Stellina vs Vespera: 10 Second Summary
- The Vaonis Stellina was released in 2019 and was the original smart telescope.
- The Vaonis Vespera was released in 2022 and was the first compact smart telescope.
- They are both simple, quick and easy to use to take astrophotography images. They use the same app and have the same slick user experience.
- The Stellina has the better telescope with higher aperture and longer focal length, and a much higher resolution camera.
- The Vespera is substantially cheaper, and much smaller and lighter.
- Note in 2024, neither are directly sold by Vaonis and are on their way out, having been succeeded by the newer Vaonis Vespera II and Vaonis Vespera Pro.
- Both can still be found on sale from some outlets though and can be an excellent option if you find them for the right price.
Telescope Specifications
The Vaonis Stellina has 80 mm (3.1 inch) aperture, 400 mm focal length, f/5 focal ratio, and 1° x 0.7° field of view.
The Vaonis Vespera has 50 mm (2 inch) aperture, 200 mm focal length, f/4 focal ratio, and 1.6° x 0.9° field of view.
Camera Specifications
The Vaonis Stellina has a 6.4 MP resolution camera of 3096 x 2080 size using a Sony IMX178 sensor and a pixel size of 2.4 µm.
The Vaonis Vespera has a 2 MP resolution camera of 1920 x 1080 size using a Sony IMX462 sensor and a pixel size of 2.9 µm.
Size and Weight
The Vaonis Stellina weighs 11.2 kg (24.7 lb) and has dimensions of 60 x 40 x 13 ((H x W x L in cm).
The Vaonis Vespera weighs 5 kg (11 lb) and has dimensions of 48 x 20 x 9 ((H x W x L in cm).
Price and Value for Money
The Vaonis Stellina costs $3,999, and the Vespera costs $1,499.
Note, these may vary so check the links to compare retailers if thinking about buying.
Specifications
| Vaonis Stellina | Vaonis Vespera | |
|---|---|---|
| Year | 2019 | 2022 |
| Aperture | 80mm (3.1 inch) | 50mm (2 inch) |
| Focal Length | 400mm | 200mm |
| Focal Ratio | f/5 | f/4 |
| Limiting Magnitude | 12.22 | 11.19 |
| OTA type | Refractor | Refractor |
| Eyepiece | No | No |
| Field of View | 1° x 0.7° | 1.6° x 0.9° |
| Resolution | 6.4MP | 2MP |
| Sensor Size | 3096 x 2080 | 1920 x 1080 |
| Sensor | Sony IMX178 | Sony IMX462 |
| Pixel Size | 2.4 µm | 2.9 µm |
| Image Formats | JPEG, TIFF, FITS | TIFF, FITS |
| Mosaic Mode | Yes | Yes |
| Size (H x W x L) cm | 60 x 40 x 13 | 48 x 20 x 9 |
| Weight | 11.2kg (24.7 lb) | 5kg (11 lb) |
| Mount | Included | Included |
| Tripod | Included | Included |
| Battery Life | 5 hrs | 8 hrs |
| Internal Storage | 10GB | 10GB |
| Dew Control | Built-in | None |
| Retail Price* | $3,999 | $1,499 |
Vespera vs Stellina: Verdict
To choose between these two models you need to consider how good it is at imaging (the Stellina is better), with how convenient it is (the Vespera is smaller and lighter), and the price (the Vespera is cheaper).
Essentially, do you want to pay more for a less portable device that will be better at astrophotography to use in your backyard (Stellina), or do you want to pay less, sacrifice some aperture and resolution, and have something more portable and easier to store (Vespera).
In 2024, be sure to also check out Vaonis’ newer models, the Vespera II and Vespera Pro.
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Bigger and Better
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Smaller and Cheaper
|
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$3,999.00
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$1,499.00
|
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