This is the comparison everyone will be searching for by October, so let's be upfront about the unusual part: one of these telescopes doesn't officially exist yet. ZWO has discontinued the original Seestar S50 and an S50 Pro is widely expected later in 2026 — but ZWO has published no official specs or price. What follows separates confirmed fact from credible reporting from guesswork, clearly labeled.
What's confirmed
The original Seestar S50 is discontinued. The Dwarf 3 is available now at around $499: 35mm aperture telephoto plus a 13.5mm wide lens, 8.3MP Sony IMX678 sensor, built-in VIS/Astro/duo-band filter wheel, 1.3 kg.
What's credibly reported about the S50 Pro
Industry coverage points to a launch in mid-to-late 2026 at somewhere between $599 and $799, keeping the 50mm aperture with improved optics, a higher-resolution sensor (the original's 2.1MP chip was its weakest spec), a wider field of view, and possibly an equatorial tracking mode like the S30 Pro introduced. Treat all of it as provisional until ZWO speaks.
The comparison that matters today
| Dwarf 3 (shipping) | Seestar S50 Pro (expected) | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | ~$499 | $599–799 (reported) |
| Aperture | 35mm + wide lens | 50mm (expected) |
| Sensor | 8.3MP IMX678 | Upgraded, unconfirmed |
| Filters | VIS / Astro / duo-band wheel | Dual-band (expected) |
| Weight | 1.3 kg | Likely ~2.5+ kg |
| Availability | Now | Unannounced |
How to decide right now
Buy the Dwarf 3 now if you want to shoot this summer's nebula season, you travel with your gear, or your budget stops near $500. It's a known, excellent quantity, and the S50 Pro's rumored price puts it in a different bracket anyway.
Wait for the S50 Pro if you're a fixed-backyard imager who wants maximum aperture, you already lean toward ZWO's ecosystem, and you can sit out a few months. The 50mm class with a modern sensor could be the sweet spot of the whole category — if the price lands at the low end of the reported range.
The third option people forget: the Seestar S30 Pro ($549) is shipping today with the equatorial mode and wider framing. If the "Pro" features are what attracted you, you don't necessarily have to wait.
Our take
The Dwarf 3 wins every comparison you can actually verify, because it's the only one you can buy. That sounds glib, but with clear-sky nights being a finite resource, "shipping" is a spec. We'll re-run this comparison with real numbers the day ZWO makes it official — this page will be updated.
Last updated July 8, 2026. This article will be revised when ZWO publishes official S50 Pro specifications.