Seestar (ZWO) · Current model · launched Aug 2026
Seestar S50 Pro review: specs, price and verdict
The S50's 50 mm aperture with a 4K sensor, a 63° wide-angle camera and a 9-hour battery.
- 50 mmaperture
- 2.45° × 1.38°field of view
- 2.30″per pixel
- 2.8 kgweight
- 9 hbattery
Our verdict
The most complete smart telescope under $1,000: aperture, field of view, battery and a second camera in one box.
Best for: The best all-round Seestar if your budget reaches $1,000.
Pros
- 50 mm aperture with a 4K (8.3 MP) sensor
- Wider 2.45° × 1.38° field frames the whole Orion Nebula with room to spare
- 63° wide-angle camera for Milky Way and star trails
- 10,000 mAh battery rated 9 hours
- 128 GB storage
Cons
- $999 list is double the old S50
- 2.8 kg, heavier than the S30 Pro
- Still too short in focal length for planetary detail
- EQ mode works best with the extra TH10 head
What fits in the field of view
The S50 Pro telephoto camera frames 2.45° × 1.38° of sky. Below, its frame (gold) is drawn to scale over three popular targets.
| Object | With the S50 Pro |
|---|---|
| Full Moon | Fits (21% of the frame width) |
| Andromeda Galaxy (M31) | Needs a mosaic (about 2 frames) |
| Orion Nebula (M42) | Fits (45% of the frame width) |
| Pleiades (M45) | Needs a mosaic (about 2 frames) |
| North America Nebula | Needs a mosaic (about 2 frames) |
| Whirlpool Galaxy (M51) | Fits, but small: about 282 px across |
| Ring Nebula (M57) | Fits, but small: about 36 px across |
| Jupiter | Fits, but small: about 20 px across |
Object sizes are approximate apparent sizes. Pixel counts use an image scale of 2.30″ per pixel. Try any combination in the field of view comparator.
Full specifications
| Aperture | 50 mm |
|---|---|
| Focal length | 260 mm (f/5.2) |
| Optics | 4-element apochromatic refractor (ED glass) |
| Sensor | 1/1.2-inch, 2.9 µm pixels (telephoto) · 8.3 MP |
| Field of view (telephoto) | 2.45° × 1.38° |
| Image scale | 2.30″ per pixel |
| Wide-angle camera | 63° wide-angle camera (8.3 MP) |
| Weight | 2.8 kg |
| Battery | 9 h · 10,000 mAh |
| Storage | 128 GB |
| EQ mode | Yes (TH10 head recommended; 60 s subs only in EQ mode) |
| Filters | UV/IR-cut on both cameras; duo-band (OIII 30 nm / Hα 20 nm) and dark filter on telephoto; solar filter included |
| Dew control | Not listed in the official specs |
| Tripod included | Yes |
| Eyepiece | No |
| Collimation needed | No |
Official: 2.8° (portrait, diagonal) telephoto, 63° wide-angle.
How it compares
Exposure length in alt-az mode
Alt-az tracking rotates the field slowly. With this field and image scale, the frame corner smears by one pixel after about 6 seconds (target due south at 45° altitude, observer at 40° latitude). That is why smart telescopes stack many short exposures; EQ mode removes the limit: Yes (TH10 head recommended; 60 s subs only in EQ mode). See EQ mode and wedges explained.
Comparisons
Other Seestar (ZWO) models
Frequently asked questions
How much does the Seestar S50 Pro cost?
$999 list on seestar.com (in stock). Launch offer of $899 ended 15 Sep 2026.
Can the Seestar S50 Pro photograph the Andromeda Galaxy in one frame?
Needs a mosaic (about 2 frames). Its telephoto field is 2.45° × 1.38° and Andromeda spans about 3.2° × 1°.
Does the Seestar S50 Pro have EQ mode?
Yes (TH10 head recommended; 60 s subs only in EQ mode).
Does the full Moon fit in the Seestar S50 Pro's field of view?
Yes. The Moon is about 0.52° across and the field is 2.45° × 1.38°.
Sources
Specs and prices checked on 11 Nov 2026.