Is the Seestar S30 faster than the Vespera 3?

From a Bortle 6 sky the Seestar S30 is 1.1× faster on the 30 most popular deep-sky targets; from Bortle 3 the Vespera 3 is 1.4× faster.

Which is better for small targets like planetary nebulae?

The Vespera 3, with its finer pixel scale of 2.44″ per pixel.

Seestar S30 vs Vespera 3: which is faster for deep-sky imaging?

ZWO Seestar S30 against Vaonis Vespera 3, 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 Seestar S30 is 1.1× 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 3 is 1.4× faster, so the ranking flips under dark skies.

Field of view. The Vespera 3 shows 2.60° × 1.46° 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 Seestar S30 needs a mosaic or a tight crop.

Detail. The Vespera 3 samples at 2.44″ per pixel against 3.99″, so it pulls finer structure from small targets: planetary nebulae, globular cores, galaxy arms.

Subs and dark skies. The Seestar S30 goes up to 60 s subs in EQ mode, the Vespera 3 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 Seestar S30 has a dual-band filter built in; the Vespera 3 does not, which costs it heavily on emission nebulae from any suburban sky.

Specifications side by side

Spec	Seestar S30	Vespera 3
Aperture	30 mm	50 mm
Focal length	150 mm (f/5.0)	245 mm (f/4.9)
Sensor	Sony IMX662, 2.1 MP	Sony IMX585, 8.3 MP
Pixel size	2.9 µm	2.9 µm
Pixel scale	3.99″/px	2.44″/px
Field of view	2.13° × 1.20°	2.60° × 1.46°
Sub exposures	10 s, 20 s, 30 s, 60 s	10 s, 20 s, 30 s
Dual-band filter	Built in (LP filter)	Clip-on option (Dual Band filter)
“No filter” position	UV/IR-cut	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	Seestar S30	Vespera 3	Faster
Andromeda GalaxyGalaxy	1 h 32 min552 subs	1 h 24 min502 subs	Vespera 3 1.1×
Orion NebulaEmission nebula	14 min84 subs	16 min98 subs	Seestar S30 1.2×
North America NebulaEmission nebula	1 h 39 min597 subs	2 h 09 min777 subs	Seestar S30 1.3×
Pinwheel GalaxyGalaxy	4 h 51 min1,748 subs	4 h 24 min1,586 subs	Vespera 3 1.1×
Ring NebulaPlanetary nebula	7 min45 subs	7 min45 subs	Same
Western Veil NebulaSupernova remnant	1 h 48 min651 subs	2 h 21 min849 subs	Seestar S30 1.3×
Hercules ClusterGlobular cluster	8 min46 subs	7 min43 subs	Vespera 3 1.1×
PleiadesReflection nebula	2 h 50 min1,022 subs	2 h 35 min928 subs	Vespera 3 1.1×

Rural sky (Bortle 3)

Total integration for a solid image from a Bortle 3 sky, default subs, recommended filter for each scope.
Target	Seestar S30	Vespera 3	Faster
Andromeda GalaxyGalaxy	38 min231 subs	32 min193 subs	Vespera 3 1.2×
Orion NebulaEmission nebula	11 min67 subs	7 min45 subs	Vespera 3 1.5×
North America NebulaEmission nebula	1 h 14 min442 subs	48 min290 subs	Vespera 3 1.5×
Pinwheel GalaxyGalaxy	1 h 55 min689 subs	1 h 35 min569 subs	Vespera 3 1.2×
Ring NebulaPlanetary nebula	6 min39 subs	5 min30 subs	Vespera 3 1.3×
Western Veil NebulaSupernova remnant	1 h 20 min481 subs	52 min315 subs	Vespera 3 1.5×
Hercules ClusterGlobular cluster	5 min30 subs	5 min30 subs	Same
PleiadesReflection nebula	1 h 09 min412 subs	57 min343 subs	Vespera 3 1.2×

Try the Seestar S30 in the calculator Try the Vespera 3

About the ZWO Seestar S30

Wider and lighter than the S50 with the same 2.9 µm pixels, so its per-pixel speed on extended targets is close despite the smaller aperture. Ideal for big nebulae.

Where to buy the Seestar S30ZWO store Direct Amazon UK Amazon USThe ZWO 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 3

The 2026 Vespera: same 50 mm quadruplet class as the II on an 8 MP IMX585, with a 24 MP mosaic mode and 11 hours of battery. Per pixel it behaves like a Seestar S50 Pro without the built-in dual-band filter.

Where to buy the Vespera 3Vaonis 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 · Seestar S30 page · Vespera 3 page