BeaverLAB Finder TW2 telescope review: this all-in-one astrophotography rig is not what it seems

A poor build quality and a basic camera makes this telescope anything but smart

BeaverLAB Finder TW2 telescope on a tripod with some blurred green plants int he background
(Image: © Jamie Carter / Digital Camera World)

Digital Camera World Verdict

Touted as the last word in astrophotography, the Finder TW2 cannot track objects, suffers from poor build quality and has no fine-tuning controls. However, it does reasonably well with the moon and sun.

Pros

  • +

    + Extremely lightweight

  • +

    Affordable price

  • +

    Includes planetary camera

  • +

    Has a solar filter

Cons

  • -

    No fine-tune tools

  • -

    Poor build quality

  • -

    Soft-looking images

  • -

    Camera and app freezes and crashes

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If you've ever tried afocal astrophotography, the BeaverLAB Finder TW2 may be for you. Holding a smartphone camera up to the lens of a telescope is tricky, and while it is possible to create spectacular images of the moon, it's trial and error. Step forward the BeaverLAB Finder TW2, a refractor telescope that eschews smartphone telescope adapters and goes instead for something that makes it unique: its own digital camera.

Does that make the Finder TW2 a smart telescope? No, it does not. This is a dashcam-style camera piggybacking on a manual telescope. The concept may be novel, but it lacks the niceties of a smart telescope – chiefly its inability to self-align or a motorized mount to automatically slew to objects and keep them in the field of view.

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Sensor: 1/1.8-inch CMOS sensor
Aperture: 82 mm/3.2-inch
Focal ratio: f/6.1
Focal length: 500 mm/19.69-inch
Optics: 85mm/3.4-inch reflector
Storage: 30 GB
Connections: USB-C
Mount: Altazimuth
Battery capacity: 6,000 mAh (six hours run-time)
Weight: 3.8kg/8.38lbs
Dimensions: 190x85mm/48x3.4-inches (telescope tube)
Disclaimer

Be cautious when backing products on crowdfunding sites like IndieGogo, as there are no refunds if you change your mind, and no guarantees that you will receive the product should development be canceled. BeaverLAB is an established name, and we had hands-on with the BeaverLAB Finder TW2 and can verify it is a legitimate product, but we don't endorse crowdfunding sites. If you have any doubts, we would suggest waiting until it hits store shelves.

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FeaturesThe promise of HD images and 4K videos on a telescope makes this a unique proposition, at least in theory.★★★☆☆
DesignThe concept of a simple, lightweight telescope with a twist-on camera is attractive, as is the product, but the build quality could be better. ★★★☆☆
PerformanceWith a mount that causes droop and inaccuracy and no fine-tuning controls, finding objects and keeping them in the Finder TW2's field of view is a constant battle. ★★☆☆☆
ValueIt may be affordable, but plenty of better-value manual and even smart telescopes are available for the same (or less) outlay.★★☆☆☆
ZWO Seestar S50

ZWO Seestar S50

Boasting the same resolution as Finder TW2 but adding a motorized mount and a much better app, this budget-busting smart telescope can image the deep sky, moon, and sun and is hugely superior.

Vaonis Vespera 2

Vaonis Vespera 2

More portable than Finder TW2 and with a higher resolution of 6.8 megapixels, this grab-and-go smart telescope can even stack and assemble panoramas of deep-sky objects and image the moon and sun.

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Jamie Carter
Astrophotography expert

Jamie has been writing about all aspects of technology for over 14 years, producing content for sites like TechRadar, T3, Forbes, Mashable, MSN, South China Morning Post, and BBC Wildlife, BBC Focus and BBC Sky At Night magazines. 

As the editor for www.WhenIsTheNextEclipse.com, he has a wealth of enthusiasm and expertise for all things astrophotography, from capturing the Perseid Meteor Shower, lunar eclipses and ring of fire eclipses, photographing the moon and blood moon and more.

He also brings a great deal of knowledge on action cameras, 360 cameras, AI cameras, camera backpacks, telescopes, gimbals, tripods and all manner of photography equipment.