Is the DWARF mini faster than the Vespera II?

From a Bortle 6 sky the DWARF mini is 1.3× faster on the 30 most popular deep-sky targets; from Bortle 3 the Vespera II is 1.1× faster.

Which is better for small targets like planetary nebulae?

The Vespera II, with its finer pixel scale of 2.39″ per pixel.

DWARF mini vs Vespera II: which is faster for deep-sky imaging?

DwarfLab DWARF mini against Vaonis Vespera II, on the same targets from the same skies, using the same photon-budget model as the rest of the site. Times are for a solid image; the calculator gives quick-look and showpiece figures too.

Speed. Across the 30 most popular targets from a suburban Bortle 6 sky, the DWARF mini is 1.3× faster (geometric mean of the solid-image times, each scope on its recommended filter and default subs). From a rural Bortle 3 sky the Vespera II is 1.1× faster, so the ranking flips under dark skies.

Field of view. The Vespera II shows 2.55° × 1.44° against 2.13° × 1.20°, so big targets such as the Andromeda Galaxy, the North America Nebula and the Pleiades fit with room to spare where the DWARF mini needs a mosaic or a tight crop.

Detail. The Vespera II samples at 2.39″ per pixel against 3.99″, so it pulls finer structure from small targets: planetary nebulae, globular cores, galaxy arms.

Subs and dark skies. The DWARF mini goes up to 90 s subs in EQ mode, the Vespera II tops out at 30 s. That matters little from a city, where skyglow sets the floor, and a lot from a dark site, where read noise does.

Filters. The DWARF mini has a dual-band filter built in; the Vespera II does not, which costs it heavily on emission nebulae from any suburban sky.

Specifications side by side

Spec	DWARF mini	Vespera II
Aperture	30 mm	50 mm
Focal length	150 mm (f/5.0)	250 mm (f/5.0)
Sensor	Sony IMX662, 2.1 MP	Sony IMX585, 8.3 MP
Pixel size	2.9 µm	2.9 µm
Pixel scale	3.99″/px	2.39″/px
Field of view	2.13° × 1.20°	2.55° × 1.44°
Sub exposures	15 s, 30 s, 60 s, 90 s	10 s, 20 s, 30 s
Dual-band filter	Built in (Dual-band)	Clip-on option (Dual Band filter)
“No filter” position	Astro	No filter
Read noise used	1.2 e⁻	1 e⁻

Timed on the same targets

Suburban sky (Bortle 6)

Total integration for a solid image from a Bortle 6 sky, default subs, recommended filter for each scope.
Target	DWARF mini	Vespera II	Faster
Andromeda GalaxyGalaxy	1 h 27 min349 subs	1 h 27 min525 subs	Same
Orion NebulaEmission nebula	12 min50 subs	17 min103 subs	DWARF mini 1.4×
North America NebulaEmission nebula	1 h 24 min336 subs	2 h 15 min813 subs	DWARF mini 1.6×
Pinwheel GalaxyGalaxy	4 h 35 min1,102 subs	4 h 37 min1,661 subs	Same
Ring NebulaPlanetary nebula	8 min30 subs	8 min47 subs	Same
Western Veil NebulaSupernova remnant	1 h 31 min366 subs	2 h 28 min889 subs	DWARF mini 1.6×
Hercules ClusterGlobular cluster	8 min30 subs	7 min44 subs	Same
PleiadesReflection nebula	2 h 41 min645 subs	2 h 42 min971 subs	Same

Rural sky (Bortle 3)

Total integration for a solid image from a Bortle 3 sky, default subs, recommended filter for each scope.
Target	DWARF mini	Vespera II	Faster
Andromeda GalaxyGalaxy	34 min135 subs	34 min204 subs	Same
Orion NebulaEmission nebula	9 min38 subs	8 min47 subs	Vespera II 1.2×
North America NebulaEmission nebula	58 min233 subs	51 min306 subs	Vespera II 1.1×
Pinwheel GalaxyGalaxy	1 h 39 min396 subs	1 h 40 min602 subs	Same
Ring NebulaPlanetary nebula	8 min30 subs	5 min30 subs	Vespera II 1.5×
Western Veil NebulaSupernova remnant	1 h 03 min253 subs	55 min333 subs	Vespera II 1.1×
Hercules ClusterGlobular cluster	8 min30 subs	5 min30 subs	Vespera II 1.5×
PleiadesReflection nebula	1 h239 subs	1 h362 subs	Same

Try the DWARF mini in the calculator Try the Vespera II

About the DwarfLab DWARF mini

DwarfLab’s answer to the Seestar S30: same sensor and focal length, big pixels, dual-band filter built in, and 90 s subs in EQ mode. Sensitivity over megapixels.

Where to buy the DWARF miniDwarfLab store UK DwarfLab store US Amazon UK Amazon USThe DwarfLab store link is a plain link; the others are affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases, at no cost to you.

About the Vaonis Vespera II

A 50 mm quadruplet on an 8 MP sensor with Vaonis’s mosaic mode for wide fields. Same optics class as the Seestar S50, four times the pixels.

Where to buy the Vespera IIVaonis store Direct Amazon UK Amazon USThe Vaonis store link is a plain link; the others are affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases, at no cost to you.

Other comparisons

All comparisons · Buying guide · DWARF mini page · Vespera II page