Seestar S50 Pro vs Seestar S30: which is faster for deep-sky imaging?

ZWO Seestar S50 Pro against ZWO Seestar S30, 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, they are about the same speed. From a rural Bortle 3 sky they are about the same speed.

Field of view. The Seestar S50 Pro shows 2.45° × 1.38° 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 Seestar S50 Pro samples at 2.30″ per pixel against 3.99″, so it pulls finer structure from small targets: planetary nebulae, globular cores, galaxy arms.

Subs and dark skies. Both top out at 60 s subs, so neither has an edge at read-noise-limited dark sites.

Filters. Both carry a dual-band filter, which is what makes emission nebulae practical from a lit sky.

Specifications side by side

Timed on the same targets

Suburban sky (Bortle 6)

Rural sky (Bortle 3)

Try the Seestar S50 Pro in the calculator Try the Seestar S30

About the ZWO Seestar S50 Pro

The S50 optics at 260 mm on an 8 MP 1/1.2-inch sensor: a wider, taller field, four times the pixels, and 60 s subs in EQ mode. Per pixel it is a whisker slower than the S50 because of the longer focal length; the long subs make it the better dark-site scope.

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.

Other comparisons

All comparisons · Buying guide · Seestar S50 Pro page · Seestar S30 page