ZWO Seestar S30 Pro smart telescope review

Skip to main content Space Verdict The ZWO Seestar S30 Pro is a self-contained astrophotography system, compact enough to fit in a camera bag yet capable of producing detailed, 8.3-megapixel images of galaxies and nebulas, it's an accessible and portable entry point into deep-sky imaging. Pros +Small and lightweight +Performs well under light-polluted skies +8.

3MP resolution with FITS export Cons -Limited manual control over imaging -Weak planetary performance -Internal storage fills quickly Why you can trust Space.com Our expert reviewers spend hours testing and comparing products and services so you can choose the best for you. Find out more about how we test and review products.

Jump To: Design Performance Functionality Verdict Verdict Related products Smart telescopes like the Seestar S30 Pro have changed astrophotography and, arguably, urban astronomy. The Seestar S30 Pro takes that concept further than most. Small enough to fit inside a camera backpack, it combines a refractor telescope, motorized mount, dual cameras and image-processing software into a compact unit controlled entirely from a smartphone.

Within minutes of powering on, it can align itself to the night sky, slew to a specified target and begin stacking exposures to reveal galaxies, nebulas and star clusters — even from light-polluted locations. The Pro version of the S30 adds a higher resolution sensor, advanced optics and upgraded software functionality. (Image credit: Jamie Carter)It makes astrophotography — once a complex and expensive hobby — possible with a single, automated device, though what makes the Seestar S30 Pro particularly interesting is not just its simplicity, but how it changes the experience of observing.

Instead of actively operating a telescope, users watch a digital image build in real time. Sure, your eyes don’t see the photons coming from distant galaxies, but that misses the point — urban astronomers can’t see much of those galaxies anyway when using an optical telescope. (Image credit: Jamie Carter)Positioned as an upgrade to the original Seestar S30, it introduces higher-resolution 8.

3MP imaging, equatorial tracking support and expanded imaging modes aimed at more advanced users.Designed for beginners, urban astronomers and astrophotographers of any level who are looking for a portable rig, the Seestar S30 Pro is about convenience, capability and a different way to explore the night sky.ZWO Seestar S30 Pro smart telescope reviewZWO Seestar S30 Pro: Design The Seestar S30 Pro features four lens elements in an optical design called an apochromatic quadruplet refractor.

(Image credit: Jamie Carter)Lightweight design Dual-camera systemFull smartphone controlAt first glance, the Seestar S30 Pro barely resembles a telescope, being closer in size to a telephoto lens than a traditional optical instrument. That portability is one of its defining strengths — this is a telescope you can realistically take anywhere, whether into a backyard, onto a balcony or on a dark-sky trip. You could even take it as hand luggage on a trip to see a total solar eclipse in a distant land.

Image 1 of 2 When packed away the Seestar S30 Pro is very compact and highly portable. (Image credit: Jamie Carter) Weighing just 3.6 lbs (1.

65 kg) it is the lightest apochromatic quadruplet smart telescope. (Image credit: Jamie Carter) Image 1 of 2 View Original Image 2 of 2 View Original The design is deliberately minimal. Aside from a power button and USB-C slot, there are no physical controls.

Everything — from slewing and focusing to image capture and processing — is handled through the Seestar app. Once connected to a phone via its own WiFi network, the system operates entirely offline, connecting directly to your phone without requiring an internet connection in the field. Image 1 of 2 Apart from the power button and USB-C slot on the S30 Pro, there are no physical controls as everything is controlled by the app.

(Image credit: Jamie Carter) The Seestar S30 Pro combines a telescope, camera and automated mount in a single unit. (Image credit: Jamie Carter) Image 1 of 2 View Original Image 2 of 2 View Original SpecificationsOptical design: Quadruplet apochromatic refractor (ED glass)Aperture: 30mm / 1.18 inchesFocal length: 160mm / 6.

3 inchesFocal ratio: f/5.3Sensor: Sony IMX585 (tele) / Sony IMX586 (wide)Resolution: 8.3MP (3,840 x 2,160)Field of view: 4.

6 degrees (tele) / 63 degrees (wide)Mount type: Alt-azimuth (EQ mode supported)Storage: 128GB internalBattery: 6000 mAh (~6 hours)Weight: 3.6 lbs (1.65 kg)Dimensions: 8.

25 x 5.5 x 3.15-in (210 x 140 x 80 mm)A key feature of this new, improved model is its dual-camera system.

The primary telephoto camera is dedicated to deep-sky imaging, using a Sony IMX585 sensor that’s capable of 8.3MP (4K) images, while the secondary wide-angle uses an equally capable Sony IMX586 sensor for sky alignment and wide-field imaging modes. Any tripod can be used with the Seestar S30 Pro.

(Image credit: Jamie Carter)The