The ZWO Seestar S50: an affordable and high-performance automatic telescope
Feedback on the Seestar S50 automatic telescope from ZWO, tested in a personal setting. The goal is to share a candid analysis of its capabilities, strengths, and limitations. This model is attractive for its compactness and automation: let's see how it really performs in the field.
Table of Contents
Strengths and limitations of the Seestar S50 connected telescope
Before detailing our experience with the Seestar S50, it is useful to highlight its main strengths as well as certain limitations noted during its use.
- Intuitive handling and easy-to-use mobile application
- Sharp image quality and efficient autofocus
- Compact, lightweight and easy to carry
- Robust design and modern aesthetics
- Perfect for beginners in astrophotography
- Limited temperature range, not recommended for use in extreme conditions
- Requires Wi-Fi connection for the app, which can be restrictive
- Modest sensor resolution, limited to 1920×1080 pixels
The ZWO Seestar S50: when price rhymes with performance
With the Seestar S50, ZWO aimed to mark a turning point in amateur astronomy. Until now, astrophotography has often remained an expensive discipline, requiring complex equipment and advanced technical knowledge. The Seestar S50 radically changes this: priced well below €1,000, it democratizes an experience previously reserved for a handful of enthusiasts equipped with high-end telescopes.
This first automatic telescope model from ZWO is not just affordable. It aims to simplify every step of the observation process: quick installation, automated alignment, digitally optimized image capture... Everything is designed so that even a beginner can obtain detailed images of the Moon, the Sun, or even distant nebulae in just a few minutes.
This positioning attracts a new generation of users, more focused on practicality and connectivity. By connecting the telescope to an intuitive mobile application, ZWO is focusing on user experience as much as optical performance. This strategic choice appeals to many amateur astronomers, but also raises questions among more demanding users: hardware concessions, dependency on the application, limitations in planetary observation, etc.
In short, the Seestar S50 embodies a bold compromise between accessibility and i
Seestar S50 vs. Dwarf II Telescope: An Obvious Choice
Some buyers might be tempted by the Dwarf II, a direct competitor priced around €600. On paper, the price difference with the Seestar S50 seems significant and could steer the choice towards this more affordable model. But in practice, the technical difference more than justifies the additional investment. For just a hundred euros more, the Seestar S50 outperforms its rival thanks to a much more ambitious optical design.
Its lens, with a wider aperture and twice the focal length, captures more light and renders significantly greater detail. In concrete terms, this translates into greater brightness, increased resolution, and higher-contrast images, both on bright targets like the Moon and on more demanding deep-sky objects. During our observations, this optical superiority was particularly noticeable on planetary details, where the Seestar manages to reveal nuances that the Dwarf II leaves in the shadows.
This observation places the Seestar S50 in a slightly higher category, while remaining within an accessible price range. For those whose initial budget is around €600, waiting and adding a hundred euros more can really transform the observing experience. In the long run, the choice of the Seestar S50 proves to be much wiser, as it offers not only increased performance but also a wider margin of progression to accompany the user in their practice of astrophotography.
ZWO: a guarantee of quality in astronomy
ZWO is, above all, the story of a Chinese astronomy enthusiast who started out making equipment for his friends before deciding to conquer the consumer market. This artisanal approach, driven by passion and technical knowledge, is evident in each of their products. Like renowned brands like Sky-Watcher, ZWO has made a name for itself thanks to the quality and accessibility of its equipment, quickly becoming a key player in amateur astronomy.
The Seestar S50 is a perfect continuation of this tradition. Its carefully selected sensor offers ideal resolution in relation to its optics, guaranteeing sharp and detailed images from the very first observations. The apochromatic refractor, characteristic of more high-end models, ensures faithful color reproduction and effectively eliminates chromatic aberrations. The result is impressive: every shot, whether of the Moon, planets, or distant celestial objects, benefits from remarkable cleanliness and precision.
With the Seestar S50, ZWO confirms its ability to transform passion into a high-performance product, capable of appealing to both beginners and experienced amateurs looking for a reliable and accessible telescope.
An overview of the technical characteristics
To better understand what the Seestar S50 has to offer, a comparison chart presents its key specifications and provides a quick overview of how it compares to the competition. But beyond the numbers, it's important to put these features into the context of user experience.
Size and resolution: an inevitable compromise
The Seestar S50 stands out above all for its compact size. With a 50 mm lens and a 250 mm focal length, it is significantly smaller than some competitors, such as the eVscope, which offers a 115 mm mirror and a 500 mm focal length. This reduction in size naturally implies a compromise: the resolution is lower. In concrete terms, for the same magnification, the visible details on a celestial object will be fewer than on a larger telescope. The size of the optics remains the determining factor in the finesse and richness of the observations.
But this limitation doesn't detract from the overall quality of the Seestar S50. It's a thoughtful design choice, aimed at making the telescope more affordable and easier to transport, without sacrificing optical precision for its intended use.
Openness and brightness
With an aperture ratio of f/5, the Seestar S50 captures an impressive amount of light for its class. It is on par with the Stellina and is only slightly surpassed by the eVscope (f/4) in terms of maximum brightness. This aperture allows for clear, high-contrast images even of dim objects, providing a pleasant and rewarding observing experience without the logistical constraints of larger telescopes.
Features and specifications
| Criteria | Seestar S50 |
|---|---|
| Compatible devices | Smartphone |
| Tripod Head Type | Panoramic head |
| Item weight | 5.5 pounds (≈ 2.5 kg) |
| Maximum height | 363 millimeters |
| Size when folded | 274.5 mm (compact tripod length only) |
| Dimensions (D x W x H) | 13 cm x 14.2 cm x 25.7 cm |
| Article length | 363 millimeters |
| Color | Black |
Ergonomics and ease of use: the strengths of the Seestar S50
Maximum transportability
The Seestar S50 telescope comes in a sturdy foam case, a choice that contributes to its affordable price. While less "premium" than the eVscope's bag, it effectively protects the instrument. The Seestar weighs only 4 kg in its box, a feat that makes it extremely portable. I was even able to take it on a plane in my suitcase without difficulty, with room for other items. The eVscope, despite its good transportability, does not fit in the cabin, and I would not have risked putting it in the hold.
Standard tripod and battery
Unlike the eVscope, the Seestar S50 automatic telescope uses a standard tripod thread, giving you the freedom to mount it on a larger tripod if you wish. It has a built-in non-removable battery, offering a battery life of approximately 6 hours (personally, I never needed to recharge during a single observing session).
Innovations and ease of use
Integrated solar filter: a notable advantage, as it comes standard with the Seestar, unlike its competitors where it must be purchased separately.
Autofocus and detachable: Like the Stellina, the Seestar S50 offers extremely precise autofocus. This allows you to observe comfortably in the warmth, from a distance, via Wi-Fi or Bluetooth, without having to go outside to adjust the focus.
Anti-fog heating element: a very useful feature to prevent fogging of the optics in cold weather, thus extending observation sessions.
Quiet Operation: The Seestar S50 is remarkably quiet in operation, a detail that enhances the overall experience.
The Seestar app: intuitive and feature-rich
Seestar S50 mobile app , available on the Apple Store and Google Play, is designed for vertical use (suitable for smartphones).
Smart and fast pointing
The Seestar S50 excels at pointing objects. Thanks to an internal compass, it estimates its orientation even before recognizing the star field. This allows it to roughly point to the Sun or Moon during the day, then refine its position by analyzing the brightness. While not revolutionary compared to experienced manual pointing, this feature is highly appreciated for its speed and accuracy. For planetary, like most current automatic scopes, it is not yet optimized for detailed observations.
Integrated sky map with photos
A major advantage of the Seestar app is its integrated sky map, similar to that of ZWO's ASIAIR app. This map not only shows the telescope's position, but also photos of the objects to be observed. No more dry lists of objects! You know in advance what the nebula or galaxy you are targeting will look like. This also allows beginners to anticipate the size of an object relative to the telescope's field of view, thus avoiding disappointment.
Future Features and Community
The app is constantly evolving, with recent French translations and buttons announcing new features. ZWO is notably working on the ability to save all images in a stack for personalized post-acquisition processing. Community features are also available (location of other users, light pollution maps, weather), although I haven't tested them personally.
Daytime observation and integrated filters
The Seestar S50 is notable for its daytime viewing capabilities. It is likely equipped with an internal filter wheel.
Hydrogen filter: it has a hydrogen filter to cut out light pollution, providing improved contrast on nebulae, even if this lengthens exposure times.
Infrared Sensitivity: The Seestar appears to have an internal infrared filter. In "solar photo" or "lunar photo" mode, the image becomes noticeably redder, suggesting automatic filter adjustment. This flexibility is an advantage over scopes that can exhibit unwanted reddish tints in lunar photography due to excessive infrared sensitivity.
The Seestar S50 as a spotting scope
The Seestar S50 isn't just for astronomy. With its 1920x1080 pixel sensor, or 2 million pixels, it delivers image quality that's perfectly suited to smartphone and tablet . This configuration transforms the telescope into a true spotting scope for terrestrial observation.
In our tests, the images captured were remarkably sharp, even over long distances. Whether observing the relief of a distant mountain, wildlife in its natural habitat, or the architectural details of a building, the Seestar S50 delivers clear and precise images. This versatility reinforces the telescope's appeal to users wishing to combine astronomy and terrestrial observation without having to carry multiple devices.
Conclusion: The Seestar S50 Telescope, an obvious choice for astronomy that is finally accessible
Despite the challenging weather conditions during my test, the ZWO Seestar S50 deeply impressed me with its optical capabilities and innovations.
While from a purely optical point of view the eVscope remains more powerful due to its larger size, the Seestar S50 stands out in other crucial aspects:
Portability: The Seestar crushes the competition. Its lightness and compactness make it ideal for traveling and observing anywhere.
Price: This is its strongest selling point. Priced at less than €1,000, it makes automatic astronomy accessible to a much wider audience.
Astronomy has always been a hobby where equipment size directly influences performance and, consequently, price. The Seestar S50 breaks this rule by offering excellent value for money without sacrificing essential features.
The EvScope is a great telescope, highly regarded for its advanced technology, but I'm convinced the ZWO Seestar S50 is a game changer for beginners and anyone looking to enjoy deep sky viewing without breaking the bank or bulking up. With remarkable optical quality and a focal length twice as long as some competitors, the Seestar S50 offers an accessible, powerful, and compact observing experience, ideal for serious astronomy enthusiasts.
So, are you ready to explore the sky with the Seestar S50, the telescope that is taking a giant leap for humanity?
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