DanaS

ZWO Seestar S50...It's all built in, simple to use, controlled by a phone or tablet, takes great photos, and you can take video as well. Dwarf II Smart Telescope....The Dwarf II has 2 lenses but the sensor is older, but also the megapixels are more than the Seestar. Vaonis Vespera Smart Telescope - weirdly so much more expensive. not really seeing why.... I think I'm leaning towards the Dwarf II because it has a wide angle lense built in, which may allow me to take time-lapse video of the Milky Way, but according to their support it's going to be in a future software update. Anyone have experience with this one and the company's updates? Any thoughts? Thanks! Dana

@happy-kat The telescope he has is a Celestron https://www.celestron.com/products/travel-scope-70-dx-portable-telescope-with-smartphone-adapter ... very simple and basic.

One more question, with the ZWO Seestar, do you feel the apertura portable telescope battery - 155wh lithium ion battery - for $199 extra is worth it?

I know he is very interested in planetary and deep sky photography. The ZWO Seestar looks pretty great!! Could I beg you to tell me what might be the next level up, in your experience and opinion? Thank you so much for the help. This very novice star-gazer appreciates your kindness. Dana

Hi, I recently reunited with my high school sweetheart. He loves of astronomy (as do I), and would like to get into astrophotography. He's smart and capable. We both have modest budgets as we work in the arts and each have kids to raise. I'd like to invest in something for him to get him started, for the holidays. What's the best way to start? I'm in the $500-$600 range for a gift for him. He has a low-end telescope and has been using his samsung phone for low-light shots. Obviously those aren't adequate. I'd like to surprise him with SOMETHING that would help to give him a boost towards some proper astrophotography. I realize that in total it really requires a full budget of 10x what I'm looking at right now.... still, I thought I'd see if anyone had any advice for me for a starter that was an investment item. Thanks, Dana