Our Impressions of the DWARF 3 Smart Telescope

November 9, 2025

After some shipping delays, we finally received the DWARF 3 this past spring. Naturally, we were eager to test its performance and see how it compares to our much-used Seestar S50, in the same price range. Comparing the two is not straightforward, as each has its own strengths and weaknesses.

The Seestar is very user-friendly and gets new users up and running immediately. With the DWARF 3, it takes a little more time to explore the options and settings, but once you get the hang of it, it becomes intuitive.

It’s clear that this smart telescope appeals to two types of users: nature photographers and astrophotographers.

The Dwarf 3 is easy to carry

The Dwarf 3 can be placed on any flat surface or mounted on a large or small tripod.

The Dwarf 3 can also be used very well for nature photography.

Easy set-up, and wide field

One feature that stands out with the DWARF 3 is that it doesn’t require calibration or leveling — it does this automatically. This is a big convenience. You can place the DWARF anywhere — on a taller tripod or a flat surface — whereas the Seestar requires a tripod for rotation. The DWARF rotates on its own built-in platform.

Another advantage is the wide field of view. For example, you can capture both the Western and Eastern Veil Nebula in a single observing session without switching to mosaic mode, which is required on the (framing mode) Seestar and can be time-consuming.

For example, in just three hours we were able to capture the entire Andromeda Galaxy as well as the full Heart Nebula with the Fishhead Nebula — all on a night that wasn’t very clear, with light pollution and moonlight. This really shows the power of the Dwarf 3.

The Andromeda Galaxy can be captured effortlessly in just a few hours:

The DWARF also makes image processing user-friendly. Photos can be uploaded directly online to the telescope’s Stellar Studio, which returns a denoised and polished version in minutes.

Of course, the DWARF 3’s 30 mm lens is smaller than the Seestar’s 50 mm lens, which affects light-gathering and detail.

Nature Photography

We also tested the DWARF 3 for nature photography, and it performed admirably. It’s easy to carry, stable, and works well with both telephoto and wide-angle lenses, also producing beautiful and stable video footage. One minor observation is that colors can occasionally appear slightly reddish or pinkish in natural shots.

Video recording of starlings and images of the Heart and Fishead Nebula,…