ZWO SEESTAR | BUY OR PASS? | Imaging Test

Purchase Seestar Here: store.seestar.com/SCOTT-AFFIL...
Order from High Point Scientific: www.highpointscientific.com/z...
Many people have asked if the Seestar is worth it despite them having a pro setup already, and others have asked if it's good for those who are beginners. Have your questions asked here! We test 2 different nebula and 2 different galaxies. See if you think it's worth it now!
0:00 Introduction
4:20 Shooting the pacman nebula
6:06 Shooting C30 and Stephan's Quintet
7:49 Shooting the bubble nebula
9:05 Shooting the Andromeda Galaxy
11:02 All unprocessed images
12:19 Processing Images
38:40 My ultimate opinion
#seestar #astronomy #astrophotography #zwo #space #nebula

[@Marcus_Aurelius_6]

Thank you for the presentation of seestars, this will be my first ever telescope, i fall in love with this hobby. Keep it up!

[@Bravotwogaming]

If you had to choose between the dwarf 2 or Seestar, what would you pick? I’m new to all this, but the dwarf 2 also looks good and the images it takes looks better?

[@timczapiewski527]

Great walk through on the hardware and software options Scott!

[@ScottCastrophotography]

Thank you! What would you like to see in future content?

[@timczapiewski527]

I ordered mine the last week of may and going to be very new to this. I am going to be spending alot of time with my 15 year old grand daughter to explore and finish photos. She is likely to really take to this and knowing how to finish photos will be really helpful. I think you are doing great with this. Also looking forward to seeing the Orion nebula targets with this device.@@ScottCastrophotography

[@marvinwhisman3333]

Great video and I appreciate you showing your technique for processing the image. I have a Seestar on order but just placed it last month so I am hoping it turns out to be a Christmas gift. Maybe I will get surprised and it arrives early. I do some traveling so I am looking to use the Seestar as my travel scope without having to fill half the back of the car with equipment. Thanks again for the video review.

[@ScottCastrophotography]

I'm really glad you enjoyed! Hope yours arrives soon! It's a treat!

[@denodan]

For me am happy just letting it auto stack, and a light processing in literoom, etc to stretch. The beauty with Dwarf 2 is can use it in EQ mode and saves each individual fits or tiff files and a lot more room to crop as the field of view is larger by far. Get no field rotation with my Dwarf 2 as use it in EQ mode. Yet in Simon's last you tube video was saying he got no field rotation. Thought it has a de rotation field feature thats don't in software when stacking

[@BahtinovRanger]

Thanks for the wonderful video. I am glad you are showing how it actually looks and actively trying difficult objects to test the limits of it. Now I know some objects are considerably dim, what do you think of objects like Witch Head, it is viewable now in the early morning hours, and getting earlier and earlier as we head into fall.

[@ScottCastrophotography]

I can test those out and let you know! I want to show the limits so people don't have unrealistic expectations about it

[@thecarbonprop]

Really great video. I'm on the list for a preorders and seeing your work helps confirm my choice to buy. Any idea if pixinsight would be a worthwhile investment for something like this? Or is it really for more high end data? Thanks again for doing these videos. I'd love to see more of anything you're willing to post.

[@suhndog]

I'm enjoying your work here! Curious: Why did you make the center of the Andromeda galaxy so blue?

[@wilduc7302]

Keep up the good work, tempting but I’am still happy with my dwarf. Moreover still a lot to learn in the future wrt your siril etc. videos. The S50 has also found it’s place in the EEA community.

[@colinhill]

Great educational video. Thanks for taking the time. I see lots of rotational issues ending up heavy cropping. Have seen that the Dwarf2 can be polar aligned on YT to avoid this although not seen the results of images. Thoughts? Hope to see more Seestar videos.

[@ScottCastrophotography]

That's on my KZbin about the polar alignment. Almost all i do with dwarf ii is polar aligned. Check out my Cygnus Loop video! It's dwarf ii data polar aligned. And yeah seestar can't be polar aligned unfortunately

[@colinhill]

@@ScottCastrophotography thanks Scott, I will check it out. How about a good comparison video shooting the same subject at same time, same time length with polar aligned Dwarf and Seestar. I wonder how dwarf will fair with its wider view, to get detail compared to Seestar, but also seeing the rotational loss on Seestar. I've not seen any real direct compare videos (apart from people comparing real dwarf to only the specs of Seestar before its release). I think you would get a large audience for a really good compare video. Thanks.

[@martianmuppet]

For the size and price, what a great bit of kit to have for astrophotography for deep space subjects. I've always been interested in astronomy but I've only gone as far as bino's for viewing the night sky. I could never decide on what direction I wanted to go in, planetary, galaxies or nebula? So I never got around to splashing the cash. Now I live in Donegal where the skies have virtually zero light pollution I might have to finally get my wallet out. It makes me wonder where this type of telescope and software will be in a year or two. Amazing. Thanks for the vid!

[@erebostd]

Man, after first thinking about the dwarf 2 - I’m now so glad i didn’t pull the trigger with it, i ordered the Seestar instead… i hope I’ll get it soon, too… (ordered a few months ago)

[@ScottCastrophotography]

You'll enjoy it, it's a little confusing and they're still working on it but it's 100% worth the money

[@RyleyI]

Thanks!

[@ScottCastrophotography]

Thank you! This helps a lot!

[@andrejflis8161]

You can actually stack together images from multiple nights/sessions?

[@andrejflis8161]

I never did any astrophoto, as I only have a 6" dobsonian. But to me the images look better with your initial steps, before you did the stretching yourself... just my personal opinion. For example, at 26:30 you can still see 3 or even 4 galaxies nicely resolved with and being split apart. Otherwise great work showing your process 🙏

[@greatpix]

You get a LOT for your money with this ZWO Seestar 50. How much is just an alt-az Go-To mount. Yes it's for beginners or those who want to travel light and bring a scope with them that won't take up the entire back of a car. I hope they will come out with better models in the future, an 80mm quad, or (drool) a 100mm model that's the size of a medium size suitcase and sets up easily in minutes. That's the great appeal to this and future upgraded models. I wish my first astronomy club had one of these (that would have been the summer of 1970). Even today they would be great to have at star parties along with a large TV too so small groups could see everything.

[@scotth1946]

Do you recommend waiting for a "Pro" model or further enhancements?

[@NicoJW]

Thanks for the video, is there a set time in the app you should be shooting specific targets? Also do you have to keep open the app whole time?

[@ScottCastrophotography]

No you can close it and come back to it later. And when you say set time in the app, what do you refer to?

[@NicoJW]

Referring to exposure time on certain nebula / galaxies. Does the app recommend what time to leave it running? So once you set it you can lock your phone and come back to it?

[@bigstreetguns6619]

They should add Polaris alignment via FW update. Like if you agree.

[@chemtrail_brew_Que]

There is no value to polar aligning a Alt-Az mount. It only works for Equatorial mounts. Put it on a wedge and then we are talking.

[@ScottCastrophotography]

@chemtrail_brew_Que it works wonders actually, completely removes rotational noise. Basically turns the Alt-aZ mount to a equatorial mount

[@realmcerono]

@@ScottCastrophotography thats not possible without a wedge, please explain.

[@ScottCastrophotography]

@@realmcerono can't polar align Seestar but Dwarf II you can literally just angle the top of the dwarf ii towards Polaris and boom, easy polar alignment. Removes 100% of field rotation

[@bigstreetguns6619]

@@ScottCastrophotography Isn't it just a matter of firmware regarding the Seestar?

[@enchodus]

Don’t rush!

[@ScottCastrophotography]

Took 4 days on this one!

[@gliderrider]

What kind of star database does it have?

[@JD-xo3xz]

Would you recommend keeping or replacing the tripod? If so, which brand would be best?

[@ScottCastrophotography]

Keep it, it's nice and sturdy, adjustable, and has a built in level

[@Rockmonix]

Hey I'm new to the Seestar and I'm struggling to get good shots. You mentioned about using the filter on a moonlit night. I've only been using it when the app turns it on automatically. When/how should I know to use it?

[@ScottCastrophotography]

On galaxies, never use the filter, on emission nebulas, use it, on reflection nebulas, don't use it, as it'll cut out the natural light. 👍🏼

[@spikkyboy]

Would it be possible to "programme" an image run for a target that hasn't risen yet. Then go to bed and leave it to work and make the capture?

[@ScottCastrophotography]

Not yet but i think I've heard of them planning something like that

[@rb489012002]

Would you say that this is more of a camera with a great object tracking motorised mount than an actual telescope that you can observe through?

[@ScottCastrophotography]

Well an actual telescope isn't going to be able to see a lot of detail and stuff just by looking through an eyepiece. That's what these devices do, they gather light your eye wouldn't be able to typically see and display it for you on your screen

[@steviejohn22]

GReat start . Did you use the pro version

[@ScottCastrophotography]

No, pro version isn't released yet

[@LordPaulusCobris]

i would like to see a "PRO" version with a bigger sensor (4k output), variable aperture for planetary photo, and the capability of zooming in and out for big objects (and more zoom...). Gladly pay 1000€ for it...

[@ScottCastrophotography]

Well ZWO has said they don't have plans for that currently, just a pro version for the software✌🏼✌🏼

[@LordPaulusCobris]

@@ScottCastrophotography imagine the possibilities with a slight better product for just a little more 4k output and aperture control... For planetary gaizing what do you recomend on the smart telescopes front?

[@ScottCastrophotography]

@LordPaulusCobris I'd say vaonis

[@realmcerono]

@@LordPaulusCobris Yep I have no idea why they went with the IMX462 sensor instead of the very cheap new IMX678 4K sensor...

[@realmcerono]

@@ScottCastrophotography strange advice... the vespera has the same sensor and even less focal lenght. so out of the seestar, the vespera and the dwarf2, still the seestar is the best for planetary stuff.

[@tirsosuarez5930]

How about the planets ? Mars , Jupiter, etc. I can see see its?

[@groundhoppingwlkp3622]

They will be very small, Seestar has too low focal lenght to do this stuff. You need minimum SCT 5 or Mak127 on alt-az or eq mount and mirrorless/astro cam for them

[@eartrimclinic]

Does seestar allow manual input of r ascension and declination coordinates as does dwarf 2,?

[@ScottCastrophotography]

Technically. You don't have to input coordinates you just go on the sky Atlas and center the box where you want Seestar to point

[@eartrimclinic]

Say I'm looking for a particular comment in the future that is somewhat close to Earth. I need to know the coordinate so I can pinpoint it's exactly location. I'm not going to buy sea star unless I can input coordinates like you can with dwarf too. Although I do want to see star very badly

[@eartrimclinic]

Comet

[@ScottCastrophotography]

@eartrimclinic9302 you don't have to input the coordinates, you can actually just point and click to go to using the built in sky Atlas. Also they already have built in comet tracking, so that would be a good fit for you.

[@ajingar]

What tune is it that you’re using?

[@ScottCastrophotography]

An original one, no name

[@shaunmk]

ive got the dwarf 2 ...should i jump on..or not....uuuummm

[@ScottCastrophotography]

Yes. I have dwarf 2 also and just do it

[@ScottCastrophotography]

😂😂

[@Cavannos]

I’ve been interested in getting the Dwarf 2 or Seestar to get into the hobby. I have no prior experience and was looking for something relatively simple to start with. What are the differences between the Dwarf 2 and Seestar and what would you recommend? Thanks!

[@ScottCastrophotography]

The big difference is field of view. Famous targets like Andromeda and Orion don't fit well with seestar, and does with dwarf ii, but Seestar is able to pull out more detail on Smaller objects

[@Cavannos]

@@ScottCastrophotography Thanks!

[@erebostd]

I’m in the exact same position. I first wanted the dwarf 2, but after watching (and reading) a lot, i ordered a seestar. In numbers it’s much more comparable to the (quite expensive) vespera, the dwarf 2 is lacking behind i think. Big targets might be „too big“ for the Seestar, but they already said they’ll add stitching. And if you want to get „out there“ it’s just better. Take a look at images from the moon, the sun and some famous deep sky targets, and i think you’ll be sure which one you want to get, too! Many regards from Germany 👋😁

[@Robert-zm2rk]

I’ve read about mosaic function in the near future.

[@ScottCastrophotography]

@@Robert-zm2rk yes that is coming, but they have no date for it to release yet

[@enchodus]

Waiting….

[@ScottCastrophotography]

The wait is over

[@craigc7708]

Does it work in a city?

[@ScottCastrophotography]

Oh yes

[@coloaten6682]

Dude had it working in Tpkyo!

[@Sammy10100]

Is this unit better than the dwarf 2 unit. Now that I have seen two of these units they keep popping up in my feed. What is the best one to buy. Help. Thanks. Scott

[@XShadowAngel]

imho, the Seestar is better of the two.

[@ScottCastrophotography]

Wellllll... Seestar=Better Optics Dwarf II=Wider FOV and can be polar aligned. They both have their perks. I can't decide

[@XShadowAngel]

@@ScottCastrophotography Do you find polar alignment makes a notable difference? In my experience, even polar aligning an alt-az mount makes little appreciable difference, simply because of how they function. And either way we're limited with short exposures which mitigates much of the benefit of an accurate polar alignment.

[@Moonlight_Dee]

Dwarflab said they're looking into astro pano mode for milky way shots as well so that's a difference if you're into that 😊

[@ScottCastrophotography]

@Moonlight_Dee may be testing that soon. See what happens

[@SBRCoach]

Merci pour le test Mais si il faut attendre 1H ou plus pour avoir quelque chose de correct, je prefere sortir mon matos et avoir mieux au bout de 3'

[@coco_bold]

n'importe quoi. D'abord votre matos, le temps de le monter et commencer à regarder on en as pour 1 heure quand on a de la chance et que tout se passe bien. En plus avec votre matos en 3 minutes on ne vois pas une nébuleuse, au mieux la lune ou de simples étoiles. Pour voir des nébuleuses et des galaxies, il faut faire des centaines d'images et ça ne prends pas 3 minutes et il faut les traiter sur ordinateur. Donc ce blah blah c'est de la pure bêtise. l'Ignorance de votre commentaire est sans commune mesure.

[@SBRCoach]

@@coco_bold mdr ...

[@MrFalkye]

ou comment comparer des courgettes et des ananas...c’est de ce niveau...

[@marieblanche5897]

only adds to watch here

[@ScottCastrophotography]

??

[@michaeldixon6545]

The audio is too bad

[@antoinepaul78]

You go too fast!😂

[@oliverfrench1028]

*Promo sm* 😈

[@ScottCastrophotography]

Question, what does sm mean

[@SpaceOutpost]

​@ScottCastrophotography It's probably a bot/spam thing. I've seen it a few times elsewhere. Btw, really liked the video! I'm planning on getting my own Seestar soon! 😄

[@denodan]

Of course anyway would not give it any bad reviews, or feedback as your either got in early or one of ZWO favourites so jumped the cue

[@ScottCastrophotography]

😐i don't get what you're going on about. I have put honest reviews out since the very beginning, if you look at my previous dwarf ii vs Seestar video. I love Dwarflab, but at the same time i have to recognize which one has the better optics for it's price range, so no real need to say that as it's not true. In my next video I'm showing the good and bad about both.

[@denodan]

Just curious when you ordered as there are many favourite people ZWO have to first and jumped the que. You only waited 3 month while SO many even who ordered 14th till the end of April still waiting and likely 2 months off. I know ZWO prioritized many units ahead of the pack and their own market. And yes it is better in every way than the Dwarf 2, but a much smaller field of View and cannot EQ mount it m and of course twice the aperture makes a big difference.

[@marvinwhisman3333]

@@denodan Manufacturers put out early samples to various reviewers so that people can see what the product is like. All you need to do is start a KZbin channel, get a thousand or so subscribers, do some excellent product reviews and you to can get in the line early for product releases. I have found the reviews here fair and impartial.

[@denodan]

Trouble is your using a telescope designed for EAA not astrophotography

[@garryfreemyer7187]

EAA?

[@dennisrogers6786]

Easy google it@@garryfreemyer7187

[@Andy-ms7pu]

@@garryfreemyer7187 @dennisrogers6786 Electronically Assisted Astronomy (EAA). I really don't know why people nobbily refuse to answer the question. If you don't want to answer then don't repy