Vaonis Vespera II
A compact refractor, with Vaonis's 8.3 MP Sony sensor
At a glance
Thin cloud5.4 out of 10
The Vespera II pairs a wide maker-quoted field of view and autofocus with a 50 mm aperture and a 5 kg weight.
Five scores, from 1 to 10
- Light graspaperture, against every scope listed here4.4
- Detailfocal length and pixel size4
- Field of viewhow much sky fits in one frame7
- Portabilitycarry weight, without the tripod4.7
- Easebattery, autofocus, dew heater, light pollution handling7
Mean score 5.4 out of 10
The sums behind these figures are set out on how scores work. With no figure from the maker, a row stays empty.
Compared with Unistellar
Unistellar eQuinox 2
£2,299Price at Unistellar's UK shop, 23 October 2026
| Spec | Vaonis Vespera II | Unistellar eQuinox 2 |
|---|---|---|
| Aperture | 50 mm | 114 mm |
| Weight | 5 kg | 7 kg |
| Sensor | 8.3 MP | 6.2 MP |
See the price at UnistellarRead the Unistellar eQuinox 2 page
Specifications and imaging
50 mm (2 in) of aperture makes the Vespera II a small refractor for your garden, with less light grasp than most of the telescopes compared. Its 250 mm focal length and f/5 focal ratio describe the optical system; the aperture is the key figure for comparing how much light it gathers.
The Sony IMX585 image sensor records 8.3 MP, with a pixel size of 2.9 µm and image resolution of 3840 x 2160 pixels. Those figures define the sensor's sampling and output dimensions, rather than promising a particular view of any target. Autofocus is included, so focusing is handled by the telescope rather than being a manual adjustment.
A 2.5° x 1.4° field of view gives the main camera a broad frame, wider than most of the telescopes compared by its longest side. For your observing plans, that field sets how much of the sky fits in one frame; the sensor resolution sets the image dimensions within it.
The 250 mm focal length and 2.9 µm pixels give coarser detail than most of the telescopes compared, based on the finer limit between optical resolving power and two-pixel sampling. This is a comparison of the stated optics and sensor figures, not a promise about detail in a particular image.
Carrying and operation
5 kg is the weight to carry out, excluding the tripod, according to the maker. That makes the Vespera II heavier to carry than most of the telescopes compared. The weight figure gives you a useful indication for carrying it from your home to the garden, while the tripod is not included in that comparison.
The maker states a battery life of 4 hours. That figure sets the quoted operating time between charges, so your planned session length can be compared with the manufacturer's stated duration. Battery life also contributes to the ease ranking alongside the named hands-off features.
The Singularity app is the control app for the smart telescope. With autofocus included, the listed hands-off features reduce the tasks assigned to you, but the combined ease ranking remains below most of the telescopes compared. That ranking averages battery life and the hands-off features named for this line.
Internal storage is 25 GB, giving the telescope space to hold image data. The image resolution of 3840 x 2160 pixels and 8.3 MP sensor provide context for that capacity: storage use depends on the data recorded, so the figure describes space available rather than a fixed number of images.
See it at VaonisVaonis Vespera II, from £1,398, Typical UK retail price, 23 October 2026
Comparison ranks
- Light grasp: Lower than most of the telescopes compared, based on the 50 mm (2 in) aperture.
- Detail: Coarser than most of the telescopes compared, using the finer limit from the 250 mm focal length and 2.9 µm pixels.
- Field: Wider than most of the telescopes compared, judged by the 2.5° longest side of the camera's field.
- Portability: Heavier to carry than most of the telescopes compared, at 5 kg with the tripod excluded.
- Ease: More to do by hand than with most of the telescopes compared, from the 4-hour battery life and autofocus.
The Vespera II's wide 2.5° field and autofocus sit alongside a 50 mm aperture, 5 kg carrying weight and maker-quoted 4-hour battery life.
Specifications
| Optical design | Refractor |
|---|---|
| Aperture | 50 mm (2 in) |
| Focal length | 250 mm |
| Focal ratio | f/5 |
| Sensor | Sony IMX585, 8.3 MP |
| Pixel size | 2.9 µm |
| Image size | 3840 × 2160 px |
| Field of view | 2.5° × 1.4° |
| Limiting magnitude (maker's figure) | not stated by the maker |
| Mount | not stated by the maker |
| Electronic eyepiece | not stated by the maker |
| Filters built in | not stated by the maker |
| Autofocus | Yes |
| Battery life (maker's figure) | 4 h |
| Weight | 5 kg |
| Storage | 25 GB |
| Dew heater | not stated by the maker |
| Weather rating | not stated by the maker |
| App | Singularity app |
Source: the maker's own specification sheet. Where it says "not stated by the maker", the maker has not given that figure so far.
Versions: 3 to choose from
Typical UK retail price, 23 October 2026. Each row leads to that version at the shop.
Strengths and limits
- The Sony IMX585 image sensor is listed at 8.3 MP, with 2.9 µm pixels and an image resolution of 3840 x 2160 pixels.
- The maker quotes a 2.5° x 1.4° field of view, wider than most compared telescopes by the longest side.
- Autofocus is listed, alongside a 25 GB internal storage capacity.
- The 50 mm (2 in) aperture gathers less light than most of the compared telescopes.
- The 250 mm focal length and 2.9 µm pixels give coarser detail than most of the compared telescopes.
- At 5 kg, the weight is heavier to carry out than most of the compared telescopes; the tripod is excluded.
Who it suits, and which skies
A good match if you want a smart telescope with autofocus, a 2.5° x 1.4° field of view or 25 GB of internal storage.
Less so if you prioritise a larger aperture or a lighter weight to carry out.
Bundles and prices for each version sit in the table above; the current line-up is on the shop's own page.
Questions about the Vaonis Vespera II
- How much does it weigh to carry out?
- The maker states a weight of 5 kg, with the tripod excluded in the comparison.
- How long does the battery last on a night out?
- The maker quotes battery life of 4 hours.
- Is its field of view suited to framing a broad patch of sky from a city?
- The maker quotes a 2.5° x 1.4° field of view. The 50 mm aperture gathers less light than most of the compared telescopes.
- What camera resolution and storage does it have?
- The Sony IMX585 image sensor is listed at 8.3 MP, with an image resolution of 3840 x 2160 pixels; internal storage is 25 GB.
- Does it have autofocus, and which app is listed?
- Autofocus is listed, along with the Singularity app. The maker quotes battery life of 4 hours.
Last light
The 50 mm aperture gathers less light than most of the compared telescopes, while the 2.5° x 1.4° field of view frames a wider patch of sky than most. The maker quotes 4 hours of battery life, and lists autofocus and 25 GB of internal storage. At 5 kg, it is heavier to carry out than most of the compared telescopes.
See it at Vaonisfrom £1,398, Typical UK retail price, 23 October 2026
Field notes that mention it
Nearby in the sky: similar scopes
- ZWO Seestar S50 Pro50 mm, 2.8 kg, Tele: 2.8° (Portrait); Wide: 63° (Portrait), £999
- Vaonis Vespera III50 mm, 5 kg, 2.5° × 1.4°, £2,199
- Vaonis Vespera Pro II50 mm, 5 kg, 1.6° × 1.6°, from £2,599
- Unistellar Envision50 mm, 1.2 kg, 6°, £1,299