Comparison
Seestar vs Vaonis Vespera: Is a $2,490 Vespera Worth It?
ZWO's Seestar S50 Pro and Vaonis's Vespera 3 and Pro 2 all use 50 mm apochromats and similar sensors. What the extra $1,500 to $2,000 buys you with a Vespera, and what the Seestar does better.
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Our pick
Seestar
Seestar S50 Pro
8.0/10 research score50 mm apochromat, 1/1.2-inch 4K sensor, built-in filters, wide camera and EQ mode, for $999.
Vaonis
Vaonis Vespera 3
6.9/10 research score50 mm apochromatic quadruplet, IMX585 sensor, 11-hour battery and 5-year warranty, for $2,490.
Vaonis
Vaonis Vespera Pro 2
7.2/10 research scoreThe Vespera with a 12.5 MP square sensor and 225 GB, for $2,990.
The short answer
On image hardware the Seestar S50 Pro matches the Vespera 3 for less than half the price, and adds built-in dual-band and solar filters, a 4K wide-angle camera and EQ mode. The Vespera's case rests on build quality, an 11-hour battery, automatic anti-fog, a 5-year warranty and a calmer, simpler experience.
Vaonis and ZWO make the two most recognizable smart-telescope ranges, at very different prices. A Seestar S50 Pro costs $999; a Vespera 3 $2,490 and a Vespera Pro 2 $2,990. All three are 50 mm apochromatic refractors with sensors of similar size. We compared the makers' specs and reviews; we have not tested them ourselves. See how we research.
Specs side by side
| Spec | Seestar S50 Pro | Vespera 3 | Vespera Pro 2 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aperture / focal length | 50 / 260 mm (f/5.2) | 50 / 245 mm (f/4.9) | 50 / 245 mm (f/4.9) |
| Lens | 4-element APO, ED glass | Apochromatic quadruplet, field corrector | Quadruplet, S-FPL52 glass |
| Sensor | OmniVision OS08B10, 1/1.2", 8.3 MP | Sony IMX585, 1/1.2", 8.3 MP | Sony IMX676, 1/1.6", 12.5 MP |
| Wide-angle camera | 4K, 63° | None | None |
| Built-in light-pollution filter | Dual-band | None (screw-on) | None (screw-on) |
| Solar filter | Included | Extra | Extra |
| EQ mode | Yes (TH10 head) | Not published | Not published |
| Dew control | Dew heater | Automatic anti-fog | Automatic anti-fog |
| Battery | up to 9 h (lab) | 11 h | 11 h |
| Storage | 128 GB | 115 GB | 225 GB |
| Weight | 2.8 kg | 5 kg | 5 kg |
| Warranty | 2 years | 5 years | 5 years |
| Price | $999 | $2,490 | $2,990 |
From seestar.com and vaonis.com, checked October 17, 2026.
Where the Seestar wins
Price, filters and versatility. The S50 Pro's dual-band filter switches itself on for nebulae, the solar filter is in the box, and the 4K wide-angle camera adds Milky Way and landscape modes the Vespera can't do. EQ mode allows 60-second exposures. It is also 2.2 kg lighter.
Where the Vespera wins
Build, battery, warranty and simplicity. Vaonis's metal chassis and one-button start are the most refined in the category. The 11-hour battery runs dusk to dawn (one Zelpio owner review measured about 12 hours on the Vespera 3), anti-fog is automatic, and the 5-year warranty is far longer than ZWO's 2 years. The Pro 2's 12.5 MP square sensor at 1.6 arcsec per pixel gives finer detail on small galaxies than either 8.3 MP model.
What the Vespera owner review found
The Zelpio review of the Vespera 3 praised its optics and mechanics but noted filters must be swapped by hand, default processing favors high contrast, hot pixels appear without automatic dark calibration, and the dual-band filter is overpriced at about $400. It suggested budget buyers consider the Seestar S50 Pro.
Which should you buy?
- Seestar S50 Pro for the most capability per dollar. Read the review.
- Vespera 3 if build, battery life, warranty and simplicity matter more than price. Read the review.
- Seestar S30 Pro if you want something lighter still, for $699. Read the review.
See also the Vaonis brand guide and Seestar brand guide.
| Spec | Seestar Seestar S50 Pro | Vaonis Vaonis Vespera 3 | Vaonis Vaonis Vespera Pro 2 | Seestar Seestar S30 Pro |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Research score | 8.0/10 research score | 6.9/10 research score | 7.2/10 research score | 7.7/10 research score |
| List price | $999 | $2,490 | $2,990 | $699 |
| Optics | ||||
| Aperture | 50 mm (best) | 50 mm (best) | 50 mm (best) | 30 mm |
| Focal length | 260 mm (best) | 245 mm | 245 mm | 160 mm |
| Focal ratio | f/5.2 | f/4.9 (best) | f/4.9 (best) | f/5.3 |
| Optics | 4-element apochromatic lens with ED glass | Apochromatic quadruplet with refined field corrector | Apochromatic quadruplet (S-FPL52 lanthanum glass) with refined field corrector | 4-element apochromatic lens with ED glass |
| Field of view | 2.8° (telephoto), 63° (wide-angle) | 2.5° × 1.4° (up to 4.33° × 2.43° in mosaic) | 1.6° × 1.6° (up to 4.18° × 2.45° in mosaic) | 4.6° (telephoto), 63° (wide-angle) |
| Camera | ||||
| Image sensor | OmniVision OS08B10, 1/1.2 in | Sony IMX585, 1/1.2 in | Sony IMX676, 1/1.6 in (square) | Sony IMX585 |
| Sensor resolution | 8.3 MP | 8.3 MP | 12.5 MP (best) | 8.3 MP |
| Pixel size | 2.9 µm | 2.9 µm | 2 µm | Not published |
| Wide-angle camera | Yes | No | No | Yes |
| RAW / FITS files | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Filters and imaging | ||||
| Light-pollution filter | Yes | No | No | Yes |
| Built-in filters | UV/IR-cut, duo-band (OIII 30 nm / Hα 20 nm, telephoto only), dark-frame | Not published | Not published | UV/IR-cut, duo-band (OIII/Hα), dark-frame |
| Solar filter included | Yes | No | No | Yes |
| Longest single exposure | 60 s | Not published | Not published | 60 s |
| Mount and tracking | ||||
| Equatorial mode | Yes | Not published | Not published | Yes |
| Autofocus | Yes | Not published | Not published | Yes |
| Dew heater | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Eyepiece | No | No | No | No |
| Power and storage | ||||
| Battery life | 9 h | 11 h (best) | 11 h (best) | 6 h |
| Battery capacity | 10,000 mAh (best) | Not published | Not published | 6,000 mAh |
| Built-in storage | 128 GB | 115 GB | 225 GB (best) | 128 GB |
| Connectivity | Wi-Fi 2.4/5 GHz (up to 10 m), Bluetooth (up to 5 m), NFC, USB-C | Not published | Not published | Wi-Fi 2.4/5 GHz (up to 10 m), Bluetooth (up to 5 m), USB-C |
| Size and warranty | ||||
| Weight | 6.17 lb | 11.02 lb | 11.02 lb | 3.64 lb (best) |
| Dimensions | 140 × 149 × 268 mm (folded) | 48 × 20 × 9 cm | 48 × 20 × 9 cm | 210 × 140 × 80 mm |
| Operating temperature | -10 °C to 40 °C (recommended) | Not published | Not published | -10 °C to 40 °C (recommended) |
| Warranty | 2 years | 5 years (best) | 5 years (best) | 2 years |
| Where to buy | Check price at Seestar (opens in a new tab) | Check price at Vaonis (opens in a new tab) | Check price at Vaonis (opens in a new tab) | Check price at Seestar (opens in a new tab) |
Frequently asked questions
Is the Vespera better than the Seestar?
Does the Vespera have a light-pollution filter like the Seestar?
Which is more portable?
Sources
Specs, prices and claims in this article come from these sources.
- Seestar S50 Pro specifications · ZWO Seestar · accessed Oct 17, 2026
- Vespera 3 technical specifications · Vaonis · accessed Oct 17, 2026
- Vespera Pro 2 technical specifications · Vaonis · accessed Oct 17, 2026
- Vespera 3 and Vespera Pro 2: What's New · Vaonis · accessed Oct 18, 2026
- Seestar S50 Pro review · AstroBackyard · accessed Oct 18, 2026
- Vaonis Vespera 3 Review · Zelpio · accessed Oct 18, 2026
Written by
SmartTelescopes editorial team
Research and editing
The SmartTelescopes editorial team researches smart telescopes from manufacturer documents, published measurements and owner reports.
