4 days ago
I tested this smart telescope that pairs with my phone to capture galaxies and nebulas — and it's under $550
Just a little close to a couple of years ago, I tested out my first telescope ever — the Dwarf 2 — which was also happened to my first smart telescope too. It also put me on a path to discovering a new hobby with astrophotography.
I've been testing out Dwarflabs' latest model, the Dwarf 3, to capture many of my favorite deep space objects. Similar to the previous model, the Dwarf 3 features a compact design that fits easily into my backpack and pairs with my smartphone to quickly set targets and capture images. However, another impressive thing I've realized, through testing, is that the Dwarf 3 is also an incredible nature camera.
Capturing astrophotography is a breeze with the Dwarf 3 smart telescope. Not only is it compact in size, but it's also very quick to set up and start using. Plus, you don't need to be a professional to get pro-grade images because it intelligently stacks images for you so that you get stunning shots of nebulas, galaxies, planets, and check: $549 @ Dwarflab
While phones like the Galaxy S25 Ultra are great at zooming, it doesn't come close to matching the Dwarf 3. You could get a decent shot of the moon with the Galaxy S25 Ultra, but the Dwarf 3 blows any phone I've ever used to get moon shots. If that's not enough to convince you, check out some of the galaxies, nebulas, and star clusters I've imaged with the Dwarf 3 below.
Unlike a traditional telescope, which often requires you to set up several components, I just turn on the Dwarf 3, put it on the ground, and then launch the app to calibrate it. In about 5 minutes, I can start searching for targets in the night sky to image.
Once I do, the Dwarf 3 does all the rest — including the stacking of the images, which is what makes it different from a standard telescope. The end results are breathtaking because you don't need a lot of experience to get high-quality images.
Apart from astrophotography, I've also found the Dwarf 3 to be an outstanding nature camera due to its long telephoto zoom. Since I have it on a tripod, I can use the app to track targets — like some birds around my property — to get a close-up look at them that blows away anything I would get from my camera phone.
I'm honestly shocked by the results because it captures rich detail and definition every time. This is ideal for nature photography because I can keep a safe distance without disturbing them. At the same time, the Dwarf 3 can record video as well while using its tracking feature to keep them centered. While birds are tougher for it, I've used it to capture some deer in the far distance and some neighborhood outdoor cats.
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Finally, there's the cost. If you ever look into buying a sophisticated telescope that can capture astrophotography and stack images for you, they can easily run you thousands of dollars. Not to mention, they're also bulky and impractical to bring around with you. In comparison, the Dwarf 3 costs under $550, fits easily into my backpack, and has a fast setup time. For all of these reasons, it's one of my favorite smart telescopes.
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