How Many Subs

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

Vaonis Vespera Pro 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 7× 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 8× faster.

Field of view. The Vespera Pro shows 1.62° × 1.62° 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 1.65″, 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 ProOrigin
Aperture50 mm152 mm
Focal length250 mm (f/5.0)335 mm (f/2.2)
SensorSony IMX676, 12.5 MPSony IMX178, 6.4 MP
Pixel size2 µm2.4 µm
Pixel scale1.65″/px1.48″/px
Field of view1.62° × 1.62°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 used0.8 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 ProOriginFaster
Andromeda GalaxyGalaxy3 h 16 min1,176 subs23 min139 subsOrigin 8×
Orion NebulaEmission nebula38 min227 subs5 min30 subsOrigin 8×
North America NebulaEmission nebula5 h 04 min1,822 subs36 min215 subsOrigin 8×
Pinwheel GalaxyGalaxy10 h3,727 subs1 h 13 min439 subsOrigin 9×
Ring NebulaPlanetary nebula17 min103 subs5 min30 subsOrigin 3×
Western Veil NebulaSupernova remnant5 h 32 min1,992 subs39 min235 subsOrigin 8×
Hercules ClusterGlobular cluster16 min98 subs5 min30 subsOrigin 3×
PleiadesReflection nebula6 h 03 min2,177 subs43 min257 subsOrigin 8×

Rural sky (Bortle 3)

Total integration for a solid image from a Bortle 3 sky, default subs, recommended filter for each scope.
TargetVespera ProOriginFaster
Andromeda GalaxyGalaxy1 h 23 min500 subs8 min48 subsOrigin 10×
Orion NebulaEmission nebula18 min111 subs5 min30 subsOrigin 4×
North America NebulaEmission nebula2 h 06 min757 subs12 min72 subsOrigin 11×
Pinwheel GalaxyGalaxy4 h 10 min1,501 subs23 min138 subsOrigin 11×
Ring NebulaPlanetary nebula10 min62 subs5 min30 subsOrigin 2.0×
Western Veil NebulaSupernova remnant2 h 17 min824 subs13 min78 subsOrigin 11×
Hercules ClusterGlobular cluster9 min53 subs5 min30 subsOrigin 1.7×
PleiadesReflection nebula2 h 29 min897 subs14 min84 subsOrigin 11×

Try the Vespera Pro in the calculator Try the Origin

About the Vaonis Vespera Pro

The square-sensor Vespera with 2 µm pixels. Higher resolution than the II, and correspondingly slower per pixel: expect around double the time for the same per-pixel SNR. Run-out in 2026 and replaced by the Vespera Pro 2.

Where to buy the Vespera ProAmazon UKAmazon USAffiliate 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 Pro

Origin

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