Seestar S30 vs S50
Both use 2.1 MP Sony sensors with 2.9 µm pixels. The difference is the lens: 30 mm/150 mm against 50 mm/250 mm.
Short answer
For galaxies, the S50. For big nebulae and travel, the S30. With both out of stock, compare the S30 Pro ($699) and S50 Pro ($999) instead.
Key differences
- Same pixel size, longer focal length: the S50's image scale is 2.39″/px vs 3.99″/px, so objects appear 1.67× larger.
- The S50 gathers 2.8× more light; the S30 covers 2.7× more sky (2.13° × 1.20° vs 1.29° × 0.73°).
- The S30 adds a 23.2° wide-angle camera and weighs 1.65 kg against 2.5 kg.
- Both are listed at seestar.com ($399 and $499) but out of stock when checked on 11 Nov 2026.
Specs side by side
| S30 | S50 | |
|---|---|---|
| List price | $399 | $499 |
| Aperture | 30 mm | 50 mm |
| Focal length | 150 mm | 250 mm |
| Focal ratio | f/5 | f/5 |
| Sensor | Sony IMX662 | Sony IMX462 |
| Resolution | 2.1 MP | 2.1 MP |
| Field of view | 2.13° × 1.20° | 1.29° × 0.73° |
| Image scale | 3.99″/px | 2.39″/px |
| Wide-angle camera | 23.2° wide-angle camera (1080p) | No |
| Weight | 1.65 kg | 2.5 kg |
| Battery | 6 h | 6 h |
| Storage | 64 GB | 64 GB |
| EQ mode | Yes | Yes (TC20 tripod recommended) |
| Filters | Built-in light-pollution filter; magnetic solar filter included | UV/IR-cut, duo-band (OIII 30 nm / Hα 20 nm), dark filter; magnetic solar filter included |
| Tripod included | Yes | Yes |
| Eyepiece | No | No |
Highlighted cells are better on that line (price, focal ratio, image scale and weight: lower is better). Field of view is compared by area; whether wider is better depends on your targets.
Field of view to scale
Gold solid frame: S30. Teal dashed frame: S50.
S30 · S50
| Object | S30 | S50 |
|---|---|---|
| Full Moon | Fits (24% of the frame width) | Fits (40% of the frame width) |
| Andromeda Galaxy (M31) | Needs a mosaic (about 2 frames) | Needs a mosaic (about 3×2 frames) |
| Orion Nebula (M42) | Fits (52% of the frame width) | Needs a mosaic (about 2×2 frames) |
| Pleiades (M45) | Needs a mosaic (about 2 frames) | Needs a mosaic (about 2×3 frames) |
| North America Nebula | Needs a mosaic (about 2×2 frames) | Needs a mosaic (about 2×3 frames) |
| Whirlpool Galaxy (M51) | Fits (8% of the frame width) | Fits (14% of the frame width) |
| Ring Nebula (M57) | Fits, but small: about 21 px across | Fits, but small: about 35 px across |
| Jupiter | Fits, but small: about 11 px across | Fits, but small: about 19 px across |
Numbers in charts
Full reviews
Frequently asked questions
Which is better, the Seestar S30 or the Seestar S50?
For galaxies, the S50. For big nebulae and travel, the S30. With both out of stock, compare the S30 Pro ($699) and S50 Pro ($999) instead.
Which has the wider field of view?
Seestar S30: 2.13° × 1.20°. Seestar S50: 1.29° × 0.73°.
Which gathers more light?
Seestar S50 (50 mm vs 30 mm aperture, 2.8× the collecting area).
More comparisons
Sources
- www.seestar.com/products/seestar-s30-all-in-one-smart-telescope
- www.seestar.com/products/seestar-s50
- www.skyatnightmagazine.com/reviews/zwo-seestar-s30
Specs and prices checked on 11 Nov 2026.