Is the Vespera II faster than the Origin Mark II?

From a Bortle 6 sky the Origin Mark II is 2.6× faster on the 30 most popular deep-sky targets; from Bortle 3 the Origin Mark II is 2.9× faster.

Which is better for small targets like planetary nebulae?

The Origin Mark II, with its finer pixel scale of 1.23″ per pixel.

Vespera II vs Origin Mark II: which is faster for deep-sky imaging?

Vaonis Vespera II against Celestron Origin Mark 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 Origin Mark II is 2.6× faster (geometric mean of the solid-image times, each scope on its recommended filter and default subs). From a rural Bortle 3 sky the Origin Mark II is 2.9× faster.

Field of view. The Vespera II shows 2.55° × 1.44° against 1.32° × 0.75°, so big targets such as the Andromeda Galaxy, the North America Nebula and the Pleiades fit with room to spare where the Origin Mark II needs a mosaic or a tight crop.

Detail. The Origin Mark II samples at 1.23″ per pixel against 2.39″, so it pulls finer structure from small targets: planetary nebulae, globular cores, galaxy arms.

Subs and dark skies. Both top out at 30 s subs, so neither has an edge at read-noise-limited dark sites.

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 II	Origin Mark II
Aperture	50 mm	152 mm
Focal length	250 mm (f/5.0)	335 mm (f/2.2)
Sensor	Sony IMX585, 8.3 MP	Sony IMX678, 8.4 MP
Pixel size	2.9 µm	2 µm
Pixel scale	2.39″/px	1.23″/px
Field of view	2.55° × 1.44°	1.32° × 0.75°
Sub exposures	10 s, 20 s, 30 s	10 s, 15 s, 30 s
Dual-band filter	Clip-on option (Dual Band filter)	Drawer option (Nebula Filter)
“No filter” position	No filter	No filter
Read noise used	1 e⁻	0.6 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 II	Origin Mark II	Faster
Andromeda GalaxyGalaxy	1 h 27 min525 subs	32 min191 subs	Origin Mark II 2.8×
Orion NebulaEmission nebula	17 min103 subs	6 min38 subs	Origin Mark II 2.7×
North America NebulaEmission nebula	2 h 15 min813 subs	49 min295 subs	Origin Mark II 2.8×
Pinwheel GalaxyGalaxy	4 h 37 min1,661 subs	1 h 40 min600 subs	Origin Mark II 2.8×
Ring NebulaPlanetary nebula	8 min47 subs	5 min30 subs	Origin Mark II 1.6×
Western Veil NebulaSupernova remnant	2 h 28 min889 subs	54 min322 subs	Origin Mark II 2.8×
Hercules ClusterGlobular cluster	7 min44 subs	5 min30 subs	Origin Mark II 1.5×
PleiadesReflection nebula	2 h 42 min971 subs	59 min352 subs	Origin Mark II 2.8×

Rural sky (Bortle 3)

Total integration for a solid image from a Bortle 3 sky, default subs, recommended filter for each scope.
Target	Vespera II	Origin Mark II	Faster
Andromeda GalaxyGalaxy	34 min204 subs	10 min60 subs	Origin Mark II 3×
Orion NebulaEmission nebula	8 min47 subs	5 min30 subs	Origin Mark II 1.5×
North America NebulaEmission nebula	51 min306 subs	15 min88 subs	Origin Mark II 4×
Pinwheel GalaxyGalaxy	1 h 40 min602 subs	28 min168 subs	Origin Mark II 4×
Ring NebulaPlanetary nebula	5 min30 subs	5 min30 subs	Same
Western Veil NebulaSupernova remnant	55 min333 subs	16 min95 subs	Origin Mark II 4×
Hercules ClusterGlobular cluster	5 min30 subs	5 min30 subs	Same
PleiadesReflection nebula	1 h362 subs	17 min103 subs	Origin Mark II 4×

Try the Vespera II in the calculator Try the Origin Mark II

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.

About the Celestron Origin Mark II

The Origin Mark II (late 2025): the same 6-inch f/2.2 RASA with an 8 MP IMX678 in place of the original 6 MP IMX178. Smaller pixels for finer detail, a quieter sensor, and still the fastest system here by a wide margin.

Where to buy the Origin Mark IICelestron store Direct Amazon UK Amazon USThe Celestron 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 · Vespera II page · Origin Mark II page