20 replies to this topic

[GrassLakeRon]

Don't want to start a flame war, but I would like to try my hand with one.

Thank you for your advice.

Ron

[wkight]

The S50 is incredibly easy to use and can produce amazing results all by itself.  It's real value however comes with allowing you to experiment with processing tools like PI, Siril, or the Seti Astro Suite (large community of S50 users over on Frank's Discord channel).  Be careful though - I had mine less than a year before I slipped and fell on my credit card and a full ZWO/ASI kit from Highpoint appeared at my door.   Point being, I would never have taken that kind of financial step without the opportunity to try it first with the S50.  

[BlueMoon]

There's an extensive topic on the S50 in Smart Telescopes: https://www.cloudyni...wo-seestar-s50/

as well as a good display of s50 photos: https://www.cloudyni...tar-s50-photos/

Edited by BlueMoon, 13 June 2025 - 06:58 PM.

[Jethro7]

Hello Ron,

I really enjoy my Sesstar S50 that provides a whole lot of cheap fun. I highly recommend one. 

 

HAPPY SKIES AND KEEP LOOKING UP Jethro

Edited by Jethro7, 13 June 2025 - 07:11 PM.

[JRM576]

Hello Ron:

 

   PROS:

• Easy setup, highly portable (dark site, camping, travelling)
• Good image quality
• Option to download images as .fits (as individual subs or pre-stacked ready to process)
• Great support community and resources for learning
• Adding a power bank extends the operating time

 

   CONS

• Cropped field of view (although this may not be an issue for many users)
• Hardware not upgradable (only functionality upgrades through SW updates)
• Suited to larger DSO's (most galaxies, some planetary nebulas and planet viewing not as capable, lunar however works very well)

   Not sure if this would constitute as a 'Con' but the Seestar has the ability to increase the field of view to 2X as well as rotate the image for better object framing.  This is accomplished completely through software.  As this can be useful in some situations, what I have noticed is the integration time can substantially increase. OK I suppose if you're doing an imaging session, not so great if you're just doing EAA.  

 

   Overall, it has been a great addition to my equipment and glad that I purchased one.  Handy when I have a short amount of time to get outside on a clear night or just simply do not feel like getting an AP rig setup.  Really great if it is too cold during winter to be standing at an eyepiece, or not getting eaten alive by mosquitos during the summer months.

 

   Also, with your background in education, as a platform for getting children engaged in the night sky and the hobby in general, or in an outreach situation, nothing better IMO.

 

   Hope this helps!

 

CS

[JRM576]

   Also meant to mention, you may want to consider the Seestar S30 as well.  Wider field of view, better imaging sensor, smaller form factor, has a second wide field camera lens (could be adapted through a SW update in the future to act like a guide scope when in EQ mode), and a smaller investment.

 

   There is a rumor that the S50 could be upgraded with the IMX585 which as my first 'con' point mentions would be great.  It probably won't hit the market for at least a year if the rumor is true, so you could get comfortable with the S30 and later sell the S30 and re-invest in the updated S50. I don't own the S30 so I can't speak competently on its performance but seems to perform well if the YouTube reviewers are to be believed.  

 

   Anyway, hope this is helpful.

 

CS

[bobzeq25]

Don't want to start a flame war, but I would like to try my hand with one.

Thank you for your advice.

Ron

It's VERY simple/

The pro is that it is much easier to use than a traditional setup. The con is that the images aren't as good.

You need to do your own research, others opinions are remarkably unhelpful. <smile> This post will be limited to basic unassailable facts.

The point that the Seestar is better suited to sharing the whole thing with your family is correct. It's a major factor in the design.

Edited by bobzeq25, 14 June 2025 - 12:24 AM.

[sevenofnine]

When you can take DSO snapshots like this:

 

 

with a push of a button, I can't see any serious Con's other than it won't do planetary photos 

[BrickInTheSky]

When you can take DSO snapshots like this:

rsz_img_2156.jpg

with a push of a button, I can't see any serious Con's other than it won't do planetary photos

1) it is quite portable so even if you have 30 mins before clouds arrive or your bed time you can use it and that will take you away from your family or other important things. That is a Con. With a big multi part rigs that will not happen and you will spend that 30 mins talking to your significant other.

2) it can be a gateway to a future big expenses. You think that you can just buy this innocent looking scope for a few hundred dollars and be happy but then you learn that a new ‘pro’ version is coming out soon and then you start buying all these additional accessories like Eq wedges, etc. That is a financial black hole and definitely a Con.

3) Your old friends want to talk about football and other sports and you want to talk about Seestar. So you need to find new friends. That is a huge Con!

🤪🤪🤪

[jprideaux]

As others have said, the Pro is an inexpensive easy way to take DSO images and see if DSO astrophotography is a hobby you may want to pursue further.  For some the SeeStar S50 is all they need for what they want to do with DSO.  For others, they may want to upgrade to more expensive set-ups.    

 

The only downside I see is the $500 that you will not have anymore.  Perhaps decide not to eat-out and stay home and cook something yourself a couple (or few nights) that you would otherwise have gone out to recover the cost.  So you may miss out on a couple meals at a nice restaurant.  

[Airstrike]

Don't want to start a flame war, but I would like to try my hand with one.

Thank you for your advice.

Ron

if you dont want to start a flame war , you can always join one , i heard X and YT can offer great selection of topics to get stuck into   

 

i love my S50 i really do we were thinking of getting married , but then my S50 got wind of the fact a new better model "pro" might turn my head and send me on a wobble , so i guess the wedding is off 

 

seriously though you wont be disapointed  the S50 is a great bit of kit , make sure to try and aim for minimum 12hr+ on a target to get great details

Edited by Airstrike, 15 June 2025 - 04:30 PM.

[Airstrike]

a couple from my s50 stacked and edited by me

Attached Thumbnails

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[Astronotrip]

Great little smart scope, easy to transport or travel with - I d say among the best for value for money since the S30 is cheaper but definitley not as good and the better Vespera 2 (Vaonis) is at least twice the price.

 

you can read my article, I made a few comparison/versus its main competitors (English Google Translate tool at the top of the article):
https://www.astronot...telligents.html

 

Here is a small discount code if you go for it:  $20 OFF any Seestar (code: jABm0lsgiM0JFao - just click and it automatically applies when you add a Seestar to the basket)

[Amazed]

For me it doubled my viewing pleasure, the number of celestial bodies I could not see with the visual rigs, the time I spent star gazing and increased my knowlege of objects in the night sky.

[CraigR]

Don't want to start a flame war, but I would like to try my hand with one.

Thank you for your advice.

Ron

Pros and cons of S50 versus.... what?

 

To pick a few to compare to:

 

The Seestar S30 is the cheaper model in their current line up. It has a larger field of view, but it gets that field of view at the cost of having worst-in-all-classes pixel resolution (3.99 arcseconds/pixel vs. the S50's 2.39 arcseconds per pixel). That is, one pixel of a Seestar S30 image covers more area of the sky than any other astrophotography setup anyone makes in any category at any price. A lot of people will try to sell you on it based on its field of view, but it does that by creating lower-resolution images.

 

Note that the S50 can get 4x its normal field of view using mosaic mode. It takes longer to capture an image in this mode, but you cover a lot of area of the sky at 2.39 arcseconds/pixel.

 

If a larger field of view is what you want, the Dwarf 3 is a better choice than the S30. It's roughly the same price as the S50 and the pixel resolution is only slightly worse (2.75 arcseconds/pixel). It has a little over 4x the field of view (a little more than 2x in each direction) of the S50. The software isn't as friendly as the Seestar but it's getting better.

 

Best of both worlds is the Vespera II. Same pixel scale as the S50 but 4x the field of view. Problem is it's 4x to 5x the cost by the time you get the filters and tripod that you need.

 

Just to round off the discussion, the Celstron Origin at $4000 plus a couple hundred more for the necessary filters gives you the best pixel resolution (1.48 arcseconds/pixel) with roughly the same field of view as the S50. But the RASA optical design gives you halos around bright stars. If you seriously start thinking about an Origin, ask me and we'll put together a system out of components that will strongly rival its capabilities for at least $1000 less.

 

To summarize, in the field of smart telescopes, the S50 is considered the easiest to use and it gives results that are as good as you'll find in this category. It's an incredible value at $550 and you can find lightly used ones on eBay for less than that if money is an issue. If money is not an issue, then the S50 is a good introduction to the field while you take your time to figure out what you really want.

Edited by CraigR, 16 June 2025 - 08:07 AM.

[BrentKnight]

What interests me about the S30-Pro is the wide-field camera.

 

I have a 40mm rig already that gives me about 4.5° x 3.5° @ 2.6"/pixel and so I don't really need the 30mm for doing mosaics.  I'd like something that was good enough and easy enough and came with it's own mount to do the wider Milky Way and Constellation captures that I can't easily do now.

 

I know it sounds (at least to me) to be strange thinking about getting a scope and only using a small part of it, but as far as I've been able to find out, this option is probably the cheapest for getting this capability.

 

I'll not be lining up to be an early adopter, but I look forward to seeing the early reviews...

[Digital Don]

Don't want to start a flame war, but I would like to try my hand with one.

Thank you for your advice.

Ron

If you've been in this hobby any length of time, you probably spent more on a single eyepiece.  

 

Of course, no telescope does everything well and the Seestars are no exception, but you won't regret buying either an S30 or an S50. 

 

Or both, like I did.

 

Don

[sanford12]

For the money I have found no reason for complaint 

[Regulus 1.36]

The Seestar telescope offers several advantages, particularly considering its pricing model. Its compact design makes it highly portable and an excellent choice for travel and quick setups. One of its key features is the ability to be mounted in either Alt-Az or EQ mode, significantly enhancing its versatility.

 

For those interested in Electronically Assisted Astronomy (EAA), the Seestar stands out as a traditional telescope alternative that improves the visibility of celestial objects beyond mere fuzzy objects. Additionally, it supports astrophotography, allowing users to plan their observations, schedule captures, and even sleep while the telescope collects data on various celestial objects.

 

However, there are a couple of potential downsides to consider. First, the Seestar is fully automated, which may not appeal to individuals who enjoy the challenge of manually locating objects. If you value the thrill of searching for celestial bodies more than viewing their details or colors, you may reconsider whether this option meets your preferences. 

 

Second, while the Seestar is efficient for observing galaxies and nebulae, its focal characteristics may make it less effective for viewing planets. Despite this limitation, if your primary interest is exploring deep-sky objects, the telescope serves its purpose well.

 

Overall, the Seestar provides an enjoyable and engaging platform for exploring the night sky, making it an exciting option for novice and experienced astronomers.

Edited by Regulus 1.36, 25 June 2025 - 04:21 AM.

[Jim T]

Rank Novices as well as "Luddites with experience" (like myself) open the S50 box and have it taking nice images inside of 20 minutes. No post processing needed unless you wish to, which then might become 1 minute or 100+ minutes.

It has become my most-used scope. I can set it up on my back deck and image while spending precious time with the wife, and I can set it up next to my big telescope while either doing Outreach or Dark-sky observing. It functions very well on the Moon as well. Solar imaging is great if you equip it with a Baader filter (I'm NOT impressed with the solar filter that comes with it). While I was recuperating from surgery, using a knee scooter, it was the ONLY scope I could use.

My only CONs are:
- Dark-sky (LP) filter use - Helpful if you KNOW when to use it or not. (IMO)
- Solar filter provided stinks
- Dew heater - Helpful if you KNOW when to use it or not. (IMO)

I can't give it a "CON" for price paid, as it is the lowest of its' competitors. I think it is amazing how much the little machine can do all for $500-ish. My only concern is how long before it breaks down.

[CraigR]

My only CONs are:
- Dark-sky (LP) filter use - Helpful if you KNOW when to use it or not. (IMO)
- Solar filter provided stinks
- Dew heater - Helpful if you KNOW when to use it or not. (IMO)

I feel like the so-called "light pollution" (LP) filter distributed with the Seestars s misleadingly named. It's not really a light pollution filter. It's a rather wide dual narrowband filter that's great for shooting emission nebulae that emit H-alpha and OIII. When applied as a "light pollution" filter on broadband targets, it blocks too many useful wavelengths.

The LP filter is great at what it does, just not at what it claims to do. :-)

The solar filter worked fine for me. I shot some Sun pictures and captured the eclipse last year and that's all I needed it for. If I want to look at the sun again it will be with a real solar telescope, not a refractor with a white light filter.

 

I'm not sure what you think is the down-side of using the dew heater. I turn it on when the temperature is going to drop to within 5°C of dew point. If I'm not sure I just turn it on — it doesn't hurt anything. Perhaps you're concerned about battery life, and I get that, but when I'm at home I have it plugged into AC power from the house and when I'm remote it's on something like a Jackery 300 that will easily power it for days between charges.