Is the Vespera Pro faster than the eQuinox 2?

From a Bortle 6 sky the eQuinox 2 is 2.5× faster on the 30 most popular deep-sky targets; from Bortle 3 the eQuinox 2 is 1.9× faster.

Which is better for small targets like planetary nebulae?

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

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

Vaonis Vespera Pro 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 2.5× faster (geometric mean of the solid-image times, each scope on its recommended filter and default subs). From a rural Bortle 3 sky the eQuinox 2 is 1.9× faster.

Field of view. The Vespera Pro shows 1.62° × 1.62° 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 1.65″, so it pulls finer structure from small targets: planetary nebulae, globular cores, galaxy arms.

Subs and dark skies. The Vespera Pro 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 Pro	eQuinox 2
Aperture	50 mm	114 mm
Focal length	250 mm (f/5.0)	450 mm (f/3.9)
Sensor	Sony IMX676, 12.5 MP	IMX347-class, 2.9 µm (Unistellar does not name it), 3.2 MP
Pixel size	2 µm	2.9 µm
Pixel scale	1.65″/px	1.33″/px
Field of view	1.62° × 1.62°	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	0.8 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 Pro	eQuinox 2	Faster
Andromeda GalaxyGalaxy	3 h 16 min1,176 subs	1 h 19 min1,191 subs	eQuinox 2 2.5×
Orion NebulaEmission nebula	38 min227 subs	15 min224 subs	eQuinox 2 2.5×
North America NebulaEmission nebula	5 h 04 min1,822 subs	2 h 04 min1,854 subs	eQuinox 2 2.5×
Pinwheel GalaxyGalaxy	10 h3,727 subs	4 h 14 min3,814 subs	eQuinox 2 2.4×
Ring NebulaPlanetary nebula	17 min103 subs	6 min96 subs	eQuinox 2 2.7×
Western Veil NebulaSupernova remnant	5 h 32 min1,992 subs	2 h 15 min2,028 subs	eQuinox 2 2.5×
Hercules ClusterGlobular cluster	16 min98 subs	6 min94 subs	eQuinox 2 2.6×
PleiadesReflection nebula	6 h 03 min2,177 subs	2 h 28 min2,219 subs	eQuinox 2 2.5×

Rural sky (Bortle 3)

Total integration for a solid image from a Bortle 3 sky, default subs, recommended filter for each scope.
Target	Vespera Pro	eQuinox 2	Faster
Andromeda GalaxyGalaxy	1 h 23 min500 subs	46 min690 subs	eQuinox 2 1.8×
Orion NebulaEmission nebula	18 min111 subs	9 min137 subs	eQuinox 2 2.0×
North America NebulaEmission nebula	2 h 06 min757 subs	1 h 11 min1,064 subs	eQuinox 2 1.8×
Pinwheel GalaxyGalaxy	4 h 10 min1,501 subs	2 h 24 min2,164 subs	eQuinox 2 1.7×
Ring NebulaPlanetary nebula	10 min62 subs	4 min66 subs	eQuinox 2 2.4×
Western Veil NebulaSupernova remnant	2 h 17 min824 subs	1 h 17 min1,162 subs	eQuinox 2 1.8×
Hercules ClusterGlobular cluster	9 min53 subs	4 min60 subs	eQuinox 2 2.2×
PleiadesReflection nebula	2 h 29 min897 subs	1 h 25 min1,270 subs	eQuinox 2 1.8×

Try the Vespera Pro in the calculator Try the eQuinox 2

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 UK Amazon USAffiliate 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 Pro page · eQuinox 2 page