Is the Vespera Pro faster than the Vespera 3?

From a Bortle 6 sky the Vespera 3 is 2.3× faster on the 30 most popular deep-sky targets; from Bortle 3 the Vespera 3 is 2.5× faster.

Which is better for small targets like planetary nebulae?

The Vespera Pro, with its finer pixel scale of 1.65″ per pixel.

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

Vaonis Vespera Pro against Vaonis Vespera 3, 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 Vespera 3 is 2.3× faster (geometric mean of the solid-image times, each scope on its recommended filter and default subs). From a rural Bortle 3 sky the Vespera 3 is 2.5× faster.

Field of view. The Vespera 3 shows 2.60° × 1.46° against 1.62° × 1.62°, so big targets such as the Andromeda Galaxy, the North America Nebula and the Pleiades fit with room to spare where the Vespera Pro needs a mosaic or a tight crop.

Detail. The Vespera Pro samples at 1.65″ per pixel against 2.44″, 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 Pro	Vespera 3
Aperture	50 mm	50 mm
Focal length	250 mm (f/5.0)	245 mm (f/4.9)
Sensor	Sony IMX676, 12.5 MP	Sony IMX585, 8.3 MP
Pixel size	2 µm	2.9 µm
Pixel scale	1.65″/px	2.44″/px
Field of view	1.62° × 1.62°	2.60° × 1.46°
Sub exposures	10 s, 20 s, 30 s	10 s, 20 s, 30 s
Dual-band filter	Clip-on option (Dual Band filter)	Clip-on option (Dual Band filter)
“No filter” position	No filter	No filter
Read noise used	0.8 e⁻	1 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	Vespera 3	Faster
Andromeda GalaxyGalaxy	3 h 16 min1,176 subs	1 h 24 min502 subs	Vespera 3 2.3×
Orion NebulaEmission nebula	38 min227 subs	16 min98 subs	Vespera 3 2.3×
North America NebulaEmission nebula	5 h 04 min1,822 subs	2 h 09 min777 subs	Vespera 3 2.3×
Pinwheel GalaxyGalaxy	10 h3,727 subs	4 h 24 min1,586 subs	Vespera 3 2.4×
Ring NebulaPlanetary nebula	17 min103 subs	7 min45 subs	Vespera 3 2.3×
Western Veil NebulaSupernova remnant	5 h 32 min1,992 subs	2 h 21 min849 subs	Vespera 3 2.3×
Hercules ClusterGlobular cluster	16 min98 subs	7 min43 subs	Vespera 3 2.3×
PleiadesReflection nebula	6 h 03 min2,177 subs	2 h 35 min928 subs	Vespera 3 2.3×

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	Vespera 3	Faster
Andromeda GalaxyGalaxy	1 h 23 min500 subs	32 min193 subs	Vespera 3 2.6×
Orion NebulaEmission nebula	18 min111 subs	7 min45 subs	Vespera 3 2.5×
North America NebulaEmission nebula	2 h 06 min757 subs	48 min290 subs	Vespera 3 2.6×
Pinwheel GalaxyGalaxy	4 h 10 min1,501 subs	1 h 35 min569 subs	Vespera 3 2.6×
Ring NebulaPlanetary nebula	10 min62 subs	5 min30 subs	Vespera 3 2.0×
Western Veil NebulaSupernova remnant	2 h 17 min824 subs	52 min315 subs	Vespera 3 2.6×
Hercules ClusterGlobular cluster	9 min53 subs	5 min30 subs	Vespera 3 1.7×
PleiadesReflection nebula	2 h 29 min897 subs	57 min343 subs	Vespera 3 2.6×

Try the Vespera Pro in the calculator Try the Vespera 3

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 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.

Other comparisons

All comparisons · Buying guide · Vespera Pro page · Vespera 3 page