Can I beat a ROBOT at Astrophotography?

Table of Contents:
0:00 Intro/Disclosures
2:09 The Vespera Experience
4:28 The Spare Parts Kit Experience
6:08 Vespera add-ons (filters, hygrometer)
7:05 PPA
8:48 Pros and Cons
13:57 Final Results

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[RayBellis]

On the strength of this review I ordered a Vespera on Monday night and it arrived Wednesday. It is *incredibly* easy to use! I have lots of other astrophoto gear but the old adage of "the best scope is the one you actually use" definitely applies here.

[craiglowery]

Great review Nico. I’m an experienced planetary imager using the Celestron 14” Edge HD. I have always wanted to dabble with DSO imaging when we go camping so I bought a Vespera last week. Absolutely superb rig. So easy with stunning results. Super easy set up. Wi-Fi has very long range. I sit at least 50 feet from the rig behind our basement glass door with our puppy watching the image form on my iPad. I took my first solar image with Vespera in 50 years of astronomy. Very cool. Results without the hassle. Thanks for your review

[gemm]

Was reviewing the Vespera since I really don’t have to much time for setting up a rig. Just wanted something I can carry and be up and running in 5 minutes. Your review was the final push I needed to buy. Just ordered it today. Thanks for your review was clear and to the point. Love your channel.

[JoeMurray-ukyv]

Very well done. I’m waiting on the Vespera Pro release.

[brianfisher]

Another great video, thanks!. Do you think you'd ever compare the Vespera to the Dwarf II?

[skye]

Exactly the video I was looking for!! Can't wait to watch!

[ScottHill]

I enjoyed this review, thank you! The Vespera was on sale for $1499 so I went ahead and bought it. I look forward to testing it out and using it for the upcoming solar eclipses with the solar filter.

[JstnWht]

this one caught a subscribe. thanks for the content! I've been sifting through lots of astronomy channels and have found yours to be the best for my style of learning and general attention grabbing!

[Carlos-qzul]

Hi, thanks for your review ! 👌 I searched for this manufacturer, Vaonis, and I had the surprise of finding them in a location barely 20 km from where I live in south France. This is anecdotal for you all but not the tag price for the Vespera, lowered from 2500 to 2000 euros. This is nice 20% reduction, but I hope it's active for all customers worldwide and not only in Europe 🇪🇺. Take care !

[maximelemaitre]

Excellent video, it really shows clearly what the Vespera is for ... amateur astronomers like me that have very little time to spend on this wonderful hobby.
I am really happy with the Vespera, I didnt do any visual observations since I had it.
I had the chance to do a single picture with the covalens mode, its was the North America Nebula and I really liked the result.
Since then I got x Weeks of clouds ;) (typical weather god shenanigans)
Thanks a lot for the video.

[peterboard]

Mosaic / CovalENS mode on Vespera seems to eliminate the walking noise for me, and i also love that you can customise the area of capturing using the targeting interface that shows you surrounding DSO's so you can rotate and capture what you want in mosaic mode as well as adjust the size of the Mosaic up to 8mpx

[stevemoss]

Talk about timely. I just this week started looking into options to help with our clubs outreach programs. So looking at various options.

[necondaa]

I’ve owned the Vespera for a month now, I know nothing on astrophotography since I’m a beginner. The automation has really helped the experience and made things easier so I don’t have to align or focus it myself or where to track the object. My favorite objects so far to capture have been the moon, Andromeda Galaxy & the dumbbell nebula.

[AstroProductReviews]

I love this video - and I love this kit you put together! I'm giving serious consideration to buying all the components, and making it my main imaging set-up :)

[rickpaul]

Nico- I’m a retired professional photographer who was a PPA member. I also had the same idea as you! I used my older iOptron CEM25 and bought a Redcat51. Combined with an ASIAIR plus it works really great. I use it at public star parties I support.

[ArchieBrand]

I have 3 grandkids aged 8, 12 and 17 and try to expose them to as many different experiences as possible.
We recently started looking at the sky and taking pics with a fairly limited superzoom camera that we have.
Grandpaw here needs to give them enough info as possible to answer their questions while we are on the roof.
Your's is by far the best Youtube channel I have come across - you have a knack for explaining the photography and are revealing some great stuff to look at.
When it comes to liking and subscribing I am generally a bit of a Scrooge.
Thanks for taking the time.
Liked and subscribed.

[capnrob]

I have the Vespara and really like it, got it at a pre-order price so the $$ was much better. I have had it every clear night, and my first mosaic with it of andromeda came out nice.

[Astrolavista]

Thanks Nico! Professional, interesting and thought provoking content as ever :)

[AstroQuest]

Excellent video as always Nico. I totally agree with your rankings for these systems especially how you compared them as if you were a beginner. I have my Frankenstein system and have been using it for a while with the ASIAIR so I know it well, but for someone not knowing how the everything works it is no contest - Vespera wins! I guess I would add if you are beginner, well off ($$), and want take pretty pictures of the night sky right away - get the Vespara. Also, I can see an experienced AP who only has a big mount and telescope and observatory wanting to do some portable wide field getting one of these as well. Interesting and a plus that Vespara uses the same sensor as your astrocam. The only downside I see with the Vespara is the field rotation which would become an issue if you want to do 3 hours or longer projects which is pretty much all I do. Cheers

[lwizzit]

For the Asiair, put your phone in airplane mode and then turn on wifi. This eliminates most connectivity issues. One less mentioned discovery that I painfully discovered is that if the Asiair is too close to anything with a stepper motor (ie; focus motor, filter wheel) it often interferes with the wifi signal. That was fun figuring out.