Seestar S30 Pro All-in-One Smart Telescope
Capture the Night Sky with this Powerful, Compact Companion!
Check out this video on this exciting new addition to the ZWO smart telescope line, now more advanced than ever before! Diving into its specs, key features, the various imaging modes offered, and plenty more, this full review goes in depth into everything you need to know about your ZWO S30 Pro.
ZWO S30 Pro At a Glance
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The 'tiny, yet mighty' smart telescope takes a mighty step forward, with dual 4K resolution perspectives, quadruplet APO main optic, enhanced AI performance, and more performance! Bring the wonders of deep space and our Milky Way into focus, with renowned ease or new found pro-level features, and create stunning stellar portraits wherever you are!
Stunning picturesque astrophotos are just a few taps away with the ZWO Seestar S30 Pro! In just a 3.64 lb. package about the size of a large encyclopedia is advanced astro intelligence, a powerful set of 4K imaging sensors, premium apochromatic optics, motors, filters, and more. Effortlessly explore our universe, focus in on fantastic nebulae and galaxies, capture the Milky Way, or explore astronomical wonders even closer to home, all with the incredible ZWO Seestar system. In just a few moments, this digital eye into the sky trains on your object of choice and begins revealing details for an easy yet enrapturing experience. An incredibly simple start up sequence, built-in stacking mode, and AI assisted post-processing makes not just exploration of object, but astrophotography incredibly accessible; with added imaging scheduling, RAW files, and EQ mode for those seeking an advanced experience. Whether you're looking for Pro performance or looking for a laid back way to capture our universe, the ZWO Seestar S30 Pro has you covered!
What's New with the S30 Pro?
The ZWO Seestar S30 Pro supercharges their S30 platform for a package that pushes performance while being just as compact, lightweight, and portable! This step forward for the tiny yet mighty platform brings you sharper shots and optics, increased on-board intelligence, an additional mode, and enhanced connectivity and storage. See what's new with this stellar successor below!
| Seestar S30 | Seestar S30 Pro | |
| Main Sensor | IMX662 | 1920x1080 (2.1 MP, Full HD) | 1/2.8" Type | 2.46° FOV |
IMX585 | 3840x2160 (8.29 MP, 4K) | 1/1.2" Type | 4.6° FOV Higher Resolution, Bigger Sensor |
| Main Sensor Performance | 2.9μm Pixels, 12 Bit ADC, 0.8e Read Noise, 38.2 Ke Full-Well, 91% QE |
2.9μm Pixels, 12 Bit ADC, 0.7-6.67e Read Noise, 40 Ke Full-Well,
<91% QE Similarly Great Performance |
| Main Lens | Triplet APO | 30 mm f/5 | 150 mm Focal Length | 6 Meter - ∞ Focus Range |
Quadruplet APO | 30 mm f/5.3 | 160 mm Focal Length | 6 Meter -
∞
Focus Range Advanced Design |
| Secondary Sensor | GC2083 | 1920x1080 (2.1 MP, Full HD, Landscape Orientation) | 23.2° FOV |
IMX586 w/ Auto Focus | 2160x3840 (8.29 MP, 4K, Portrait Orientation) |
63° FOV More Expansive FOV, Powerful Sensor |
| Modes | Star Gazing (Deep Sky) | Solar System (Sun & Moon) | Scenic (Nature, Landscape) |
Star Gazing (Deep Sky) | Starry Sky (Milky Way & Star Trails) | Solar
System (Sun & Moon) | Scenic (Nature, Landscape) More Varied Astrophotography Capabilities |
| AI Enhancement | Yes |
Enhanced (Dynamic Background Extraction, Milky Way Foreground Detection
& Stitching) More Advanced Automated Processing |
| Connectivity | WiFi | Bluetooth |
WiFi | Bluetooth | NFC Simpler Setup |
| On-Board Storage | 64 GB |
128 GB Double the Space, Great for New 8K Mosaics |
AI Image Enhancement
Easily create images that 'pop', widen your perspective, and seamlessly blend elements, with an astronomy AI copilot! This on-board electronic intelligence can effortlessly enhance your final images, intelligently processing your image to bring out detail and dynamic contrast, applying advanced noise reduction algorithms, and equalizing gradients. This makes nebulae shimmer and galaxies glimmer, without hours spent in the editing room! This digital companion can also identify foreground objects to automatically blend the night sky and horizon in Milky Way photos, or track wildlife during the day for relaxed nature photography and observation.
4K Wide Angle Lens
The ZWO S30 series introduced a second perspective to their excellent smart telescope line, and with the Pro ZWO has taken a step back, with a more expansive 63° wide-angle view! This brings you two distinct perspectives for an exciting and varied experience day and night! Image the night sky with the new wide-angle stacking capabilities, rendering the beautiful belt of the Milky Way in sharp 4K detail with the Sony IMX586 sensor, or explore more Earthly gems during the day and hone in on your wide angle finds with the main lens!
Pro Feature Set, Easily Accessible!
The ZWO Seestar S30 Pro brings you easy exploration and effortless imaging, but its smarts are anything but simple! Take a look to see all the power ZWO has packed into this compact scope to make exciting exploration and stunning astro shots accessible!
4K Quad APO Main Optic
For incredibly sharp, vibrant,
dynamic, and excellently corrected images, ZWO has paired premium optics
with a renowned 4K imaging sensor. Fittingly, the S30 Pro brings you the
first Seestar imaging sensor with ties to their powerful Pro camera line:
the Sony IMX585. This sensor has developed a stellar
reputation, with its high 8.29 MP resolution, large 40Ke full well depth,
and excellent <91% QE performance. This has been paired with a 30 mm
f/5.3, 160 mm focal length quadruplet APO optic featuring an ED element for
superb color control, sharp detail, and stunning contrast. This pairing is
made even more powerful, with built-in auto-focus, anti-dew heater, and an
internal filter wheel. With this powerful combination you can create
captivating high-resolution portraits of stellar objects that are sure to
stun!
4K 63° FOV Secondary Lens
The S30 Pro gives you a
more expansive view than before, with a secondary set of optics providing a
wide 63° field of view! This gives you approximately 40° more than
the prior generation, for a more varied optical compliment to the main quad
APO optic. Behind this auto-focus equipped, fast 3.4 mm f/1.75, 6mm focal
length wide-angle lens is a Sony IMX586 sensor, allowing you to capture
sprawling astronomical landscapes in high resolution 4K. With new Live
Stack, Milky Way, and Star Trail modes with RAW image support*, the Seestar
S30 Pro opens you up to a whole new set of astrophotography possibilities!
With these new modes in mind ZWO has rotated the IMX586 vertically, allowing
you to create compelling hybrids of land and starry sky that better
emphasize the wonder above, and create images that are social media sharing
ready!
*Please Note: RAW images are not saved in Star Trail mode.
Advanced Features
While the Seestar S30 Pro's
incredible accessibility is excellent for beginners and those looking for a
more relaxed experience, this smart scope shines for advanced users as well!
The main optic's internal filter wheel comes equipped with not just the
standard UV/IR cut filter, but also a Duo-Band with 20 nm Ha and 30 nm OIII
bandpass, and a dark filter. These allow for calibration, and better
isolation of emission targets to help enhance images. These images can be
offloaded in FITS format as well, giving advanced users the options to
manually process images for additional control over the final product!
Mosaic mode allows for an even wider take through the main optic or the
secondary in deep sky and Milky Way modes, able to stich up to four panels
into an 8K image. You can plan these compelling shots in advance with the
target planning feature, allowing you to set up a night of imaging during
the day and letting Seestar take over when night falls. EQ mode*
allows users to polar align the Seestar S30 Pro to lock in image framing and
push exposure times out to 60 seconds! Finally, for those looking to exert
ultimate control over this smart telescope, ZWO has added ASCOM Alpaca
support to allow PC software suites to wirelessly connect to and control the
Seestar S30 Pro!
*Please Note: Polar alignment requires the use of a pan/tilt tripod,
specialty head like the
ZWO Tripod Head, or wedge. These are sold separately.
On-Board AI for Image Enhancement
Alongside Seestar's
incredibly approachable user interface sits an AI companion to make
incredible astrophotography images even more accessible! It starts with just
a tap: simply touch the AI icon and relax while the Seestar S30 Pro's
applies intelligent processing techniques to your image. In just minutes
your image details will be clearer thanks to the AI de-noising with star
point quality optimization, starker with the new Dynamic Background
Extraction (DBE) smoothing out gradients, and 'punchier' with the advanced
post-processing adjustments. This teases out detail, sets your subject
against a velvety dark backdrop, and increases contrast, without the time
and additional software needed for traditional processing! Control is in
your hands, with the use of AI de-noising and/or DBE in the automated
processing optional. Finally, for a hands-off experience ZWO is integrating
an AI voice assistant, allowing you to simplify operation*!
*Please Note: Voice Assistant is currently in development, and may not be
available at launch.
Fully Featured Smart Telescope
Inside this compact
scope is a plenty of intelligence, bringing you the full smart telescope
experience! Starting your tour across the stars is as simple as setting the
ZWO Seestar S30 Pro on level ground, turning it on, connecting with the
app*, and completing a brief leveling calibration procedure. The typical
star align and start up site/time entry is handled entirely by Seestar and
the app, making start up to star imaging just a few simple taps. Both optics
feature auto-focus to seamlessly hone in on your objects, and dual motorized
axes effortlessly guide Seestar to your target. Pointing is spot on thanks
to plate solving, and automated tracking keeps your object front and center
across your imaging session. Built-in Live Stack tools begin revealing the
wonders above in just a few exposures, with detail and color filling in as
the session progresses for stellar shots without any user input required!
*Please Note: If your mobile device does not have GPS capabilities, as is
the case for non-cellular tablets, or if you do not allow Location
Permissions, you will need to set your location manually in the app.
Access Seestar from Anywhere (Beta)
With ZWO's new
Telescope Network*, you can capture the stars above no matter where you are!
Simply follow the in app instructions to connect your Seestar to the
network, and as long as your S30 Pro is powered on and connected you'll be
able to access it remotely. This makes ZWO's most portable smart telescope
more portable than ever before!
*Please Note: This feature is currently listed as in Beta.
Solar Imaging and Nature Exploration
The Seestar S30
Pro doesn't just shine in the dark, with a host of daytime features! For
astrophotography in the sunshine, a magnetic solar filter is included to
allow you to capture the closest star*. This reveals some of the wonders of
our Sun, capturing Sun spots on its surface through the main set of optics!
The S30 Pro also allows you to explore your environment and capture still
& video with Scenery Mode, giving a closer look at landmarks and nature.
The integrated AI additionally brings you object tracking, which can help
keep your optics trained on wildlife. With a day multi-panel stitching mode
planned, your daytime experience with Seestar will continue to evolve**!
*Do not point the Seestar S30 Pro at the Sun without the solar filter
installed. Failure to securely and properly install this filter can damage
the imaging sensor.
**Please Note: At this time ZWO stated they plan to add multi-panel
daytime stitching to the Seestar S30 Pro, however there are not firm
details on this feature, including an ETA.
Ultra Portable
ZWO kicked off the S30 series with the
phrase 'tiny, yet mighty', and the S30 Pro lives up to its lineage by
packing even more power in the same fantastic form factor! Sporting the same
8.3" x 5.5" x 3.1" physical footprint and 3.64 lb. weight as its successor,
this smart scope can easily accompany you on the go and the backyard. The
included tripod is perfect for picnic tables, campsites, driveways, decks,
and more; with a 3/8"x16 mounting stud that can accommodate other popular
options like the
Apertura Carbon Tripod for S30 Smart Telescopes
for more uneven ground or environments where more height is desired. With a
built in 6000 mAh battery pack, this tiny telescope is rated for 6 hours of
imaging to ensure you can explore and image even on a night far from home;
with USB C recharging to quickly top your smart telescope up during the day.
WiFi, Bluetooth, and NFC Connectivity
With WiFi,
Bluetooth, and NFC, setting up and controlling your Seestar S30 Pro is
simple. NFC makes pairing as simple as tapping your NFC equipped device to
Seestar, skipping searching for wireless access points and streamlining
start up! To control Seestar, WiFi 2.4 Ghz, 5 Ghz, and Bluetooth allow you
to optimize your connection for a variety of situations and environments.
Opt for maximum range with 2.4 Ghz, cut through noisier locations and
increase data throughput with 5 Ghz, or maintain your internet connection
with Bluetooth!
Easy to Use App
Powerful features are just a few taps
away with the Seestar app! Available for Android and iOS, this app puts
control of all the S30 Pro's intelligence at your fingertips. Select
recommended objects for your location or digitally explore the night sky
through the SkyAtlas to chart your night's celestial course. Included in
this 4000+ object database is detailed information on popular targets for an
experience that is informative as well as visually incredible! You can even
share all your astro adventures with the Seestar global community! Simply
navigate over to community tab in the Seestar app and start interacting with
other Seestar users.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between the Seestar S30 and the Seestar S30 Pro?
- Larger, 4K resolution IMX585 main sensor with 8.29MP with a wider field of view of 4.6°
- New quadruplet main lens design and longer 160mm focal length
- Upgraded 4K resolution, IMX586 secondary sensor with 8.29MP and a wider 63° FOV
- Expanded astrophotography capabilities with the new Starry Sky imaging mode for Milky Way and Star Trail capture
- Advanced internal image processing with dynamic background extraction and Milky Way foreground detection and stitching
- NFC tap-to-pair capabilities for simpler connection
- Double the internal storage, taking the original 64GB to 128GB
Which is better, the Seestar S30 Pro or the Seestar S50?
Determining which model is better than the other is highly dependent on personal preference, with each model offering something different to fulfill different needs. For those in search of versatility and a wider field of view, the dual lens design of the Seestar S30 Pro has a huge advantage over the Seestar S50, allowing you to capture wide shots of the Milky Way, nightscapes, star trails, and daytime landscapes. Additionally, the larger 8.29 MP sensor and quadruplet lens configuration provide sharper, more detailed images. For those who wish to get closer to deep sky objects, the Seestar S50 features a longer 250 mm focal length. Its larger 50mm aperture and slightly faster f/4.9 focal ratio also collects more light within a shorter time frame than the S30 Pro. Depending on your needs, each model is a great choice for imaging the night sky.
What can the Seestar S30 capture?
The Seestar S30 Pro is highly versatile, allowing the user to capture everything from nebulae and galaxies to beautiful landscapes and wildlife. Four imaging modes are available for the Seestar S30 Pro: Star Gazing (Deep Sky), Starry Sky (Milky Way & Star Trails), Solar System (Sun & Moon), and Scenic (Nature, Landscape). Whether you plan to capture deep sky wonders like the Orion Nebula and the Andromeda Galaxy, our closest solar system neighbors, image star trails over mountain peaks, or create awe-inspiring time lapses, the Seestar S30 Pro can do it all!
What is the WiFi range of the Seestar S30 Pro?
Two WiFi bands are available with the ZWO Seestar S30 Pro, 5 GHz and 2.4 GHz. The 5 GHz band offers faster data transfer, though with a shorter range, while the 2.4 GHz band offers an expanded range with slower data transfer. While actual ranges will vary based on your specific surroundings and obstacles, you can expect reliable connection within 10 meters with either WiFi band. To potentially increase your operation distance, Station Mode allows you to control your Seestar S30 Pro via your home WiFi. This means anywhere your home WiFi network reaches, you can expect stable connection to your Seestar S30 Pro. Station mode can be enabled by connecting your Seestar S30 Pro to your home WiFi through the Seestar app. Navigate to settings > WiFi > Station Mode, then reconnect your phone to your home network.
How do I get the NFC tap to pair to work with the Seestar S30?
To use NFC, ensure your Seestar S30 Pro is powered on, your phone is unlocked, and WiFi, Bluetooth, NFC, and GPS are enabled. Next, tap your smartphone or tablet to your Seestar S30 Pro and your phone will automatically connect to your telescope’s WiFi hotspot and open the Seestar app.
What is the battery life of the Seestar S30 Pro?
The Seestar S30 Pro is equipped with a 6,000 mAh battery and has a rated battery life of 6 hours from full charge. It’s important to note, however, that this battery life can vary based on a few factors. If you’re imaging in cold weather, the battery may drain faster than anticipated. This is also true if you are powering on the anti-dew heater or are running both cameras. The Seestar S30 Pro can be operated while plugged into an external power source, we recommend the Apertura Portable Telescope Power Supply - 155 Wh for reliable power all night long!
Astronomy Hub: Your one-stop-shop for Astrophotography Knowledge!
Our Gear Experts have compiled a wealth of information to help expand your astrophotography knowledge! Below you’ll find links to articles, videos and "how-to" guides. Just one more reason that our Astronomy Hub is a one-stop-shop for all your astronomy and astrophotography needs!
| ZWO Seestar S30 Pro Review |
| How to Process Seestar Images |
| Milky Way Viewing Guide |
| Why Exposure Time Matters |