Vespera vs Vespera Pro: 30 Second Summary
- The Vaonis Vespera Pro is a 2024 upgrade to the original Vespera which was released in 2022.
- The main upgrade is the camera which is vastly improved with a 12.5 megapixel sensor, compared to 2 megapixels of the original.
- The Vespera Pro also features much larger storage, longer battery life and accessories included like a built-in dew heater and field flattener.
- It is the same compact size and weight as the original and the telescope is very similar with 50mm aperture but slightly longer focal length.
- It is significantly more expensive than the original Vespera, which is still a good option if you don’t have the budget to stretch for the Pro but you should also consider the Vespera II.
Why choose the Vespera over the Vespera Pro?
The Vaonis Vespera is a compact, premium smart telescope from French manufacturer Vaonis that was released in 2022.
The only real reason to consider it over the Vespera Pro is that it is cheaper. At the time of writing it is available for roughly half the price.
It is also well-loved and proven, having had two years of positive feedback from users.
Why choose the Vespera Pro over the Vespera?
The Vaonis Vespera Pro is a compact, premium smart telescope from French manufacturer Vaonis that was released in 2024.
The reasons to consider it over the original Vespera are:
- It the same pros that made the original Vespera great, like being small, light and portable, and having a seamless user experience.
- It has a significantly upgraded camera that improves its imaging capacity.
- It has a slightly wider field of view.
- It includes Vaonis’ adjustable tripod, rather than the standard one that comes with the old Vespera.
- It features a built-in hygrometer for temperature and dew control and comes with a hard case and lens cap.
Telescope Specifications
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.
The Vaonis Vespera Pro has 50 mm (2 inch) aperture, 250 mm focal length, f/5 focal ratio, and 1.6° x 1.6° field of view.
Camera Specifications
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.
The Vaonis Vespera Pro has a 12.5 MP resolution camera of 3536 x 3536 size using a Sony IMX676 sensor and a pixel size of 2 µm.
Size and Weight
The Vaonis Vespera weighs 5 kg (11 lb) and has dimensions of 48 x 20 x 9 ((H x W x L in cm).
The Vaonis Vespera Pro 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 Vespera costs $1,499, and the Vaonis Vespera Pro costs $2,999.
Note, these may vary so check the links to compare retailers if thinking about buying.
Specifications
| Vaonis Vespera | Vaonis Vespera Pro | |
|---|---|---|
| Year | 2022 | 2023 |
| Aperture | 50mm (2 inch) | 50mm (2 inch) |
| Focal Length | 200mm | 250mm |
| Focal Ratio | f/4 | f/5 |
| Limiting Magnitude | 11.19 | 11.19 |
| OTA type | Refractor | Refractor |
| Eyepiece | No | No |
| Field of View | 1.6° x 0.9° | 1.6° x 1.6° |
| Resolution | 2MP | 12.5MP |
| Sensor Size | 1920 x 1080 | 3536 x 3536 |
| Sensor | Sony IMX462 | Sony IMX676 |
| Pixel Size | 2.9 µm | 2 µm |
| Image Formats | TIFF, FITS | TIFF, FITS |
| Mosaic Mode | Yes | Yes |
| Size (H x W x L) cm | 48 x 20 x 9 | 48 x 20 x 9 |
| Weight | 5kg (11 lb) | 5kg (11 lb) |
| Mount | Included | Included |
| Tripod | Included | Included |
| Battery Life | 8 hrs | 11 hrs |
| Internal Storage | 10GB | 225GB |
| Dew Control | None | Built-in |
| Retail Price* | $1,499 | $2,999 |
Vespera vs Vespera Pro: Verdict
This should be a straightforward choice based on budget, given that the Vespera Pro is better but more expensive.
Whether the Pro is enough of an improvement to pay twice as much is up to you.
My recommendation is that if looking between these two you should also look at the Vespera II. It also has an improved camera over the original Vespera but is much cheaper than the Pro.
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2022 Original
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2024 Upgrade
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Related content and more information
- Best Smart Telescopes Comparison
- Vaonis website: Vespera
- Vaonis website: Vespera Pro
- Vespera review
- Vespera Pro review
- Vespera II review
Other comparisons:
