I’ve been into astronomy for over fifty years and in the last eight or so years have been doing astrophotography with some expensive cooled cameras on a big 10” scope mounted on a 10 Micron mount. I’ve been through all the hoops of learning how to take and process images. I have had a Seestar for just two days and am absolutely blown away by the technology contained within it. The plate-solving, built-in dew heater (essential in the damp UK) and stacking on the fly are amazing. Too easy? Maybe, but I find it great fun and it has rekindled my interest in astro and post-processing images. With wifi connectivity I can also image from indoors with a mug of something warm! The supplied tripod is nice but I mount mine on a heavy-duty Manfrotto tripod with 2” tubing when at home. ZWO also appear to be listening to their customers in terms of updates and I am looking forward to a reported mosaic feature soon. Love it!
@steve_colwill I didn't think you folks ever had clear skies in the UK! The first book which inspired me to love astronomy , was your written by your Patrick Moore! Cheers my friend and thank you for your thoughtful reply.
I'm getting one tomorrow. I've always wanted to get into astrophotography, it's just always been too expensive and really too complicated to get started. So, I can now try and see if I want to dig deeper. I can't wait. I plan to take the raws from this and see if I like photo processing. Astrophotography is what you want it to be. These smart telescopes will be a boon to the hobby. Lot's of people will get their taste wetted and want more.
@mcblaze1968 My daughter never really took an interest in astronomy until the SeeStar...she just asked to borrow it this weekend to share with her grad student group of biology students.
I've been into Astronomy for about 60 years. I've acheived a lot of the Astroleague visual programs with scopes from binoculars to 17.5". I enjoyed it but don't have very dark skies anymore and don't enjoy hauling out heavy scopes anymore. I've had the Seestar about 10 months now and it has rejuvenated my interest in Astronomy and the new interest of Astrophotography to affirm one of your likes. I can go into 14th and 15th magnitude in my Bortle 5 location with no problem with the SeeStar. It brings out colors and details in DSO's most of the time better than any scope I've looked through. Of course scopes are still better for planetary.. I'm now working on some of the same programs (Messier, Caldwell, Planetary Nebula, etc) via imaging. FYI. I haven't calibrated mine since very early. And for a long time I didn't have to "relevel seestar". Here is my sequence. Level my tripod well. Screw Seestar in. Turn on and connect. Go to a first or 2nd mag star. If it is dark enough the Seestar will plate solve and then move to the object. If it finds the object, then it is calibrated. Do an Autofocus. If I've leveled my tripod well and carefully screwed Seestar on, and it calls for releveling I do a level calibration and it doesn't bother me anymore.
Thank you for the reply. It still amazes so much tech is packed in for the price point. You make me remember back in the 90s I lived near Lake Mills, WI and seeing a monster Obsession Dob...I couldn't believe what I was looking at.
Like all hobbies, technology keeps moving, it’s about using the tools available. Tools that make hobbies affordable and easier to start, bring people into the hobby that may never have tried it due to the steep learning curve and cost of equipment.
If you are calibrating your seestar every single time you use if you are doing an unnecessary step. I have had mine for over a year and use it regularly. I simply balance it on the tripod and then after turning it on run the leveling again in the app typically to .3 or better and it’s ready to go. The only time I have had to calibrate is during daytime use if I am trying to find the moon in the morning when there are no stars available. Otherwise no calibration is necessary.
I 3D printed my dew shield as a loose fit - it just falls off when the arm is closing. On compass calibration - I’ve only had to do that a couple of times in 3 months. Thanks for the video, it’s a great little telescope and I look forward to their next models.
I need a scope rotator ;-)) Something that keeps everything very secure and rotates the scope a few times. OK, it should not have anything additional metallic or magnetic on it, because it's for the compass calibration. I guess, it would be something like a plastic turntable by hand on the tripod which holds itself on the tripod and holds the scope on top ;-) Maybe I can 3D print it ;-) The problem is not rotating the scope while holding it in the arms, the problem is the neighbors, what would they think ;-) Turning the scope with some simple but reliable gear would be better ;-) ------ But a dew shield with a loose fit is a great idea. Simple, sturdy and reliable - hopefully ;-)
Thanks for this excellent review! It’s nice to see a review that focuses on how it can enhance your quality of life and passion instead of technical specs. Great idea to donate one to your local school if you have the money.
Your post is a very nice introduction to the Seestar. Especially since you also have a good astronomical selection. Yes, the weather is not always good in our latitudes, I live on the other side of the North Sea in northern Germany. Now in November it is cloudy, with rain, sleet and snowfall. But soon clear winter nights and low humidity will come. Then the Seestar will be able to take excellent pictures. I wish everyone the best of luck and clear skies. Best greetings from the westcoast of northern Germany.
I don't currently own any smart scope as such, but as my rigs that I've built up over the years are all fully automated they will all do the same thing, the point being most rigs are easy to use these days once they've been set up, so you could say they are boring too. I can have my Red Cat 51 set up within minutes (I use this with an ASIair which is more or less the same technology that controls the See Star) If I didn't already have this rig I would probably buy a See Star. My biggest dislikes....Lack of versatility, you are confined to using one OSC sensor size, whereas I can use various cameras with different sized mono and OSC sensors with any of my scopes. No in-built EQ mode ( I know there are ways around this but would be nice to have it inbuilt) Likes.....Price Point, this is extremely good value for money, I'm sure this has been the difference between many people taking up astronomy or giving it a pass already. Transportability. This is a great grab and go scope, and would be good for keeping in the car ready for those last minute trips to a dark sky site or taking on vacation etc. Astronomy, like all other hobbies should be about enjoyment. From what I've read about this scope there are many, many people who really enjoy using it, expierenced and beginers alike, which makes me think that it has definitely been a positive addition to the market.
Thanks for the great review. I’m happy to see such an experienced astrophotographer as you not knocking the Seestar. And whet you are saying about its ease of use as a “dislike” is not “silly” at all-I totally get it. I programmed computers before the GUI came out, and the GUI was so simple, rendering at least some coding knowledge obsolete, that it made me feel stupid at first! :) And I think this is exactly what bothers some experienced APers the most; it kind of balks at all the hard skills we’ve had to learn. I don’t like the alt-az mount and field rotation, and my other “real” rigs will always take better pics. But the Seestar did great with the solar eclipse for me, and for nebulae, I love using it anyway! So thanks for the fair review! It’s always a pleasure to see someone being fair!
4:43 Made that mistake. It makes a very distressing sound but fortunately, at least in my case, it was undamaged. \\ 7:29 Compass calibration is not necessary every time. You only need to do it the first time and thereafter very rarely.
Imagine where this tech will be in 10 yrs ! I've had my Seestar for about 2 weeks. I'm having a blast. I can't afford a full on AP setup, so this was perfect for me.
Looking at getting either the S30 or S50. Leaning towards the S50 because I am old school as well, I believe bigger is better. Question, can you control the S50 from a PC?
I have been considering this one for a while - but after seeing reviews of the Dwarf 3 I am a bit undecided as to which to get. One of the drawbacks for me about the S50 is it's inability to fully capture M31 (one of my favourite objects!!) in full. It can be done with the Dwarf 3 but I really like the S50 and it would be a no brainer other wise. IS there any work around with the S50 to capture M31 as a full object and not cropped?
@NJM1948 SeeStar just released a new software version to enable mosaic on Friday...just for IOS for the time being. I haven't had a chance to try it yet but the pictures I've seen on the users group on Facebook look promising. Thanks for the reply.
The S50 is not a replacement for an equatorial mount, guide scope, main scope, guiding software and all of that, which I have, BTW. If you really want to use your PixInsight or Astro Pixel Processor on the stored FITS frames, go at it. The images as produced without editing are really pretty good as well as being easy to see and share right then and there. There are many people I see at our outreach star parties who have real difficulty using an eyepiece. There are plenty of people who cannot or don't want to mess with the setup and take down of conventional imaging. Here in Colorado, winter observing is not a lot of fun and the Seestar can be controlled from the comfort of your kitchen while it toils in the chilly dark. Most people don't have access to a dark sky and are not about to buy the filters needed at $200 a pop. As with any all purpose device there are things it doesn't do well, like planets - or at all like rotating the sensor for framing. Make no mistake though - this is a real telescope and camera combination that can be used in minutes from just about anywhere which is not the case with larger and more expensive setups.
@davidn2619 It was getting out last night on 36 degree weather and popping back into the house to watch on my ipad! Thanks for the very thoughtful reply.
I'm considering getting one of these so I can do solar system landscapes, but I'm going to wait until the Seestar S30 comes out later this fall. I saw a lot of cool pictures of C/2023 A3 appearing with a landscape and thought they were really cool. I've had a Vaonis Vespera II for several months and I love it. By the time you configure it, though, you have between $2,500 and $3,000 invested. The Pro model starts at %2,900.The price point of the S50 is pretty unbeatable, except most likely by the S30 and the Dwarf 2 and Vaonis Hestia, which allow people to image with their cell phones.
I just ordered one and kinda get what you mean. I have been fighting with my DSLR (unsuccessfully) trying to get good photos of DSOs. I struggle to find stuff, maintain my aim with the camera, and finding the proper settings. In the back of my head I did not want to go this route just cause it felt so cheaty. I have tried to justify it by telling myself I still intend to do the stacking and stretching on my own, but I do worry that it will end up being "boring" cause I am not constantly having to do stuff with it. I am still going to play with my DSLR but the thing that really did it for me was my last night out was fogging. My camera fogged up and non of the pics I thought i was taking were very good, and just decided it was time. I hope I have fun with it but I am worried that I will get bored with it since it does not require much input from me.
@MrEljeffe666 I will say it makes 10 degree nights a lot easier as you can sit inside and control the SeeStar while from the comfort of your recliner! Thank you for the reply and hope you enjoy!
About the time you are getting bored, get Deep Sky Stacker (free) and start processing all of the FITS frames stored on the S50. You can learn a great deal and not be out another dime.
@@davidn2619 that’s actually my plan from the get go. I may let it auto stack the first few. But I intend to have most of my images stacked and stretched manually.
Great video. Subscribed. I live in Southwest Virginia. A very humid area. I genereally leave my Seestar out imaging all night. When I go to retrieve it in the morning it's usually soaking wet with dew. I've never used a dew shield and never had an issue as the dew heater does not allow dew to even begin to form on the lense. Also, even though this unit is almost too easy to use, the real artistry and magic is done in post processing. I am looking forward to your take on the S30.
Regarding your first "Dislike" : What used to be Hard is now done with Ease, It took so long to learn, is now just a Breeze. Gone now that race and manic set up Time, Also such a money pit, made with all those Dimes! The hurry and flurry against the enemy Clouds, The rain on your parade, those spoiler image Shrouds. Heavy to move, position is fixed , unlikely to Travel, Making a fence, those trees, your hopes easily Unravel. All your Work , defeating the Quirks, Yes...we do Understand, But now such interest , newly impassioned now dot the Land. Millions more can afford , spare the time this Hobby of Yours, You trailblazed , inspired , now teach us, is the reason why...For. You were the first, early adopters. We thank the inspired who came Before. That is YOU...and thanks to Seestar and people like you ...we have people to inspire and teach us and show us what a fantastic wonderful Interest we have begun ....millions more than ever could have, would have got the opportunity to share in the awe and cosmic wonders of the universe than are now starting to get involved with. And that I believe is a very good thing not just for us Newbies ...but EVERYBODY because of what it does and where it takes us from now which is a better place and a greater appreciation for it , than would ever have been or happened. THANK YOU.
The dwarf 3 besides equa mode battery which you cant replace without opening unit is still equal to sd50. Yes the dwarf is updated but unless they come out with updates for it that 8.2 mp pixels are rather soft on the dwarf. Its compact but man Andromeda looking like hubble on sd50 😅😅😅
G'day there I couldn't agree more with your first dislike. I've attempted astrophotography with a ZWO1600pro, all the software, wires, aligning, time and money, now I almost feel guilty (but don't) achieving amazing results with a few twirls for calibration and the press of a few buttons. But hey, who wants to spend hours trying to work out how to use all the software let alone editing. I love my Seestar. Cheers from down under Rick
Your pity for all the work you have put into astrophotography oozes far from envy. 😄 I'm pretty sure the same words were said when the farmer replaced the oxen with horses or the farmer replaced his horses with a tractor. It's just the progress of technology that should be respected. By the way, you should still be able to do significantly better astrophotography with your old equipment. 🙃
I'm a visual observer. Biggest dislike - It's boring. Entirely too passive an experience. Biggest like - great for outreach, kids, senior citizens, anyone who can't look through an eyepiece.
Completely agree. What kind of scope are you using for visual? I'm on the cusp of a new SCT. I've had big reflectors and thought about going that route too.
@@UTRMidwest Mostly an Apertura AD12. A 5" tabletop dob or 4se as grab-n-go. Recently been thinking about a good refractor, but cost and size is keeping me from pulling the trigger right now.
These things are fancy cameras not telescopes if anyone thinks something as small as this can produce color images of distant galaxies & nebula they should think again. You can purchase very capable refracting & reflecting scopes for £600.
And yet I have color images of DSOs... Yes, a $500 Seestar or similar is NOT going to produce the quality of a $5k or $10k rig BUT it serves to make astrophotography at least "accessible" to us mortals who lack the large discretional income needed for larger better rigs. ALSO it serves to flatten the learning curve... For $500 I can learn the basics... How to plan a photo night session, factors negatively affecting quality and how to mitigate them, how to post process using softwares...SEEING that one can develop the self discipline to "get out there' when seeing s GOOD (in spite of subzero temperatures) and THEN after that learning process, moving up to a true astrophotography rig.
@@Gabriel.Jarelys 'Telescopes' like the Seestar is a gateway to access a repository of pre prepared images of DSO's, without an internet connection they're not fit for purpose.
What do you like most and dislike the most about the SeeStar S50?
I mostly dislike, that I don't have one...:)
@joeshmoe7967 lol
I’ve been into astronomy for over fifty years and in the last eight or so years have been doing astrophotography with some expensive cooled cameras on a big 10” scope mounted on a 10 Micron mount. I’ve been through all the hoops of learning how to take and process images. I have had a Seestar for just two days and am absolutely blown away by the technology contained within it. The plate-solving, built-in dew heater (essential in the damp UK) and stacking on the fly are amazing. Too easy? Maybe, but I find it great fun and it has rekindled my interest in astro and post-processing images. With wifi connectivity I can also image from indoors with a mug of something warm! The supplied tripod is nice but I mount mine on a heavy-duty Manfrotto tripod with 2” tubing when at home. ZWO also appear to be listening to their customers in terms of updates and I am looking forward to a reported mosaic feature soon. Love it!
@steve_colwill I didn't think you folks ever had clear skies in the UK! The first book which inspired me to love astronomy , was your written by your Patrick Moore! Cheers my friend and thank you for your thoughtful reply.
I'm getting one tomorrow. I've always wanted to get into astrophotography, it's just always been too expensive and really too complicated to get started. So, I can now try and see if I want to dig deeper. I can't wait.
I plan to take the raws from this and see if I like photo processing. Astrophotography is what you want it to be.
These smart telescopes will be a boon to the hobby. Lot's of people will get their taste wetted and want more.
@mcblaze1968 My daughter never really took an interest in astronomy until the SeeStar...she just asked to borrow it this weekend to share with her grad student group of biology students.
@@mcblaze1968 It's just really cool watching kids get into astronomy when they see what smart telescopes can do.
I've been into Astronomy for about 60 years. I've acheived a lot of the Astroleague visual programs with scopes from binoculars to 17.5". I enjoyed it but don't have very dark skies anymore and don't enjoy hauling out heavy scopes anymore. I've had the Seestar about 10 months now and it has rejuvenated my interest in Astronomy and the new interest of Astrophotography to affirm one of your likes. I can go into 14th and 15th magnitude in my Bortle 5 location with no problem with the SeeStar. It brings out colors and details in DSO's most of the time better than any scope I've looked through. Of course scopes are still better for planetary.. I'm now working on some of the same programs (Messier, Caldwell, Planetary Nebula, etc) via imaging.
FYI. I haven't calibrated mine since very early. And for a long time I didn't have to "relevel seestar". Here is my sequence. Level my tripod well. Screw Seestar in. Turn on and connect. Go to a first or 2nd mag star. If it is dark enough the Seestar will plate solve and then move to the object. If it finds the object, then it is calibrated. Do an Autofocus. If I've leveled my tripod well and carefully screwed Seestar on, and it calls for releveling I do a level calibration and it doesn't bother me anymore.
Thank you for the reply. It still amazes so much tech is packed in for the price point. You make me remember back in the 90s I lived near Lake Mills, WI and seeing a monster Obsession Dob...I couldn't believe what I was looking at.
Like all hobbies, technology keeps moving, it’s about using the tools available.
Tools that make hobbies affordable and easier to start, bring people into the hobby that may never have tried it due to the steep learning curve and cost of equipment.
If you are calibrating your seestar every single time you use if you are doing an unnecessary step. I have had mine for over a year and use it regularly. I simply balance it on the tripod and then after turning it on run the leveling again in the app typically to .3 or better and it’s ready to go. The only time I have had to calibrate is during daytime use if I am trying to find the moon in the morning when there are no stars available. Otherwise no calibration is necessary.
I 3D printed my dew shield as a loose fit - it just falls off when the arm is closing. On compass calibration - I’ve only had to do that a couple of times in 3 months. Thanks for the video, it’s a great little telescope and I look forward to their next models.
I need a 3d printer!
I need a scope rotator ;-))
Something that keeps everything very secure and rotates the scope a few times.
OK, it should not have anything additional metallic or magnetic on it, because it's for the compass calibration. I guess, it would be something like a plastic turntable by hand on the tripod which holds itself on the tripod and holds the scope on top ;-)
Maybe I can 3D print it ;-)
The problem is not rotating the scope while holding it in the arms, the problem is the neighbors, what would they think ;-)
Turning the scope with some simple but reliable gear would be better ;-)
------
But a dew shield with a loose fit is a great idea. Simple, sturdy and reliable - hopefully ;-)
@richard--s I keep pricing 3D printers and keep getting the stink eye from my wife! Thanks for the great reply.
Thanks for this excellent review! It’s nice to see a review that focuses on how it can enhance your quality of life and passion instead of technical specs. Great idea to donate one to your local school if you have the money.
@@leehillman1875 thank you for your comment!
Your post is a very nice introduction to the Seestar. Especially since you also have a good astronomical selection. Yes, the weather is not always good in our latitudes, I live on the other side of the North Sea in northern Germany. Now in November it is cloudy, with rain, sleet and snowfall. But soon clear winter nights and low humidity will come. Then the Seestar will be able to take excellent pictures. I wish everyone the best of luck and clear skies.
Best greetings from the westcoast of northern Germany.
I just got my seestar today, i love it so much. I wish it could get better planetary photos, but this is just the beginning of this technology. :D
Enjoy it! Agreed on planetary but we can't have it all....yet. 😉
Cmon you got the sun ☀️ and the 🌙 you got it all lol
@@BigPoppa-t3zhow are the pictures of the sun and the moon with the SeeStar? Can you see the moon crates pretty close ?
I don't currently own any smart scope as such, but as my rigs that I've built up over the years are all fully automated they will all do the same thing, the point being most rigs are easy to use these days once they've been set up, so you could say they are boring too. I can have my Red Cat 51 set up within minutes (I use this with an ASIair which is more or less the same technology that controls the See Star) If I didn't already have this rig I would probably buy a See Star.
My biggest dislikes....Lack of versatility, you are confined to using one OSC sensor size, whereas I can use various cameras with different sized mono and OSC sensors with any of my scopes.
No in-built EQ mode ( I know there are ways around this but would be nice to have it inbuilt)
Likes.....Price Point, this is extremely good value for money, I'm sure this has been the difference between many people taking up astronomy or giving it a pass already.
Transportability. This is a great grab and go scope, and would be good for keeping in the car ready for those last minute trips to a dark sky site or taking on vacation etc.
Astronomy, like all other hobbies should be about enjoyment. From what I've read about this scope there are many, many people who really enjoy using it, expierenced and beginers alike, which makes me think that it has definitely been a positive addition to the market.
All so valid. I could say other things I don't like about it but then remember it's $450 bucks! Thanks for the thoughtful reply and clear skies!
Thanks for the great review. I’m happy to see such an experienced astrophotographer as you not knocking the Seestar. And whet you are saying about its ease of use as a “dislike” is not “silly” at all-I totally get it. I programmed computers before the GUI came out, and the GUI was so simple, rendering at least some coding knowledge obsolete, that it made me feel stupid at first! :) And I think this is exactly what bothers some experienced APers the most; it kind of balks at all the hard skills we’ve had to learn. I don’t like the alt-az mount and field rotation, and my other “real” rigs will always take better pics. But the Seestar did great with the solar eclipse for me, and for nebulae, I love using it anyway! So thanks for the fair review! It’s always a pleasure to see someone being fair!
I appreciate the long reply! ENJOY the skies!
4:43 Made that mistake. It makes a very distressing sound but fortunately, at least in my case, it was undamaged. \\
7:29 Compass calibration is not necessary every time. You only need to do it the first time and thereafter very rarely.
Imagine where this tech will be in 10 yrs ! I've had my Seestar for about 2 weeks. I'm having a blast. I can't afford a full on AP setup, so this was perfect for me.
@rakitakhan It's been a lot of fun for me too. I can only imagine in 10 years!
Looking at getting either the S30 or S50. Leaning towards the S50 because I am old school as well, I believe bigger is better. Question, can you control the S50 from a PC?
I have been considering this one for a while - but after seeing reviews of the Dwarf 3 I am a bit undecided as to which to get. One of the drawbacks for me about the S50 is it's inability to fully capture M31 (one of my favourite objects!!) in full. It can be done with the Dwarf 3 but I really like the S50 and it would be a no brainer other wise. IS there any work around with the S50 to capture M31 as a full object and not cropped?
@NJM1948 SeeStar just released a new software version to enable mosaic on Friday...just for IOS for the time being. I haven't had a chance to try it yet but the pictures I've seen on the users group on Facebook look promising.
Thanks for the reply.
Mine would not connect to my wifi.
I sent it back and ordered a dwarf 3.
The S50 is not a replacement for an equatorial mount, guide scope, main scope, guiding software and all of that, which I have, BTW. If you really want to use your PixInsight or Astro Pixel Processor on the stored FITS frames, go at it. The images as produced without editing are really pretty good as well as being easy to see and share right then and there. There are many people I see at our outreach star parties who have real difficulty using an eyepiece. There are plenty of people who cannot or don't want to mess with the setup and take down of conventional imaging. Here in Colorado, winter observing is not a lot of fun and the Seestar can be controlled from the comfort of your kitchen while it toils in the chilly dark. Most people don't have access to a dark sky and are not about to buy the filters needed at $200 a pop. As with any all purpose device there are things it doesn't do well, like planets - or at all like rotating the sensor for framing. Make no mistake though - this is a real telescope and camera combination that can be used in minutes from just about anywhere which is not the case with larger and more expensive setups.
@davidn2619 It was getting out last night on 36 degree weather and popping back into the house to watch on my ipad!
Thanks for the very thoughtful reply.
I'm considering getting one of these so I can do solar system landscapes, but I'm going to wait until the Seestar S30 comes out later this fall. I saw a lot of cool pictures of C/2023 A3 appearing with a landscape and thought they were really cool. I've had a Vaonis Vespera II for several months and I love it. By the time you configure it, though, you have between $2,500 and $3,000 invested. The Pro model starts at %2,900.The price point of the S50 is pretty unbeatable, except most likely by the S30 and the Dwarf 2 and Vaonis Hestia, which allow people to image with their cell phones.
Very cool. I'm going to hold off a bit on the S30 and focus on more planetary with an 8SE. Best of luck and thank you for the reply! Cheers!
I just ordered one and kinda get what you mean. I have been fighting with my DSLR (unsuccessfully) trying to get good photos of DSOs. I struggle to find stuff, maintain my aim with the camera, and finding the proper settings. In the back of my head I did not want to go this route just cause it felt so cheaty. I have tried to justify it by telling myself I still intend to do the stacking and stretching on my own, but I do worry that it will end up being "boring" cause I am not constantly having to do stuff with it. I am still going to play with my DSLR but the thing that really did it for me was my last night out was fogging. My camera fogged up and non of the pics I thought i was taking were very good, and just decided it was time. I hope I have fun with it but I am worried that I will get bored with it since it does not require much input from me.
@MrEljeffe666 I will say it makes 10 degree nights a lot easier as you can sit inside and control the SeeStar while from the comfort of your recliner! Thank you for the reply and hope you enjoy!
About the time you are getting bored, get Deep Sky Stacker (free) and start processing all of the FITS frames stored on the S50. You can learn a great deal and not be out another dime.
@@davidn2619 that’s actually my plan from the get go. I may let it auto stack the first few. But I intend to have most of my images stacked and stretched manually.
Great video. Subscribed. I live in Southwest Virginia. A very humid area. I genereally leave my Seestar out imaging all night. When I go to retrieve it in the morning it's usually soaking wet with dew. I've never used a dew shield and never had an issue as the dew heater does not allow dew to even begin to form on the lense. Also, even though this unit is almost too easy to use, the real artistry and magic is done in post processing. I am looking forward to your take on the S30.
I just saw that Agena Astro has the S50 on closeout at $399.
OH wow!
ONLY open box customer returns.
Regarding your first "Dislike" :
What used to be Hard is now done with Ease, It took so long to learn, is now just a Breeze.
Gone now that race and manic set up Time,
Also such a money pit, made with all those Dimes!
The hurry and flurry against the enemy Clouds,
The rain on your parade, those spoiler image Shrouds.
Heavy to move, position is fixed , unlikely to Travel,
Making a fence, those trees, your hopes easily Unravel.
All your Work , defeating the Quirks, Yes...we do Understand,
But now such interest , newly impassioned now dot the Land.
Millions more can afford , spare the time this Hobby of Yours,
You trailblazed , inspired , now teach us, is the reason why...For.
You were the first, early adopters. We thank the inspired who came Before.
That is YOU...and thanks to Seestar and people like you ...we have people to inspire and teach us and show us what a fantastic wonderful Interest we have begun ....millions more than ever could have, would have got the opportunity to share in the awe and cosmic wonders of the universe than are now starting to get involved with.
And that I believe is a very good thing not just for us Newbies ...but EVERYBODY because of what it does and where it takes us from now which is a better place and a greater appreciation for it , than would ever have been or happened.
THANK YOU.
The dwarf 3 besides equa mode battery which you cant replace without opening unit is still equal to sd50. Yes the dwarf is updated but unless they come out with updates for it that 8.2 mp pixels are rather soft on the dwarf. Its compact but man Andromeda looking like hubble on sd50 😅😅😅
I never recalibrate the compass and always set it up on the same spot. No problem finding objects.
Yeah, we need Adobe support! That's a must! I use lightroom for my editing.
compass calibration stays, you only need to do it if you change from location. it´s the same then as when you change location when you fly a drone
I hear it's not the best for planets. I have mine coming jan 10th
I have used mine many times and NEVER recalibrated the compass.
G'day there
I couldn't agree more with your first dislike. I've attempted astrophotography with a ZWO1600pro, all the software, wires, aligning, time and money, now I almost feel guilty (but don't) achieving amazing results with a few twirls for calibration and the press of a few buttons. But hey, who wants to spend hours trying to work out how to use all the software let alone editing. I love my Seestar.
Cheers from down under Rick
@@richita3177 Perfectly said and cheers as well!
Your pity for all the work you have put into astrophotography oozes far from envy. 😄 I'm pretty sure the same words were said when the farmer replaced the oxen with horses or the farmer replaced his horses with a tractor. It's just the progress of technology that should be respected.
By the way, you should still be able to do significantly better astrophotography with your old equipment. 🙃
S30 auto calibration. S30 and 50 says screw polaris.
I'm a visual observer. Biggest dislike - It's boring. Entirely too passive an experience. Biggest like - great for outreach, kids, senior citizens, anyone who can't look through an eyepiece.
Completely agree. What kind of scope are you using for visual? I'm on the cusp of a new SCT. I've had big reflectors and thought about going that route too.
@@UTRMidwest Mostly an Apertura AD12. A 5" tabletop dob or 4se as grab-n-go. Recently been thinking about a good refractor, but cost and size is keeping me from pulling the trigger right now.
@@esoxhnteris the 5” table top dob good enough for planetary and DSO observations plus some photography?
These things are fancy cameras not telescopes if anyone thinks something as small as this can produce color images of distant galaxies & nebula they should think again. You can purchase very capable refracting & reflecting scopes for £600.
Thanks for the comment! I like to think it may inspire people to get deeper into astronomy either way! Especially kids.
And yet I have color images of DSOs... Yes, a $500 Seestar or similar is NOT going to produce the quality of a $5k or $10k rig BUT it serves to make astrophotography at least "accessible" to us mortals who lack the large discretional income needed for larger better rigs. ALSO it serves to flatten the learning curve... For $500 I can learn the basics... How to plan a photo night session, factors negatively affecting quality and how to mitigate them, how to post process using softwares...SEEING that one can develop the self discipline to "get out there' when seeing s GOOD (in spite of subzero temperatures) and THEN after that learning process, moving up to a true astrophotography rig.
The Seestar produces great color images of DSO's. It punches far above it's weight.
What refracting and reflecting scope Incan get instead of the SeeStar?
@@Gabriel.Jarelys 'Telescopes' like the Seestar is a gateway to access a repository of pre prepared images of DSO's, without an internet connection they're not fit for purpose.