telescopecomparison · 2-way
William Optics RedCat 51 WIFD vs Vaonis Vespera 3
William Optics
RedCat 51 WIFD
Best suited for beginners and wide-field enthusiasts running a portable travel rig.
Specifications
| Specification | William Optics RedCat 51 WIFD | Vaonis Vespera 3 |
|---|---|---|
| Optics | ||
| Type | Refractor | smart-telescope |
| Optical design | Petzval APO | Apochromatic quadruplet all-in-one |
| Aperture | 51mm | 50mm |
| Focal length | 250mm | 245mm |
| Native f/ratio | f/4.9 | f/4.9 |
| Image circle | 45mm | — |
| Full-frame support | Yes | No |
| Physical | ||
| Weight | 1.6kg | 5.0kg |
Advantages of William Optics RedCat 51 WIFD
- Larger image circle (45mm) — supports bigger sensors
- Lighter (1.6kg vs 5kg) — easier to travel with
Advantages of Vaonis Vespera 3
Closely matched on the compared specs.
Best for — William Optics RedCat 51 WIFD
- Wide-field nebulae and Milky Way regions
- Fast imaging — short exposures per sub
- Full-frame astro cameras and DSLRs
Best for — Vaonis Vespera 3
- Wide-field nebulae and Milky Way regions
- Fast imaging — short exposures per sub
William Optics RedCat 51 WIFD — typical FOV & scale
- With Full-frame (36×24mm, 3.76µm)FOV: 8.25° × 5.50°Scale: 3.10"/px
- With APS-C (23.5×15.7mm, 3.76µm)FOV: 5.39° × 3.60°Scale: 3.10"/px
- With IMX533 square (11.3×11.3mm, 3.76µm)FOV: 2.59° × 2.59°Scale: 3.10"/px
Vaonis Vespera 3 — typical FOV & scale
- With Full-frame (36×24mm, 3.76µm)FOV: 8.42° × 5.61°Scale: 3.17"/px
- With APS-C (23.5×15.7mm, 3.76µm)FOV: 5.50° × 3.67°Scale: 3.17"/px
- With IMX533 square (11.3×11.3mm, 3.76µm)FOV: 2.64° × 2.64°Scale: 3.17"/px
William Optics RedCat 51 WIFD — recommended user
Best suited for beginners and wide-field enthusiasts running a portable travel rig.
Vaonis Vespera 3 — recommended user
Best suited for beginners and wide-field enthusiasts running a portable travel rig.
