It's on my shopping list as a handy small astro imaging scope...

[@catchingphotons]

Thanks and yes, very understandable. I'm gonna take DWARF with me on holidays for sure! Cheers and clear skies!

[@svaens]

So, total newbie here with a question. You mentioned a con: no planetary imaging. Suggesting some hardware addition? Barlow? Then, in the updates, apparently they improved or implemented "goto for the planets or the moon". I'm confused what the distinction is between what you said it can't do, and what it now (after the update) can do.

[@catchingphotons]

Hey Sean, DWARF is physically not capable of getting great images of the planets because the planets are super tiny and need a huge focal length. So they will always appear small on your screen. A Barlow lens is great to multiply the focal length and might be used to make the planets visible. Imaging the moon is a totally different story because ... the moon is quite near and rather big. Nevertheless they included "goto planets" because you are able to see the smallish disk of Jupiter (though with nearly no details) and points being the biggest moons of Jupiter and/or the faint representation of Saturn's rings. So: better than nothing. Besides: I always just use the moons of Jupiter to precisely focus. Cheers and clear skies!

[@svaens]

@@catchingphotons thanks for the response! It does but trigger more questions to my newbie self: it is good enough to capture great (or good enough for a beginner's POV) images of far more distant galaxies. But a relatively nearby planet in our own solar system is still too big an ask? Ok. I really just do some reading on this! Anyway. As others have already said; great review!

[@notozknows]

I never knew there was so much to a 21st century telescope. My grandfather was a Nasa engineer and was involved with the Saturn V design. I was 6 or 7 yo in 1970 when he told me (my mom and dad) some crazy stuff about what was really going on. This was my moms father and they parted ways and I was never involved with them again. Well, my question is how close to the moon can this go? Could we see around craters and such? Although this channel is higher tech than I, I subbed because you are close to 10K and I like this telescope and I try and follow you while you review. Thanx!

[@catchingphotons]

Thanks a lot for your sub and more importantly for your story! Cheers and clear skies!

[@JonathanHess-vm5bl]

I would like to see a swap in battery module replacement that had PoE and 1Gbit ethernet.

[@UncleJDCarp]

Thanks for this great review; good points covered, pro/con, and the firmware update issue, right out of the gate. This looks like a quick and fun way to get some at least decent viewing (on the phone) and imaging done when on the the go, on short trips, etc. I am assuming if it works on a phone, it should work on a tablet. Will see I suppose. After watching your video and another review on a different channel I will be pre-ordering just to have a quick & easy on the go alternative to filling my truck with the OTA, tripod, mount, all the peripherals you listed.

[@catchingphotons]

I'm glad to hear you found the review useful and that it's encouraged you to explore this more portable solution for astrophotography! You're absolutely right - this type of equipment can be a fantastic option for those impromptu stargazing sessions or for when you're travelling light. As for using a tablet, in theory, as long as the application is compatible with your tablet's operating system and the device's camera is adequate, there shouldn't be any issues. Do check the specifics of compatibility on the product's website or user manual. Enjoy your new astrophotography journey! It's a fascinating hobby that can bring endless wonders and satisfaction. Can't wait to hear about your experiences and see the stellar images you capture. Clear skies!

[@trance_trousers]

Excellent review! The photos of M42, M41, the sun and moon look amazing too. Very interested in this, but I need to know if the app can be used in a standalone fashion, I.e. does it need internet access to the manufacturer's servers to perform any of it's functions? I've seen too many cool (and expensive) gadgets become useless when their apps or the product itself is no longer supported by the original manufacturer. This is a game changer for me.

[@catchingphotons]

Hey thanks! I haven't tracked the traffic of the app but the functionality is inside the app, I'm pretty sure about that. I can turn mobile data of and it still works... Can't guarantee you anything (haven't taken the buddy apart) but as long as it hasn't SIM cards of all nations night inside it looks safe imho. Cheers!

[@trance_trousers]

@@catchingphotons thanks for the reply 🙂. I've been wondering about this since I became aware of the Dwarf II, and then in this review you mentioned that the app insisted on a WiFi connection, so that made me really wonder if it was internet dependent. But the information you've just provided puts my mind at ease somewhat, thank you!

[@kennethnevel3263]

One thing I think it needs is a way to deal with dew on the lens if possible , maybe a dew heater system . I have a lot of problems with dew on the lens of my EQ 80 Celestron in NE USA . Dew heater helps , but not always , when lens starts fogging it really cuts the image.

[@catchingphotons]

True, that would be great. It would affect power consumption though and you'd need a whole new set of sensors like temperature and humidity... I yes: dew can be a problem. Cheers and clear skies!

[@johnwatzke7174]

According to what I read there are some type type of dew removal on the scope.

[@addsanchez]

Good review and as a backer looking forward to receiving mine 👌🏼😎

[@catchingphotons]

Thanks and I hope you'll have fun with your DWARF! Cheers!

[@colinbrumfitt3947]

Thanks for the review, very interesting. I'd like to see some way to adapt to an EQ mount. I've already placed an order as living in a city NW England, hauling all my gear out just for a few hours can be a bit much.

[@catchingphotons]

Thanks for your reply! Dwarf 2 can either be mounted onto a camera tripod which you then tilt to match the inclination of earth (polar alignment) like lazy geek did it or you simply put it on an EQ mount. The results should be the same: only one axis for tracking and no field rotation. I can try this and post the results but I need some clear skies :-) Cheers and clear skies!

[@lighstwatch]

IF you took this to a remote site where there is not cell phone connection, like where i live ,will the app stand alone and still run the telescope?

[@catchingphotons]

I just started the App with disabled mobile data and cut off WiFi and the app started just fine.

[@DumfriesDik]

A month later, has anything improved with your Dwarf II? I am a complete novice and have one on order. I currently use a point and shoot camera which has a few tricks up its sleeve, but really looking forward to getting the Dwarf II. I should add that I use a wheelchair so a big scope and all the kit is out of the question. I wouldn't mind getting a Vespera, but I need to win the lotto first! I would love to see a recent or three image from the Dwarf II. All the best.

[@catchingphotons]

New Video is under way!

[@willierants5880]

At $400 pre-order price it's at the very edge of being very appealing. At the post release $460 it's out of the price range.

[@catchingphotons]

It's definitely some pile of money, for sure. I'm a bit blunted because... Astro is hard and expensive :-) Cheers and clear skies!

[@technomage_e-inka]

Would be nice to have chat gpt support, even better with voice, to get full information and ideas about what you are seeing, and for setup too . And may be if add sound and mic in a next model... But I agree it's already looks promising , could be great device

[@catchingphotons]

Funny idea! :-) Thanks!

[@Astrobloke]

Excellent review with all the details someone thinking of buying this could need to make a good decision. Clear skies

[@catchingphotons]

Thanks a lot!!

[@stephentoons]

sounds real nice but at my home im aming between trees to photograph. so i don’t think the auto calibration can work for me

[@davidwoods7720]

The best DWARF review yet,thanks. Very interested how you would attach a Barlow though?

[@catchingphotons]

It would be awesome if you could use the filter holder to... Hold the Barlow. DWARFLAB claims they investigate in this manner because many newcomers would appreciate but haven't come up with something valid yet.

[@davidwoods7720]

@@catchingphotons might be hard for the magnetic holder to carry the weight of a barlow

[@mercury7]

I did get a Nikon teleconverter and wide angle to try on dwarf, plan is to set it in the eq orientation so there will not be strain on the altitude motor, I may have to Jerry rig further depending on how well the magnetic holder works with the additional weight, the lenses are approx 5.6oz I think. The 2x will give me approx same fov as I get with my vespera

[@timetravellingtoad]

Sounds impressive, but I would like to play Devil's Advocate here. Once a newcomer has found the brighter targets a few times, I suspect that the novelty will wear off due to its limitations when they find that the other targets don't pop out as much. 450 bucks for something that remains in a cupboard is not good value for money.

[@catchingphotons]

True sentence BUT go give a counter argument here: A "my ass expensive" telescope that needs half an hour for assembly probably won't get as much usage as a "setup in two seconds" device 😉 I had that moment with my telescope. Assembly was a great hurdle, the pre -assembled "just-put -me-outside"-version gets much more usage. But your point is fair as well and I'll report the moment DWARF gets dust and spiderwebs. 😄👍 Cheers and clear skies!

[@elbass0]

It's not just 450 bucks. There's 25% VAT and a fixed customs cost on top as well. Brings it in the 600 buck range. Not sure why no one is mentioning this? Unless you live in China of course :-)

[@wakeywarrior]

I never realised I wanted this or had any interest in such a thing- then I saw this video.

[@catchingphotons]

Haha 😅 Is this is your entrance point into the best hobby in the world: welcome! 😎👍 May your journey be long, fruitful and not too expensive 😉 Cheers and clear skies!

[@bobhenderson7077]

At minus 10c you were 5 deg below minimum operating temperature. This may account for some of the glitches.

[@catchingphotons]

I was also very much freezing to death 💀 glitches at that temperature are possible, thanks for mentioning it. Cheers

[@dreikonig2785]

Starkes Video. Alles verständlich erklärt. Ich finde das kleine Gerät sehr interessant. Ich bin durch Neowise in die Astrofotografie eingestiegen. In der Zwischenzeit bin ich bei der Milchstraße angekommen. Bisher ohne Tracking (aber mit Stacking). Der nächste logische Schritt wäre nun Tracking. Du warst so nett und hast mir eine wichtige Frage beantwortet, ob sich der Dwarf II für mich lohnt. Da ich die Woche erst den Skywatcher Star Adventurer 2i gekauft habe, werde ich mich erstmal darauf fokussieren. Nichts desto trotz ist so ein kleines Go-To Teleskop natürlich extrem reizvoll. Schließlich ist das leichter und schneller mitgenommen als meine Fotoausrüstung. Aber es ist sinnvoller mich erstmal ins Thema Tracking selbst einzurbeiten bevor ein smartes Teleskop die „Arbeit“ für mich übernimmt.

[@catchingphotons]

Klingt doch sehr vielversprechend! Ich würde dir auch raten, mit dem Star-Tracker durchzustarten. Kann gut sein, dass DWARF deiner Lernkurve nicht gewachsen ist und du von dort direkt auf "echtes Teleskop" umsteigst. Gut möglich. DWARF ist etwas für ab und an, quasi Gelegenheitsastrophotographie. Ist cool, aber es hat halt auch seine Grenzen. Cheers and clear skies!

[@philb5]

I am an absolute newbie to Astro viewing /photography . Like most people I had a small telescope back in the 60s where I never understood the instructions and lost interest now I’m very excited about this new dwarf 2 !! . But I do not understand why the unit will not attach directly to a laptop allowing me to view live images and download the information directly to the laptop as you get older your eyesight has a tendency to go to hell and you cannot view through an eyepiece

[@catchingphotons]

Hey Phil, DWARF is developed to work with your smartphone. A Google tablet might work as well, even a Chromebook (don't own one) as long as you have access to the Google Play store. DWARF doesn't offer viewing though an eyepiece but that's due to the fundamental construction. Dwarf uses the sensor to collect light, not an eyepiece. Cheers and clear skies!

[@philb5]

@@catchingphotons Thank you by the way Great presentation

[@raymandeville3455]

How would this device do with photographing the Milky Way core?? Thanks for the great review!

[@catchingphotons]

Wide angle camera is restricted to 1s (sadly). So you'll need to stack multiple images together I assume. Cheers

[@mercury7]

I would like to see them have the option to output video files in the ser format, so that I can stack frames in post processing, please include that in your recommendations to them

[@catchingphotons]

Oh yes you are totally right. With all that DSO imaging it kind of forgot that raw video would be nice for moon and sun as well! Kind of missed that point, thanks for mentioning it! Cheers and clear skies!

[@mercury7]

@@catchingphotons thanks, hopefully it’s not a major lift for them to implement because mp4 does not do us much good, ser files get pretty huge fast but don’t anticipate going more than a minute or so to do the proper stacking and wavelets, could possibly do Jupiter too if I can get my teleconverter to work with it however it would still be very tiny so sun and moon would be the biggest benefactors…. They would probably be pretty shocked at the detail I could reveal with a ser file

[@nando603]

What a GREAT review, man!!!!!!! Thank you so much!

[@catchingphotons]

You are very welcome! Thanks for the feedback. Cheers!

[@wild.legend-music]

9:00 They like to “celibrate” while calibrating.

[@yuriythebest]

thanks for the review! This was probably already answered many times, and it's a noob question, but why would someone want to even take photos of this quality? Aren't the stars pretty much already photographed? I get that there is motion of stars relative to other stars, but I just don't get it...

[@catchingphotons]

I get your point but never the less. If I stand beneath the stars and look up there is a feeling of overwhelming awe coming to me. And if I point my scope to a dark patch and let the camera do its job for a few seconds and then a galaxy - millions of (light-) years away reveals itself.... I mean: I TOOK that image at this moment.... Undescribable. And then there are those rare moments I love most: what if you happen to image a super nova in another galaxy? A comet passing through our Solar System? Planets rotating into view, shadows on the moon forming brilliant complex patterns? Why photograph at all? Every species, every tree and leaf has been imaged or studied in the past. But I want to do it myself. I want to see all that beauty with me own eyes, or at least with me own equipment. So yes: we know pretty much about the heavens but as a physicist I can assure you: we know pretty much nothing at all and every glimpse into the darkness can reveal something new. Watch me latest video about revealing proper motion of distant star explosions for more about this. Cheers! Chris

[@yuriythebest]

@@catchingphotons thanks for taking the time to write the long in-depth explanation!

[@bosco008]

I have ZERO experience in AP. None. I took a picture of M51 last night that blew me and my kids away. I have super low standards, but I could see two arms of the galaxy easily. It was amazing.

[@catchingphotons]

Super amazing!! Any chance of sharing some images?

[@bryanisaacs9741]

Ok, not sure why this video popped up for me, after consideration I pre ordered it. Now I’m not into Astro photography. I’m a back yard sky watcher with a common telescope. But this excited me. After a few hours of reviews and Google I went ahead and purchased. I would like to say as a beginner, yes I would love to capture the planets, comets as they pass, so I hope they change things to where I can explore our planets some. And of course with that new passion I can explore other deep objects. It would be helpful like you said for us newer to the realm.

[@catchingphotons]

Hey Bryan thanks for your comment. Glad the video helped you! Planetary imaging (though not high end because of the optical limitations) would be sweet!! I'm hoping they can pull something like this off. Cheers and clear skies!!

[@Alan316100]

Excellent review, thank you 🙂 I have all, well almost all, the gear for astro photos but the beauty of Dwarf II and why I shall probably buy it, is that I can take it with me when I go on holiday to those places that don't suffer SE Englands light polution, and still get acceptable results.

[@catchingphotons]

Yes true! I'm looking forward (and will report with another video) in doing a 'little trip' to down under in the months to come. DWARF will be on me side for sure! Cheers and clear skies!

[@kit888]

Proprietary battery is an issue. Good luck getting replacements in 10 years. Something standard like 18650 is easier to find.

[@catchingphotons]

agree!

[@Dwarf-Encounters]

So you'll end up using USB power. Get a power bank! Ron & Maryellen 😅

[@stephentoons]

100 percent of the digital cameras i have use proprietary batteries.

[@johnwatzke7174]

Do you think there is a way for outreach work to hook this up to a monitor so a larger crowd could view it?

[@catchingphotons]

You could connect your phone with a screen no problem (android cast or something) I guess?

[@woodswalker88]

I'm leaning towards getting one of these but I'm not sure about the phone connection requirements. There may be no cell reception at a darksky location. What happens then??

[@catchingphotons]

No it works with Bluetooth and wireless LAN locally.

[@astrojeff1]

Nice review! You covered the good and bad well.

[@catchingphotons]

Thanks Jeff! Of course there are some drawbacks by design (aperture) but over all I'm quite impressed! Cheers!

[@MrEquilibrium]

the video you showed of the wide angle mention 4k 30fps does the Dwarf 2 record at 4k?

[@reallifeistoflat]

If they are intending this to be a beginner friendly Astro photo platform, why not use a bhattinov mask filter where the UHC clips on to auto focus in software?

[@catchingphotons]

Bartinov mask is difficult with such a small aperture. I think it's much easier to just implement an auto focus based on star diameter. I hope this comes soon. Cheers and clear skies!

[@unkreativnet]

5:50: using WiFi & BLE is common in cameras as you can transfer large image files very fast via WiFi but not BLE, also preview/live view. Thank you for the great video!

[@catchingphotons]

Ah interesting! Thanks for the comment!

[@tralfazz7579]

Could this be used to track Drone activity in my neighborhood. Will it track moving objects in the sky

[@catchingphotons]

Up until a certain speed yes but I assume drones might be too fast for the tracking. Cheers!

[@rjw6487]

Nicely done. Greetings from ROW 🙂

[@catchingphotons]

Thanks mate!