Is the Vespera 3 faster than the eQuinox 2?

From a Bortle 6 sky the eQuinox 2 is 1.1× faster on the 30 most popular deep-sky targets; from Bortle 3 the Vespera 3 is 1.3× faster.

Which is better for small targets like planetary nebulae?

The eQuinox 2, with its finer pixel scale of 1.33″ per pixel.

Vespera 3 vs eQuinox 2: which is faster for deep-sky imaging?

Vaonis Vespera 3 against Unistellar eQuinox 2, 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 eQuinox 2 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 1.3× faster, so the ranking flips under dark skies.

Field of view. The Vespera 3 shows 2.60° × 1.46° against 0.76° × 0.57°, so big targets such as the Andromeda Galaxy, the North America Nebula and the Pleiades fit with room to spare where the eQuinox 2 needs a mosaic or a tight crop.

Detail. The eQuinox 2 samples at 1.33″ per pixel against 2.44″, so it pulls finer structure from small targets: planetary nebulae, globular cores, galaxy arms.

Subs and dark skies. The Vespera 3 goes up to 30 s subs in Expert Mode, the eQuinox 2 tops out at 4 s. That matters little from a city, where skyglow sets the floor, and a lot from a dark site, where read noise does.

Filters. Neither has a built-in dual-band filter, so emission nebulae from a lit sky are slow going on both.

Specifications side by side

Spec	Vespera 3	eQuinox 2
Aperture	50 mm	114 mm
Focal length	245 mm (f/4.9)	450 mm (f/3.9)
Sensor	Sony IMX585, 8.3 MP	IMX347-class, 2.9 µm (Unistellar does not name it), 3.2 MP
Pixel size	2.9 µm	2.9 µm
Pixel scale	2.44″/px	1.33″/px
Field of view	2.60° × 1.46°	0.76° × 0.57°
Sub exposures	10 s, 20 s, 30 s	4 s
Dual-band filter	Clip-on option (Dual Band filter)	None
“No filter” position	No filter	No filter
Read noise used	1 e⁻	1.8 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	Vespera 3	eQuinox 2	Faster
Andromeda GalaxyGalaxy	1 h 24 min502 subs	1 h 19 min1,191 subs	eQuinox 2 1.1×
Orion NebulaEmission nebula	16 min98 subs	15 min224 subs	eQuinox 2 1.1×
North America NebulaEmission nebula	2 h 09 min777 subs	2 h 04 min1,854 subs	Same
Pinwheel GalaxyGalaxy	4 h 24 min1,586 subs	4 h 14 min3,814 subs	Same
Ring NebulaPlanetary nebula	7 min45 subs	6 min96 subs	eQuinox 2 1.2×
Western Veil NebulaSupernova remnant	2 h 21 min849 subs	2 h 15 min2,028 subs	Same
Hercules ClusterGlobular cluster	7 min43 subs	6 min94 subs	eQuinox 2 1.1×
PleiadesReflection nebula	2 h 35 min928 subs	2 h 28 min2,219 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	Vespera 3	eQuinox 2	Faster
Andromeda GalaxyGalaxy	32 min193 subs	46 min690 subs	Vespera 3 1.4×
Orion NebulaEmission nebula	7 min45 subs	9 min137 subs	Vespera 3 1.2×
North America NebulaEmission nebula	48 min290 subs	1 h 11 min1,064 subs	Vespera 3 1.5×
Pinwheel GalaxyGalaxy	1 h 35 min569 subs	2 h 24 min2,164 subs	Vespera 3 1.5×
Ring NebulaPlanetary nebula	5 min30 subs	4 min66 subs	eQuinox 2 1.2×
Western Veil NebulaSupernova remnant	52 min315 subs	1 h 17 min1,162 subs	Vespera 3 1.5×
Hercules ClusterGlobular cluster	5 min30 subs	4 min60 subs	eQuinox 2 1.3×
PleiadesReflection nebula	57 min343 subs	1 h 25 min1,270 subs	Vespera 3 1.5×

Try the Vespera 3 in the calculator Try the eQuinox 2

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.

About the Unistellar eQuinox 2

A 114 mm Newtonian with five times the light grasp of a 50 mm refractor. Fixed 4 s subs put it in read-noise territory under dark skies, but the aperture carries it. The published field is 45.6′ × 34.2′, a crop of the sensor.

Where to buy the eQuinox 2Amazon UK Unistellar UK Amazon US Unistellar USAffiliate links: As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases, at no cost to you.

Other comparisons

All comparisons · Buying guide · Vespera 3 page · eQuinox 2 page