I'm a novice to astrophotography and I've stumbled across the Dwarf and Seestar telescopes and I'm curious which one seems like a better buy? I own an Orion Starblast 4.5 dobsonian but there are a lot of limitations to this telescope, mainly that I live in a very light polluted area, it's not easy to transport, and has manual tracking. I have some physical limitations so having a portable scope to take pictures of deep sky objects with very little equipment is appealing to me. I've heard a lot of good things about the Seestar telescope, but the Dwarf 3 appears to have a tracking feature but is slightly more expensive. Any thoughts on this?

I want to buy a small smart telescope. I’m torn between the Dwarf 3 and the Seestar 30s Pro. The price difference between them isn’t a deciding factor for me.

The Dwarf 3 has slightly better aperture (f/3.5 vs f/3.0), however it has smaller pixels (IMX678).
The Seestar has a better sensor (IMX585) but a worse f-ratio.

The Seestar has a larger field of view, but wouldn’t that make the resolution per pixel worse than with the Dwarf?
(Sure, with the Dwarf you need to shoot Andromeda in mosaic mode, but everything else fits into the Dwarf’s field of view.)

In some reviews I read that the Dwarf allows more manual settings, but it’s not entirely clear to me what that means. In the end, it seems like everyone does stacking in some external software anyway.

So, please: which one would you choose and why? (The goal is, of course, the best possible results—the best possible photos—even with the assumption that I’ll stack them manually in external software.)

OK before anyone gets upset, I know this has been asked here before, but the most recent thread that comes up on Google was from before the Dwarf 3 added mosaic and equatorial modes, which seems to have leveled the playing field by a lot.

Basically my situation is that I've got a decent entry-level planetary photography setup, with a 8 inch Dob and a ZWO-224MC, but between the focal length and sensor size of that setup, it's virtually useless for most DSO's.

Additionally, I'm looking for something a bit easier to use because having just had my first kid, I don't have as much time to spend on astro as I used to, and I'd like something that we can use a bit more interactively together so I can show him all the cool stuff that's out there. Which led me towards smart telescopes.

So, in a nutshell, I want it mostly for larger DSO's of the sort that I wouldn't be able to get with my existing setup, I'm not overly worried about planets. Moon shots would be cool, but not totally important. Mostly I'm looking for something for galaxies, nebula, etc.

As I understand it - the S50 will produce higher resolution images, but the Dwarf 3 has the wider field of view and better light collection from it's sensors.

The wider field of view kind of feels like a moot point given that the s50 has a mosaic mode, so I'm really not sure where that leaves me.. Ultimately the most important thing is the final picture quality, followed by target flexibility (excluding planets), with convenience of use being a close third. Ideally, what I'd really like in terms of convenience is being able to set it up, then sit with my son on my ipad/laptop and watch in "real-time" (read - every 10-30min depending on the target and the necessary exposure times and whatnot) all the various DSOs that are in position to see then.

Also - I believe these are the top 2 within the <$1000 price range, but if I've somehow missed another contender that beats out either of these two, I'm open to that as well

Let me start by saying I have spent hours reading every comparison out there and watching all good comparison videos on YouTube and I still cannot make my decision.

I know it’s a personal thing. Wider FOV and slightly less detail (Dwarf) vs smaller FOV and more detail(S50). Which is further complicated by the fact S50 now has mosaic mode and EQ mode - making them even more similar (although I don’t know how well the mosaic works with regards to noise on S50)

Stellar Studio which allows onboard post processing on the Dwarf is a pretty solid selling point for me- as I don’t foresee me spending an awful lot of time post processing on anything else (Siril, Pixinsight etc) I’ve googled and couldn’t find much on what onboard post processing the SeeStar offers if any? (Please advise if anyone knows?)

All of these ramblings boil down to one main question really. If you have had experience with both, which one would you choose if you could only afford one and your main goal was DSO photography? Any advice appreciated.

Let me start by saying I have spent hours reading every comparison out there and watching all good comparison videos on YouTube and I still cannot make my decision. I also have read the existing threads on here so I apologise if this seems repetitive but they didn’t seem to answer my specific questions, so here goes…

I know it’s a personal thing. Wider FOV and slightly less detail (Dwarf) vs smaller FOV and more detail(S50). Which is further complicated by the fact S50 now has mosaic mode and EQ mode - making them even more similar (although I don’t know how well the mosaic works with regards to noise on S50)

Stellar Studio which allows onboard post processing on the Dwarf is a pretty solid selling point for me- as I don’t foresee me spending an awful lot of time post processing on anything else (Siril, Pixinsight etc) I’ve googled and couldn’t find much on what onboard post processing the SeeStar offers if any? (Please advise if anyone knows?)

All of these ramblings boil down to one main question really. If you have had experience with both, which one would you choose if you could only afford one and your main goal was DSO photography? Any advice appreciated.

Hello!

Over the past few weeks I’ve been going through the options of getting a digital telescope, due to being limited with portability and price, I’ve come down to the option between the dwarf 3 and the zwo seestar s30. I’ve heard great things about both of them but I don’t know which is actually better in practice. The 200€ gap between the two isn’t really a problem, but I do want to know that I’m getting the best possible option between the two.

Thanks to anyone reading and a great day to you all!

Although I have a plan to buy the Seestar S30 Pro when it was released, DwarfLab 3 suddenly came to my mind,

and I don't know which option is better.

Dwarf 3 Or Seestar s30 pro ?

So which option do you recommend I choose?

I talking as someone who wants to buy a smart telescope.

I’m looking to buy a smart telescope and I’ve narrowed it down to the Seestar S30 and the DWARF 3. I’ve watched a lot of comparison videos, but they were pretty inconclusive. If anyone has used both, I’d appreciate your opinion.

Also, both advertise daytime photography, but the DWARF seems more focused on it. Does the Seestar compare?

And can either of them take Milky Way images?

Hey everyone,

I’m hoping to tap into the hive mind here because I am completely stuck deciding between the Seestar S50 and the Dwarf 3, and I could use some advice that reflects the current state of these scopes.

First, for crucial context, I’m not looking for my one-and-only scope. I already own an 8" Meade LX90. It’s fantastic for planets and getting detailed views of small DSOs when I have the time and energy to haul it out and set it up properly. This new purchase is for the other 95% of the time – for quick weeknight sessions, for travel, and for capturing those beautiful, wide-field targets the Meade just can't see.

I know the S50 now has its new EQ mode and Mosaic capabilities, and the Dwarf 3 has had its own stream of updates, like the new "Stellar Studio" features for in-app image processing. So, I’m asking for your advice based on how these two stack up today.

Here’s my dilemma:

My Brain Says S50: Even though I have the Meade for high-detail work, my brain gets hung up on the fact that the S50 clearly pulls in more detail than the Dwarf 3. I see the side-by-side comparisons and get anxiety over choosing the "softer" option, even if it's not my primary instrument.

My Heart Says Dwarf 3: When I briefly played with an S50 last year, I hated the narrow Field of View (FOV). It felt so restrictive. The Dwarf 3’s wide FOV and insane portability feel like they would perfectly complement my LX90. I live in Dearborn, but every fall I travel for the Saskatchewan Summer Star Party (SSSP) and to visit my in-laws in Calgary. I’d never trust the LX90 to survive air travel, meaning this new purchase would also be my only true travel scope. The idea of having something I can actually pack in a suitcase is a massive advantage.

So I’m stuck between the S50’s superior detail and the Dwarf 3’s superior complementary role.

My questions for those who have used either (or both) recently:

1. For S50 users who also dislike a narrow FOV: Is the Mosaic mode a seamless, enjoyable way to capture wide fields, or does it feel like a clunky workaround you have to fight with? Does it truly solve the restrictive feeling of the scope, or just patch over it?

2. For Dwarf 3 users, be honest: After the honeymoon phase is over, when you're at a star party like SSSP showing your images to others, do you ever feel a pang of regret about the inherent lack of detail/sharpness? Or does mastering post-processing (with Siril/PixInsight) genuinely close that gap to a point where it becomes a non-issue?

3. The "Smarter Complement" Question: Knowing I already have an 8" LX90 (that can't fly) for my high-detail work, which of these two scopes do you feel is the smarter addition to my collection? Is it the S50, acting as a more portable "mini-me" to my LX90? Or is it the Dwarf 3, which offers a completely different, ultra-portable, wide-field experience that my main scope simply can't touch?

Thanks in advance for any insight you can offer!

Now before someone goes saying, “Oh a smart telescope is just a glorified toy, you should get the real thing” I already have a Celestron 130slt, but I’m looking to try out a smart telescope, but I just don’t know which one to get, for context I’m just looking for which ones just all around better, like portablility, which I know the dwarf wins but still, imaging, both planetary and dso’s, and other stuff!

I’m looking to purchase a new telephone and after doing some light research I found these three options that I can easily travel with but I’m unsure which would be best for where I live/best quality overall

I live in the desert far out from the city and other people so light pollution is relatively low. If you have any knowledge on these three and could help me out that would be great! Or if you have any recommendations for other telescopes I’m open to hearing them! Thanks

Hello, i’m sorry for the annoying ”which to buy” post, but i really do need help.

I’ve always loved space and i really want to get into it now. I bought a telescope last year and it wasn’t really my thing, too hard.

This year i want to buy a smart telescope and i want the best one thats not too expensive. I’m currently thinking between the seestar s50 and the dwarf 3

Which would be better? Please help!!

Hello! I’ve been wanting to buy a digital telescope and I’ve come down to the choice of the zwo seestar s50 or the dwarflabs dwarf 3. Which is better overall? which has better quality and what are some things to consider? Thanks to anyone reading this!

Ein stiller Mitleser hier, der einfach in die Astrofotografie einsteigen möchte. Ich habe Erfahrung mit Bildstapelung in anderen Bereichen, also möchte ich Bilder erstellen, die ich mit anderer Software stapeln kann. Ich möchte das Ganze im Eq-Modus einrichten und verwenden, um die Sub-Belichtungen zu pushen. Ich habe bereits ein gutes Fotostativ. In einem Bortle-7-8-Gebiet. Das 30-mm-Feld ist für den Anfang genau richtig für mich. Ich könnte das Weitfeld für Milchstraßenaufnahmen verwenden, bin mir aber nicht sicher, was den Star-Track-Modus des S30 pro angeht.

Gedanken zu Dwarf 3 vs. S30 pro? Viele Vergleiche mit dem S50, aber jetzt sind die Brennweiten im Grunde gleich. Macht die etwas größere Blende des Dwarf einen Unterschied? Gibt es einen signifikanten Unterschied bei den Sensoren? Klingt so, als wäre die Software für den Seestar vielleicht "hübscher", aber beide sind funktional.

Vielleicht müssen mehr Leute das S30 pro in die Finger bekommen, damit sie vergleichen können. Man kann wahrscheinlich mit beidem als Einstieg nichts falsch machen.

I am in between Seestar S50 or Dwarflab Dwarf 3. Both are for the same price almost. So thats not helpful. I am into DSO and star trails mainly. Which one is more recommended if you have experience with them I would highly appreciate your feedbacks.

When it arrives I'll let yall know how they compare. I was going to get the S30, but thought I'd give dwarf labs a try. (Sorry for the sorta off topic post im just excited to get some nice wide field images)

My friends had been asking me to test a Dwarf scope for quite some time, as I've been using the Seestar S50 and then the S30 for the last couple of years. I let the camera roll while I was testing it, and cut it down to the attached short (posted here). Some of the challenges, mainly stemming from coming off the SeeStar, was the interface. There were several instances where I wanted a window to go away, and I'd tap at various places on the screen, and nothing would happen. It also "thinks" or processes at strange times, without explanation. The other interesting thing I noticed is that it seems to reset to the default imaging settings, I guess when changing targets? I set up custom settings, (mainly gain 100 and 30 seconds exps for EQ mode), it asked me to take darks which I did, but when I started capturing images, it was doing so with 15 sec exps with a gain of 60. It worked out okay (the image was not bad considering the clouds rolled in). Can't wait to do more testing! I'll try to post some more test runs on the LearnToStargaze YouTube channel.