41 replies to this topic

[GadgetX]

New to the forum.  Looking to buy a telescope for my wife and I to check planets and check out nebulas , galaxies and such.  

 

So we had some telescopes years ago but always thought having being able to view together on a screen seemed like a good idea.

 

I recently got a 2022 iPad Pro and it has quite the screen and processing power with the M2 chip.

 

So got an ad for Unistellar and did reading.  Seemed like a easy one to setup and portable enough for a 68 year old man to move.

 

Her birthday is 2 weeks away so I was thinking that if these were decent may be the ticket.  Eg short fuze...

 

I have not messed with telescopes since the early 1980s when I sold Questar as a outside regional salesman.  I was not skilled on telescopes but sold a few back then that helped pay for college books and such.  I wish I would have kept my demo but that was very expensive back then.

 

Anyway hope to contribute on the forum.

 

Thank you

 

M

 

In Florida Panhandle BTW

 

[Psion]

There are much lighter and smaller scopes, such as the Vaonis Vespera (5kg) or Seestar (3kg), which are also considerably cheaper.

[mdowns]

Hi M,

 Welcome to cloudy nights and this forum.We are glad you came by and hope that you will find your time here interesting and worth the effort.Let me preface my response by saying I love my equinox 2 and it's a blast to use. I'm in the same age group and even with being disabled, have no concerns or issues with setting the equinox up.My concern for you is the ads from unistellar that you've read.Despite the manufacturer being cheerful  about the ease of set up and use ,the bottom line is that there are lots of nuisances not mentioned,times robbers involved and a semi-steep learning curve.This is not a scope for planetary or lunar viewing. It can do both,but poorly.You mentioned that you had scopes,including the Questar years ago.Much has changed since then and a background involving modern go-to equipment is most helpful with the unistellar and certainly recommended. If you can find a club in your area who has equinox owners in the membership, then I sincerely recommend you do so. It is not a realistic expectation to hope that you can get one for your wife's birthday and be up and running. I've owned well north of a hundred scopes before the equinox but it still took me awhile to get up to steam with it's use.I have a friend with an evescope and he says he rarely use the eyepiece,and is instead happy with the view on his tablet.Two other friends have the equinox and they use their computers like you want to do. 

   In this instance,I think that one of the other 'smart' scopes mentioned above will be a better choice and simpler to learn and use.Delivery time may be a great hurdle in terms of the birthday.I did get my equinox in less than a week when I bought mine from this sites sponsor,Astronomics. Whichever route you go, you can find helpful advice,solutions and answered questions here.    Michael

[GadgetX]

Thank you guys for the great responses.  Like many other birthday gifts a photo usually ends up in the BD card for birthdays.  We both understand great things come from patience.  I waited nearly 2 years for a Submarnier watch she once gifted me.  The watch is worth 2 times what she paid and was a great investment if I ever decide to sell or left in our trust.

 

Yes I know I have much learning curves.

 

So maybe I should have asked...

 

Is there a smart telescope that can get that would allow good output to my iPad for group viewing of the sky that is portable and can I can setup.  And to even make it more difficult, could be used to view day time landscape.  

 

Note -  Retired USAF Computer Scientist.

 

Again thank you.

 

M   

Edited by GadgetX, 25 November 2023 - 04:46 AM.

[Psion]

Currently, the Vaonis Vespera is the best choice for your observing conditions, as it allows multiple users to connect with their devices, and the price is about a third of what the eVscope costs.

[GadgetX]

Wow what a fast reply.  I will read up on it !   Don't really have a budget but any savings translates to MORE GADGETS.

 

Quick question.  How do smart scopes communicate?  Bluetooth, WiFi ?  Proprietary?

 

I would probably most of the time be within my Wifi6 mesh which extends to every part of our property including docks etc.

 

Thank you

 

M  

 

Ps - the sale ends tomorrow

 

 

 

Edited by GadgetX, 25 November 2023 - 05:06 AM.

[jprideaux]

Thank you guys for the great responses. Like many other birthday gifts a photo usually ends up in the BD card for birthdays. We both understand great things come from patience. I waited nearly 2 years for a Submarnier watch she once gifted me. The watch is worth 2 times what she paid and was a great investment if I ever decide to sell or left in our trust.

Yes I know I have much learning curves.

So maybe I should have asked...

Is there a smart telescope that can get that would allow good output to my iPad for group viewing of the sky that is portable and can I can setup. And to even make it more difficult, could be used to view day time landscape.

Note - Retired USAF Computer Scientist.

Again thank you.

M

If you want your device to have a daytime scenery mode, that will rule out the Vaonis Vespera models and Stellina. They only are designed for astronomy. I don’t have any of the Unistellar products do so don’t know if they can be used for daytime landscape. I do know that both the Dwarf2 and SeeStar have a scenery mode that you can use for daytime general purpose photography. The Dwarf2 has a wider view and has more manual control for general photography and has the nice finder-scope second lens. The SeeStar will be much more zoomed in and won’t be able to focus as close and will be harder to point. I have found the Dwarf2 more useful for my daytime photography interests but mainly because I like to take pictures of things closer than what the SeeStar can focus. For far away things that you want a narrow FOV, the SeeStar would be fine. The Dwarf2 can focus as close as around 8.5 feet whereas the SeeStar needs targets over 63 feet away.

[Psion]

True, the Seestar is available for 500 USD for daytime landscape viewing. However, only one device can connect to it. Equinox is also a solution, but it only has a small field of view and is unsuitable for daytime landscape viewing.

[tarbat]

True, the Seestar is available for 500 USD for daytime landscape viewing. However, only one device can connect to it.

TWO devices can connect to the Seestar at the same time. Here's mine connected to my tablet and phone at the same time.

 

Edited by tarbat, 25 November 2023 - 06:00 AM.

[GadgetX]

Ahh...  Seeing the point.  Maybe buy a night sky and a landscape device makes more sense.   Keep the options coming I am reading up on.

 

So the limitation of one device, not sure that matters.  If I can use the iPad then I can  use the Apple TV hooked up to a big screen. 

 

THANK YOU

[tarbat]

Also, when comparing the various smart telescopes, you need to consider whether you'll want to use any filters. These can easily add hundreds of pounds (dollars?) to the cost. The Seestar has a built-in UV/IR, built-in duo-band filter, and automated dark calibration filter.

[Psion]

TWO devices can connect to the Seestar at the same time. Here's mine connected to my iPad and phone at the same time.

 

Yes, but probably in Station mode, am I right? Station mode will be harder to implement on the meadow.

[tarbat]

That’s exactly what I do. I use my iPad mini and display on my Apple TV box on a 65” TV.

 

So the limitation of one device, not sure that matters.  If I can use the iPad then I can  use the Apple TV hooked up to a big screen.

 

Edited by tarbat, 25 November 2023 - 06:00 AM.

[tarbat]

No, again you’re not right.  I just checked, and two devices (iPad mini & Android phone) can connect to the Seestar using its own network, NOT station mode.

 

Yes, but probably in Station mode, am I right?

 

Edited by tarbat, 25 November 2023 - 06:01 AM.

[GadgetX]

Well seems the SeeStar s50 would be satisfy all but the planet viewing which is on the top of list for us.  

 

Still reading...

[tarbat]

Well seems the SeeStar s50 would be satisfy all but the planet viewing which is on the top of list for us.  

Sadly none of the current smart telescopes are well suited to planetary viewing.  I’ve seen only one Jupiter image from a Seestar taken in Lunar mode which did show some detail of the bands, but needed to use video capture mode and a lot of post-processing,

Edited by tarbat, 25 November 2023 - 06:16 AM.

[Psion]

No, again you’re not right.  I just checked, and two devices (iPad mini & Android phone) can connect to the Seestar using its own network, NOT station mode.

Thank you. I have yet to try that, I don't install Chinese apps on my phone.

 

I'm basing it on the official Seestar FAQ:

Is there a multi-user mode on the Seestar app?
Not supported. It is possible to connect only one mobile device simultaneously on Seestar S50.

[jprideaux]

Sadly none of the current smart telescopes are well suited to planetary viewing. I’ve seen only one Jupiter image from a Seestar taken in Lunar mode which did show some detail of the bands, but needed to use video capture mode and a lot of post-processing,

Correct. Planets need more focal-length and aperture than the current smart-telescope offerings. Just based on specs, the evscope2 may do a little better than the others on planets. But your best choice may be a 2-scope approach. Get one short focal-length scope that is good for Deep Sky Objects and a second long focal-length scope for planets.

[GadgetX]

@jprideaux thank you for all the data I have found researching.  Funny thing is I did not see your other threads until I google all three seestar, vespera and dwarf2.

 

Decided to leave the planets for my old Celestron.  Will search for a solution for planets separately without eye pieces.

 

Now to figure which portable smart telescope.  In the youtube video comparing SeeStar S50 vs Dwarf2  it seems the quality output of the S50 was much better, but the field of view much better on the Dwarf2.  Wondering how the Unistellar Equinox2 compares to the Vespra and the SeeStar s50...

 

M

[GadgetX]

Hi M,

 Welcome to cloudy nights and this forum.We are glad you came by and hope that you will find your time here interesting and worth the effort.Let me preface my response by saying I love my equinox 2 and it's a blast to use. I'm in the same age group and even with being disabled, have no concerns or issues with setting the equinox up.My concern for you is the ads from unistellar that you've read.Despite the manufacturer being cheerful  about the ease of set up and use ,the bottom line is that there are lots of nuisances not mentioned,times robbers involved and a semi-steep learning curve.This is not a scope for planetary or lunar viewing. It can do both,but poorly.You mentioned that you had scopes,including the Questar years ago.Much has changed since then and a background involving modern go-to equipment is most helpful with the unistellar and certainly recommended. If you can find a club in your area who has equinox owners in the membership, then I sincerely recommend you do so. It is not a realistic expectation to hope that you can get one for your wife's birthday and be up and running. I've owned well north of a hundred scopes before the equinox but it still took me awhile to get up to steam with it's use.I have a friend with an evescope and he says he rarely use the eyepiece,and is instead happy with the view on his tablet.Two other friends have the equinox and they use their computers like you want to do. 

   In this instance,I think that one of the other 'smart' scopes mentioned above will be a better choice and simpler to learn and use.Delivery time may be a great hurdle in terms of the birthday.I did get my equinox in less than a week when I bought mine from this sites sponsor,Astronomics. Whichever route you go, you can find helpful advice,solutions and answered questions here.    Michael

Michael.  Have you used the S50 or Vespera?  I know you mentioned setup was not easy on the eQuinox, but once setup how was the results compared to eQuinox?

 

TY

 

M

Edited by GadgetX, 25 November 2023 - 08:28 AM.

[tarbat]

I own both a DwarfII and a Seestar S50, and have also used our club’s Vespera.  Image quality is equal in my opinion between the Seestar and the Vespera.  They are very similar specification.  The DwarfII (which I didn’t pay for) has disappointed for me in terms of image quality, and I found the app difficult to master.

 

Now to figure which portable smart telescope.  In the youtube video comparing SeeStar S50 vs Dwarf2  it seems the quality output of the S50 was much better, but the field of view much better on the Dwarf2.  Wondering how the Unistellar Equinox2 compares to the Vespra and the SeeStar s50...

[mdowns]

Michael.  Have you used the S50 or Vespera?  I know you mentioned setup was not easy on the eQuinox, but once setup how was the results compared to eQuinox?

 

TY

 

M

I have not used either of those two. One of my friends has all three(including the evscope). He also has a dwarf which he seldom uses.He looks at them as different tools for different targets.For wide field views and extended nebulosity like the veil I think that both the S50 or the Vespera are the way to go.However,for many targets like those I'm most interested in(smaller galaxies,smaller clusters,smaller planetary nebula) the equinox excells. Both the longer FL and increased aperture pays big dividends with those kinds of targets.The setup I was referring to is the initial time and effort it takes to get familiar and comfortable with using the equinox.Once you move past that learning stage the scope is very easy to use. BTW,you can have multiple users with the equinox.One is the controller while the others can see and picture whatever the scope is pointing at. Though most often alone, I have had 3 smart phones connected to my scope at once,fun for all.

[GadgetX]

after my initial research of smart telescope was unistella equinox 2 because I did not want any eye pieces.  The thread was to determine that I was not missing something by not getting the EvScope2. 

 

I know you said the eQuinox2 suffers the same planet blahs as other smart telescopes but how is it on lunar & comets?

 

I think it is worth a try.  I can return it free if not satisfied.

 

M

[jprideaux]

It is a rare person indeed that personally has all of the currently available smart telescopes.  I don't have the Unistellar scopes and don't like to talk about what I don't have.  I do have the Vespera, Dwarf2, and SeeStar.  I have found things that each of them excel at as well as overlap in functionality.

 

I think both the Vespera and SeeStar beat the Dwarf2 for astronomy although the Dwarf2 is the winner for daytime landscape or nature/wildlife photography.  So I mainly use my Dwarf2 for daytime usage.  I'll add a Dwarf2 image below.

 

With the slightly longer focal-length, I think the SeeStar is slightly better than the Vespera on the small things as well as sun and moon.  

The Vespera has a nice built-in mosaic mode and really shines on the wide FOV and is my goto instrument when I want to capture things like Orion/Running man, California nebula, Horse Head/Flame, Veil, Heart, Soul, Andromeda, or any of the other larger targets.   Vaonis also recently made a limited run on a modified Vespera (Passenger model) where they put in a larger sensor for an even larger FOV but they have sold all of those already.  There might be some that got it that might then want to sell their original Vespera so some original Vesperas may be showing up on the used market soon.   Vaonis is also coming out with a Vespera-pro model next year (May onwards) that will be F5 (250mm focal-length) and use a larger sensor with smaller pixels to do better on the smaller DSOs.   Unistellar may also have some new scope models in the works but nothing announced yet to my knowledge.  

 

With a little searching, you can find lots of examples from each of the available scopes.

 

Most people don't post wildlife photography so I'll add one here.

 

Dragon fly taken with a Dwarf2.  The image was post-processed.

Click for larger version and more details.

 

 

And also, the following is an example of what the SeeStar can do for daytime photography.  I aimed it at some broken chimney parts in a vacant lot across the street from me.  This is right out of the SeeStar withy no post-processing.

 

 

Edited by jprideaux, 25 November 2023 - 09:58 AM.

[GadgetX]

Decided to try the Unistellar eQuinox 2 with backpack.  Free returns worth the gamble on the black friday price.  If we like it then I will purchase the sun filter.  If not I will return and try the SeeStar s50.

 

Thank you everyone for your kind help and suggestions.

 

M