DWARF 3 vs Seestar S30 Pro
The closest head-to-head in the budget class: both 4K, both with a wide-angle camera, both around 1.3–1.65 kg.
Short answer
Pick the DWARF 3 for galaxies and longer EQ exposures; pick the S30 Pro for wide nebulae, the included tripod and the dew control.
Key differences
- Aperture: 35 mm vs 30 mm, 36 % more light for the DWARF 3.
- Field: 2.93° × 1.65° vs 3.99° × 2.24°; the S30 Pro frames bigger objects.
- Image scale: 2.75″ vs 3.74″ per pixel; the DWARF 3 resolves smaller targets.
- Battery: 5.5 h (10,000 mAh) vs 6 h (6,000 mAh).
- In the box: the S30 Pro includes a tripod; the DWARF 3 does not.
Specs side by side
| DWARF 3 | S30 Pro | |
|---|---|---|
| List price | $599 | $699 |
| Aperture | 35 mm | 30 mm |
| Focal length | 150 mm | 160 mm |
| Focal ratio | f/4.3 | f/5.3 |
| Sensor | Sony IMX678 STARVIS 2 | Sony IMX585 (1/1.2-inch) |
| Resolution | 8.3 MP | 8.3 MP |
| Field of view | 2.93° × 1.65° | 3.99° × 2.24° |
| Image scale | 2.75″/px | 3.74″/px |
| Wide-angle camera | Wide-angle camera, 45 mm equivalent (2 MP) | 63° wide-angle camera (IMX586, 8.3 MP) |
| Weight | 1.3 kg | 1.65 kg |
| Battery | 5.5 h | 6 h |
| Storage | 128 GB | 128 GB |
| EQ mode | Yes (in-app polar alignment; up to 60 s telephoto subs) | Yes, with a compatible head such as the TH10 (60 s subs only in EQ mode) |
| Filters | Built-in VIS, astro and dual-narrowband filters; magnetic solar filters included | UV/IR-cut, duo-band (OIII 30 nm / Hα 20 nm), dark field filter; solar filter included |
| Tripod included | No | Yes |
| Eyepiece | No | No |
Highlighted cells are better on that line (price, focal ratio, image scale and weight: lower is better). Field of view is compared by area; whether wider is better depends on your targets.
Field of view to scale
Gold solid frame: DWARF 3. Teal dashed frame: S30 Pro.
DWARF 3 · S30 Pro
| Object | DWARF 3 | S30 Pro |
|---|---|---|
| Full Moon | Fits (18% of the frame width) | Fits (13% of the frame width) |
| Andromeda Galaxy (M31) | Needs a mosaic (about 2 frames) | Fits (80% of the frame width) |
| Orion Nebula (M42) | Fits (38% of the frame width) | Fits (28% of the frame width) |
| Pleiades (M45) | Needs a mosaic (about 2 frames) | Fits (45% of the frame width) |
| North America Nebula | Needs a mosaic (about 2 frames) | Fits (50% of the frame width) |
| Whirlpool Galaxy (M51) | Fits, but small: about 236 px across | Fits, but small: about 173 px across |
| Ring Nebula (M57) | Fits, but small: about 30 px across | Fits, but small: about 22 px across |
| Jupiter | Fits, but small: about 16 px across | Fits, but small: about 12 px across |
Numbers in charts
Full reviews
Frequently asked questions
Which is better, the DWARF 3 or the Seestar S30 Pro?
Pick the DWARF 3 for galaxies and longer EQ exposures; pick the S30 Pro for wide nebulae, the included tripod and the dew control.
Which has the wider field of view?
DWARF 3: 2.93° × 1.65°. Seestar S30 Pro: 3.99° × 2.24°.
Which gathers more light?
DWARF 3 (35 mm vs 30 mm aperture, 1.4× the collecting area).
More comparisons
Sources
- dwarflab.com/products/dwarf-3-smart-telescope
- dwarflab.com/us/pages/astronomy-with-dwarf-3-smart-telescope
- help.dwarflab.com/docs/DWARF-3-Unboxing-and-Quick-Setup
- www.adorama.com/zwseestar.html
- www.seestar.com/products/seestar-s30-pro
Specs and prices checked on 11 Nov 2026.