I'm a casual visual astronomer. Never been really tempted by astrophotography due to the expense, amount of gear involved, time involved in set up, processing, etc. If I want to see great images, I can look at photos in forums such as SGL from other people far more skilled than I. However...When I saw some images from the S50 and its sibling S30 AND considering the price, size and ease of use I thought it worth a go. Despite clouds being delivered with my S50(!!) I have had some success and I am truly blown away by this piece of kit. It has allowed me to view things from my own garden that I have never seen before visually. It is an absolute doddle to set up and get going in a few minutes. I use my EQ5 tripod with the adapter for a rock-steady mount. The Seestar app is excellent, well-populated with targets (which show up as visible/invisible from your location) and very intuitive. Another benefit, especially for winter use, is that I can sit inside and watch my image build! Demand is very high just now, so you might have to wait a little. Trust me, it's worth it.

I once tried to get into astrophotography but it was to expensive for the amount of clear nights we have in the UK. I read great reviews on the Seestar S50 on this site and thought could it be this good, but wow what a fantastic piece of equipment. Never thought I could get astro photo's like these off the Seestar S50 and not have to spend thousand's of pounds to get them.
Don't think about getting one just do it.
First Light Optics is the place to get one 1'st class superb company, delivered within 2 days very safely. Cannot fault them.

I was amazed on this product's ease of use and affordability. I can go home after a 12 hour shift, and capture deep sky images afterwards.

The ZWO Seestar S50 is a fascinating piece of technology. It promises to democratize astrophotography, bringing the wonders of deep space to anyone with a smartphone and a Wi-Fi connection. And in many ways, it delivers on that promise. However, its simplicity comes with trade-offs that are important to consider before you jump in.

The Good:

Incredibly Easy Setup and Operation: This is the Seestar S50's killer feature. Unboxing, connecting to the app, and capturing your first image can be done in minutes. No polar alignment, no complicated guiding systems, no tedious focusing rituals. The GoTo functionality is excellent, accurately pointing the scope at your chosen target with minimal fuss. This makes it perfect for beginners or anyone who wants instant gratification.

Integrated Package: Everything is self-contained. The telescope, mount, camera, filter wheel, and focusing system are all integrated into a single, portable unit. This is a huge advantage over traditional astrophotography setups, which can be complex and require a significant investment in separate components.

Good Image Quality (for its size): The images captured by the Seestar S50 are surprisingly impressive, especially considering its compact size and price point. It excels at capturing bright nebulae and galaxies, revealing details that would be invisible to the naked eye. The built-in light pollution filter helps to mitigate light pollution, making it usable even in urban environments.

Social Sharing: The app integrates seamlessly with social media platforms, allowing you to easily share your astrophotography achievements with friends and family – a nice touch for those just starting out.

Beginner-Friendly App: The app is intuitive and well-designed, guiding users through the entire imaging process. It offers suggested targets based on location and time of year, making it easy to get started even if you don't know what to look for.

The Not-So-Good:

Limited Customization: This is where the "simplicity" becomes a double-edged sword. The Seestar S50 offers very little control over the imaging process. You can't adjust exposure times, gain settings, or even choose specific filters in certain modes through the app. The device handles everything automatically, which can be frustrating for experienced astrophotographers who want more control.

Small Aperture: The 50mm aperture limits the resolving power and light-gathering ability of the telescope. While it performs well on brighter objects, it struggles with fainter targets and fine detail.

Potential for Over-Processing: The built-in processing algorithms can sometimes be a bit heavy-handed, resulting in overly saturated colours and artificial-looking details.

Learning Curve Plateau: While easy to pick up, the lack of manual control can limit long-term growth in your understanding of astrophotography principles. You're essentially operating a black box.

Who is the ZWO Seestar S50 for?

The ZWO Seestar S50 is ideal for:

Complete beginners: Those with no prior experience in astrophotography who want a simple and hassle-free way to capture images of deep space.
Casual observers: Those who enjoy stargazing but don't want to invest in a complex and expensive setup.
Astro-curious individuals: People who are curious about astrophotography but are intimidated by the technical complexity.
Educational purposes: A great way to introduce children and students to the wonders of the night sky.

Who is the ZWO Seestar S50 not for?

The ZWO Seestar S50 is not suitable for:

Experienced astrophotographers: Those who are already familiar with astrophotography techniques and want more control over the imaging process.
Those seeking high-resolution, detailed images: The small aperture limits the telescope's ability to capture fine details.

Conclusion:

The ZWO Seestar S50 is a revolutionary device that makes astrophotography accessible to a wider audience. Its ease of use and portability are undeniable strengths. However, its limited customization and small aperture make it a less appealing option for experienced astrophotographers.

Ultimately, the Seestar S50 is a fantastic entry point into the world of astrophotography. It's a great way to get your feet wet and see if this hobby is for you. Just be aware of its limitations and understand that you may eventually outgrow it if you want to pursue astrophotography more seriously. Think of it as a stepping stone, not the final destination.

Final Rating: 5 out of 5 stars. A groundbreaking device with minor limitations. Highly recommended for beginners.

Great product, easy to set up and use and gives great results, the app works well, mosaic mode is great for extended objects and great service from FLO.

First light optics - brilliant service 2nd to none.

Absolutely amazing piece of equipment, sets up in less than 2 mins, very easy to calibrate and instructions to follow. Before I knew it I was taking amazing images that are an absolute pleasure to edit, boost and stretch on my laptop.

All I can say is wow.
When I was a kid I borrowed my Dads binoculars to see if I could see Apollo on the Moon !!
Many moons later and an interest in photography now back to astronomy.
The technology is amazing, steep learning curve to master so it’s still work in progress.
The only thing holding me back is cloudy UK sky’s.

I bought the S50 after seeing several reviews as something I can use to grab images while setting up my main scope and for taking with me if I go away anywhere. I had to wait a couple of nights after delivery before trying it out and now that I have I cannot believe how quick and easy it is to get fantastic images. I got around 20 minutes data of the Seestar novice’s favourite M42 and with minimal processing in Affinity produced a jaw-dropping result. The quality can’t rival a dedicated setup but the trade off of quality against ease of use is worth it. It normally takes me around an hour to get everything set up and aligned before capturing but with the S50 it was around 5 minutes. Again fabulous service from FLO; prompt delivery and securely packaged. Simply cannot be faulted.

What can I say ... The hype is right, and already out there ... Superb telescope does everything and more you need... If only one point had to be a "bad' point .... I don't know why on earth ZWO don't make a dust cap with it as standard !.

Excellent telescope, really easy to get going immediately with astro photography as a complete beginner. The app in particular is really good.