Telescope Comparison
Dwarf Labs DWARF II vs ZWO Seestar S30 Pro
The specs are close. The experience isn't.
First light
Dwarf Labs · 24mm · £279
The app-native deep-sky imager
- 24mm sensor-based smart telescope — no traditional eyepiece
- Connects to a smartphone app; the app selects, slews to, and stacks targets automatically
- Best for: faint deep-sky objects — galaxies, nebulae, star clusters built up over minutes
- Not for direct eyepiece viewing — every view is delivered on a phone or tablet screen
- 1.35kg compact all-in-one unit
ZWO · 30mm · £349
The app-native deep-sky imager
- 30mm sensor-based smart telescope — no traditional eyepiece
- Connects to a smartphone app; the app selects, slews to, and stacks targets automatically
- Best for: faint deep-sky objects — galaxies, nebulae, star clusters built up over minutes
- Not for direct eyepiece viewing — every view is delivered on a phone or tablet screen
- 1.5kg compact all-in-one unit
The full picture
The numbers that separate these two scopes — and what they mean at the eyepiece.
Aperture
ZWO Seestar S30 Pro gathers 1.6× more light. On bright targets — Moon, Saturn, Jupiter — you won't notice. On fainter targets — dim galaxies, faint globular clusters — the gap is real.
Focal length
ZWO Seestar S30 Pro's longer focal length reaches higher magnification with the same eyepiece — better reach for planetary detail. Dwarf Labs DWARF II's shorter focal length gives a wider true field — better for large open clusters and extended nebulae.
Focal ratio
Focal ratio is not meaningful for smart telescope sensor systems — the optics are optimised for the built-in sensor rather than interchangeable eyepieces.
Mount type
Same mount type — setup experience and ergonomics will be similar. Differences lie in build quality and included accessories.
Weight (OTA)
Similar optical tube weight. Any portability difference between these setups comes from the mount, not the tube itself.
Optical design
Both sensor-based smart telescopes — no eyepiece, app-controlled, live stacking. The differences are in sensor size, aperture, and companion software quality.
At the eyepiece
Dwarf Labs
Dwarf Labs DWARF II
You won't use an eyepiece. Let the scope align itself, select a target in the app, and watch the image build over a minute or two as frames stack automatically. The Orion Nebula (M42) starts as a faint smear and brightens into a structured object with the Trapezium visible as a tight cluster. The Andromeda Galaxy (M31) shows more than a smudge — on a good night the bright core separates from the outer halo. Hand your phone to someone who has never looked at the night sky and they will immediately understand what they're seeing. The trade-off is direct: there is no eyepiece, and the view is always mediated by the app.
ZWO
ZWO Seestar S30 Pro
You won't use an eyepiece. Let the scope align itself, select a target in the app, and watch the image build over a minute or two as frames stack automatically. The Orion Nebula (M42) starts as a faint smear and brightens into a structured object with the Trapezium visible as a tight cluster. The Andromeda Galaxy (M31) shows more than a smudge — on a good night the bright core separates from the outer halo. Hand your phone to someone who has never looked at the night sky and they will immediately understand what they're seeing. The trade-off is direct: there is no eyepiece, and the view is always mediated by the app.
The real tradeoff
Both scopes are capable. The question is which one fits the way you actually observe.
Both scopes are solving a similar problem in a similar way. The differences are real — focal ratio and field of view — but these show up after several months of regular use, not on the first night. Pick the one whose design best matches how you actually plan to observe.
The dark side
Every scope has a personality. Here’s where each one gets difficult.
Dwarf Labs
Dwarf Labs DWARF II
No eyepiece — ever
Every view is mediated by the app. If you wanted the experience of pressing your eye to a lens and looking at the sky, this is the wrong scope.
App dependency is total
Poor connectivity, a software update, or a phone issue can end a session. There is no manual fallback.
Not designed for fine planetary detail
Smart telescopes excel at faint deep-sky objects through live stacking. Fine planetary detail — Jupiter's cloud bands at high resolution, Saturn's Cassini Division — is not what these are optimised for.
ZWO
ZWO Seestar S30 Pro
No eyepiece — ever
Every view is mediated by the app. If you wanted the experience of pressing your eye to a lens and looking at the sky, this is the wrong scope.
App dependency is total
Poor connectivity, a software update, or a phone issue can end a session. There is no manual fallback.
Not designed for fine planetary detail
Smart telescopes excel at faint deep-sky objects through live stacking. Fine planetary detail — Jupiter's cloud bands at high resolution, Saturn's Cassini Division — is not what these are optimised for.
Which is right for you?
Two different buyers. Two different right answers.
The app-native deep-sky imager
Dwarf Labs · Dwarf Labs DWARF II
You’ll love this if…
- You want to show someone a processed image of a distant galaxy on your phone and have them immediately understand what they're seeing
- You observe from a heavily light-polluted area where a traditional telescope would struggle to show faint deep-sky objects without long effort
- A traditional eyepiece-based telescope sounds like more effort than you want right now — you want the imaging to be automatic
This will frustrate you if…
- You wanted the experience of pressing your eye to an eyepiece and looking at the sky — there is no eyepiece here, and every view is on a screen
- You observe in a location with unreliable WiFi or phone connectivity — the app is the entire interface, and without it the session ends
The app-native deep-sky imager
ZWO · ZWO Seestar S30 Pro
You’ll love this if…
- You want to show someone a processed image of a distant galaxy on your phone and have them immediately understand what they're seeing
- You observe from a heavily light-polluted area where a traditional telescope would struggle to show faint deep-sky objects without long effort
- A traditional eyepiece-based telescope sounds like more effort than you want right now — you want the imaging to be automatic
This will frustrate you if…
- You wanted the experience of pressing your eye to an eyepiece and looking at the sky — there is no eyepiece here, and every view is on a screen
- You observe in a location with unreliable WiFi or phone connectivity — the app is the entire interface, and without it the session ends
Our verdict
These two are closer than most comparisons on this site. The spec differences are genuine — mount type, focal ratio — but neither is the wrong answer for a typical observer starting out.
If I had to choose between them: the Dwarf Labs DWARF II is the scope most people will be using regularly six months from now. The ZWO Seestar S30 Pro rewards you more once you know what you're doing — it's worth revisiting after your first year.
Dwarf Labs DWARF II
View Dwarf Labs DWARF II →ZWO Seestar S30 Pro
View ZWO Seestar S30 Pro →Deep field: Full specifications
Every data point, for those who want to go further.
Full specifications
Fields highlighted in blue or amber indicate the better value for that spec. Data is manufacturer-stated and may vary.
How much can it see?
| Spec | Dwarf Labs DWARF II | ZWO Seestar S30 Pro |
|---|---|---|
Apertureⓘ The most important spec — bigger = more light = better views | 24mm | 30mm |
Focal Length Longer = more magnification potential | 100mm | 160mm |
Focal Ratio Lower f-number = wider field of view; higher = more magnification per eyepiece | f/4.17 | f/5.3 |
Optical Design The type of optics — each design has different strengths | Smart Telescope | Smart Telescope |
Coatings Better coatings = more light transmission through the optics | Multi-coated telephoto-style objective | Fully multi-coated apochromatic doublet |
How do you point it?
| Spec | Dwarf Labs DWARF II | ZWO Seestar S30 Pro |
|---|---|---|
Mount Type The mechanical system that holds and moves the telescope | Integrated | Integrated |
GoTo Computer-controlled pointing — finds any of thousands of objects automatically | ||
Tracking Motor keeps objects centred as the Earth rotates — essential for astrophotography |
The focuser
| Spec | Dwarf Labs DWARF II | ZWO Seestar S30 Pro |
|---|---|---|
Focuser Size 2" accepts wider eyepieces and gives better low-power views | — | — |
Focuser Type Rack-and-pinion is standard; Crayford and dual-speed are smoother | Fixed focus (app-controlled fine adjustment) | — |
Size & weight
| Spec | Dwarf Labs DWARF II | ZWO Seestar S30 Pro |
|---|---|---|
OTA Weightⓘ Optical tube only — useful for comparing mount load capacity | 1.35kg | 0.8kg |
Total Weightⓘ Full setup including mount — this is what you lug to the car | 1.35kg | 1.5kg |
Tube Material | Polycarbonate and aluminium alloy | — |
What's in the box?
| Spec | Dwarf Labs DWARF II | ZWO Seestar S30 Pro |
|---|---|---|
Diagonal Tilts the eyepiece 90° for comfortable viewing — useful on refractors |
Smart features
| Spec | Dwarf Labs DWARF II | ZWO Seestar S30 Pro |
|---|---|---|
Built-in Camera Records and stacks images automatically — no separate camera needed | ||
App Controlled | ||
WiFi | ||
Battery Included | ||
Sensor | 1/2.8" Sony IMX462 CMOS | 1/2 inch |
Sensor Resolution Higher megapixels captures finer detail | 2.1MP | 2.1MP |
Blue highlight: Dwarf Labs DWARF II advantage · Amber highlight: ZWO Seestar S30 Pro advantage · Greyed cells: equal or subjective.