I like this scope. Even the most experience astrophotographer should have one. Why? Because it is one of the best ways to share the experience of the hobby. Take this guy to parties cause it will get interest.
Just got an S50 and it’s a fantastic little system. I often set it up along with my big rig and just use it for EAA. My reason for getting it was travel and camping but I use it more than I thought I would at home. It’s an easy recommend and ZWO continues to impress on all fronts. I live near airfield and if I start pointing lasers, I’d quickly get a visit from serious people haha. I think its sweet spot is EAA and trying to turn it into something more is counter to its simple nature. Very happy with it.
The local club sets up near the Duke University Golf course spring thru fall for public viewing. I can see this being something that would really stand out with the viewers. Also, looking at one for an intro to astrophotography. Also nice to see you making content.
I have an iPhone 7 and have had no problems connecting to it. This thing is fun, and it is extremely easy to use. Huge bang for the buck. I use this while I do visual observing. The only problem I have had using this is the clouds...............
I really enjoy mine for cruising around when my main rig is running, my only complaint is for a "triplet" I think it's a bit soft, I only say that because I think it can be better. It also does quite well on faint galaxies and I believe that's because the sensor used is quite sensitive in IR, granted there isn't much resolution but cool to see. I wouldn't be surprised if there is a pro version in the works that will do EQ.
@@TheNarrowbandChannel I recently saw a Facebook post about commands that the seestar sends to the app includes polar alignment commands so quite interesting.
Most problems solved with the updated firmware , fixed the iPhone connection problem caused if you left cellular on ,now does 3 star alignment though they don’t call it that in ZWO fashion so partial equatorial possible if on wedge , getting better and better
I'm a newbie and have a S50 (she is my first) now for a couple of months. For me it's perfect. So far. Looking for your thoughts on using add on filters. The internal filters are probably ZWO's cheapest. Would I see any improvement with nebulae if I used a (example) Askar C1 or D1? Or any others. If yes, recommendations. Thank you.
Same problem with mine you mentioned. I have a Alcatel Android phone and it won't connect. From advice from many I go to WLAN settings and select Seestar Wifi. But all that shows up is My neighbors wifi and mine. Probably get an affordable Android tablet.
I cant understand how i got an incredible image of M42 in 6 minutes, yet 3 days later in the same outdoor conditions (no moonlight as well) repeated the same object and time scale, it barely is visible.
Excellent explanation and thoughts, thank you. I love your wedge wish list, some people are adding them but the tripod that comes with this is too unstable and could tip.
It was worse when we had jobs 😅 impossible to get the iPads to communicate with the computers in tech class 😬 we were 2 guys using Asus tabs with zero challenges 😊 @@TheNarrowbandChannel
Four iPads and three different iPhones absolutely 0 problems with the SS50. One Android tablet and three issues. Quite hating the fruit for the sake of hating.
Not sure about green lasers. I was outside with my Telescope two weeks ago and in December and it was cold and after some time the green laser was unresponsive due to the cold.
Almost 2 weeks ago, I got my Seestar. I’m loving it (and missing it since I’m out of town). It’s been great to play around with the Seestar, viewing the moon, solar and some deep space targets. Next up is some imaging programs, scenery and dark skies vs the nearly full moon I was dealing with. Hopefully imaging will help with the moon and planets where I haven’t been impressed just yet.
I want to call BS on the green light on the side because It seems so crazy, but when something seems too crazy, it must be true, lol. Thanks for sharing the video. The software for the s50 has come a long way since its initial release. They are constantly making improvements, and as you mentioned, they listen to feedback, which is really turning this little guy into an amazing on-the-go, fun, and learning telescope that anyone can pickup and go, then relax. The learning curve for something like this is underwhelming, and that is a good thing. I really hope this can open the world of astronomy for everyone. Your advancements/ideas for future features were great, especially the equatorial wedge. ZWO take out your notebooks for that. I will always see this device as an intro into Astronomy/Astrophotography especially if you want to learn about the whole process and try and do it yourself, but this device is more than that because of its size and convenience it offers. I believe within a decade, we will probably have telescopes like this but larger overall and maybe use a Casagrain or Newtonian-like setup. Which will be kinda sad. If you read my comment can you tell me about your Newtonian telescope next to you, lol. Probably on your channel... was just outside using my S50 and ran into some issues stacking 20s exposures. I was looking around on RU-vid and came across your video. I'll shut up; clear skies; goodnight.
Pretty cool that we have you to thank for the red lights Ben, and it made me smile hearing that the Seestars cuteness won over your family. I enjoyed listening, clear skies!
The seestar is an excellent beginners setup due to its simplicity, You will learn a lot about the stars and planets and how to set up and it's a great intro into Astrophotography. HOWEVER don't expect awesome images, yes they will look great on instagram but you are very limited with what you can do with it. 1: it is not an eq mounted device which means horrible field rotation as you use it during the night 2: the image quality is Meh compared to what you can do with a better scope, a cooled camera and an equatorial mount (obviously they do cost money) 3: If one thing breaks on it then you dead in the water. It is more or less a paperweight whereas with a dedicated Astro setup you can chop and change, the sky is the limit. 4: resale value will plummet as soon as the next incarnation comes in. Whereas you don't lose as much in resale for dedicated equipment Don't let what I said put you off however as I still think it's great for beginners and such a great learning tool for outreach, schools and for those days when a more seasoned astrophotographer just can't be bothered setting up or is traveling.
If ZWO had brought this out five years ago I would have bought one and saved myself a lot of money, but they didn't so my grab and go set up is based around a Red Cat51 Star Adventurer GTI mount controlled by an ASIAir Mini, cameras, filters etc being optional. Here in the UK that set up with a 533 OSC Camera and L-Enhance Filter plus an EAF drive and guide scope will set you back around £2,350. The See Star is around £500 so I can thoroughly understand why the See Star is so popular. I have seen loads of reviews of the See Star, but I have not seen any that do a comparison between it and a scope of the same aperture and focal length. I notice that some enhancements are already available for the See Star and I have seen one or two videos where people have got it to work equatorially. I can see this scope evolving into a standard beginners scope that is also popular with more experienced imagers. I'm sure ZWO will be looking to enhance this design over the coming years.
Good see you Ben. I've had the SeeStar a few months now and really enjoying it. I have problems carting rigs about but this little guy makes it so easy. It also makes you spend a little more time learning Pixinsight which can really make the images pop. A second version with planetary capability is an exciting prospect. Take care my friend and clear skies
I just ordered one from High Point after watching this today. I was so happy to see your recent videos as I kept checking every week or so to see if you were recovered enough to do some vlogs since that excellent one with Rob four months ago and I was rewarded in finding your recent impressions of OM-1 Mark II and the Seestar, which I've been following for awhile. I'm heading to Arizona to see the folks, both 88 and dealing with terminal cancer issues, hospice, etc,., and as they love seeing my landscapes and star scapes and DSOs, I will have it delivered to their place and I can travel to see them without having to pack much astro gear. Yay! Hopefully the rainy weather moves on so I can figure out how to use it while I'm there and bring it home to my dark Kansas skies to entertain family and friends and the grandkids and great-nieces/nephews with some astrophotography. Maybe some will take an interest for themselves!
Nice video, ZWO is really listening to customers, their is already a mode that you can use with a wedge, so it's going to be a EQ mount, also I see sellers designed a bracket that sit on top of the Seestar that allows you to put a laser or a red dot pointer on it (only seen it on Chinese web store, so somebody have to design one similar for the other part of the world),so yeh ZWO completely win the smart telescope race,at least for that price.
Good initial comments on it 👍 The issue with building in the laser is that it’s illegal in some countries (Australia iirc to name one) so you would then need to produce two SKU and that adds to costs on something that they probably have low margins anyway
I wish it would have a project planning imaging session mode. An hour for each target based on the best location in the sky, you would set it to run throught the night while you sleep, also with multinight stacking function, that would start and finish capturing based on the field rotation...
@@bobmarleystoe Yeah, some of us lazy people have to work during the day and drive kids around, then drive out of the city for dark skies, so just a wish for undisturbed sleep in order to safely drive back to work next day is asking too much, for sure...🙁
When I put it on the roof, I could not connect to it from my living room. When I connected through the station mode and home wifi, no more connection issues. However, if you have three of them (seestar and 2 asiair), and use one phone connecting between them, they may get a bit confused and displaying picture from wrong device. Cloning the asiair app helps though and no more issues.
Right now I have ASIAIR V1 and ASIAIR MINI at my friends remote observatory, so far over one month and no single connectivity issue. Using my old Motorola phone that connects to the telescope setup and dslr that I use to watch my telescope. All in station mode connected to my 4g mobile modem wifi.
@@luboinchina3013 I made a post about it over on FB, and with the help of the community I ended up hooking up a wifi extender directly to the ASIAIR Plus via CAT5 and it works 10x better. My neighborhood is flooded with 2.4GHz wifi signals and the stock unit had awful range and transfer speeds.
No, absolutely not, not the single most revolutionary telescope, not at all, the Dwarf is the only telescope that deserves what you claim Seestar is, I own both love both, Dwarf is far better, more precise and more reliable.
