I Shot the Sky With 2 Smart Telescopes, Both Under $400. Here’s My Take
Astrophotography and wildlife photography require patience, but the payoff is significant — at least it is for me. It also helps to have the right equipment, but high-quality photography gear can get pricey. I’m talkin’ like take-out-a-second-mortgage pricey. A new generation of smaller, more affordable smart scopes is lowering the barrier to entry for these niche photo hobbies with setups under $400.
I tested the $549 DwarfLab Dwarf 3 in 2025, and found it more than serviceable. For this round, I’m testing even more budget-friendly telescopes to see how low you can go and still get images worth the time and effort they demand. I shot wild animals, landscapes, and the moon and stars using two smart telescopes, both around $399 at retail: the new DwarfLab Dwarf Mini ($399) and the ZWO Seestar S30 ($399).
The reviews below are intended to compare and contrast the models, with a hidden course...
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