SeeStar S30 Tried & Tested - Does The Smallest Telescope Ever Measure Up to The S50?

[@patplunkett8525]

One of the best parts of your presentation (that I haven't seen with other reviewers) was the blink-comparisons showing the field of view. I'd have to say you are now my favorite reviewer! Short, to the point, and not a lot of extraneous information...

[@the_space_koala]

Thank you so much, I’m so glad you like it!

[@JeffFishman]

On blinking - how do you do it (key combo) in Mac and PC?

[@davidemancini7853]

Finally! I saw so many useless unboxing videos so far without even showing how the telescope performs, you have become without a doubt one of my favourite! Really a refreshing and useful review! Bravissima 👍

[@the_space_koala]

Thank you so much! I wouldn't even know how to do a pure "unboxing" video, I fear I would just be talking awkwardly :D

[@davidemancini7853]

@ Keep going the way you are doing! Great informative video’s, 😊👍Sei la migliore💪

[@Panam511]

exactly. too many unboxing. but here we have the first image quality assessment.

[@Tanglebones.]

Watching you track the plane, I immediately thought of the ISS. Thanks for the video - can't wait until my own arrives. And yes, I heard that the production version includes a case (but obviously have no way of really knowing yet.

[@the_space_koala]

It could definitely track the ISS - however I wouldn't expect to see any detail on it with an aperture of 30mm. I am sure the case will be included, I double checked before posting this and it's still listed on the website!

[@tomwall8403]

Your videos are always so well done and informative. I especially like the "shootout" image results portions because of how you take the time to show side by side comparisons. Thanks!

[@the_space_koala]

It makes me so happy when people realize and appreciate the effort I put into these! Thank you

[@TL1000S97]

Your enthusiasm is contagious! Now I must buy the S30 (Yes, I have the S50) :) Your channel is a gem for us astronerds.

[@the_space_koala]

Haha thank you! I’m happy to be sharing my obsession 😊

[@andyscrivens356]

Should I get the s30? I’m somewhat new to astrophotography and I’ve been using an old dslr and a nifty 50 to capture images. I was thinking about the s50 but for being $150 more there not many more features compared to the s30.

[@Venna78]

OMG that scenic view from your balcony. Amazing! 😍 Loved your review, I might have to order the S30.

[@the_space_koala]

yes it is truly beautiful both day and night - unless you're trying to shoot the stars in which case the lights don't help :D

[@richardtucker6016]

The airplane tracking was so cool !!!

[@the_space_koala]

I think so too! I guess you could tell how excited I was to have made it work 😁

[@JetJockey87]

Imagine having one of these on every rooftop! Finally be able to put an end to the whole UFO/UAP conversation.

[@montyziebell1077]

​@@the_space_koala is that tracking feature also on the S50 or is that something only on the S30?

[@Panam511]

finally an image quality comparison. congrats for the job done. very intersting. first test of this quality I have seen on youtube. cheers from France. 🇫🇷

[@the_space_koala]

Thank you very much that’s very kind

[@kylebarnette5005]

Amazing comparison and review. I just purchased the s30 thanks to your video and my s50 has not even arrived yet 😂😂. Your energy and enthusiasm are wonderful . Thank you

[@1949rgs]

Thank you for what I believe is most thorough and well organized presentation I have seen for the S30. I was quite surprised at the tracking capability.

[@the_space_koala]

Thank you! Tracking is one thing but I think it’s the wide angle camera that makes all the difference - you are finally able to find the object you’re looking for 😁

[@jcims]

This is an incredible demo!!!!! Very comprehensive and well executed. I ordered one to add to it's bigger brother that I bought last year and I just liked the additional portability and wider field of view. I'm now way more excited for the little critter to show up!!! Super jealous of the view from your place haha. Thank you! New subscriber for sure!

[@the_space_koala]

Thank you very much I’m glad you appreciated it!

[@isobaric2009]

One of the best review of the S30! Good job!

[@the_space_koala]

Thanks a lot!

[@MysteryMan101]

Most beautiful astronomer on KZbin 😊. Thanks for the review and hope to see seestar 30 vs dwarf 3 comparison in future soon. Clear skies 👍

[@MysteryMan101]

Just subscribed your channel after watching this review and some other amazing videos of yours. Hope to see more of your amazing stuff in future. Good luck 👍

[@fr373969]

expecting the same, I'm completely new to stargazing/astrophotography, and the seestar 30 and dwarf 3 is not only for astrophotography and they're very versatile in terms of wildlife / bird viewing or even just tracking cars/planes like you did, would love to see details comparison between the two. Thanks

[@casanwar1414]

Have an S30 on preorder so happy I ordered it especially after your very informative review. Never had telescope before, I think this is the best option for a beginner as big scopes can be a bit daunting.

[@the_space_koala]

It’s definitely the easiest way to get started!

[@markbergendahl2651]

Yeah ! I spent almost 3.5 k on a maksutov scope with smart equatorial mount and still haven't had time to learn how to set it up. An S30 or S50 would have been a bettstathing to start out with ! LOL !

[@casanwar1414]

There is something to be said about being able to navigate the cosmos by eye, it’s a skill that takes a lot of time to perfect. This feels like cheating but I probably wouldn’t have bothered to even try astronomy 🪐 if it wasn’t for a low cost all in one out of the box solution. £349 & you can capture the Orion Nebula from your back garden like NASA…amazing 😀

[@alfredterrence6112]

Again, another hands on, no nonsense review ! Thanks for the wonderful reviews you produce. I especially enjoy the review on the Optolong L-Para. Can't wait for that filter to be officially be on sale as i'm a heavy L-Enhanced user. Thanks.

[@the_space_koala]

Thanks! I hope it is coming out soon!

[@Mike__G]

Thank you for another great review! You have confirmed my thoughts about the S30 and its wider FOV. Also, I was concerned about the smaller aperture and how that would affect resolution. I no longer have that concern. Probably the newer sensor compensates for that as compared to the S50. I’m glad I found your channel!

[@the_space_koala]

I’m so happy you liked the video! What you’re saying is true for the out-of-the-box image. However if you’re willing to process the images manually you can drizzle the S50 images and you will have better resolution because of the larger optics.

[@carolsantulis1990]

​@the_space_koala What, in theory, would drizzling do for the S30 image quality?

[@the_space_koala]

The 50mm aperture could resolve a bit more detail than what the 250mm allows it to do. With the help of drizzling you can get that extra bit of information out

[@Mike__G]

@@the_space_koala I was surprised to learn that the S50 dithers during capture. I assume that this will also be the case for the S30.

[@michalpetrilak3976]

Because the S50 has a larger aperture and a 100m longer focal length, it has an objectively higher resolution, which is 2.4" compared to 2.7" in the S30. The new IMX662 image sensor used in the S30 has the same pixel size as the older IMX462 sensor in the S50, in both cases it is 2.9 microns.

[@lciummo1]

This is THE best unboxing video I've ever seen on KZbin!

[@the_space_koala]

@@lciummo1 I sped that part up haha thank you!

[@seantomlinson3320]

Neat! Thanks. I don't think I'll get this S30 for a while, I don't use my S50 all that often, but I really appreciate the comparison! Well done.

[@philherman8633]

Best video I’ve seen of the S30. I just ordered one for myself and one for my sister’s family for Christmas.

[@the_space_koala]

clear skies for Christmas then!

[@NicholasLuchetti]

Thanks for taking the time to demo the terrestrial features! The tracking will be dope for rocket launches!

[@the_space_koala]

I agree it will be really cool to see some tracked close-ups!

[@stanislavefanov8688]

What a marvelous view you have there! I was considering to buy a S50 model, but now I'm not sure with one to take. Both seem interesting and affordable.

[@the_space_koala]

Why not both 😈 Jokes aside if it’s only for Astro the S50 is a better choice but for a more versatile device that does everything I’d go for the S30 if I were you

[@hashedside3107]

Thanks this was great! I am new and was thinking of getting either s30, s50, or dwarf 3. What would you recommend?

[@johngibson3859]

Hi, great video, really simplified step by step set up instructions. Would really like to see a comparison of stacked photos only taken on your phone. Thanks again.

[@ferenc-x7p]

Great job Luca! Thanks for the FOV comparison !

[@the_space_koala]

Thank you glad you liked it

[@GitFiddler13601]

I’ve pre ordered the S30, looking forward to trying it out. I will be showing it off in my Astronomy club😎 Thanks for doing this video

[@the_space_koala]

As you should! I wonder how small these gadgets are going to get over the next few years 😁

[@gwzapo]

Nice comparison!!! Thank you for this very objective review!!!

[@gerhardputtfarcken4525]

Always a pleasure to see your videos. Thanks a lot.

[@the_space_koala]

Thank you!

[@aw7425]

That was a fu and informative watch, the plane and car tracking was interesting too. Thank you and hoping for better clear skies for you

[@the_space_koala]

I appreciate it, clear skies to you as well!

[@michaeledmonds3027]

Thanks, Luca... The S50 SeeStar (pre-ordered at $400) pulled me from decades of visual astronomy into AP. It's an amazing piece of gear, and the S30 should attract a strong audience. As a life-long pro magazine and advertising photographer, I found my SeeStar images lacking image quality. This led to full-blown ZWO EQ gear: AM5, ASIAIR, EAF, ASI533MC PRO, two refractors, and a C6, plus all the peripherals. I'm guessing that this isn't a unique experience. As Cuiv said about AP: "You will want more".... Again, I enjoy what you bring to AP and sharing your graceful lifestyle. Michael

[@the_space_koala]

This is exactly what the Seestar is for! I bet that is also the masterplan of ZWO 😁 give the people just enough that they get addicted!

[@michaeledmonds3027]

Absolutely.... Clever marketing. From your various videos, I've deduced that you're a fellow addict. Please keep sharing!

[@mycarolinaskies]

Thanks for having an early comparison for the two smart scopes! I'd like to see examples of galaxies and globular clusters in image comparisons. I know you mentioned that briefly in closing. It's one area where I think the S30 shows it's limitations with the sensor chosen being 2.9um instead of 2um like the D3. The wideangle camera usage might be a plausible reason for someone wanting dual purpose, though I think I'd only be sold on that if ZWO allows it to image long enough exposures to do milkyway shots.

[@the_space_koala]

If you want to capture galaxies and globulars, the S50 is a clear choice. It's not just because of the image resolution - which is something you can play around with later via drizzle - but the telescope's native resolution. At 30mm that is limited and it will never resolve stars beyond a certain limit. The D3 has an aperture of 35mm which is still tiny and the smaller pixels will not give you any benefit if you're willing to process your own images. I would not pick the D3 over the S30 simply because of that (though it has other redeeming qualities like the native EQ mode)

[@johndaley9188]

I pre-ordered mine on 1 Nov to compliment my S50. I scope only from my deck and right now I can't see N-NW. There's lots of stuff out there in that direction I haven't seen yet. I was hoping for comparable quality images and you proved that. I've seen other S30 reviewes in the last 24 hours and I have to tell you yours is the best. Most comprehensive and to the point. Still jealous of your mountains. Thank you.

[@the_space_koala]

Thank you very much I’m happy you liked my review! The good thing about the sky is that it moves into view 😁

[@あいちゃん-f7f]

It is the first comment. A commentary is careful and easy and is easy. I'm really looking forward to your future videos. From a Japanese who is bad at English!! II wish the channel continued success in the future.

[@the_space_koala]

Thank you very much

[@DirtyBird]

Thank you for the review. I ordered an S30 on the release date. Another tech gadget to the collection. Crikeys!

[@the_space_koala]

zwo drops a $350 smart scope you go and get it - I don't make the rules! Jokes aside I hope you will love it!

[@philipduggan60]

Excellent review especially with the Blinks...

[@the_space_koala]

Thank you kindly!

[@redpaul1970]

Thanks, for the video, It's just what I wanted to convince me to go for the S30 over the S50.

[@chiukevin7247]

Thanks for the tests... i will go for s30 for my daughters 🥰💌

[@Farida-ii5vx]

Merci ! très bon travail de comparaisons entre les 2 télescopes :)

[@carlriley6403]

Thanks for the video and commentary you did a great job.

[@BrianKushner]

I have the S50 and the Dwarf 2. So yes both FOV's compliment each other. Seems the S30 is targeting the Dwarf scopes. Great and thorough review..thanks.

[@the_space_koala]

Yes I think the D3 and the S30 are competing for the same segment!

[@RobAguilarPhoto]

Thankou for a such useful review! I have a question... As a photographer , which files are better for edit? I mean both telescopes produces the same file sizes? the files are only jpg? When I see your images I think that maybe I can buy the S30 (better image quality) and just crop de image for get a "close" shot. but I don't know the capabilities of files :( thank you!!

[@the_space_koala]

I just saw this now! It can output all the raw files ( in FITS) format, and/or the stacked image in FITS as well as JPEG. Of course if you want to process you’d be working with the FITS. Cropping the S30 for a closer view is not really an option as these sensors are already very low resolution, so further cropping it would create a miniature image. The sensor in the S30 is more modern but this wouldn’t deter me from picking the S50 if I had to choose

[@mrdoofa9357]

I’ve been wondering whether to get one of these to complement my S50, after watching this excellent review the answer is yes. This is by far the best S30 video I’ve seen, thank you!!! I love your channel and watching your videos. A comparison video between the S30 and D3 would be very interesting.

[@markbergendahl2651]

Great review ! Gets people into astrophotography in minutes without spending hours prepping the scope. Obvious image field rotation problems won't matter to beginners. What a bargain !

[@the_space_koala]

a lot of people are asking for it and of course it's coming. So hard to keep up with a new smart scope almost every week :D

[@mrdoofa9357]

⁠@@the_space_koalaIt’s very exciting times at the moment!!! Can’t wait to see more videos on these telescopes!!!

[@johnvgladden6594]

Well done review, thanks.

[@bobmusil1458]

Great video, thank you! You did not say whether the S30 can do mosaic or not. However, I’m not sure mosaic mode is even useful with the S30. With the S50 mosaic mode solves two problems: • no field rotation • more megapixel for the final image So, I stick with the S50.

[@the_space_koala]

I did mention you still have the option of mosaicing with the S30 giving you an even larger field of view. It has exactly the same benefits as it does on the S50

[@bobmusil1458]

@@the_space_koala Sorry, I missed that. Thanks for your answer. I’m not sure if the field of view with mosaic mode on the S30 is not just too large. (Are there any objects that need such a large field view?) (I really like your channel 👍)

[@YummehPyroFlakes]

Great Review! The S30 looks good. It's just sad that the cost to get it in Europe make such a big difference. Awesome view from your balcony too! What a dream :)

[@the_space_koala]

we always get a bump in the price here - but also because the declared prices are usually before sales tax! Above a certain value it's worth to buy local, you have someone to go to with your warranty case - at least this is my logic

[@YummehPyroFlakes]

@the_space_koala Thats true and I fully Support your logic but paying over 200€ over the Website price with taxes included is still horrendous. I am not paying that fee just to have some Shop in my country. When you have to take care of customs yourself, it's just not a pleasent buying experience in my opinion. If ZWO would atleast offer this, I would get one without hesitation. I mean almost every AliExpress seller does it. Why can't they do it? This is supposed to be a product for the masses and I think they lost some potential here for the big Community in Europe. Astrophotography is expensive but that doesn't mean everyone can afford or is willing to paying a couple hundreds above msrp. Edit: This was all about the S50. The S30 is 580-600€ instead of 350$, what would be less then 400€ after taxes. When the price is right, i'll get one for sure. The convenience is very high with this one. We'll see where this will be heading with future updates.

[@YummehPyroFlakes]

@the_space_koala Awe I just finished a long reply but it seemed to have gotten removed again.. Thanks KZbin :D The price difference is just crazy. The S30 would be not even 400€ after taxes, yet in stores its 590€. In my opinion that difference is just way too high. ZWO sadly does not take care of customs and doing that yourself is always a bit of a pain. Anyway.. If the price is right I think i'll get one just because its easy and comfy. It seems like a better choice over the S50 by now. Thanks for the great comparison.

[@dobromirdragomirov5257]

@@YummehPyroFlakes , You mean that after the taxes it it will be less than 400€? Because I made almost the same calculation. Just preordered it right now. If I understand it correctly (because the government sites are so terrible and uncomfortable to use here in Bulgaria, UX is so garbage!) I will pay 20% VAT and around 4% customs taxes. So If I am right I need to pay around 75€ in taxes, including both VAT and customs. If so the price is so much better than paying 200 euros more like you said.

[@YummehPyroFlakes]

@@dobromirdragomirov5257 Exactly. Of course there are differences from country to country and maybe it's even a bit of a Roulette game with customs. I mainly just use some Kind of calculator I found online a few years ago. It's quite accurate and never underestimated the real cost, mostly it showed me a price 5-10% above what I ended up paying.

[@spookysandwich1355]

great vid koala ... i currently have an HEQ5pro with rowan upgrade SW mount and use my nikon Z6 and 600mm sigma lens with NINA ive just bought a few weeks ago a 50mm guide scope and a ZWO planetary camera but havent used it yet , im a autoguiding virgin so abit scared 😅but im seriously thinking about selling the mount and going for this or the dwarf 3 as i cant afford a dedicated compatible telescope , just cant make my mind up atm what to do , what attracts me to these smart scopes is the fact i dont have to cart a ton of stuff around to a daRK location to set everything up , this is a chuck in a backpack and set up anywhere within mins hassle free and being in south coast uk would be great under bortle 4 skies, what i like about the D3 is its equatorial mode and 1 min exposures but not going to rush into anything yet until the D3 yas been released and see what images other get from it

[@the_space_koala]

Tbh I was not able to do 1 minute shots with the D3, I got star trails every single time :) but yes the EQ mode is a huge advantage

[@esrider7765]

The tracking feature is really cool. I have signed up for stock alert.

[@NGC008]

Wouldn’t mind a video on the latest Seestars S50 software/firmware update including the AI Denoising feature. I’m not sure the best way to use it.

[@fotoenvrossi3104]

I would like to see a comparison between seestar s30 and dwarf 3, I am very undecided on which one to buy, the dwarf 3 has the eq mode option and should have better quality (it also has a better sensor)

[@the_space_koala]

It’s coming! But in order to do such a comparison, I need actually clear skies otherwise it’s pointless :) the barely visible stars were good enough to evaluate field of view and usability 😁

[@JeffFishman]

Hello - great comparison. I was also intrigued by the tracking. I also did my own shootout last night with both units (going to give one to my son). So my question, do you think the S30 could track the ISS? And my overall opinion, I like the really wide FOV, as I have larger rigs for real DSO work. I want to keep the tiny S30. Thanks and happy new year to you snd Matteo

[@the_space_koala]

It could surely track it but you wouldn’t be able to see any structure I think

[@leopareti5701]

Great review !

[@louisLIO-dx9bh]

Excellent video, looking forward to the comparison between s30 and dwarf3, I am wondering which one should I buy?

[@the_space_koala]

let's see the direct comparison! coming soon

[@sylviedc889]

What a nice landscape !

[@the_space_koala]

it is truly beautiful, I agree!

[@davew1234]

Great review, thanks!!

[@alisonbell-Delassa]

Great video, what is the delivery date any idea please?

[@the_space_koala]

they have already started delivering the first orders!

[@alisonbell-Delassa]

Thank you, still can't choose but I so desperately want a smart telescope 😁

[@the_space_koala]

if this is your first telescope, whichever one you get you'll be super happy with it for a long time

[@alisonbell-Delassa]

Thank you 😊

[@nicolasaigues]

Great video! Quick question: what's the size of the box of the s30?

[@ericksingleman6904]

I would think a more interesting comparison would be with the Dwarf 3?

[@the_space_koala]

It’s coming :)

[@SKANDaR0875]

From you experience and for a newbie which one do recommend as first smart telescope s50 or s30? Thank you

[@the_space_koala]

they are equally easy to use, no difference there. If you want to shoot smaller objects and better Sun and Moon shots the s50, if you want wide angle shots s30

[@ron4020]

Great video review! Very informative and exciting! I wonder if the telephoto lens can capture the Milky Way? You think it’s possible?

[@the_space_koala]

Currently it’s not possible to use the wide angle lens in Astro mode so it wouldn’t track the sky

[@steverees1936]

This little gem would be ideal for me as I do landscape photography and want to get into astrophotography also. That is some awesome scenery you have there. Is that Austria?

[@the_space_koala]

these little smart scopes make it so easy to start out in astro! And I'm in Switzerland :)

[@steverees1936]

@the_space_koala I thought you were around that part of Europe. It's very beautiful. Yes these little scopes are a bit of a revolution. I'm just watching your video on the Askar sqa55. Very interesting. Thanks for replying. 😊

[@paddledogs]

Very helpful. I have the same Lego America's Cup model! My question is - what would saturn/jupiter look like with the S30?

[@the_space_koala]

Saturn would look like a dot, and Jupiter would look like a dot with 4 other dots (the galilean moons) if you’re lucky

[@paddledogs]

@@the_space_koala Thanks, last question, is it possible to image the milky way with the S30? Again thanks for all the effort to educate us.

[@the_space_koala]

As far as I saw you can't be using the wide angle camera while it's tracking in stargazing mode, so it would have to be untracked as of now.

[@JC-tx1pd]

is this a good product for day photografy? Or do you recomend another producy to use with a smartphone?

[@the_space_koala]

depends on what kind of daytime photography you want to do. it's great if you want to be able to zoom in on particular things, faraway buildings, the Sun, it's an all-in-one package at an unbeatable price. If you would like to do daytime landscape etc, I would not go for a Seestar

[@JC-tx1pd]

@@the_space_koala Yes, it's more for landscape photo. Being able to photograph across a valley, from one side to the other, a waterfall or other element present.

[@mez90b]

Love the video thank you, what are your yhiughts on the comparison between this s30 and the video from last week of fhe dwarf 3.

[@the_space_koala]

It’s coming! :)

[@judd_s5643]

8:22 I wonder if it will track the ISS overflight? Obviously if the ISS pass’s over the zenith it would fail but perhaps a 60-80 degree.

[@the_space_koala]

It will track it but you wouldn’t see much detail on the ISS at this aperture

[@carolsantulis1990]

I was surprised at the higher background noise with the S30. Did you notice any quality advantage of the 8MP sensor?

[@the_space_koala]

Hey, the sensor is only 2.4MP! I would attribute the marginally higher noise to the smaller pixels, but I don’t think the noise was significantly higher!

[@luishecheverym56]

Thank you very much for sharing your knowledge, excellent video and very lively, I would like you to give me some advice, to get started with one, which of these small devices do you recommend, the SEESTAR or the DWARF, thank you very much in advance

[@the_space_koala]

I thought the seestar was more fun during the day and the dwarf for astrophotography due to the EQ mode. Keep in mind the dwarf costs 2x as much if you factor in having to buy a tripod as well

[@dobromirdragomirov5257]

Great comparison. Is there any way to download the files and compare them ? :P

[@runarottesen9450]

Thanks for excellent information about the S30. Would love if you did a a comparison of the S30 and the Dwarf 3 :-)

[@the_space_koala]

Thanks, it’s coming :)

[@robe4314]

I believe you're the first person to get good space images with the production model of the S30. The weather appears to be awful everywhere else on the planet :)

[@the_space_koala]

It was not great here either - you can kind of see the color of the sky in the background where I’m outside with the scopes 😁 but hey at least it wasn’t raining!

[@TheHelicapt]

How did you get rid of the white haze and field rotation when you processed ?

[@the_space_koala]

background extraction (I mostly use GradientCorrection)

[@TheHelicapt]

@ got it. Thanks

[@RobAguilarPhoto]

Oh btw, the tracking an all these activities that you enjoy with te s30, the S50 is not capable to do?

[@the_space_koala]

@@RobAguilarPhoto it has tracking but it would be much more difficult to find the object due to no wide angle camera

[@mitsi2179]

Hola, buena review. Una pregunta, el sensor del S30 IMX662) es mejor que el del S50 (IMX462), no has notado la diferencia?

[@the_space_koala]

It should be better in theory but I haven’t noticed a difference.

[@raulsebastian3861]

Hola enhorabuena por el vídeo yo tengo montura ecuatorial con Newton 150 y refractor de 80mm el tema es que ke cuesta localizar objetos y hacer seguimiento largos necesito una ayuda para avanzar y pensaba adquirir un seestar pero tengo la duda de cuál. Teniendo mi equipo como te comento cual de los dos me recomiendas? Gracias.

[@the_space_koala]

If you already have all this, why not buy a similarly user friendly control system such as the ASIAIR?

[@raulsebastian3861]

@the_space_koala habia oído hablar de el gracias por el consejo

[@raulsebastian3861]

He solicitado un asiar Mini espero vaya bien gracias por el consejo

[@PhilW222]

Good review, but I felt that you missed the fact that the wider field of view comes at the cost of lower pixel resolution, so the S50 will resolve more detail.

[@the_space_koala]

That is true, though, this is not a seestar or smart scope specific subject, just a natural consequence of halving the focal length on a very similar sensor. There are an infinite number of similar things I wish I would’ve mentioned, such as that the S30 is better sampled while the S50 requires manual processing to bring out the maximum resolution it can do. One could do a 1-hour long video on it and while I’m interested in it, I don’t know if a lot of other people would be 😁 I appreciate your feedback very much - here and on Facebook - at least I know that there are people who are interested in the more technical aspects of smart scopes as well.

[@PhilW222]

@ thanks for your answer, I’d be interested to hear more about the S30 being “better sampled”, I don’t think I have heard that before, but it is of course early days.

[@woody5109]

Great review, nice desk 😐

[@the_space_koala]

thank you lol

[@polacofederos]

great video! do you think is there any reason to get the S30 over Dwarf3, aside from the price?

[@the_space_koala]

I really like the EQ feature of the Dwarf and I enjoyed using it in general. One benefit of the S30 would be a much more reliable customer support, being a well-established, large company.

[@polacofederos]

@@the_space_koala well i would guess that if they have reach up to dwarf v3 is that they have some support, enough for what their product. Looks like dwarf3 is the best option out there then, for now. S30 might eat some market margin from S50, yet... who on earth will now buy an S50 having much superior dwarf3 for similar price? And S30 vs dwarf3, i dont know, saving 150usd? not sure if has sense at all, specially if someone is willing to pay hundreds of dollars afterwards to get PX and some of its plugins. Suddenly my S50 is not that cool anymore.

[@zhxkaii7893]

I was debating on which one to get, the s30 or s50. Your video was very helpful and a joy to watch! I have a question tho which i didnt really get, maybe i missed it, but the s50 does have higher quality images over the s30 when it comes to deep sky photography, correct? And the mosaic on the s50 balances out the FOV from the s30? Still pretty new to the topic :D Greetings from Germany

[@the_space_koala]

I don’t think it’s an easy yes or no question. If you want to image smaller objects (which are 90% of them) the S50 will win, both because of the larger aperture and the better resolution. But if you enjoy the wide angle shots and versatility the S30 trumps it. That’s the reason I didn’t state a clear opinion in my video about which one is better - it really depends

[@zhxkaii7893]

@ the smaller shots are more what I’m going for. I’d love to go as deep into space as possible with this small thing. So the S50 it is. Thank you :)

[@mattabbfal]

Is that tracking feature in the S50 as well? Would it track the ISS? looks amazing!

[@the_space_koala]

It does! But it’s much harder to find objects without the wide angle view. It would track the ISS but you wouldn’t see too much detail at this aperture

[@mattabbfal]

@ thanks for the reply!

[@SirMopy]

13:49 min the pics are mind blowing..... but I didn't get how many exposures you did.

[@the_space_koala]

they were 75 minutes each, composed of 10 second shots!

[@MADsailing560]

Have you tried the non celestial tracking with the s50 as well? Will it track an airplane as well as the s30 shown in your video?

[@the_space_koala]

The tracking would work equally as well, however keep in mind that it will be very difficult to get the airplane in the FOV to begin with. It’s much more enlarged and you have no wide angle finder

[@MADsailing560]

@the_space_koala except your eyeballs, I guess! Looks like Damon on Astronomical has some competition now! 😉

[@shinyy187]

Could the really wide lens be used for tracked milky way photography? If so, I wonder how good it is for that

[@the_space_koala]

As of now you’re not able to use the wide angle lens in Astro mode

[@leegengxiang2173]

Can you help a novice, I live in an area considered as urban with quite bright skys. On a clearest night I can only see maybe 10 - 20 of the brightest stars. Is this S30 or even S50 able to capture the deep sky and nebulas like you show?

[@the_space_koala]

From such light polluted skies the only thing you have a chance for is emission nebulas. The S30 and the S50 both have a built in filter and also mark the targets that they can be used for. It’s not going to change your back yard into Atacama desert but it helps reduce the effects of light pollution.

[@leegengxiang2173]

@@the_space_koala thank you

[@tma2001]

Neither Dwarflab or ZWO list the spec for the wide fov sensor although the Dwarf 3 marketing promotes Milky Way imaging, so I presume it's something decent for low light. Not sure if the same is true for the S30 as ZWO might have cuts costs in that regard. Would be good to know. The Moon appears to be over sharpened out the box compared to the S50 as other reviews have pointed out, hopefully that will be fixed in production software.

[@the_space_koala]

The 30mm diameter is just too small for a nice Moon shot in my opinion

[@eliaparisi984]

A person inside zwo said that the stars at the corner are better in S50 model due to better optics. S50 is less noisier, so if you don't have to carry the telescope around the globe, the S50 is better (with mosaic mode of course)

[@the_space_koala]

That explains it - it’s mostly on line with what I found, though the stars were not entirely perfect on the S50 either. As the S30 has the same size sensor I feel like it is just “less cropped” in that tiny tube so you see more of the imperfections

[@TheLandbo]

Thanks for the good review which made me order a copy. I actually prefer the Dwarf 3 due to the better sensor as well as EQ mode and the fact that both cameras' sensors are turned with the long axis horizontally, but they need a full 18 weeks to deliver mee a copy. 😂 I think the SeeStar S50 has too small an image field.

[@the_space_koala]

I do like the EQ mode on the D3 - it makes it more of an astrophotography device. The panorama feature is cool as well. They each have their merits

[@TheLandbo]

@@the_space_koala Thanks for the answer. Yes, speaking of panorama mode, which I can also use in the summer in the hunt for Noctilucent Clouds since I need a good picture in a very high resolution of the phenomenon. I hope that Dwarf has included the ability to schedule panorama recordings in timelapse. Unfortunately, I will probably have to have a Dwarf 3 sent to NW Denmark as well. 😂

[@the_space_koala]

I had no idea you could do a panorama time lapse! That sounds super exciting and I think I'll give it a go

[@TheLandbo]

@@the_space_koala I don't have a Dwarf 3, but I hope it's possible to order a mosaic every minute during the time when the sun is 5 to 15 degrees below the horizon and luminous noctilucent clouds can occur. If DwarfLab wants to, they can easily make a good, cheap instrument to automatically scan the sky for phenomena such as luminous noctilucent clouds. What I mean by timelapse is that Dwarf 3 can hopefully start doing what the user programs into the calendar for a certain time period, and by that I don't just mean starting to make an astro picture of, for example, M13 -Leif.

[@captain.eddy333]

How close to a subject can you focus?

[@CMDROldDuck]

So the S50 does not track moving objects? I’ve only just discovered this type of telescope.

[@the_space_koala]

Yes, also the S50 has this functionality. However, without the wide angle camera, it would be more difficult to locate a moving object like a plane

[@johndaley9188]

Received my S30 this week, tried it briefly. It's really quiet. ZWO didn't just repackage the S50. Only had time to capture pleiades. Compared to S50, pretty close. Concern about smaller aperture, but I think the better camera helps. S50 replacement? No. The larger lens on the S50 allows more light, that's a good thing. Same APP too. No learning curve. Need to play with wide angle soon.

[@the_space_koala]

That was my point too! It's not a "which is better" question - it's more about "what you want to image"

[@thepanda1980able]

Is the tracking mode, like with the plane, also available at the S50?

[@the_space_koala]

It is available! You may have a much harder time finding the object, though without the wide angle lens and with the even longer focal lenght

[@thepanda1980able]

Grüezi. Thank you for confirmation and advice.

[@saltfist1879]

can you see the rings of saturn with s30?

[@KevinMcCarthy-dz7tc]

Are you able to mount the S50 on a standard tripod or is the S50 tripod not removable?

[@the_space_koala]

It’s also removable - you can mount it on a standard tripod

[@creazie]

just a quick question , what makes a telescope good for astrophotography? because i see same specs of telescope but one recomanded for astrophotography and others noth , whats the deal with that ?

[@the_space_koala]

May be a quick question but definitely not a quick answer 😁 usually you need a corrected (flattened and/or coma-corrected) field, and for traditional photography, ideally equatorially mounted. But it all depends because these are not even true for these smart scopes.

[@creazie]

@@the_space_koala so to put it easy, mostly depends on the mount ? if the specs of telescopes are the same ?

[@the_space_koala]

Well surely an equatorial one will trump an alt-az, and also it needs to be motorized

[@darksanity]

I have a question, I don't have either the s50 or s30, I've been wanting the s50 since it came out but due to financing I haven't gotten either, what would you suggest for me? I think I prefer the higher quality of the s50 photos than the s30.... Thoughts ?

[@the_space_koala]

If you are focused solely on the Astro aspect the S50 may be the better choice. The S30 however is more versatile and affordable. For good quality images what makes the most difference is how much time and energy you’re willing to invest into long exposure times and post-processing

[@jameschristensen6169]

Have you tried imaging any planets with the s30?

[@myketripp3838]

It's a good video, but as you said, S50 can do a mosaic and capture the dust region. I'd rather spend the time instead of buying another unit.

[@tompage8674]

Wow cool view and setup. Where are you based?

[@the_space_koala]

I’m in Lugano Switzerland

[@flyvideom]

Merci pour votre excellente vidéo, sérieuse dans les comparaisons de résultats.

[@MagicalWingLT]

So photos for the Sun and Moon is a downgrade? I don't care about the other planets but I want the Sun and Moon along with the galaxies, and other deep sky stuff. So far I'm not impressed. I may just go with the S50

[@the_space_koala]

Based on your preferences the S50 is clearly the better choice

[@abdullah_aka_aj]

So what should I buy?S50 or s30 which one is better for you?

[@the_space_koala]

This was the conclusion in the video, it all depends on what is more important to you

[@richardrojas6306]

A big negative I see is if you have to level the S30 and that smaller tripod , you almost have to replace it with a tripod that you can adjust the tripod legs. Maybe even buy the Camera Leveler Tripod Leveling Base. I think I'm waiting for an S150-200 and pay the price to see the planets.

[@the_space_koala]

I don’t level it and I also don’t level the S50😁 as long as you don’t put it on a literal hill side it should be fine - it does the horizontal calibration for this very reason when you start imaging. If leveling was that important it wouldn’t work when people force polar-align it.

[@richardrojas6306]

@@the_space_koala Unfortunately, the software always ask you to level the scope, and the display shows you the two circles. So I guess You cancel out to continue.

[@WalterBoring]

How do you level it with that tripod? Every time I use my S50, the first thing I have to do is level it.

[@the_space_koala]

You cannot. To be fair I also don't level the S50 - as long as it does the horizontal calibration well and you don't have it completely sideways, it is not so important in my opinion