Meet the Seestar S30: Tiny and Mighty!
ZWO has done it again! As fans of the Seestar S50, we’re excited to see the new “little brother” of the S50: the Seestar S30 All-in-One Smart Telescope! This newest addition to the Seestar family makes interacting with the night sky more accessible than ever before. By utilizing an improved imaging sensor, high-quality optics, GoTo functionality, and powerful internal technology within a highly affordable, miniature build, you have the power to traverse the night sky at your fingertips. Not only can you get up close and personal with deep space, you can also capture wide, sweeping images with the secondary wide angle lens. This makes the S30 the ultimate tool to capture meteor showers, landscapes, skylines, and more! With the Seestar S30, you’re well equipped for fun, engaging astronomy sessions night after night!
Let’s Compare the SeeStar S30 and S50
With the roaring success of the Seestar S50, we’re excited to see the Seestar S30 building upon the best features of the original model while also introducing enhanced capabilities and innovations. Just like the S50, the S30 includes ED glass to provide sharp, crisp images, though the S30 captures more of the night sky with its shorter 150 mm focal length. With a focal length of this size, you can capture larger nebulae in a single frame and even frame up the entirety of the Andromeda Galaxy! This also means longer exposures without star trails are readily available, and in turn, offering less noise and more detail within your images. Taking this wider field of view a step further, the S30 comes equipped with an additional wide angle lens and camera sensor ideal for landscape or daytime photography. This dual-lens design provides great versatility, and the same internal battery as the Seestar S50 delivers 6 uninterrupted hours of runtime, making the Seestar S30 optimal for any photography adventure!
| Seestar S30 | Seestar S50 | |
| Price | $349.00 | $499.00 |
| Main Lens | 30 mm f/5, 150 mm focal length apochromatic triplet | 50 mm f/5, 250 mm focal length apochromatic triplet |
| Main Lens Focus Range | 6 m to Infinity | 30 m to Infinity |
| Main Camera | IMX662 - 1920x1080 (2.1 MP), 1/2.8” sensor, 2.9 micron pixels, 12 bit ADC, 0.8e read noise, 38.2 Ke full-well, 91% QE | IMX462 - 1920x1080 (2.1 MP), 1/2.8” sensor, 2.9 micron pixels, 12 bit ADC, 0.5-2.6e read noise, 11.2 Ke full-well, 80% QE |
| Secondary Lens | Yes, FOV of 23.2 ° | None |
| Secondary Camera | Color Sensor, Resolution 1920x1080 | None |
| Dimensions | 8.3” x 5.5” x 3.1” | 10.1” x 5.6” x 5.1” |
| Weight (Fully Assembled) | 3.64 lb. | 6.6 lb. |
| Tripod | Fixed leg length ultra-compact tripod | Adjustable leg length compact tripod |
| AI Enhancement | Yes | None |
| Daytime Object Tracking | Yes | No |
One key change we’re super excited about is the inclusion of the Sony Starvis IMX662 sensor—offering 3.5x the well depth of the Sony IMX462 used within the Seestar S50. This alone provides better color representation, and when paired with the lower read noise and longer exposure opportunities, you can expect cleaner images with rich, stunning detail. Just like the Seestar S50, the S30 also allows you to quickly toggle between the built-in dual-narrowband filter, UV/IR cut filter, or the dark filter with just a tap of a button. If you wish to image the Sun, easily do so with the included solar filter. The solar filter included with the S30 is a snap-on magnetic design to make installation much quicker and easier when compared to the “pressure-fit” style solar filter for the S50.
Another hardware change is the included tripod. This smaller tripod is perfect for supporting the smaller frame of the S30 and comes with 3/8ths threads. While this tripod appears to be non-adjustable, the 3/8th thread compatibility provides a plethora of options for user-supplied tripods.
Like the Seestar S50, the S30 includes dedicated imaging modes for capturing stunning images of the Moon, Sun, deep space, and landscapes. As you’re imaging, rest assured you’ll have ample storage with the 64Gb built into this tiny telescope. Additionally, unlike the S50 which only comes with WiFi connectivity, the S30 comes equipped with built-in Bluetooth for an alternative option.
What really excites us is the newly introduced AI post-processing feature within the Seestar app. With this powerful tool, your images will come to life through reduced noise, sharpened structure, and enhanced detail! Based on these impressive upgrades, we’re ecstatic about this powerful, highly affordable, and versatile Seestar S30 that is sure to elevate your nights under the stars.
Who Is the SeeStar S30 For?
If you answered "yes" to any of the questions above, then Seestar S30 is perfect for you! At just $349.00, this highly affordable smart telescope is well within reach of anyone eager to explore the night sky. Not only does the S30 have an attractive price tag, but its small, lightweight frame means it can be set up virtually anywhere. Simply set it on a level surface, and you’re ready to discover the cosmos. Even if you live in a city, you can still engage with the night sky thanks to the built-in narrowband filter, and its portable design makes it a breeze to travel with to dark skies. Also, the intuitive app interface is effortless to navigate, which is crucial for those who are just getting started in the hobby. Though easy to use for beginners, this smart telescope still packs a punch that even experienced astroimagers can appreciate. Its triplet optical design and powerful sensor provide stunning astroimages, and the included tools within the Seestar app help enhance your images even more! If you’re enthusiastic about space but would still like a powerful device to take beautiful landscape images, the Seestar S30 is more than capable with its dual-lens system. No matter where you live, your experience level, or what you choose to image, the Seestar S30 is the perfect companion for your imaging adventures.
The Seestar S30 presents itself as an enticing addition to the Seestar series of smart telescopes from ZWO. From portability and enhanced technology to affordability, this formidable smart telescope can offer you the chance to image and explore the night sky with ease. With new smart telescope innovations entering the astronomy industry, we, here at High Point Scientific, are eager to see how the small but mighty S30 fits into our and our customers’ astronomy goals!
The first batch of Seestar S30 smart telescopes is limited, so be sure to lock your place in line for the fastest delivery!
Click the arrow above to see MLA, APA, and Chicago Manual of Style citations.
MLA:
High Point Scientific Team. "Seestar S30 Smart Telescope Review," AstronomyHub, High Point Scientific, 1 Nov. 2023, https://www.highpointscientific.com/astronomy-hub/post/astro-photography-guides/zwo-seestar-s30-review.
APA:
High Point Scientific Team. (2024). Seestar s30 smart telescope review. High Point Scientific. https://www.highpointscientific.com/astronomy-hub/post/astro-photography-guides/zwo-seestar-s30-review
Chicago Manual of Style:
Bibliography:
High Point Scientific Team. "Seestar S30 Smart Telescope Review," AstronomyHub (blog), High Point Scientific, November 1, 2024. https://www.highpointscientific.com/astronomy-hub/post/astro-photography-guides/zwo-seestar-s30-review.
Footnote:
High Point Scientific Team, "Seestar S30 Smart Telescope Review," AstronomyHub, High Point Scientific, November 1, 2024. https://www.highpointscientific.com/astronomy-hub/post/astro-photography-guides/zwo-seestar-s30-review.
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