How Many Subs

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

Vaonis Vespera II against Celestron Origin, 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 is 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 Origin is 3× faster.

Field of view. The Vespera II shows 2.55° × 1.44° against 1.27° × 0.85°, so big targets such as the Andromeda Galaxy, the North America Nebula and the Pleiades fit with room to spare where the Origin needs a mosaic or a tight crop.

Detail. The Origin samples at 1.48″ 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

SpecVespera IIOrigin
Aperture50 mm152 mm
Focal length250 mm (f/5.0)335 mm (f/2.2)
SensorSony IMX585, 8.3 MPSony IMX178, 6.4 MP
Pixel size2.9 µm2.4 µm
Pixel scale2.39″/px1.48″/px
Field of view2.55° × 1.44°1.27° × 0.85°
Sub exposures10 s, 20 s, 30 s10 s, 15 s, 30 s
Dual-band filterClip-on option (Dual Band filter)Drawer option (Nebula Filter)
“No filter” positionNo filterNo filter
Read noise used1 e⁻1.4 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.
TargetVespera IIOriginFaster
Andromeda GalaxyGalaxy1 h 27 min525 subs23 min139 subsOrigin 4×
Orion NebulaEmission nebula17 min103 subs5 min30 subsOrigin 3×
North America NebulaEmission nebula2 h 15 min813 subs36 min215 subsOrigin 4×
Pinwheel GalaxyGalaxy4 h 37 min1,661 subs1 h 13 min439 subsOrigin 4×
Ring NebulaPlanetary nebula8 min47 subs5 min30 subsOrigin 1.6×
Western Veil NebulaSupernova remnant2 h 28 min889 subs39 min235 subsOrigin 4×
Hercules ClusterGlobular cluster7 min44 subs5 min30 subsOrigin 1.5×
PleiadesReflection nebula2 h 42 min971 subs43 min257 subsOrigin 4×

Rural sky (Bortle 3)

Total integration for a solid image from a Bortle 3 sky, default subs, recommended filter for each scope.
TargetVespera IIOriginFaster
Andromeda GalaxyGalaxy34 min204 subs8 min48 subsOrigin 4×
Orion NebulaEmission nebula8 min47 subs5 min30 subsOrigin 1.5×
North America NebulaEmission nebula51 min306 subs12 min72 subsOrigin 4×
Pinwheel GalaxyGalaxy1 h 40 min602 subs23 min138 subsOrigin 4×
Ring NebulaPlanetary nebula5 min30 subs5 min30 subsSame
Western Veil NebulaSupernova remnant55 min333 subs13 min78 subsOrigin 4×
Hercules ClusterGlobular cluster5 min30 subs5 min30 subsSame
PleiadesReflection nebula1 h362 subs14 min84 subsOrigin 4×

Try the Vespera II in the calculator Try the Origin

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 DirectAmazon UKAmazon 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

The first-generation Origin: a 6-inch f/2.2 RASA in a smart package and the fastest system here by a wide margin. Superseded by the Mark II in late 2025 and no longer sold new; Celestron offers a camera upgrade to the Mark II sensor.

Where to buy the OriginAmazon UKAmazon USAffiliate links: As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases, at no cost to you.

Other comparisons

Vespera II

Origin

All comparisons · Buying guide · Vespera II page · Origin page