Seestar S30 vs S50: which Smart Telescope is Best for You?

Seestar S30 vs S50: The Seestar S50 set a new standard for smart telescopes in 2023. When ZWO later released the cheaper Seestar S30, many wondered: “Is this just a stripped-down version or is there more to it?” In this comprehensive comparison, we dive into the technical differences, image quality, and real user experiences. Whether you want to capture the Moon or observe nebulae in detail: this will help you choose.

Seestar S30 vs S50: What’s the Difference between the Seestar S30 and S50?

At first glance, they look similar: same app, same automation, comparable features. But there are two major differences:

• Aperture: The S50 has a 50 mm lens, the S30 only 30 mm. Larger aperture means more light, resulting in sharper and more detailed images.
• Sensor: The S30 uses the newer Sony IMX662 sensor (less noise, better contrast), while the S50 works with the older IMX462.

Both models use the same app, offer live stacking, automatic GoTo, and come with solar filter, USB-C cable, tripod, and carrying case.

1. Price and Target Audience

• Seestar S30: €499 – aimed at beginners and budget-conscious users.
• Seestar S50: €699 – for those who want more detail and have room in their budget.

2. Key Differences

3. What Can You See with the Seestar S30?

The S30 is surprisingly capable for its price point. Thanks to its wide field of view, it’s ideal for:

• ✓ The Andromeda Galaxy in one frame
• ✓ Sun and Moon in detail, including sunspots
• ✓ Bright deep-sky objects like M42 (Orion Nebula)
• ✗ Planets like Jupiter or Saturn show no details, only bright dots

The latest firmware update even offers an EQ mode, enabling longer exposures.

4. What Extra Does the S50 Offer?

The S50 is particularly better if you:

• ✓ Want more resolution and contrast on Moon, Sun, star clusters
• ✓ Want to see planetary details: Saturn’s rings, bands on Jupiter
• ✓ Prefer sharpness over a wider field of view

Note: while the sensor is older than the S30’s, the larger aperture largely compensates for this. Especially in poor light or Bortle 7 conditions, the S50 performs better.

5. Deep-sky with Stacking and Mosaic

Both telescopes support mosaic mode, which automatically stitches multiple photos together. This doubles the field of view, useful for:

• Orion Nebula
• Horsehead Nebula
• Large star fields

Since the S30 naturally has a wider field of view, you’ll need to use this feature less often than with the S50. However, the S50 provides more detail per segment.

6. Sun, Moon and Planets

Both models are excellent for solar and lunar observations. The solar filters are included and easy to use.

• The S30 has magnetic solar filter attachment and a wide-field lens for manual searching.
• The S50 works entirely via GoTo and has no wide-field lens.

For planets, there’s a clear winner:

• ✗ S30 only shows Jupiter’s disk and moons
• ✓ S50 shows Saturn’s rings and details on Jupiter

7. Ease of Use and Battery

Both models are fully app-controlled (Android/iOS), have automatic focus, image processing, and share live views via WiFi. Guests can view through the app (up to 8 with Seestar).

• Battery life: approx. 6 hours for both
• Storage: 64 GB internal memory
• Charging: via USB-C, also during use

8. Which Telescope Suits whom?

Conclusion: which one to Choose?

The Seestar S30 is perfect if you want to start smart astrophotography with a low threshold. It’s lighter, cheaper, and surprisingly capable. However, if you want to see more detail, especially with the Moon and planets, then the Seestar S50 is an excellent upgrade for a relatively small additional cost.

For both: you set it up, start the app, and immediately get stunning images of the universe – no knowledge or experience required.

👉 Check out the Seestar S30 or Seestar S50 on Telescoop.nl and order today