Seestar S50 Pro vs S50: Is It Worth Upgrading?
The Seestar S50 Pro keeps the simple app-guided experience of the original S50, then adds the resolution, wide-field camera, battery capacity and tracking options needed to take it further.
The 50 mm smart telescope takes a proper step forward
The Seestar S50 Pro keeps the thing that made the original S50 easy to understand: you put it outside, choose a target in the app and let the telescope handle finding, tracking, focusing and stacking. The important change is that the new model gives that simple workflow much better hardware to work with.
The aperture is still 50 mm, so the headline is not a larger telescope. Instead, Seestar has added an 8.3 megapixel telephoto camera, a second 8.3 megapixel wide-angle camera, four-element APO optics, more storage, a larger battery and a more capable tracking platform.
Australian launch price: $1,549, reduced from $1,699. Available to order from BINTEL, with delivery timing confirmed on enquiry.
Two cameras change what one Seestar can cover
The telephoto side uses a 50 mm aperture, 260 mm focal length and f/5.2 focal ratio. Behind it is a 1/1.2-inch sensor producing 2160 × 3840 images, or 8.3 megapixels. That is a large jump from the original S50's 1920 × 1080 IMX462 camera, and it gives you substantially more image data for cropping and processing.
Beside the main aperture is a separate wide-angle camera with a 63° portrait field of view. Its job is not to replace the telephoto camera; it handles the big sky around it. Seestar uses it for Milky Way arches, star trails, wide-field live stacking and stitched panoramas, while the 50 mm optical system stays focused on smaller deep-sky targets.
Both cameras capture 4K at 1× magnification. Seestar also makes two limits clear: the live preview remains 1080p, and output resolution drops when 2× or 4× digital magnification is used. That is worth knowing before treating "dual 4K" as meaning every view and zoom setting stays at full resolution.
Seestar S50 Pro vs the original S50
The aperture remains 50 mm. The meaningful changes are in the optics, cameras, storage, battery and tracking options.
| Feature | S50 Pro | Original S50 | What changes in practice |
|---|---|---|---|
| Main optics | 50 mm, 260 mm f/5.2, four-element APO with ED glass | 50 mm, 250 mm f/5, three-element APO with ED glass | The aperture stays the same; the optical design and imaging chain are updated. |
| Telephoto imaging | 1/1.2-inch sensor, 8.3 MP, 2160 × 3840 | IMX462, 1920 × 1080 | More captured detail and more room to crop or process. |
| Wide camera | 8.3 MP with 63° portrait field | None | Adds Milky Way, star-trail and wide-context work without changing instruments. |
| Storage | 128 GB, with about 100 GB available | 64 GB | More room for longer plans, FITS files and higher-resolution captures. |
| Battery | 10,000 mAh, up to 9 hours in stated lab conditions | 6,000 mAh, about 6 hours in stated lab conditions | A longer session ceiling, although temperature and active features still affect runtime. |
| Mounting | Alt-azimuth and equatorial modes; 60-second exposures in EQ mode | Alt-azimuth; equatorial mode supported | The Pro gives advanced users a clearer path to longer tracked exposures. |
| Weight | 2.8 kg main unit | 2.5 kg | Still portable, with 300 grams added for the new hardware. |
Source: current Seestar specification pages for the S50 Pro and original S50. Battery figures are manufacturer laboratory claims, and actual runtime varies with conditions and features used.
The 50 mm aperture remains the deep-sky advantage
Aperture determines how much light a telescope can collect and how much fine detail its optics can resolve. The S50 Pro's 50 mm main lens has nearly three times the collecting area of a 30 mm lens, which is why Seestar positions it as the deeper-sky option beside the more portable S30 Pro.
That does not mean every galaxy will suddenly fill the frame or that a bright suburban sky stops mattering. The S50 Pro is still a compact, uncooled smart telescope. Longer stacking, good transparency and a darker site can make a meaningful difference, particularly on faint galaxies and dusty nebulae.
The built-in dual-band filter helps isolate OIII and hydrogen-alpha emission from nebulae, while the UV/IR-cut and dark-frame filters support cleaner capture. These are useful tools under suburban light pollution, but they cannot recover Milky Way contrast that the sky itself has washed out.
A wider field without giving up telephoto detail
The second camera is what broadens the S50 Pro's role. Its 63° view can frame a large section of sky and foreground, while Seestar's Starry Sky Mode can build Milky Way arches and other stitched results. For deep-sky work, telephoto mosaic capture can expand the field around a target while retaining the detail from the 50 mm optical system.
This is particularly useful in Australia, where the Galactic Centre can climb high from dark sites and large southern targets reward a wide composition. The catch is simple: Milky Way imaging still needs genuinely dark conditions. A clever camera and automated stitching help with capture, but they do not turn a bright inner-city sky into the outback.
The same wide camera can handle star trails and broad sky scenes, while the main system covers the Sun, Moon, distant scenery and wildlife. The included magnetic solar filter must be fitted before the main camera is pointed at the Sun. There is no safe shortcut on that one.
Automation, with a path beyond the basics
The familiar starting point remains app control: select a target, use GOTO and let Seestar locate, track and capture it. Plan Mode can build a session around one or several targets, and the onboard storage rises to 128 GB, with roughly 100 GB available after system use.
The S50 Pro supports both alt-azimuth and equatorial operation. Alt-azimuth mode keeps setup straightforward, while equatorial mode can reduce field rotation and unlock exposures of up to 60 seconds. That longer exposure option requires accurate polar alignment and is not available in normal alt-azimuth mode, so it adds capability and setup in equal measure.
Seestar also lists remote control and support for the open ASCOM Alpaca protocol. Those features give more experienced imagers a route into remote sessions and third-party astronomy software without making them part of the first-night checklist.
Who should choose the S50 Pro?
The S50 Pro makes the most sense if your priority is deep-sky imaging, but you also want a proper wide view for the Milky Way and nightscapes. It is a strong fit for someone who wants more image data than the original S50, longer unattended plans and an eventual move into equatorial tracking without assembling a conventional mount, telescope, camera, focuser and control computer.
The smaller Seestar S30 Pro remains the more portable all-rounder. BINTEL currently lists it at $1,199, and its lighter 1.65 kg body is easier to carry when travel matters more than the larger 50 mm aperture. The S50 Pro is the more deliberate choice when faint deep-sky structure and telephoto detail sit higher on the list.
It is not the right instrument if your main goal is looking through an eyepiece. Seestar is a camera-and-app observing system, and its appeal comes from building an image on your phone or tablet. Planetary specialists and people who want modular cameras, filters or optical accessories should also look at a conventional imaging setup before buying.
Price, availability and what is included
At the time of writing, BINTEL lists the Seestar S50 Pro for $1,549, reduced from $1,699, and marks it as available to order. The live page asks customers to contact BINTEL for an estimated delivery time, so we are not attaching an unconfirmed Australian arrival date to this article.
You can check the current price and ordering status on the BINTEL Seestar S50 Pro product page. If portability is the bigger priority, compare it with the BINTEL Seestar S30 Pro product page.
The package includes the S50 Pro smart telescope, its new adjustable tripod, protective case, magnetic solar filter, USB-C cable, safety instructions, quick-start guide and astronomy-themed stickers.
A sensible evolution of the original idea
The Seestar S50 Pro keeps the approachable app-driven experience, then adds the resolution, wide-field camera, battery capacity and tracking options needed to take that experience further.
The main decision is not whether the S50 Pro can automate astrophotography. It can. The question is what you want to photograph. Choose it for the combination of 50 mm deep-sky reach and a second wide camera; choose the S30 Pro when minimum size and weight matter more; choose a traditional telescope when direct eyepiece viewing or a modular imaging system is the real goal.
Cheers,
Jack Bintel
Seestar S50 Pro questions
What is different between the Seestar S50 Pro and the original S50?
The S50 Pro keeps a 50 mm aperture but adds updated four-element APO optics, an 8.3 megapixel telephoto camera, a separate 8.3 megapixel wide-angle camera, 128 GB storage, a 10,000 mAh battery and an expanded equatorial imaging path.
Does the Seestar S50 Pro capture 4K at every zoom level?
No. Both cameras capture 4K at 1× magnification, but Seestar states that output resolution drops at 2× and 4× digital magnification. The live preview remains 1080p.
Does the Seestar S50 Pro support equatorial mode?
Yes. The S50 Pro supports equatorial mode, which can reduce field rotation and unlock exposures of up to 60 seconds. The longer exposure option requires accurate polar alignment and is not available in normal alt-azimuth mode.
Is the Seestar S50 Pro good for Milky Way imaging from a city?
Its 63° wide camera and automated stitching are well suited to broad Milky Way compositions, but dark skies still matter. These features cannot restore Milky Way contrast that strong urban light pollution has washed out.
Can you look through the Seestar S50 Pro with an eyepiece?
No. The S50 Pro is a camera-and-app observing system. It is designed to build images on a phone or tablet rather than provide a direct view through an eyepiece.
See where the S50 Pro fits
Compare the current range on our ZWO smart telescopes page, or read our smart telescope comparison for a broader look at the choices available in Australia.