DWARF mini vs Seestar S30
Same 30 mm aperture, same 150 mm focal length, same IMX662 sensor. This one comes down to weight, battery and what is in the box.
Short answer
Identical images; buy the DWARF mini to carry it far, the S30 (if in stock) for a complete box.
Key differences
- Weight: 840 g vs 1.65 kg.
- Battery: 4 h (7,000 mAh) vs 6 h (6,000 mAh).
- Tripod: the S30 includes one; the DWARF mini does not.
- Max exposure: up to 90 s in EQ mode on the DWARF mini.
Specs side by side
| DWARF mini | S30 | |
|---|---|---|
| List price | $399 | $399 |
| Aperture | 30 mm | 30 mm |
| Focal length | 150 mm | 150 mm |
| Focal ratio | f/5 | f/5 |
| Sensor | Sony IMX662 (1/2.8-inch) | Sony IMX662 |
| Resolution | 2.1 MP | 2.1 MP |
| Field of view | 2.13° × 1.20° | 2.13° × 1.20° |
| Image scale | 3.99″/px | 3.99″/px |
| Wide-angle camera | Wide-angle camera (OmniVision OS02K10, 2 MP) | 23.2° wide-angle camera (1080p) |
| Weight | 0.84 kg | 1.65 kg |
| Battery | 4 h | 6 h |
| Storage | 64 GB | 64 GB |
| EQ mode | Yes (up to 90 s subs) | Yes |
| Filters | Solar filter included | Built-in light-pollution filter; magnetic 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 mini. Teal dashed frame: S30.
DWARF mini · S30
| Object | DWARF mini | S30 |
|---|---|---|
| Full Moon | Fits (24% of the frame width) | Fits (24% of the frame width) |
| Andromeda Galaxy (M31) | Needs a mosaic (about 2 frames) | Needs a mosaic (about 2 frames) |
| Orion Nebula (M42) | Fits (52% of the frame width) | Fits (52% of the frame width) |
| Pleiades (M45) | Needs a mosaic (about 2 frames) | Needs a mosaic (about 2 frames) |
| North America Nebula | Needs a mosaic (about 2×2 frames) | Needs a mosaic (about 2×2 frames) |
| Whirlpool Galaxy (M51) | Fits (8% of the frame width) | Fits (8% of the frame width) |
| Ring Nebula (M57) | Fits, but small: about 21 px across | Fits, but small: about 21 px across |
| Jupiter | Fits, but small: about 11 px across | Fits, but small: about 11 px across |
Numbers in charts
Full reviews
Frequently asked questions
Which is better, the DWARF mini or the Seestar S30?
Identical images; buy the DWARF mini to carry it far, the S30 (if in stock) for a complete box.
Which has the wider field of view?
DWARF mini: 2.13° × 1.20°. Seestar S30: 2.13° × 1.20°.
Which gathers more light?
Both have the same 30 mm aperture.
More comparisons
Sources
- dwarflab.com/products/dwarf-mini-smart-telescope
- www.dwarflab.com/pages/dwarf-mini-smart-telescope
- www.seestar.com/products/seestar-s30-all-in-one-smart-telescope
- www.skyatnightmagazine.com/reviews/zwo-seestar-s30
Specs and prices checked on 11 Nov 2026.