Dwarf II vs Unistellar eQuinox 2: 10 Second Summary
- The Unistellar eQuinox 2 is has one of the highest spec telescopes of any model, with Unistellar models the UX is seamless, and you can join Citizen Astronomy initiatives.
- However, it is heavier, less portable and more expensive than the Dwarf II.
- The Dwarf II is smaller and lighter than the Unistellar eQuinox 2, as well as being substantially cheaper.
- It also has a higher resolution camera, but the telescope is much smaller in terms of aperture and focal length, and the user experience is not as slick as with the eQuinox 2.
Why choose the Dwarf II over the Unistellar eQuinox 2?
The Dwarf II is a compact, budget smart telescope from Chinese manufacturer Dwarflab:
- It is small and light and comes with a perfect-fit carry case, and so is perfect for travel and convenient storage.
- For a smart telescope it is cheap and much less expensive than the Unistellar eQuinox 2 or any of the premium options.
- On the downside the telescope specifications are lower than the eQuinox 2 and the user experience is not as slick and seamless as with the Unistellar smart telescope options.
The Dwarf 2 is right for you if you want:
- An inexpensive option as a first smart telescope
- A portable option to easily move around with and store conveniently at home
- Both of these
Why choose the Unistellar eQuinox 2 over the Dwarf II?
The Unistellar eQuinox 2 is a premium smart telescope from French manufacturer Unistellar that was released in 2023:
- Its telescope and camera specifications are some of the best and the user experience is slick and seamless.
- With all Unistellar models you can take part in Citizen Astronomy initiatives and join missions to track asteroids and hunt exoplanets.
The eQuinox 2 is right for you if you want one of the best smart telescopes regardless of the cost.
Telescope Specifications
The Dwarf II has 24mm (1 inch) aperture, 100mm focal length, f/4.2 focal ratio, and 3.2° × 1.6° field of view.
The Unistellar eQuinox 2 has 114mm (4.5 inch) aperture, 450mm focal length, f/3.9 focal ratio, and 0.57° x 0.76° field of view.
Camera Specifications
The Dwarf II has an 8MP resolution camera of 3840 x 2160 size using a Sony IMX415 sensor and a pixel size of 1.45μm.
The Unistellar eQuinox 2 has a 6.2MP resolution camera of 2520 x 2520 size using a Sony IMX347 sensor and a pixel size of 2.9μm.
Size and Weight
The Dwarf II weighs 1.2kg (2.6 lb) and has dimensions of 20 x 6 x 13 ((H x W x L in cm).
The Unistellar eQuinox 2 weighs 8.9kg (19.8 lb) and has dimensions of 23 x 19 x 65 ((H x W x L in cm).
Price and Value for Money
The Dwarf II costs $459 or $595 depending on which package you go for. The Unistellar eQuinox 2 costs $2,499.
Note, these may vary so check the links to compare retailers if thinking about buying.
Specifications
| Dwarflab DWARF II | Unistellar eQuinox 2 | |
|---|---|---|
| Year | 2023 | 2023 |
| Aperture | 24mm (1 inch) | 114mm (4.5 inch) |
| Focal Length | 100mm | 450mm |
| Focal Ratio | f/4.2 | f/3.9 |
| Limiting Magnitude | 9.6 | 12.98 |
| OTA type | Refractor | Reflector |
| Eyepiece | No | No |
| Field of View | 3.2° × 1.6° | 0.57° x 0.76° |
| Resolution | 8MP | 6.2MP |
| Sensor Size | 3840 x 2160 | 2520 x 2520 |
| Sensor | Sony IMX415 | Sony IMX347 |
| Pixel Size | 1.45μm | 2.9μm |
| Image Formats | TIFF, FITS | FITS, TIFF, PNG, JPEG |
| Mosaic Mode | No | No |
| Size (H x W x L) cm | 20 x 6 x 13 | 23 x 19 x 65 |
| Weight | 1.2kg (2.6 lb) | 8.9kg (19.8 lb) |
| Mount | Included | Included |
| Tripod | Included | Included |
| Battery Life | 3 hrs | 11 hrs |
| Internal Storage | 64GB | 64GB |
| Dew Control | Built-in | None |
| Retail Price* | $459 | $2,499 |
Unistellar eQuinox 2 vs Dwarf II: Verdict
The Dwarf II is for you if you want the most compact and portable smart telescope around, and also have a smaller budget. It is well-loved by its users.
The Unistellar eQuinox 2 is for you if you want a slick, premium smart telescope with some of the highest specifications available and have the budget.
|
Budget Pick
|
Premium Pick
|
|
$459.00
|
$2,499.00
|
Related content and more information
- Best Smart Telescopes 2024
- Unistellar website
- Unistellar eQuinox 2 Review
- Dwarflab website
- Dwarf 2 review
Other comparisons
