Seestar S50 - There are better beginner options 

I have been an avid visual and EAA observer for 18 years now. My eyesight has deteriorated to the point where I can no longer detect subtle details in an eyepiece and a finding stars for a 2 or 3 star alignment at my Bortle 6 home is very difficult. I am no longer able to haul heavy gear around. I am also finding sitting out in the cold freezing body parts off while capturing images more trouble than it’s worth. With post processing, I am able to get very good images of a wide variety of objects with the scope on my deck and me in my warm living room. I am a member of an excellent demographic for Seestar sales. And I am grateful that I still get to enjoy the hobby.

I'm a very experienced astrophotographer and I own a S50 and it is not a perfect device, but I am getting decent data in Alt-Az mode and very good data in equatorial mode. It's an amazing outreach tool and offers people access to astronomy who would not otherwise have an entry point.

An interesting and balanced review mate. So I’m absolutely the target market for the Seestar; brought it for my son and have ended up using it as often as the UK weather has allowed in the last 3 months! Too soon to say if I’ll be bored with it and I’m already yearning for better imaging quality BUT I would never have stepped into the field with a full rig - I have neither the finances or technical know-how. This unit has given me a cost-effective jumping in point - very easy to set up and use and it’s afforded me a chance to learn more about the night sky and where I might head next if I can save the funds. As far as viable targets, I’d disagree that you are limited to only the brightest DSO. I’ve captured the Jellyfish nebula, the Wizard nebula, M51, Bodes galaxy and the Leo triplet this month. With 10 sec. Subs and no EQ mount I’ve had to capture data an hour at a time over multiple nights to arrive at a decent SNR but even this has been no bad thing - it’s taught me how to stack in Pixinsight, it’s forced me to up my post-processing game and it’s an interesting challenge to see just what I can get out of the system, despite its obvious limitations. For me, so far, it’s been excellent value for money. While an eye-piece based scope with a go to mount has its attractions, I wouldn’t be able to watch the Bubble nebula gradually emerge on my screen as I sit in my back garden watching that same spot in the sky -it’s been a magical journey so far.

I have been interested in astronomy for nearly 60 years since I got my first Gilbert 3" refractor with carboard tube. I eventually after a long time upgraded to a 10" F5.6 Starliner. I fought with the heavy equatorial mount and polar alignment. I was able to take some decent photos in a deep sky of brighter objects with a 135mm and SLR (film). Took a nice mosaic of the Milkyway from my Bortle 2 home in the summer. The issue I always had was finding things, and dealing with the bulkiness and awkwardness of the entire set-up. Collimation, polar alignment, and just setting it up were a royal pain. Turned the 10: into a Dobsonian, and had better luck. However, I always had issues finding things. Now, I am approaching 70, and live in Bortle 8-9 skies. I don't really want to set up a $10K imaging set-up. I have neither the time or patience to do that. I can afford it, but rather spend it on other things. While I appreciate the skill of finding things, my skies make that very difficult. I would have to drive an hour of more just to get to Bortle 6 skies. I have not purchased a SeeStar yet, but am considering it. I already have 2 other telescopes (6" CAT and 5" Newtonian) that I very rarely use - they mostly gather dust because of my lousy skies. At least with the SeeStar, I would be able to find and see something. I would be able to take the FIT files and stack them in SIRIL or similar, and process in Photoshop. I can still try the smaller telescopes for visual - but being able to set it up and image in minutes is better than not using the scope at all. Will it be the equivalient of Ed Ting's images - absolutely not. It would not be anywhere close - buit for my purposes, it would be "good enough".

I’m starting to notice a trend with these negative Seestar reviews. They are mostly made by people that don’t own one, or have not used one for any reasonable amount of time.

I agree with your video. There are certainly better and more prudent options for beginners. Other options will educate new astronomers in a more complete and well-rounded way. However, there are other considerations regarding this topic, in my opinion. For most newbies/potential astronomers in 2024 it is a matter of economy. With the Seestar S50, for only $499 you have everything you need for decent EAA and interesting astrophotos. Going the traditional route will easily cost $3000 to $5000 to get started (for astrophotography), depending on the type of target you wish to image with good results. For someone just getting into the hobby, the S50 will get them instant results--keeping them interested and hungry for more. It is certainly a different approach to starting in this hobby--especially for an old veteran like me. I do believe this is the future of our hobby, however. My point here is that someone new to the hobby will be drawn to the new technology and conveniences over "This is the way" almost every time. I have 4 fully equipped traditional telescope rigs: an 8-inch SCT, 8-inch Dob, 103mm refractor, 125mm MAK, and now I also own an S50. I haven't had the other rigs out at all since January. The S50 has been out at least 20 times this year...and counting. Even for someone who has capable and proper equipment with decades of experience, the S50 has value in my continuing journey. If anything, it has become my goto choice for EAA. The S50 is a good tool for beginners to "see" what they may want to spend money on to enhance their journey forward. So...if buying an S50 now, it is still a legit and very convenient EAA device to enhance the use of whatever equipment one decides to buy next. I don't see it as a wasted investment. As far as boredom, I feel that the gap in expectation and reality with visual astronomy kills interest in the hobby far more readily than a mediocre image that is still much better than what can be seen through a traditional eyepiece. I see this phenomenon play out often in outreach programs with my local astronomy club. The EAA setups have people huddled around...the 14-inch Dob with its necessary step ladder doesn't have much use after the initial look.

As we speak, the Seestar is making a newer model of the s50. They are constantly improving and pushing updates to the current firmware as well. It’s an absolutely incredible scope for beginners and professionals who want minimal set up and just a grab and go.

Where I think you're wrong is how you view the people who would buy something like the SeeStar. I'm not a "beginner". That implies I'm starting a new hobby and going to advance in the field. I don't have a desire to develop more skills. I don't want a "challenge". I'm 64 and live in a light-polluted city. I have to travel for 30 minutes to get to less light-polluted areas. I also have arthritis in my neck and can't even look up to see things directly overhead (I have to sit and lean back). Craning my neck to look into an eyepiece is difficult. I don't know how to set up an equatorial mount and I have too many different interests to invest time and money in acquiring and mastering equipment. What I am though, is an "enthusiast". An "astronomy fan". I'm someone who likes to look at the sky and see what's up there. When I heard that I could buy for just $500 a single device that I can just set out and sit back and gaze at the cosmos, I was all in. I've had it since September, and I love it as much now as I did then. These devices let people who are just interested take part in something that before was too daunting.

Thanks for the great review. I've had my Seestar for 3 months now. I am a total greenpea in astronomy and the Seestar has made my introduction a 'piece of cake'. It's quick and easy to setup and link to my Ipad. My friends and family are 'blown away' by the pictures I produce. I really like how it goes to the target I select and takes multiple exposures which it stacks and enhances into a beautiful image all the while as I lay in bed or sit in my car. I've taken pictures of galaxy's 430 million light years away! Amazing tech device for $499 US. The Seestar walks me through a class in astronomy every time I use it. Eventually I will probably add a larger telescope setup for even better images.

Interesting video Ollie, and good to get a counter balancing view on the Seestar. I reckon, like you, that the Seestar is great for when you are travelling and for outreach use. Equally, one would have been handy for me this winter where there have only been short breaks in the cloud, making it not worth setting up a full rig. I can see the huge attraction for a beginner in that you get gratifying results from the off. Your countering point that this might quickly lead to getting bored is a good one. I am not sure, but I think that it is possible to take the individual images and do your own stacking and processing. If this is the case then I can see the benefit of learning this side of things whilst still having the safety net of an autoprocessed image out of the Seestar if things don't go to plan. I think that once people have got to grips with their own processing etc, they will start to hanker for better images and look at a full rig like you say. What I don't know is how many people start trying astrophotography and end up giving up through the sheer complexity and expense of the hobby. My view is that the Seestar is a good tool to get people interested in astrophotography and give them results that will amaze their family and friends. Some of these people will decide that they want better images, and try and do their own processing etc. Once they have got to grips with this, a number will decide that they want even better images, and then need to invest in a more complex setup. If some of these people have a Seestar that they no longer want and would like to send it to me, I'll happily take it for use on holiday and in short weather windows 😂. Thanks for making such an interesting video Ollie 👍

I really like my SeeStar S50. I'm a beginner at this hobby, but I'm very time poor and likely won't invest much time into this in the near future. With that constraint in mind, on a clear night I can pop the SeeStar outside, tell it to go to work and check up on it whilst I'm watching TV or doing something else. I get to do astronomy on a night I would otherwise miss as I don't need to babysit the process. For me, the results far exceed the effort I put in. On nights where I do have time, I will bring out my Celestron Starsense telescope and enjoy that eye piece experience you talked about, but I still bring out the Seestar to supplement the viewing.

It amazes me that you Ollie, and other negative reviewers like Ed Ting, feel they can comment on the suitability of a piece of equipment without ever having used it. I do AP, visual and EAA using the Seestar, and I think the Seestar is the best $500 I have spent on this hobby so far. It will be great for public outreach, when I can actually show them the difference between what they see through my eyepiece and why it's a gray blob, vs the colourful DSO that they see on my iPad as the images are stacked. It's also wonderful for those cold winter nights when I don't want to spend 30 minutes setting up my AP rig, balance it, do polar alignment and then take lights, darks, flats and biases. If I know I only have an hour before the clouds role in, my AP rig or Evo isn't coming out, so I just plop down the Seestar, turn it on, connect and do 20 minutes on a DSO. I feel awe and amazement when I look through an eyepiece on my Celestron C9.25 at a distant galaxy, accomplishment when I teak out a few more details in post processing from my AP rig, but I giggle in happiness when I start to see the image of a DSO that I may never have seen before, come up on my iPad screen from my Seestar. I think there is a role for the Seestar. Don't knock it until you try it Ollie.

i was just about to buy a seestar but going to spend my money elsewhere after watching this, i think you right, thank you

For the money, there is nothing that comes close. I don't know if I would get into astronomy with something that I can't look through, though.

As a newbie to astrophotography this is a great piece of equipment for the price $550. I just have to learn how to process the images a little better. I wasn't about to spent $900 on some equipment I wasn't going to be too sure about .It's so easy to use and lightweight you can carry it anywhere in the case it comes in . If people don't want to do astrophotography this isn't for them ,get an eyepiece telescope . I recommend a tablet for the seestar

I totally agree with your point of view Ollie. Clear Skies!

1000% agreed with everything you have said mate, to me 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.

You're absolutely right about Seestar (and other EAA rigs) being a less than optimal choice for a beginning astrophotography rig. Your points about the lack of an upgrade path and potentially low resale value once one becomes bored with it are dead on. I do, however, own a Dwarf II for outreach. So, you're also right there is a place for EAA rigs in the astrophotography world. It's a question of the right tool for the job at hand.

for me i would yes as a good way to get into astronomy this day and age but mainly i am old school and looking at it in a different way as you know they will out grow the system and go down the rabbit hole the best way as you know 😁👍

Disagree. I am a newbie and own the seestar. I refer to you and people like you as members of the old guard. Those little telescopes you are recommending will end up in the back of the closet as well if the user is dissatisfied. The challenge is understanding what the S50 is doing for you and respecting that power. You remind me of all those people that refused to use the automobile. Will I eventually upgrade to stand-alone components? Maybe. But, I just spent $500 and am enjoying the hell out of it. Move up into the 21st century. You use a high powered computer for post processing and probably guiding and focusing. The word hypocrite comes to mind. Sorry.

I think the real question here Ollie is not if the S50 is any good, it's whether that SIGMA DA-SG7 is any good, it certainly looks nice, whats the action like to play and how does it sound naturally (un-miked) tone-wise.

Interesting points Ollie I watched Ed's video a while back so I guess haters are going to hate, as for smart telescopes in general whether it's the dwarf lab or the more expensive Vaonis Vespera they are all restricted by the Alt Az mount. I wouldn't call them a toy but for a serious imaging set up then definitely not but you can get an image with them I guess. I still maintain for outreach they are a great bit of kit to use & if I ever went back to doing it again I would seriously think about buying one to use at events.

100% agree Ollie

I have some decent gear, but living in the uk means full clear nights are few and far between... I got my Seestar for two reason's..... A quick setup when there's an hour or so gap in the weather, and for air travel... Saying all that, I agree with most you've said... I really think some of the popular RU-vidrs who sing its praises would never use it after the review.

What would be a better option ?

Hey Ollie, these 'smart' telescopes are aimed at a certain market, people looking at getting into the hobby (kids etc). We all know they aren't a replacement for the likes of the greatly acclaimed wonderful Esprit 120 - didn't you have an Esprit 120 once ;-) My opinion, Seestar/Dwarf scopes are a stepping stone into the wonderfully expensive World of astro that the likes of ZWO are going to capitalize on in 12 months time when the 'bug' has taken hold and they upgrade to a better scope/camera etc.

I have no car, use a powered wheelchair because I can’t walk far and i tend to fall from violent rictor scale 10 vertigo!!! Given those circumstances a dwarf or Seestar is my only choice. Trying to haul around a dob or Celestron 8 se is a recipe for disaster. One good fall and its over-one dead/destroyed scope! It would be wiser to keep my limitations in mind and get one of the smaller scopes. Can’t get pictures or enjoyment out of a destroyed heavy scope! 😢a lighter scope in a hard shell case is much more likely to survive a fall.

With all due respect, do you own a Seestar? I don’t see you using it in this video or it seems that you haven’t tried it at all.

I stopped the video at the point where you said you don't own one.

The review is slightly biased towards the 'your real eyeball geeks vs on screen peeps'. If you have watched some of Ed ting vids then you know what his love is (real eyes real glass). And indeed mostly I agree. The thing is that I actually have purchased a seestar, only 2 months old and it is my 1st 'telescope'. And... WOW.... $900au very well spent is the least I can say. The images aren't as good as the dedicated astrophog rigs, but for the price, convenience, ease of use and the very reasonable quality images produced - simply a no brainer! For 1st time beginners I would very highly recommend. BTW... the images taken from the big $$$ astronomy rigs and those from the seestar, ummmm - you are still viewing those on some kind of electronic device or screen, just saying. 5:06

I have a Nexstar 8se as well as SeeStar and enjoy both of them. For $499 in the US, this SeeStar was a steal. It was worth the price just to take to the recent total solar eclipse. Not everyone knows how to use post processing software. You and Ting are such downers.

I am sorry mate! You really need to get yourself a Seestar S50 before commenting! I have spent fortunes on telescopes and there is no comparison for the price point and easy of use. It seriously does way better job than a $5000 gig with a few clicks on buttons in the app. It does all the image stacking for you. I just wanted to add that what used to take weeks to do and carrying lots of very expensive equipment on trips to get an image that is half as good as one from the Seestar that took only minutes to setup and a backpack to carry. There is just no way your comment would make any sense. I definitely cannot carry my $15000 Meade to remote locations.

Hi Ollie I'm with you and Ed the see star is not for me I've been interested in astronomy since the age of 10 some 50 years now way before the goto mount and digital cameras, part of the interest for me comes from the challenge of learning your way around the night sky and finding objects in a telescope or binoculars , please don't get me wrong I love technology and I'm hoping to have a astrophotograph rig up and running in the next couple of years but the new wave of smart telescopes just don't interest me , I think it's a bit like when the first phone camera came out and the photographic world was all talking about them ok the quality of the phone camera has improved beyond belief but how many photographers would swop thier DSLR or mirrorless camera for a phone today

You ask who doesn't want the challenge. Count me in. Why? To me astrophotography generally is not particularly interesting. All the photos are really the same. I get sick of 500 photos of M42 hitting my feed. Just download a Hubble photo. But doing citizen science, outreach, etc. is where I could see actually picking one of these up. As I mentioned in a comment to Ting's video, I can see things breaking out a bit like the Apple/Android division in smart phones. Those of you that want to tinker will go one way; those of us that just want something that does the job with little fuss will go another. There isn't a right answer, but understanding those two very different markets is important. Being on the forums, I constantly see folks struggling to get cell phone images and/or dslr images off their dob. Most of them would have been better off just getting a Seestar. They are more interested in chasing clicks on social media than they are staring at dim fuzzies or trying to get an image they can print at 40x30 inches to hang on the wall.

You have no business reviewing a product you do not have or have ever used!