Dwarf 3 ($500) vs Advanced Astrophotography Rig ($5000)!?

In this video, I’m putting my popular and budget-friendly Dwarf 3 Smart Telescope up against my high-end $5000 pro astrophotography setup. It’s a head-to-head showdown in solar and deep-sky imaging! 🌞🔭🌠 Join me as I dive into their features, put their performance to the test, and reveal the pros and cons of each. Clear skies ahead! 🌟🚀

For more info about the Dwarf 3, watch:

Links* to the Dwarf 3 Smart Telescope:

Links* to my high-end astrophotography setup used in this video:

The ZWO FF80 quadruplet telescope is available at:

The ASI2600MC Pro Camera is available at:

The ASIAIR Plus 256GB is available at:

The AM5(N) Telescope Mount is available at:

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[DavidDeLuge]

I am very impressed with the Dwarf 3 results. I’m looking forward to mine arriving. Great video 👍🏻

[chemtrail_brew_Que]

Great video. Definitely a benefit to having both. Expensive right is nice when you aren't moving it much, but having a portable rig for camping or travel is very beneficial.

[ytfeelslikenorthkorea]

Dwarf seems to be an amazing option for someone like me who, as part of the actual hobby of mountain hiking, can carry that camera with them and do some amazing shots while wild camping :)

[jiinx]

Another great comparison video. The Dwarf 3 and S50 gives people the chance to try AP and see if it's something they'll enjoy doing. Also it gives people who don't have the money for Pro set ups to buy a scope that'll do a decent job at AP.
For me it's a win win. Some will buy the D3 find they really enjoy AP then move on to a better set up. Other's find out AP is not for them and not dropped a small family car worth of money on a Rig they'll end up selling.
I'm waiting on this cloud that covering my night sky in the UK to go else where so I can get my new S50 out and start trying it out. Would of had a D3 but there's 2 month waiting list. Got a better tripod for better vibration reduction so a D3 might be on the list next year to see if the EQ mode will match the S50 mosaic 🤔

[Marko]

And this is why I’ll hold on awhile, I could get the dwarf 3 right now ( or the see star 30 or 50 ) and no doubt I’d be ok with the images, BUT, after seeing the images from your FF80 it’s like WOW, it’s a never ending rabbit hole I’m not sure I want to go down………yet !

[tispunkmyr]

I am definitely not au fait with the world of astronomy and have kinda been pulled in by stumbling across videos for the Dwarf 3 and SeeStar S50. I thought those two produced very good results, especially considering the price. But I actually said "wow" out loud when you put up your $5k rig picture of M31. That's an amazing image! Your M45 image....now that is just showing off! :P

[paulsmaglik]

The Dwarf 3 is a great teaching tool to bring people into the hobby of astrophotography. Once they are hooked and want to know more than they can move to the next level. I loved the video for presenting both cases on what kind of technology is available.

[tonyrevsoc]

Dwarf is not bad at all for the price and convenience, but the images with your rig are stunning. Well done!

[tatersquad]

Dwarf reminds me of Johnny 5 from the movie "Short Circuit" 🤖

[davidaaaa]

I have a Dwarf 3 on order. Waiting for it to get here. 👍👍👍 Thanks for the video.

[dmyers]

That was an awesome video. Love the size of the Dwarf 3 and there are trade-offs for tiny optics, but overall it work much better then I would have thought. I also like the ability of the Dwarf to produce a panoramic images with the built in software by tilling many images; which could be harder with a custom rig. I wish it were a bit higher resolution imager so you could print the output instead of just viewing on a screen. I imagine your custom setup is very high resolution; or maybe not? That final image you took with your scope was stunning with the Dwarf 3 showing you what's there, but not as brilliant. I might wait for the Dwarf 4 where I assume there will be a higher resolution sensor.

[WeltonVaz]

Hi Wido,

I really enjoyed your comparison of the Dwarf 3 and your $5000 setup. It's a great breakdown for those of us considering a more affordable option.

I'm writing from Brazil, and I've been looking into the Dwarf 3 as well. Here, it's actually quite a bit cheaper at R$1003.29. Have you considered the potential impact of import taxes and duties on the overall cost for those of us outside the US? It would be interesting to see a comparison of the final price after taxes and shipping for different regions.

Thanks for all your great content!

[jesuschrist]

Your 5k rig pleides had massive multiple spikes on the brightest stars? Why is that? Only seen similar artefacts from hyperstar :(

[martynh]

A very nice review Wido. Clear and easy to understand. If I were just beginning and was only interested in Astrophotography, I think that the Dwarf3 is the best option. If you also wish to do normal viewing through an eyepiece, obviously don’t buy it, as it doesn’t have that capability. Yes, the €5, 000 Euro setup is much better for deep space images, but this might be too much for the typical beginner.
As someone who’s already done much visual, and some photography through my 8” SCT, I might not be as inclined to buy the dwarf . However, since I get to travel a bit and sometimes to really dark skies, a potable Astro system like the Dwarf3 becomes a really nice option. But I’m torn between the Dwarf3, Seestar S50 and the newer Seestar S20 🤔

[tma]

Any issue with star shapes on your Dwarf3 ? Dwarflab claim early review units had pinched optics.

[KevinRudd-ws]

It's horses for courses Wido, the Dwarf III was great for the money, you couldn't build a rig for twice the price that would give those results. Obviously the more expensive rig was going to give better results overall, but there is more involved in setting it up. You could simplify it though by using an ASI2600MC air, this would negate the need for the guide scope/camera and the ASIair Plus making the rig much simpler to set up. Most rigs these days are "smart" anyway as they feature a mini pc that can be controlled by an app on your phone or tablet. Both of of these scopes are good for what they are designed to do. You could have got much better solar images with the expensive scope by usinf a different camera and one of the solar contrast filters that are available of course. But yeah, a good comparison to show what is possible with these scopes.

[jdonald]

I can’t travel with my main rig. Dogs. Camping supplies. Family. So I ordered this to enjoy astronomy on the go. I also do a lot of outreach which is where this will shine. It’s an interesting comparison where there is no comparison really. The 5k rig will own that $500 rig with ease.

[monish]

Which smart telescope is the best right now seestars50 dwarf 3 or the seestars30

[EmperorStorky]

Hoe is de kwaliteit van de foto's van de Dwarf III waarbij je te maken hebt met Bortle 8 a 9?

[germanicabosniaca]

Is there a possibility to make a guide video about at least one celestial body, Andromeda for example, because yours looks beautiful. I think that the whole process, which software you use for the final image, etc. I would be very grateful, and it would also give us beginners a rhythm for other things...

I mean D3.

Support and greetings from Bosnia! :)