Unistellar eVscope 2 - Information (4.5" Newton)

Introduction | About the eVscope | Look | Sensor, Pixel Data, Field of View, Image Size (Pixels) | Visited Sky Objects | How To Observe with the eVscope 2 | First Experiences | Photo Attempts | First Conclusions | Links || Appendix: Data for the Unistellar eVscope 2 | Appendix 2: eVscope 2 vs. eVscope Equinox and vs. the original eVscope | Appendix 3: Published and Sent Photos, Comparisons with the Original eVscope

Archive

Note: This page describes my third sample of the Unistellar eVscope 2 that I received on August 22, 2022 and sold in December 2023.

Note: In December 2023, I sold my eVscope 2. For this reason, I will not report any further experiences with this telescope here.

On this page I provide some information about my electronic 4,5" Newton telescope Unistellar eVscope 2, 112 mm/450 mm (f/4)*. After the launches of the original eVscope at the end of 2019 and of the eVscope Equinox (no eyepiece) in spring 2021, Unistellar launched the eVscope 2 in mid-September 2021. This model looks like the original eVscope, but offers a new sensor chip (IMX347) and an improved electronic eyepiece (designed by Nikon). In many respects, the eVscope 2 looks like "what the original eVscope should have been"... More on the eVscope 2 on this page and from Unistellar!
*) Ordered on November 9, 2021; first sample delivered on December 3, 2021; second sample delivered on April 8, 2022; third sample delivered on August 22, 2022 (only this third sample is covered here).

Notes:

Note: I received my (first) eVscope 2 at the beginning of December 2021. I bought it, because I was convinced by the better image quality* of the published sample photos and by the slightly larger field of view. I therefore sold my original eVscope in mid-March 2022.

*) Since I was not satisfied with the results of my new eVscope 2, Unistellar offered to check and possibly repair my eVscope 2. So, I sent it to Unistellar on February 14, 2022 and received information on February 18 that my eVscope 2 had been repaired and will be returned to me. When asked, I was told that there was a problem with the primary mirror, which was slightly under tension and therefore produced blurry images. As proof of the repair, I received a photo of Alnilam, which looks much better than my similar photo of Alnitak (near the Flame Nebula).

I describe my subsequent tests with the repaired eVscope 2 on the pages First Experiences (After Repair - Part 1) and First Experiences (After Repair - Part 2). According to this, the repair resulted in an improvement, but did not completely eliminate the mirror tension. Unistellar therefore offered me to return my eVscope 2 (end of March 2022) and exchange it for a new one. This arrived on April 8, 2022. For my first experiences with the new eVscope 2 sample, see page First Experiences. Because it suffered from the same issues, I sent it for repair to Unistellar on May 4, 2022.

After inspection, Unistellar offered to send me another new one and also offered to send me photos taken with it beforehand for evaluation. On August 11, 2022, I received a photo, and my third new eVscope 2 arrived at my home on August 22, 2022 (sold in December 2023).

 

Introduction

In September 2021 Unistellar launched the eVscope 2, which offers an improved electronic eyepiece and a new, larger sensor (Sony IMX347). It does not differ much from the original eVscope with respect to its look. It did cost (at its introduction) including the backpack, with which it is sold as a package, 3.800 Euros, that is, 800 Euros more than the original model without a backpack. The differences between the eVscope models (the original eVscop and eQuinox are no longer available) are described here.

Update: On February 1, 2022, I received a newsletter from Unistellar announcing a price increase for the eVscope 2. On the Unistellar Website, I then found prices of 4.700 EUR for the eVscope 2 with backpack (instead of 3.800 EUR) and of 4.500 EUR for the model without a backpack (the eVscope eQuinox remained at 2.800 EUR). All prices one euro less, shipping included, and are given without guarantee...

Photos: My third eVscope 2 (August 22, 2022)

Delivery

While there had been problems with the delivery of my first eVscope 2 copy (but they could be solved...), there were no problems with the delivery of my second copy. It was shipped on April 5, 2022 and arrived at my door on April 8, 2022. The same applies to my third sample, which was shipped on August 17, 2022 and arrived at my door August22, 2022

 

About the eVscope 2

What is the eVscope 2?

Since the eVscope 2 is an update and improvement of the original eVscope, I will not repeat the main characteristics of the eVscope family of electronic telescopes here. See page eVscope - Information for more information on this.

Details and technical data can be found at Data for the Unistellar eVscope 2.

Brief History of the eVscope, Who is Behind the eVscope?

For the history of the eVscope and the people behind it, see eVscope - Information.

Why Did I Buy an eVscope 2?

On the one hand, the eVscope was exactly what I would expect from an electronic telescope. On the other hand, it gave me not only pleasure, but also a lot of frustration. That was to be expected with new technology, but my hope was actually that certain initial problems, especially of the app, would be eliminated faster than actually happened. Nevertheless, I was happy to have opted for the eVscope on Kickstarter. That way, it was considerably more affordable than when I had bought it later at a dealer.

The eVscope's "competition" consists of the Vaonis Stellina and Vespera refractors (I ordered the latter, again on Kickstarter on the one hand), and of self-assembled EAA configurations on the other. I have already explored both of these options (own EAA configurations).

For exploring my own EAA configurations, I bought an Atik Infinity and later also an ASI224 camera. The latter has the same sensor as the eVscope, so that I can use it to compare how the eVscope fares with respect to self-assembled EAA configurations. In comparison with my own EAA configurations, I noticed the aggressive image processing of the eVscope, looking more like "painting" and causing details to be lost (most noticeable and "worst" in the case of the Orion Nebula M 42). However, with app version 1.3, Unistellar released an image processing that, in addition to upscaling the photos, produces much more detailed photos. Actually, I would have to use it to repeat all my eVscope photos, which would be quite an effort....

The Vaonis telescopes, on the other hand, provide better image quality than the eVscope, but in return you have to wait much longer for the result, at least if you value good image quality. What this means in detail, I alreadey found out after the Vespera had arrived at my place. Overall, the Vaonis telescopes seem to me to offer a very different "observing experience" than the eVscope: you have to be much more patient! When I present the eVscope to others, I notice how their patience runs out after just a few minutes. In that case, a Stellina or Vespera would probably not be appropriate at all.... Thus, the eVscope shines for me with its quick and easy setup and the possibility to access and photograph many targets in one evening. With my own EAA configurations, on the other hand, I never got beyond testing.... I put some hope on the StellarMate astrocomputer, with which I can set up small equipments in 5-10 minutes. But I have not yet been able to gain any sufficient experience with its GoTo behavior...

Somewhat surprisingly for me, Unistellar announced the eVscope 2 in September 2021, whose most important innovation for me is a new sensor (IMX 347) with slightly more pixels and a little more field of view - enough to show the moon completely now. At first, the eVscope 2 did not appeal to me much, especially since I found 10% discount for eVscope owners to be quite "stingy". However, after more and more image samples (there are still far too few!) were published, I started to change my opinion. Somehow, the eVscope 2 seemed to me like the telescope the eVscope should have been. And because I am quite convinced of the basic concept of the eVscope, I decided to order the eVscope 2 before the rebate period expired (which was not without problems...) and received it on December 3, 2021 after a "one-day detour" to Dresden.

However, this first sample had a main mirror under tension, which could not be completely eliminated even with a repair by Unistellar. So Unistellar finally offered me to exchange the first specimen for a new one, which was done in early April 2022. At the beginning of May 2022, I also sent this second copy to Unistellar for inspection/repair. Since the problems could not be solved, Unistellar offered to send me another new eVscope 2. This third new sample is the topic of this page.

 

Look

Note: In order to save some unnecessary work, I partly present the unboxing of my second eVscope 2 sample here (from April 2022). Everything should look the same with the third sample...

Unboxing

The Box

    
    

The box

 

Ditto

  

Small damage to the box - not an issue...

Weight: 17.7 kg

Size: 800 x 575 x 340 mm (L x W x H)

 		  
 

 

  

The height...

 

The labels...

Opening the Box

          

Box opened

 

The Universe Awaits! (inner lid opened)

 

Second inner lid opened
   

Foam lid removed

  

Backpack (with telescope) taken out

 

The empty box

Unpacked Accessories

         

Box content including manuals; you can see the backpack, tripod, and accessory box

 

Ditto, accessories taken out of the accessory box

 

Accessories taken out of the plastic bags

 
 

Here with the accessories that I need

 

Tripod extented

 

Tripod collapsed

       
       

Tripod seen from above with bubble level

Backpack Content...

    
    

Backpack opened: You can see the eVscope 2 and the bag for the accessories

 

eVscope 2 in backpack, accessory bag removed

  Accessory bag with toolbag and power supply
         

eVscope 2 somewhat taken out of the backpack, the security foam is visible

  

eVscope 2 with security foam

  

Ditto, security foam removed

Assembled - eVscope 2 Look*

*) Photos from my 2nd eVscope 2 (April 2022)

    
    

eVscope 2 on its tripod

 

Ditto, charging

 

Ditto, closer view

 
 

eVscope 2, closer look*

  

The proud owner with his eVscope 2*

  

Ditto*

Details*

*) Photos from my 2nd eVscope 2 (April 2022)

   

USB connections

  

Focuser

  

Lid and Bahtinov mask

         

Eypiece with lid

 

Eypiece without lid

 

Lid and Bahtinov mask, other sides

Backpack*

*) Photos from my 2nd eVscope 2 (April 2022)

      
Backpack, tripod side   Backpack, other side

 

Backpack, tripod
 
 

Backpack

  

Backpack in action

 

Ditto
 
 

Ditto

  

Ditto

  

Ditto
      

Baclpack

  

Rain cover pulled out

  

Ditto
   

Rain cover pulled over backpack (no tripod)

 

Ditto, back side

 

Ditto, back side

 

Sensor, Pixel Data, Field of View, Image Size (Pixels)

The eVscope2 uses the new sensor Sony IMX347 (CMOS), with a used resolution of about 3 MegaPixels, or 2048 x 1536 pixels (H/V). The pixel size is 2.9µm (quadratic pixels).

With this, all sizes are known to calculate the field of view of the eVscope, which amounts to 0.78° x 0.57° (47' x 34').

The following table shows the eVscope 2, eVscope, and Vaonis Vespera in comparison with my current telescope tubes at the ASI224MC* and Atik Infinity:

 
Field of View
 
Telescope Reducer Focal Length Aperture ASI224MC* ASI294MC Atik Infinity* Remarks
PS 72/432 --- 432 72 0.65° x 0.48° 2.54° x 1.73° 1.19° x 0.89° The largest FOV
C5 --- 1250 127 0.22° x 0.17° 0.88° x 0.60° 0.41° x 0.31° FOV like C8 with reducer
C5 f/6.3 787.5 127 0.36° x 0.17° 1.40° x 0.95° 0.65° x 0.49° FOV a little smaller as with TLAPO1027
C8* --- 2032 203 0.14° x 0.1° 0.54° x 0.37° 0.25° x 0.19° The smallest FOV
C8* f/6.3 1280 203 0.22° x 0.16° 0.86° x 0.58° 0.4° x 0.3° FOV like C5
TLAPO1027 --- 714 102 0.39° x 0.29° 1.54° x 1.05° 0.72° x 0.54° FOV a little larger than for C5 with reducer
        in Degrees   in Minutes  
eVscope* --- 450 114 0.61° x 0.46   36.7' x 27.6' Same sensor as ASI224: Sony IMX224
eVscope 2 --- 450 114 0.78° x 0.57°*   47' x 34' *New sensor: Sony IMX347
Vespera   50 200 1.6° x 0.9°**   90' x 54' (ca.) ** New sensor: Sony IMX462

*) No longer in my possession (I bought an ASI294MC, having four times the FOV, instead of the ASI224MC)

Image Size (Pixels)

Sony's IMX347 sensor can be used with different pixel numbers; 2688 x 1520 pixels are recommended by Sony; 2712 x 1538 effective pixels are the maximum possible.

Unistellar has opted for the following image formats:

The eVscope 2 uses the same app as the original eVscope and the eVscope eQuinox; the app was upgraded to version 2 in summer 2022.

 

Visited Sky Objects

For visited DSO, see page My Deep Sky Observations with the eVscope 2 (Complete List of Observed DSO).

 

How To Observe with the eVscope 2

See page The new Unistellar App is here ! from Unistellar and the video Short Tutorial on the App 2.0 that is linked to from that page for using the eVscope (2) with the new app version 2.0.

 

First Experiences

Observations

For space reasons, I will defer my first observation experiences to an extra page. See page First Experiences for more information.

 

Photo Attempts

See page First Experiences.

 

First Conclusions

Foreword

Since I was not satisfied with the results of my new eVscope 2, Unistellar offered to check and possibly repair my eVscope 2. So, I sent it to Unistellar on February 14, 2022 and received information on February 18, 2022 that my eVscope 2 had been repaired and will be returned to me. When asked, I was told that there was a problem with the primary mirror, which was slightly under tension and therefore produced blurry images. As proof of the repair, I received a photo of Alnilam, which was taken with my eVscope 2 after the repair. It looks much better than my similar photo of Alnitak (near the Flame Nebula).

According to my subsequent tests with the repaired eVscope 2, the repair resulted in an improvement, but did not completely eliminate the mirror tension. Unistellar therefore offered me to return my eVscope 2 (end of March 2022) and exchange it for a new one, which arrived on April 8, 2022. Because it suffered from the same issues, I sent it for repair to Unistellar at the beginning of May 2022. After inspection, Unistellar offered to send me another new one and also offered to send me photos taken with it beforehand for evaluation. On August 11, 2022, I received a photo, and my third new eVscope 2 arrived at my home on August 22, 2022; this is the sample that I describe on this page.

Preliminary Conclusions

Even in April 2023, it is still too early to draw a first conclusion. This is also due to the winter, which offered only few observation opportunities. In addition, there was the competition from "Vespera", which was often preferred to the eVscope 2. Nevertheless, in the meantime I have created pages where I compare the eVscope 2 photos with those of the original eVscope and with those of the Vespera:

In the end, it turned out for me that the eVscope 2 is in a similar league to the original eVscope as far as the quality of the photos is concerned. The "leap in quality" that the sample photos from Unistellar suggested did not happen, at least not for me. In comparison with the Vespera, the latter is clearly ahead in terms of image quality; this also applies to the shape of the stars. Only in the details and with small objects (e.g. small planetary nebulae and galaxies) does the eVscope 2 have the edge because of the smaller field of view. In this respect, it is not only the image quality, but also the type of targets that interest you that can tip the scales in favour of one of the telescopes. In addition, with the Vespera everything runs more "leisurely" and the observation times are also far beyond the 5-10 minutes typical of the eVscope. The Vespera's mosaic mode is something that the eVscope does not (yet) offer, but here patience is even more required. My (currently) last mosaic took 3 hours (minimum about 1 hour)! Such observation times are of course not suitable for showing the sky to other people. After a few minutes, interest generally wanes. The eVscope is therefore the choice when it comes to showing celestial objects to interested people, alone or in an astronomy club.

In the meantime, the eVscope family has received new software with app version 2, which is more or less equivalent to the Singularity app of the Vespera. In any case, I have no problems operating either app. However, the Unistellar app is still plagued with errors, while the Singularity app runs quite stably (for me). The latter also applies to the Mosaic mode and the Vespera's new continuous autofocus, both of which are still in beta state.

In the end, I decided to sell my eVscope 2, which I did in December 2023.

 

Links

 

Appendix: Data for the Unistellar eVscope 2

Hardware

Bag

Electronics

Smarts

Sensor Data

Backpack Features

Carefully designed with the world-leading manufacturer of large telephoto lens transportation bags, the eVscope backpack is made of tough reinforced fabric, and carefully padded with high-density foam to protect your telescope from any shock.

The ideal accessory to take full advantage of the eVscope’s portability. (Source: Unistellar Help Center)

 

Appendix 2: eVscope 2 vs. eQuinox, eQuinox 2, and the original eVscope

The differences between the models (the original eVscope is no longer available; I assume that the same accounts for the original eQuinox) are described in the table below (from Unistellar Help Center: Compare our smart telescopes : eQuinox VS eQuinox 2 VS eVscope 2), to which I added some information; the table incudes the new eQuinox 2 (January 2023):

Specifications eQuinox eVscope eVscope 2 eQuinox 2
Battery Life up to 11h
(no eyepiece)		 up to 9h up to 9h up to 11h
(no eyepiece)
µSD Storage Capacity 64GB 16GB 64GB 64GB
Display --- OLED screen OLED screen ---
HARDWARE
Optical Magnification: 50x ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔
Digital Magnification: up to 400x (150x recommended maximum) ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔
Field of View 27 arcmin x 37 arcmin 27 arcmin x 37 arcmin 34 arcmin x 47 arcmin 34 arcmin x 47 arcmin
Max Magnitude: <16 in the medium quality night sky in under a minute, up to 18 in excellent conditions in a few minutes ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔
Resolving Power (Image Scale) 1.72 arcsec 1.72 arcsec 1.33 arcsec 1.33 arcsec
Mirror Diameter: 4.5" ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔
Focal Length: 450 mm ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔
Motorized Alt-Az Mount with extreme tracking accuracy thanks to Automated Celestial Tracking with Feedback ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔
Weight: 19.8 lbs (9 kg) including tripod ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔
ELECTRONICS
Sensor Technology: Sony Exmor with NIR technology ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔
Sensor Model IMX224 IMX224 IMX347 IMX347
Pixel Size 3.75 x 3.75 µm 3.75 x 3.75 µm 2.9 x 2.9 µm 2.9 x 2.9 µm
Pixels 1280 x 960 1280 x 960 2048 x 1536 2048 x 1536
Megapixels approx. 1.23** approx. 1.23** approx. 3.15*** approx. 3.15***
Photo Pixels in EV Mode (since app version 1.3/1.4) 2560 x 1920 2560 x 1920 3200 * 2400 2875 x 2156***
Photo Megapixels in EV Mode (since App Version 1.3/1.4) 4.9* 4.9* 7.7* 6.2*

*) According to Unistellar; **) according to Sony; ***) estimated by me
more on the eVscope on page Unistellar eVscope - Information (4.5" Newton)!

 

Appendix 3: Published and Sent Photos, Comparisons with the Original eVscope

Here, I present photos that Unistellar has published on their Website (eVscope 2 product page), or photos that Unistellar sent me on request. The published photos are reduced in size and partly cropped, the sent ones are, except for the moon, in their original format (the large versions). I do neither know, whether these photos were post-processed, nor how long they were exposed (dwell time in EV or LV mode).

Published

    
    

Bubble Nebula NGC 7635

 

NGC 891

    

Moon

  

Helix Nebula

Sent

    
 

Moon

  

M 33 (Original: 3200 x 2400)

   
   

M 33 (processed; original: 3200 x 2400)

    

Saturn (original: 2048 x 1536)

 

Jupiter (original: 2048 x 1536)

New in November 2021

    
 

M 16 (Eagle Nebula)

 

Sculptor Galaxy

 

Tarantula Nebula

  

Triangulum Galaxy

Comparisons with the Original eVscope

The photos that were taken with the original eVscope, were taken by me and are post-processed.

eVscope 2

 

eVscope
    

Bubble Nebula NGC 7635

 

Bubble Nebula NGC 7635 (processed)

 

NGC 891

 

NGC 891 (processed)

    

Moon

  

Moon (processed and sharpened)

 

Moon

  

Moon (processed and sharpened)
    

M 33 (original: 3200 x 2400)

 

M 33 (processed)

 

M 33 (processed; original: 3200 x 2400)

 

M 33 << eVscope 2

 

M 16 (Eagle Nebula)

 

M 16 (Eagle Nebula)

 

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16.12.2023