Seestar

The app is well written. The UX is generally great. UX Improvement: allow the user to toggle LP filter, exposure time, and setup framing before the camera moves to the selected location. Otherwise, the user must cancel after getting to the object, make the selections, and then hit record again. After balancing and calibrating EQ mode with the current app version, I am routinely getting 40% stack rates while all of the others are rejections. Online, I’m seeing a TON of other experienced astrophotographers complain of high rejection rates all of a sudden just like me. I’m using a high end latitude wedge (Move Shoot Move).

Sometimes big surprises come in small packages. The ZWO Seestar is one of those pleasant surprises. I’m an experienced amateur astronomer and have or used many types of visual and photographic Astro gear. ZWO have really put together an award-worthy product with the S50. It combines the image quality of an Apochromatic objective and a decent imaging sensor along with application software that assists in navigation to find objects in the night sky and perform live image stacking to capture and display pictures that the human eye cannot see naked-eye. It is easy to setup and use even if you are not experienced in astronomical pursuits. Like any technological tool the ZWO Seestar S50 has its shortfalls and limitations. The ZWO developers are enhancing the app to address the shortcomings and to add new functionality. There are several helpful user groups that provide tremendous support to the user community. It’s a fun way to spend time out under the night sky!

UI is extremely easy to learn and use right out of the box. The main suggestion is to include some backlash compensation in software. System dithers scope pointing direction by several pixels to avoid developing pattern and walking noise every 5 frames. After many of the dithers, altitude tracking doesn’t immediately resume due to backlash in drive train. Up to 30% of the frames taken end up being thrown out adding to overhead. You might accumulate 10 min of stacked data for 25 min of collection. Hopefully ZWO will address the backlash. It’s not clear if all the copies of the S50 scope have this issue and to this extent, but many folks have discussed on Cloudy Nights. Backlash is the only complaint I have. Otherwise, a beautiful scope and excellent software.