Vespera 3 specs
| Brand | Vaonis |
|---|---|
| Type | Smart telescope |
| Aperture | 50 mm |
| Focal length / ratio | 245 mm, f/4.9 |
| Optics | Flat-field apochromatic quadruplet (Petzval-inspired, ULD glass) with stray-light baffles |
| Sensor | Sony IMX585 (1/1.2-inch) |
| Resolution | 3840 × 2160 px (8.3 MP) |
| Pixel size / scale | 2.9 µm · 2.44″ per pixel |
| Field of view | 2.6° × 1.4°. Vaonis' launch page figure (2.44″ per pixel); its comparison page repeats the Vespera II's 2.5° × 1.4°. |
| Mount | Motorized alt-az. No EQ mode |
| Battery | 11 h (Vaonis); Zelpio got about 12 h in use |
| Weight | 11 lb (5 kg). Digital Camera World measured 6 kg with the tripod; IP43 |
| Storage | 115 GB |
| Filters | None built in; light-pollution, dual-band and solar filters sold separately; automatic anti-fog |
| Solar | Optional solar filter. Vaonis sells a solar filter separately |
| Mosaic mode | Yes. CovalENS mosaics up to 24 MP (about 4.3° × 2.4°); multi-night stacking resumes automatically |
| Planets | Not recommended by maker |
| Eyepiece | No (view on phone or tablet) |
| App | Singularity (iOS/Android) |
| Subscription | No subscription found on Vaonis' site |
| Warranty | 5 years |
| Price | About $2,490 on Amazon (Nov 12, 2026) · $$$ Premium |
- Vaonis' own pages disagree on the field (2.6° × 1.4° on the launch page, 2.5° × 1.4° on the comparison page); 11.2 mm ÷ 245 mm supports the launch-page figure.
- Launched April 11, 2026. The Amazon listing on Nov 12, 2026 was sold by Adorama with one rating.
- Space.com's launch article says 8.5 MP; Vaonis and reviewers say 8.3 MP, which matches the IMX585.
Specs are compiled from manufacturer pages, Amazon listings and independent reviews, and may change with firmware or production runs. Confirm what's in the box (tripod, solar filter, case) on the Amazon page before buying.
Vaonis Vespera 3 Smart Telescope video review
Video by Cuiv, The Lazy Geek on YouTube. Independent creator content, shown as a reference. It is not part of our scoring.
The Vespera 3 is Vaonis’ new mainstream smart telescope, launched April 11, 2026: a 50 mm f/4.9 flat-field apochromatic quadruplet (Petzval-inspired, with ULD glass and stray-light baffles), a Sony IMX585 sensor, an 11-hour battery, automatic anti-fog and a five-year warranty, with an aluminum tripod in the box. It costs about $2,490 on Amazon (Nov 12, 2026), sold by Adorama; check today’s price. We haven’t tested it ourselves: this review draws on Digital Camera World and Zelpio, plus Vaonis’ own claims (see how we research).
Who the Vespera 3 is for (and who should skip it)
It’s for buyers who value premium optics, an all-night battery, multi-night projects and a long warranty, and who don’t need EQ mode, built-in filters or planets.
Skip it if value per dollar comes first. The Seestar S50 Pro has a similar 8.3 MP resolution, a built-in dual-band filter and EQ mode for about $999. Skip it too if you travel light: Digital Camera World measured 6 kg with the tripod.
Imaging in practice
Vaonis’ headline change is the optics, and Digital Camera World’s early results are encouraging. The outlet saw the Andromeda Galaxy’s dust lanes in about ten minutes, against roughly an hour on the S50 Pro, though it says that comparison wasn’t a controlled test. Treat it as encouraging, not definitive.
Zelpio’s main imaging complaint is the lack of automatic dark frames, which can leave hot pixels (green rows) in stacks. You can clean that up in processing; the Vespera Pro 2 adds automatic master darks.
The field is about 2.6° × 1.4° per Vaonis’ launch page (its comparison page repeats the Vespera II’s 2.5° × 1.4°). The Andromeda Galaxy and the Pleiades both need two panels, and CovalENS mosaics stitch up to 24 MP, about 4.3° × 2.4°. Check framing in the FOV calculator.
Planets aren’t a strength: at about 2.44 arcseconds per pixel, Jupiter is roughly 18 pixels across. See what your sky allows in the sky target checker.
App and workflow
The Vespera 3 runs on Vaonis’ Singularity app, with no subscription we could find on Vaonis’ site. Its best workflow feature is automatic multi-night capture: frame a target once and the scope resumes stacking on later nights, which suits faint nebulae that need hours.
Digital Camera World found startup alignment took over five minutes and the touch power button confusing. On the plus side, the 11-hour battery (Zelpio got about 12 hours) and 115 GB of usable storage mean you rarely cut a night short.
One spec oddity: Space.com’s launch article says 8.5 MP, while Vaonis and reviewers say 8.3 MP, which matches the IMX585.
What you’ll need beyond the box
- A dual-band filter for suburban skies. The Vaonis Dual Band filter (H-alpha and OIII) is the biggest upgrade for emission nebulae. It’s sold for “Vespera” and Vaonis’ Vespera 3 listings don’t confirm this exact part, so check Vaonis’ compatibility list first. The broadband Vaonis CLS filter carries the same caveat and does much less against LED lighting. Our filter guide explains when each helps.
- Solar. Vaonis sells a solar filter separately. ISO 12312-2 eclipse glasses protect your eyes, never the telescope.
- A red flashlight, such as the Celestron Night Vision.
The tripod, anti-fog and an 11-hour battery are already in the box, so there’s less to add than with most rivals.
How it compares
Hover or tap a dot for details. Full numbers are in the comparison chart.
The Vespera II costs about $1,590 but has a roughly four-hour battery, older optics and no anti-fog. The Vespera Pro 2 adds a 12.5 MP square sensor, automatic darks and manual control for about $2,990, with a smaller field. The Seestar S50 Pro is the value benchmark.
Our Seestar vs Vespera vs Unistellar comparison sets the brands side by side.
Bottom line
The Vespera 3 is Vaonis getting serious about optics, battery and warranty, and Digital Camera World’s first results are promising. The price is the catch: about $2,490 for no built-in filters, no EQ mode and no automatic darks. Buy it if build quality, all-night battery and a five-year warranty matter more than value. Check the Vespera 3 price on Amazon.
See what the Vespera 3 can capture from your sky in the sky target checker, or frame any target in the field-of-view calculator.
Accessories for the Vespera 3
Official and compatible add-ons sold on Amazon: filters, solar filters, tripods and wedges, power banks, dew control and cases. Check the listing confirms your exact model before you buy.
- FilterVaonis Vespera Dual Band filter (AC022)Official Vaonis
H-alpha + OIII dual narrowband filter that the Vespera detects automatically, for nebulae from light-polluted skies. Sold for 'Vespera'; Vaonis' newer Vespera 3 and Pro 2 listings don't confirm this exact part. Check the maker's compatibility list before ordering.
- FilterVaonis Light Pollution (CLS) filter for VesperaOfficial Vaonis
Broadband light-pollution filter that threads onto the Vespera (78 mm thread) to cut sodium and mercury-vapor glow while keeping star color. Broadband filters help far less with modern white LED light pollution than dual-band filters do.
- SolarCelestron EclipSmart universal solar filter (75–100 mm)Universal fit
Adjustable ISO 12312-2 compliant film filter for objectives with an outside diameter of 75–100 mm, such as spotting scopes and some traditional telescopes. Too big for 30–50 mm smart scopes; use the maker's own solar filter on those.
- SolarThousand Oaks black-polymer solar filter sheet, 4 × 4 inUniversal fit
DIY solar film for making a secure full-aperture filter cell for a small scope or camera lens. Only for confident DIYers: the cell must fit tightly over the front so it can't blow off. Never use a filter at the eyepiece end.
- SolarSoluna ISO 12312-2 solar eclipse glasses (2-pack)Universal fit
For looking at the Sun with your own eyes while the scope images it; never look through a telescope with them.
- PowerAnker 737 power bank, 24,000 mAh, 140 WUniversal fit
USB-C PD power bank big enough to run a 30–50 mm smart scope through a long winter night, when cold cuts battery life. Check your scope's manual for supported USB-C input while observing; Unistellar, Vaonis and Celestron Origin use their own batteries and chargers.
- PowerUGREEN Nexode 100 W power bank, 20,000 mAhUniversal fit
Cheaper USB-C PD bank that also tops up your phone, which runs the telescope's app all night.
- ObservingCelestron Night Vision red LED flashlightUniversal fit
Dimmable red light keeps your dark adaptation for finding cables, levels and the tripod at night.
Compatibility checked November 2026. More in our smart telescope accessories guide.
Featured in our guides
- The 7 Best Smart Telescopes of 2026: Ranked for Backyard, Travel and Budget
- Seestar vs Vespera vs Unistellar: Which Smart Telescope Brand Fits You?
- The Best Filters for Smart Telescopes: Built-In, Dual-Band, Broadband and Solar
- The Best Winter Targets for Smart Telescopes: Orion, the Pleiades, the Rosette and More
