Vespera 1 (VE50) vs Seestar S50

This test is both very unfair, and also fair:
First, I just placed the two telescopes outside and set them to image the same three objects for the same amount of time, and I didn’t try super hard to keep the imaging area the same. Both telescopes have mosaic modes, and if I used them, I used the android app for each telescope to “eyeball” them to be about the same general size around the target.

The Vespera 1 is older than the Seestar S50 (and it cost about $1500 more than the S50 when it came out), but the imaging sensors are very similar, as are the focal length and aperture.

On the used market, the S50 and Vespera 1 go for about the same price, so I judge them to be “equivalent offerings”, although the build quality of the Vespera is MUCH nicer.

The S50 includes a built in Dual Band (light pollution) filter which gives it a clear advantage on the flame and rosette nebulas….but to buy the (optional, not included in the purchase price) Vespera DB filter costs $400, and I don’t have one.

Also, the Vespera got a good 26 minute head start on the Flame nebula as the S50 forced me to do a software update when I started it up. The S50 does this, and it is very annoying, so out of spite I just let the Vespera run because I figure if you lose 25 minutes to a software upgrade at the beginning of your night, that’s a problem that should be illustrated in a head to head shootout. [I’ve had this happen other times, such as setting up for a solar transit where it really sucked…]

Flame Nebula as captured by the Seestar S50 (with built in DB filter)

Flame nebula as captured by the Vespera 1. (optional $400 DB filter NOT installed) Larger Mosasic area, including the horsehead nebula
NGC2024 (630 exp, 9.0°, 73% rh)

It didn’t really matter, as the S50 is the clear winner on any target that needs a DB filter (unless you actually HAVE the $400 Vespera DB filter….)

Rosette Nebula as captured by the Seestar S50 (Mosaic Mode, built in DB filter)

Rosette Nebula as captured by the Vespera 1 (Mosaic Mode, $400 optional filter NOT installed)
NGC2237_44 (1051 exp, 10.6°, 72% rh)

Both telescopes don’t have enough aperture and / or focal length / magnification to do great on NGC 2419 (Intergalactic Wandere, 4.6 arcmin in size), but in my opinion the Vespera gave a slightly cleaner image.