Just bought the SkyGuider Pro after watching this review. I was looking for a portable setup as well as a gap filler while my iOptron Gem 28 is getting repaired. Gotta say I am impressed! Took 60x3 min subs at ISO 800 on my modified Canon T5i w/flats, darks, and bias frames added, unguided. The result was way better than I expected! As always, great content and perfect for decision making. Keep up the great work and content. Hope all is well in the new place! Jeff
I am tossing my hat into the ring in favour of the Sky-Watcher Star Adventurer, Pro Pack edition. Had mine for a month now and absolutely love it. Shooting with Canon 7D Mkii, and 300mm f4 lens for deep sky, and 18-135mm for wide. So far I have decent shots of M31, M45 and some Milky Way. Took it with me on a motorcycle trip to Ontario let month, but didn't use it until I went to a true dark site (Grasslands national park) on the way back. It is small, portable, very capable and affordable. $545 shipped right to my door. $389US at B&H Runs forever on a USB portable battery, but can run off of 4 AA batteries. Also does allow auto-guiding Now I just got to get image processing down. My results are not as good as Trevor's, with the same amount of light data.
I'm in favor of this mount from what I've seen (I don't actually have it). It's $400 which is the cheapest of the 3 and it still preforms so well that I'm considering buying it.
I am the very happy owner of a Skyguider Pro. It carries my WO Z73 and DSLR easily- With an intervalometer there's no external battery or computer required. VERY portable and very capable. Thanks, Trevor for the great videos!
I’m not one for subscribing generally but this guy has impressed me in all of his videos. Frank, honest advice and some great photos to evidence his credibility. He’s nailed it.
SAI· DEE·REE·UHL. Got it. Which star tracker do you use? Please let me know if you agree with my choices! If you want to dig deeper into the specs of these mounts, I wrote a massive post on the subject: astrobackyard.com/star-tracker-astrophotography/
Great video. I researched a bunch of different mounts at the beginning of summer and ultimately I went with the Skywatcher Star Tracker pro as it seemed to handle one of the heavier payloads (11 pounds), and haven't been disappointed at all.
Both brands seem to do what they are built to do, I have friends who swear by both. I bought the iOptron (least expensive) and completed my first four minute exposure with a 16 mm Sony A7R3 and 16-35 f/2.8 Sony zoom, it was corner to corner sharp.
It's not as bad as people think. You can easily get all of this within 2 to 3 years of properly budgeting and saving your money. Always look for discounts or used equipment, then you can trade up as you save more. Takes a bit but you'll get there eventually
I am trying to get a astro setup over 2-3 years, I just bought an entry level DSLR and tripod and have started imaging untracked. You can check out my results on instagram @astroabood7
Im 17 and i do it by saving up. You actually dont need all the equipment and a lot of additional equipment can be 3d printed for cheap. Another plus point ia that, when you have cost constraints, you come up with really innovative alternatives.
Just joined your page and I have to say thank you so much for everything that you've taught me in this deeply satisfying hobby. Maybe about a year ago on Instagram you liked two of my photos of the Orion Nebula on which is my favorite deep sky object and that really meant alot. Always looking forward to your new content! Hope you and yours have a great day! Clear Skies
I had some doubts initially with the LighTrack, since they claim an incredible periodic error (2 arcsecs), which is even better than most "big" mounts (and obviously better than any other star tracker, the second best I know is the AstroTrac with 5 arcsecs). However, after I fixed my flexure and polar alignment problems (with an equatorial head and SharpCap + small guidescope), I realized the mount is really so precise. You can easily use it even with small telescopes. I get tack sharp pictures with my 400mm lens and 4 minute exposures - unguided (btw, it also has an autoguide port). And even though it doesn't have an internal battery, it will work for multiple nights with the smallest power bank. Such a brilliant piece of engineering.
clear skies and a blackout these days. I remember in the 70's sleeping in my backyard and seeing a massive number of stars... these days .. I'm lucky if I see 3 with the naked eye.. I am thankful for the video because I would love to get into this hobby. Everything I can learn is helpful.
Having a "baked in" battery is nifty at first, but if you can't install new batteries- you are stuck with servicing or breaking the warranty. Lithium Ion batteries are great, but they do wear out after enough charging/discharging cycles. Just a thought. Just as they are temperature sensitive, freezing temperatures kills them quick... Adding a battery pack (LiIon/ LiPo) with a stable 12v output is an option if you want mobility, but you have to be strict with maintenance on those. 12V Lead gel batteries work well too, but are heavy/ bulky and deliver 14.4V when fully charged. Study up on those points if you want to have a stable mobile power source.
I've been a sky watcher for over 10 years now using a 10" and a 12" dobsonian telescopes. Now I want to photograph some deep space nebula and galaxy. Thanks for the video and the advice......it helps a lot.
Great videos. I'm just getting into the idea of Astrophotography. Been binge watching your videos and just purchased the WO ZenithStar 73 based on your recommendation and blog post, as well as the HEQ-5 mount. The biggest hurdle I foresee for myself is learning the workflow and software of setting up all this equipment, linking everything together and everything that leads up to actually acquiring images.
If you're new into Astrophotography, the gear you bought might scare you off... I started with a simple Omegon LX2 star tracker, and now I'm awaiting my Skywatcher Star Adventurer. Later, I will use Autoguiding with this mount as well. Step by step. I've seen a lot of tutorials, and I kind of know my way around the software as well as the gear. I I don't want to be all negative. You have good equipement, no doubt about that, but it won't be easy for you if this is how you are going to start your astrophotography... :\
@@o0L4nc3r0o Not sure exactly what you mean by "it won't be easy for you if this is how you are going to start your astrophotography" ? I expect a STEEP learning curve, but not sure what you mean -- this gear will scare me off? How so? Thanks!
@@kimiwaffles I think the point being made is, this hobby is best learned and most enjoyed by taking easy steps first, enjoying the satisfaction completing those bring, and then moving ahead a notch or two, and experiencing that joy and satisfaction of reaching another level of quality in your observing, knowledge and imaging. The learning curve IS steep. What Trevor does here took him years to learn, even though he makes it look easy. Jimmy Page also makes playing the guitar look easy, but.... (you get the idea). Trevor is at the Eric Clapton level as far as I'm concerned. Now, with all the computerization of the hobby, figuring out thing like ASCOM and PHD2 just add to the curve, and can be quite discouraging. I started out years ago with just a pair of binoculars and a star chart, moved from there to a ShortTube 80, and then to a Celestron C8 (back in the 90s - pre anything digital), and am still hitting walls and frustrations, and calling tech centers when I get something new and cannot quite get it to work. You are starting out not with rookie, but intermediate level equipment, and will probably hit a few walls. But with all the help there is online and in local groups today, you should be fine. Just don't get frustrated, and as Churchill said, "NEVER GIVE UP!"
@@jimm5593 Thanks for the explanation and encouragement Jim! There are a lot of resources out there, which is awesome. I've taken some great photos of the moon and planets using my Celestron 130SLT and Celestron 8SE but the AltAz mount is keeping me from taking any long exposure photos. I'm hoping I can make it through the learning curve and start producing some "fair" images by next summer! Lofty goals but I'm great with technology and a fast learner, but IMPATIENT AS HECK! We'll see how this goes... ;)
@@kimiwaffles Well, this changes things a bit. In your first post you said that you were just starting, so because of that I assumed that you had 0% experience with astrophotography. :) But, I have to agree with what Jim M says :)
Thank you for this video! I got a Fronax Lightrack II last year as my first tracker. I use a rechargeable 12v portable battery pack, not much bigger than a deck of cards, with velcro attached to the tripod leg. It's light and very portable, easy to recharge between shoots. The tracker also works well with the battery I use for my lens heater. The tracker is made in Hungry (I got mine from them) - now distributed by Fervent Astronomy in Edmonton. The folks at Fervent are knowledgable and very helpful. I've upgraded to the Pole Master for alignment and am very happy with the images I'm getting. Thanks again for the outstanding videos and blog posts!
Thank you Trevor, for comparing the trackers. However, it would have been desirable if the Vixen Polarie Star Tracker and the Skay Watcher Star Adventurer had been included in the comparison. The Polarie is very compact and very high quality. In my opinion it is unbeatable for wide angle photography of the Milky Way. The Star Adventurer is very robust and very precise in tracking and can carry up to 5 kg. In my opinion, there are only three small improvement suggestions for the polar viewfinder cover, the lighting unit of the polar viewfinder and the plastic cover of the battery compartment. But also the iOptron Skyguider Pro is not completely made of metal and especially the panhead is not ok. The Star Adventurer -complete equipment - costs about € 380,00 in Germany, the Skyguider Pro -complete equipment - about € 460,00 and the Polarie - only the device - about € 325,00. What is also missing is an absolute beginner's device like the Omegon mount Mini Track LX3, which costs about € 190,00. This tracker works without electricity and is a wonderful alternative for beginners! The Fornax LighTrack II is the most precise mobile tracker and is the optimum. The advantage of this much more expensive exceptional tracker is that, compared to the other trackers, it has hardly any restrictions in the choice of used lenses. Everything from 12mm to 600mm can be handeld! You only buy this one tracker and can develop without restrictions. Many greetings from Germany
I think the skyguider pro and the sky watcher adventurer are the two best portable tracking mounts out there, both accept a guider, they're compact, both track really well when aligned properly, neither of these need 12v power, i love the fact that i can power my adventurer with my usb power bank or 4x AA batteries, and i can keep it running forever like that. Personally i don't like the Fornax mount you showed here, while it tracks more stable, it has some serious drawbacks with it's need for 12v power and the need to reset the arm too often, it will simply be impossible to keep your target framed exactly how it was before the arm reset, this can cause some headaches, and lastly it's price tag, this tracking mount defeats the purpose of buying a compact tracking mount.
I own the LighTrack II. Powering it is no issue at all, it just takes USB power bank and a cable / adapter with a built in step up. With the weight of the LighTrack being just marginally more than a Star Adventurer and the precision being so good that I can use it with all my lenses, it made a whole lot more sense for me. I haven't had the luck to get a lot of usage out of it yet because of the weather. But I don't feel like it is fair to say it defeats the purpose of buying a compact mount.
I have the Sky Watcher Star Adventurer with the Redcat 51 on an iOptron tripod. I use my Canon 60Da up on Mt Rainier Sunrise Washington state. I also have a Pentax K70 DSLR that has a built in Astro tracking function. It all keeps me going.
How do you take exposures with this? Like if you are taking 20 shots, do you have to sit there an click it on /off every 60 seconds is that automated, or just take one long few min exposure.
I have a interpholometer that can be programmed to take say 30 pictures of 35 seconds each with a few seconds between pictures. Or I can take each picture manual with the shutter set at up to 30 seconds.
At 10:09 your chart shows the "max useful focal length" - 400mm for the SkyGuider Pro, and 500mm for the LighTrack II. Is that affected at all by the camera's sensor size (full-frame vs. crop)? I currently have a 600mm lens on a crop-sensor body. At full zoom, would that produce noticeable drift/inaccuracy with all of these tracking mounts?
I'd like to hear your view on the SkyWatcher AZ-GTI compared to those in the video - I got it a few years ago when I wanted to start with astrophotography. I really like it because: - it can be used very simple as a AZ mount, but put it on a wedge it can work as an EQ mount as well (requires beta firmware, but it works). - has battery for the ultimative portability, but still has the option to get external power (don't wanna waste batteries when at home). - wifi (can be controlled from a smart phone). - GoTo. - guiding. My primary setup is in EQ mode with a SkyWatcher 72ED with a Canon DSLR (unmodified) and a 50mm guide scope with a china T7 astro camera, a Raspberry Pi with Stellarmate and a counterweight - it's maxed out, but it works and now I'm preparing to buy a larger mount to prepare for a larger telescope as well - the AZ-GTI gave me the oppertunity to grow from nothing to where I'm sure of where I'd like to go from here :)
Thanks for a nice video. I just ordered a Skyguider Pro full kit a couple of days ago. The first thing I plan to try is a Milky Way shot with my Sony a6000 and a wide angle lens (16mm). I'll probably try about 50 or 60 2-minute exposures. Can't wait!
Great combination of information and visual production quality! Every video is better than the last. I was hoping a video would come out like this too.
I’m picking up the iOptron Pro as soon as Congress gets off it’s butt. I just got a saweeet deal on a 5Dsr. Not sure about S-N ratio, but at 50 megs in RAW, should be interesting. I used to guide a Meade 10” 2120, back during the last century, using gas hypered film. I’d sit hunched over a guide star for 20 minutes or so, making fine corrections, until my back gave out. This should be fun looking at the dark dry skies 20 miles north of Tucson. Can’t wait for winter!!
If You're beginner and You don't have to transport Your equipment in a backpack (can transport it mostly with a car) I'd rather suggest a real equatorial mount (EQ-3 class, maybe even EQ-5) because it can handle longer focal lengths and heavier loads. Some mounts can even be bought / upgraded with GoTo and/or Autoguiding. The number of big deepsky objects or regions to capture with 200mm focal length (or not much above) is not that big. Of course you can play with them your full lifetime, but (mostly) sooner or later more focal length is wanted. That will probably be an ED lens around 80-100mm or maybe a 6" f/5 or 8" f/4 newton - and that definitely requires a proper mount, maybe even (auto)guiding. Remember: no telescope mount or tripod have ever been too strong or too precise! They can be too expensive or too heavy or too bulky, but no mount or tracker have ever been too accurate. Btw: don't get me wrong. Those trackers can make a lot of fun and can deliver data for brilliant astrophotos, but I see them more as a 2nd system (for travel) it can not really replace a real EQ-mount with ability for guiding. A friend's Celestron Mount (I don't know the model, it's not so heavy duty) can stand-alone autogiuding and it has also a nice polar alignment routine programmed, that works surprisingly fast and precise. Exposures of a few minutes per frame taken with focal length below about 500mm does not require Autogiuding.
a few years ago I bought the iOptron SkyTracker pro with the counterweight system. It supposedly allows for heavier weights, although the heaviest I have tried is a 70-200 on a 6D. Now that I have 2 cameras, I think I will pick up the SkyGuider Pro for this summer.
I'm using the Sky Guider Pro and just picked up a new Ioptron CEM25P so I could control Dec. that one is probably more of a EQ Mount to most but to me it's tiny and provides a great travel rig. The Ipolar is cool for each of them. I'm using GT71 and Zenith Star for scopes and Nikon D750 and D850 for DSLR and ASI294 MC for ccd. Another fun tool is my Rhino Slider with Motion. It's great for timelapse of the Milky Way and provides complete control of all of your exposures
I just purchased a SkyGuider Pro with iPolar following this video. Well done I'm now hooked:) Just need to save some pennies to buy a Samyung 135mm f2 lens for my Canon 600D.
Great comparison between those three portables, Trevor. As fantastic as those deep objects at end are, the scene that takes 1st place is the line up of the scopes with your portable laptop case and Rudy!
Autoguiding the Skyguider pro is also an option, while using a 300mm lens and a ZWO ASI1600 i was able to get 3 minute subs easy. I saw that my DEC was running off too fast to due polar alignment not being accurate enough (probably because of the flimsy stock base), but if the polar alignment is accurate enough, i can see 10 minute subs being produced easy with that thing. Great video, would have loved to see more image examples from each mount and some EXIF data of sub lengths.
I'm a little confused & overwhelmed by the iOptron kits - I'm comparing: - SkyTracker "Camera Mount with Polar Scope (Mount Only)", $299 - SkyGuider "Pro EQ Camera Mount", $428 - SkyGuider "Pro Camera Mount with iPolar (Head & Mount Only)", $598 I'm new to astrophotography. I shoot with a Nikon Z6 and I have a Z 20mm f/1.8 S lens on the way. My other lenses are the Z 24-70 f/4 S, and the F 70-300 f/4.5-5.6 AFP. I have a tripod with a removable ball head (Oben). I feel like the SkyTracker is a solid option to start, but I don't mind paying a little more for the SkyGuider since it seems to be a complete kit (counterweight, etc.). But I'm confused by the "iPolar (Head & Mount Only)" option. Any newbie advice & guidance is appreciated. Re-watching video now too. 🙂
Thanks for your guidance. No pun intended. Lol I went with the skyguider pro and a redcat51. I already own a canon rebel t6. Waiting for clouds to go away so I can give it a try!
Great video very informative. I used your review along with many other reviews before deciding on purchasing a iOptron Skyguider pro with the ipolar camera. I'll be using my mount with my Nikon Z9 and 17 to 28mm and 160 to 600mm lenses. I only wish I would of started my astro Photography earlier in life, not in my early 70's.
Love your videos. I bought the Ioptron Skyguider pro after your first review of it shooting Andromeda a while ago! I some times have trouble with exact Polar Alignment. Would LOVE to see you do a paid tutorial including polar alignment tips :0)
Hi Trevor. Enjoyed the video, very very helpful for newbies. I do, however have one little gripe. It seems to me that at times you are sacrificing completeness and objectivity by promoting only certain brands of products. In this case, it would not have hurt to at least tell the folks that there also are other fine options out there, such as the Star Adventurer and the grand daddy of them all, the Vixen Polarie. I love your videos and appreciate the hard work you put into them for our instruction, motivation and enjoyment, but humbly ask that you please do not get into making commercials, that emphasize one or two brands for whatever reason, and ignore the rest.
I have the Lightrack II and it's by far one of the best and most accurate mounts I've owned. I power mine with 8AA's in a small battery holder velcro on to one the tripod legs and it lasts for days.
I power my LighTrack II with a small USB Powerbank and a cheap (8€) USB 5V to 12V step up cable. I went with it because it so compact and easy to carry because it is not such a box shape and has nice accuracy
Terrific video. Concise and to the point without rushing. I have the Sky tracker Pro but found looking up Polaris to be a pain. Any tips on how to do that quickly and accurately?
What about the MSM tracker? I have a star adventurer, but its very cumbersome. I'm always jealous of my colleagues with their ioptrons. Seems easier and faster to track and align. My 2 cents.
@@simonwhittaker5675 Nice, i am going to check out the omegon mini trak. So many star trackers to choose from. I been eyeing the star adventure star tracker.
I have the Omegon Mini Track LX2 and it's amazing what this little mechanical champ can do. Especially shooting wide angle photos, even with rough polar alignment you can easily achieve 60s exposures. All without batteries or any form of external power supply.
@@Aaerox90 I too have been using the Omegon LX2 Minitrack for months now. Took it with me on holiday, where I took my first 2 minute exposure without star trails :) I still use it, but at the moment, I'm waiting for the delivery of my new Skywatcher Star Adventurer. I've been doing some deep-sky imaging for some time now with the LX2, but the Omegon isn't quite perfect for long exposure of long-distance galaxies or nebulae. At 250mm (crop-sensor, so 400mm actual focal length) I'm getting star trails even after 30 second-exposures. :\ The Star Adventurer has the ability to connect a Guiding cam and scope because of the integrated ST4-port, which is why I bought me that one :)
@@o0L4nc3r0o The LX2 sure has its limits, but there's a polar alignment trick that might be viable for you. Since Polaris isn't the exact northern pole, you actually have to position the star on a circle between the outer edge and the center of the tube. Half of the radius, so to speak. Though you do need to know where to position it on this circle. So draw an imaginary line from Kochab (little dipper) to Polaris. Now move Polaris away from the center, like if you would extend that imaginary line. That's called the Kochab method (explained very roughly^^). There are several guides online which explain this method in way more detail. There's even a german guy who tried to test the physical limits of his LX2 using this method, but I don't know if a german article would be useful to you.
Hmm that Fornax doesn't push my buttons. I have a diddy little Omegon Mini track that has a similar swinging arm system and I'm not the biggest fan of having to go and recharge it. Just got myself a Star Adventurer which I'm eager to try out though. Excited about the new possibilities that a star tracker will afford!
What about the Vixen Polarie tracker? I have that one and so far it has been solid... what I like about is how compact it is specially against the iOptron rivals.
I love the Vixen Polarie as well, very well made, very compact and easy to pack. 7 pound payload, double that with a counterweighted mount. With the multi-mounting block it works great with the very inexpensive Sky Tracker L-bracket and counterweight.
Hey Trevor! Great vid as always bro! Just wondering, is there any possibility you could do some vids on photographing the planets please sir? I think you would get some awesome images with all your experience and knowledge? Thanks bro! ( From a Big Fan of yours! ) Wes, Liverpool, UK.
@@AstroBackyard Oh wow Thank You so much Trevor! I really look forward to seeing it sir! Thank You for replying too Trevor, i understand you're a busy man and have a lot of people messaging you, so Thank You so much for your reply! You're vids are brilliant, and i've learned so much from you! God Bless you sir! Wes.
Great vid as always! Although, one thing I would love to see is a side by side comparison between the Ioptron Sky guider pro and the Skywatcher Star adventurer :) clear skies!
I believe the Skywatcher star adventurer is the most common one. But I assume you showed the ones you had access to. It would have been nice to show at least a drawing of the polar alignment scope engraving. For people in the south (like me) this is quite important. Also when aligning I use a polar alignment app on my telephone ( polar align scope pro) which lets you know where to put either sigma octantis or polaris on the reticle when aligning the device.
Any chance you get get a hold of a iexos-100 and do a review? Seems like a nice next-step upgrade from these smaller trackers to get go-to functionality.
I got a Skywatcher Star Adventurer too. I think it is more popular here in Europe. I put too much weight on mine (3.5kgs with a Canon 60D + Televue Pronto) but get decent unguided tracking out of it. Btw I don't think it is pronounced "side real", but "si-de-re-al". No biggie. Great vid as usual! I am thinking of doing the same from a Dutch perspective, but I might be to chicken to get in front of the camera... 😉
i had the same nitpick on pronunciation but "si-de-re-al" doesnt help much ie. "de" could be understood as a "deh" sound or a "dee" sound best way id put it would be "sigh - dee - ree - uhl"
Just wanted to add I got the sky tracker and I do find my self wanting the sky guider. I kinda wish I had invested in that first. But regardless it’s still a fantastic tracker.
I don't think I could deal with having to reset that Formax multiple times per night... Great review, though! The SkyGuider looks like it'd be a great little portable tracker!
Hey! Love your videos so Much!! I can’t wait to get my telescope and can’t wait to take deep sky pictures! Quick question; I’m mostly likely gonna get the WILLIAM OPTICS ZENITHSTAR 73 - F/5.9 DOUBLET APO REFRACTOR, what is a GOOD but affordable mount? Nothing crazy expensive but something for beginners???
Love the video man.. I am a beginner and have sky tracker Pro, would you recommend counter weight balance on this tracker? I was hoping to mount bit heavy gear. Or would you recommend to upgrade to Sky guider?
Excellent video as always. For those of us on a tight budget can we have your opinion on the mechanical clock drive Star Tracker? Thank You. Btw: Loved the lineup of the trackers with Rudy. Does he get his own fan mail?
Your video are verry interesting. I own a Celestron CPC 800 XLT which is good, but not for astrophotography. So Im looking to buy a star tracker or an EQ mount with goto and use it with a small refractor like the W.O. Space Cat 51. I'm wondering why someone would buy a iOptron SkyGuider Pro with a tripod and a Williams Optics base mount when you can buy a Sky-Watcher EQM-35 for at least $100 CDN less ? The weight and portability seem to be the only reasons I can see.
What about the Skywatcher AZ-GTi, it's cheaper, 2 axis, EQ (with updated firmware) or AZ, is WiFi has go to functions and uses multiple star alignment ?
All the tracker reviews and comparisons I've seen kinda gloss over the wedge. I see three kinds here and I'd like to know how precise and easy to use they are. I've got a Manfrotto gear head, but I worry that I won't be able to zero in on the pole. But I'm seriously thinking of getting one of these trackers, and wonder which wedge I'd like best.
when I had the skywatcher star adventurer, with a very good polar alignement, I could take pictures with a 10 minutes exposure time, with a 200mm lens and without any waste. Just plug it with an AC adapter (like smartphone charger -2A-) and not with an external battery or batteries.
Hey I’m brand new to this. When buying a tripod will I have to worry about it having the right attachment that will connect to my tracker, or will I have to buy the correct attachment as some sort of accessory, and screw it onto the tripod?
If I'm understanding you correctly all of the tracking mounts I have looked at have a 3/8" or 1/4" thread on them which are standards on tripod's and cameras. What you will need to be wary of some of these trackers don't come with a polar wedge as standard and if you have a tripod that does not have a head that you can tilt it would be a mare to polar align.
Hello! I hope you are well. I have been loving your videos and beginning to get a bit more serious about my rig and upgrading it. Right now I have a Sony a7c and I am looking to buy a Redcat 51 ii. I also currently have the SkyTracker Pro. My question is - Can I use the Sony and Redcat on the SkyTracker Pro for now? I am looking to upgrade to a larger mount later (I am leaning to the CEM26) but buying both the redcat and the mount is a bit too expensive at the moment. Will I get good results with the Sony/Redcat51/SkyTracker setup? Thanks so much and thank you for all your videos!
Just bought the SkyGuider Pro after watching this review. I was looking for a portable setup as well as a gap filler while my iOptron Gem 28 is getting repaired. Gotta say I am impressed! Took 60x3 min subs at ISO 800 on my modified Canon T5i w/flats, darks, and bias frames added, unguided. The result was way better than I expected!
As always, great content and perfect for decision making. Keep up the great work and content. Hope all is well in the new place!
Jeff
I am tossing my hat into the ring in favour of the Sky-Watcher Star Adventurer, Pro Pack edition. Had mine for a month now and absolutely love it. Shooting with Canon 7D Mkii, and 300mm f4 lens for deep sky, and 18-135mm for wide.
So far I have decent shots of M31, M45 and some Milky Way. Took it with me on a motorcycle trip to Ontario let month, but didn't use it until I went to a true dark site (Grasslands national park) on the way back. It is small, portable, very capable and affordable.
$545 shipped right to my door. $389US at B&H
Runs forever on a USB portable battery, but can run off of 4 AA batteries. Also does allow auto-guiding
Now I just got to get image processing down. My results are not as good as Trevor's, with the same amount of light data.
Plus one, I've had mine for a year and love it.
I'm in favor of this mount from what I've seen (I don't actually have it). It's $400 which is the cheapest of the 3 and it still preforms so well that I'm considering buying it.
I am the very happy owner of a Skyguider Pro. It carries my WO Z73 and DSLR easily- With an intervalometer there's no external battery or computer required. VERY portable and very capable. Thanks, Trevor for the great videos!
Love it Dennis - I too, prefer using a little intervalometer to run a sequence. It doesn't get any more portable than that! Cheers
I’m not one for subscribing generally but this guy has impressed me in all of his videos. Frank, honest advice and some great photos to evidence his credibility. He’s nailed it.
SAI·
DEE·REE·UHL. Got it. Which star tracker do you use? Please let me know if you agree with my choices! If you want to dig deeper into the specs of these mounts, I wrote a massive post on the subject: astrobackyard.com/star-tracker-astrophotography/
I don't have a tracker.
Great video. I researched a bunch of different mounts at the beginning of summer and ultimately I went with the Skywatcher Star Tracker pro as it seemed to handle one of the heavier payloads (11 pounds), and haven't been disappointed at all.
the SW is good but bulky and the big negative is no lithium ION battery.
Both brands seem to do what they are built to do, I have friends who swear by both. I bought the iOptron (least expensive) and completed my first four minute exposure with a 16 mm Sony A7R3 and 16-35 f/2.8 Sony zoom, it was corner to corner sharp.
If I ever become rich, this is the hobby I 'm picking up xD
That makes 2 of us
It's not as bad as people think. You can easily get all of this within 2 to 3 years of properly budgeting and saving your money. Always look for discounts or used equipment, then you can trade up as you save more. Takes a bit but you'll get there eventually
Same
I am trying to get a astro setup over 2-3 years, I just bought an entry level DSLR and tripod and have started imaging untracked. You can check out my results on instagram @astroabood7
Im 17 and i do it by saving up. You actually dont need all the equipment and a lot of additional equipment can be 3d printed for cheap. Another plus point ia that, when you have cost constraints, you come up with really innovative alternatives.
Just joined your page and I have to say thank you so much for everything that you've taught me in this deeply satisfying hobby. Maybe about a year ago on Instagram you liked two of my photos of the Orion Nebula on which is my favorite deep sky object and that really meant alot. Always looking forward to your new content!
Hope you and yours have a great day!
Clear Skies
I had some doubts initially with the LighTrack, since they claim an incredible periodic error (2 arcsecs), which is even better than most "big" mounts (and obviously better than any other star tracker, the second best I know is the AstroTrac with 5 arcsecs). However, after I fixed my flexure and polar alignment problems (with an equatorial head and SharpCap + small guidescope), I realized the mount is really so precise. You can easily use it even with small telescopes. I get tack sharp pictures with my 400mm lens and 4 minute exposures - unguided (btw, it also has an autoguide port). And even though it doesn't have an internal battery, it will work for multiple nights with the smallest power bank.
Such a brilliant piece of engineering.
Lighttrack
@@chiptester Nope LighTrack. Look it up ;)
clear skies and a blackout these days. I remember in the 70's sleeping in my backyard and seeing a massive number of stars... these days .. I'm lucky if I see 3 with the naked eye.. I am thankful for the video because I would love to get into this hobby. Everything I can learn is helpful.
Great job as usual. I love the detailed descriptions you provide and your empirical reviews. Keep up the great videos. Thank you!!!
Having a "baked in" battery is nifty at first, but if you can't install new batteries- you are stuck with servicing or breaking the warranty. Lithium Ion batteries are great, but they do wear out after enough charging/discharging cycles. Just a thought. Just as they are temperature sensitive, freezing temperatures kills them quick...
Adding a battery pack (LiIon/ LiPo) with a stable 12v output is an option if you want mobility, but you have to be strict with maintenance on those. 12V Lead gel batteries work well too, but are heavy/ bulky and deliver 14.4V when fully charged. Study up on those points if you want to have a stable mobile power source.
I've been a sky watcher for over 10 years now using a 10" and a 12" dobsonian telescopes. Now I want to photograph some deep space nebula and galaxy. Thanks for the video and the advice......it helps a lot.
Great videos. I'm just getting into the idea of Astrophotography. Been binge watching your videos and just purchased the WO ZenithStar 73 based on your recommendation and blog post, as well as the HEQ-5 mount. The biggest hurdle I foresee for myself is learning the workflow and software of setting up all this equipment, linking everything together and everything that leads up to actually acquiring images.
If you're new into Astrophotography, the gear you bought might scare you off...
I started with a simple Omegon LX2 star tracker, and now I'm awaiting my Skywatcher Star Adventurer. Later, I will use Autoguiding with this mount as well. Step by step.
I've seen a lot of tutorials, and I kind of know my way around the software as well as the gear. I I don't want to be all negative. You have good equipement, no doubt about that, but it won't be easy for you if this is how you are going to start your astrophotography... :\
@@o0L4nc3r0o Not sure exactly what you mean by "it won't be easy for you if this is how you are going to start your astrophotography" ? I expect a STEEP learning curve, but not sure what you mean -- this gear will scare me off? How so? Thanks!
@@kimiwaffles I think the point being made is, this hobby is best learned and most enjoyed by taking easy steps first, enjoying the satisfaction completing those bring, and then moving ahead a notch or two, and experiencing that joy and satisfaction of reaching another level of quality in your observing, knowledge and imaging. The learning curve IS steep. What Trevor does here took him years to learn, even though he makes it look easy. Jimmy Page also makes playing the guitar look easy, but.... (you get the idea). Trevor is at the Eric Clapton level as far as I'm concerned. Now, with all the computerization of the hobby, figuring out thing like ASCOM and PHD2 just add to the curve, and can be quite discouraging. I started out years ago with just a pair of binoculars and a star chart, moved from there to a ShortTube 80, and then to a Celestron C8 (back in the 90s - pre anything digital), and am still hitting walls and frustrations, and calling tech centers when I get something new and cannot quite get it to work. You are starting out not with rookie, but intermediate level equipment, and will probably hit a few walls. But with all the help there is online and in local groups today, you should be fine. Just don't get frustrated, and as Churchill said, "NEVER GIVE UP!"
@@jimm5593 Thanks for the explanation and encouragement Jim! There are a lot of resources out there, which is awesome. I've taken some great photos of the moon and planets using my Celestron 130SLT and Celestron 8SE but the AltAz mount is keeping me from taking any long exposure photos. I'm hoping I can make it through the learning curve and start producing some "fair" images by next summer! Lofty goals but I'm great with technology and a fast learner, but IMPATIENT AS HECK! We'll see how this goes... ;)
@@kimiwaffles Well, this changes things a bit. In your first post you said that you were just starting, so because of that I assumed that you had 0% experience with astrophotography. :)
But, I have to agree with what Jim M says :)
Thank you for this video! I got a Fronax Lightrack II last year as my first tracker. I use a rechargeable 12v portable battery pack, not much bigger than a deck of cards, with velcro attached to the tripod leg. It's light and very portable, easy to recharge between shoots. The tracker also works well with the battery I use for my lens heater.
The tracker is made in Hungry (I got mine from them) - now distributed by Fervent Astronomy in Edmonton. The folks at Fervent are knowledgable and very helpful.
I've upgraded to the Pole Master for alignment and am very happy with the images I'm getting.
Thanks again for the outstanding videos and blog posts!
Thank you Trevor, for comparing the trackers.
However, it would have been desirable if the Vixen Polarie Star Tracker and the Skay Watcher Star Adventurer had been included in the comparison.
The Polarie is very compact and very high quality. In my opinion it is unbeatable for wide angle photography of the Milky Way.
The Star Adventurer is very robust and very precise in tracking and can carry up to 5 kg. In my opinion, there are only three small improvement suggestions for the polar viewfinder cover, the lighting unit of the polar viewfinder and the plastic cover of the battery compartment.
But also the iOptron Skyguider Pro is not completely made of metal and especially the panhead is not ok.
The Star Adventurer -complete equipment - costs about € 380,00 in Germany,
the Skyguider Pro -complete equipment - about € 460,00 and the Polarie - only the device - about € 325,00.
What is also missing is an absolute beginner's device like the Omegon mount Mini Track LX3, which costs about € 190,00. This tracker works without electricity and is a wonderful alternative for beginners!
The Fornax LighTrack II is the most precise mobile tracker and is the optimum. The advantage of this much more expensive exceptional tracker is that, compared to the other trackers, it has hardly any restrictions in the choice of used lenses. Everything from 12mm to 600mm can be handeld! You only buy this one tracker and can develop without restrictions.
Many greetings from Germany
it would be great to see the iOptron Prom compared to the Sky watcher Star adventurer.
great vid as always. very clear and informative. Thanks
I think the skyguider pro and the sky watcher adventurer are the two best portable tracking mounts out there, both accept a guider, they're compact, both track really well when aligned properly, neither of these need 12v power, i love the fact that i can power my adventurer with my usb power bank or 4x AA batteries, and i can keep it running forever like that. Personally i don't like the Fornax mount you showed here, while it tracks more stable, it has some serious drawbacks with it's need for 12v power and the need to reset the arm too often, it will simply be impossible to keep your target framed exactly how it was before the arm reset, this can cause some headaches, and lastly it's price tag, this tracking mount defeats the purpose of buying a compact tracking mount.
I concur on the star adventurer. Love mine, travels on my motorcycle!
I own the LighTrack II. Powering it is no issue at all, it just takes USB power bank and a cable / adapter with a built in step up. With the weight of the LighTrack being just marginally more than a Star Adventurer and the precision being so good that I can use it with all my lenses, it made a whole lot more sense for me. I haven't had the luck to get a lot of usage out of it yet because of the weather. But I don't feel like it is fair to say it defeats the purpose of buying a compact mount.
I have the Sky Watcher Star Adventurer with the Redcat 51 on an iOptron tripod. I use my Canon 60Da up on Mt Rainier Sunrise Washington state. I also have a Pentax K70 DSLR that has a built in Astro tracking function. It all keeps me going.
How do you take exposures with this? Like if you are taking 20 shots, do you have to sit there an click it on /off every 60 seconds is that automated, or just take one long few min exposure.
I have a interpholometer that can be programmed to take say 30 pictures of 35 seconds each with a few seconds between pictures. Or I can take each picture manual with the shutter set at up to 30 seconds.
Bill Vinson interpholometer, haven’t heard of that. Sounds like what I need.
At 10:09 your chart shows the "max useful focal length" - 400mm for the SkyGuider Pro, and 500mm for the LighTrack II. Is that affected at all by the camera's sensor size (full-frame vs. crop)? I currently have a 600mm lens on a crop-sensor body. At full zoom, would that produce noticeable drift/inaccuracy with all of these tracking mounts?
I'd like to hear your view on the SkyWatcher AZ-GTI compared to those in the video - I got it a few years ago when I wanted to start with astrophotography.
I really like it because:
- it can be used very simple as a AZ mount, but put it on a wedge it can work as an EQ mount as well (requires beta firmware, but it works).
- has battery for the ultimative portability, but still has the option to get external power (don't wanna waste batteries when at home).
- wifi (can be controlled from a smart phone).
- GoTo.
- guiding.
My primary setup is in EQ mode with a SkyWatcher 72ED with a Canon DSLR (unmodified) and a 50mm guide scope with a china T7 astro camera, a Raspberry Pi with Stellarmate and a counterweight - it's maxed out, but it works and now I'm preparing to buy a larger mount to prepare for a larger telescope as well - the AZ-GTI gave me the oppertunity to grow from nothing to where I'm sure of where I'd like to go from here :)
Thanks for a nice video. I just ordered a Skyguider Pro full kit a couple of days ago. The first thing I plan to try is a Milky Way shot with my Sony a6000 and a wide angle lens (16mm). I'll probably try about 50 or 60 2-minute exposures. Can't wait!
Great combination of information and visual production quality! Every video is better than the last. I was hoping a video would come out like this too.
Very clear presentation. Cheers Trevor from the UK. Clear skies.
I’m picking up the iOptron Pro as soon as Congress gets off it’s butt. I just got a saweeet deal on a 5Dsr. Not sure about S-N ratio, but at 50 megs in RAW, should be interesting. I used to guide a Meade 10” 2120, back during the last century, using gas hypered film. I’d sit hunched over a guide star for 20 minutes or so, making fine corrections, until my back gave out. This should be fun looking at the dark dry skies 20 miles north of Tucson. Can’t wait for winter!!
If You're beginner and You don't have to transport Your equipment in a backpack (can transport it mostly with a car) I'd rather suggest a real equatorial mount (EQ-3 class, maybe even EQ-5) because it can handle longer focal lengths and heavier loads. Some mounts can even be bought / upgraded with GoTo and/or Autoguiding.
The number of big deepsky objects or regions to capture with 200mm focal length (or not much above) is not that big. Of course you can play with them your full lifetime, but (mostly) sooner or later more focal length is wanted. That will probably be an ED lens around 80-100mm or maybe a 6" f/5 or 8" f/4 newton - and that definitely requires a proper mount, maybe even (auto)guiding.
Remember: no telescope mount or tripod have ever been too strong or too precise!
They can be too expensive or too heavy or too bulky, but no mount or tracker have ever been too accurate.
Btw: don't get me wrong. Those trackers can make a lot of fun and can deliver data for brilliant astrophotos, but I see them more as a 2nd system (for travel) it can not really replace a real EQ-mount with ability for guiding. A friend's Celestron Mount (I don't know the model, it's not so heavy duty) can stand-alone autogiuding and it has also a nice polar alignment routine programmed, that works surprisingly fast and precise. Exposures of a few minutes per frame taken with focal length below about 500mm does not require Autogiuding.
a few years ago I bought the iOptron SkyTracker pro with the counterweight system. It supposedly allows for heavier weights, although the heaviest I have tried is a 70-200 on a 6D. Now that I have 2 cameras, I think I will pick up the SkyGuider Pro for this summer.
I'm using the Sky Guider Pro and just picked up a new Ioptron CEM25P so I could control Dec. that one is probably more of a EQ Mount to most but to me it's tiny and provides a great travel rig. The Ipolar is cool for each of them. I'm using GT71 and Zenith Star for scopes and Nikon D750 and D850 for DSLR and ASI294 MC for ccd.
Another fun tool is my Rhino Slider with Motion. It's great for timelapse of the Milky Way and provides complete control of all of your exposures
Great video! SkyTracker Pro was my first dedicated AP purchase and it's still really fun to use now even when I'm imaging on my Advanced VX.
I just purchased a SkyGuider Pro with iPolar following this video. Well done I'm now hooked:) Just need to save some pennies to buy a Samyung 135mm f2 lens for my Canon 600D.
Great comparison between those three portables, Trevor. As fantastic as those deep objects at end are, the scene that takes 1st place is the line up of the scopes with your portable laptop case and Rudy!
Autoguiding the Skyguider pro is also an option, while using a 300mm lens and a ZWO ASI1600 i was able to get 3 minute subs easy.
I saw that my DEC was running off too fast to due polar alignment not being accurate enough (probably because of the flimsy stock base), but if the polar alignment is accurate enough, i can see 10 minute subs being produced easy with that thing.
Great video, would have loved to see more image examples from each mount and some EXIF data of sub lengths.
I'm a little confused & overwhelmed by the iOptron kits - I'm comparing:
- SkyTracker "Camera Mount with Polar Scope (Mount Only)", $299
- SkyGuider "Pro EQ Camera Mount", $428
- SkyGuider "Pro Camera Mount with iPolar (Head & Mount Only)", $598
I'm new to astrophotography. I shoot with a Nikon Z6 and I have a Z 20mm f/1.8 S lens on the way. My other lenses are the Z 24-70 f/4 S, and the F 70-300 f/4.5-5.6 AFP. I have a tripod with a removable ball head (Oben). I feel like the SkyTracker is a solid option to start, but I don't mind paying a little more for the SkyGuider since it seems to be a complete kit (counterweight, etc.). But I'm confused by the "iPolar (Head & Mount Only)" option.
Any newbie advice & guidance is appreciated. Re-watching video now too. 🙂
Yep, the Star Adventurer is what I use and it is great!
I have an older iOptron SkyTracker. I can't wait for some clear skies!
Thank you for this awesome video. Hope I can start my journey in Astrophtography.
Thanks for your guidance. No pun intended. Lol I went with the skyguider pro and a redcat51. I already own a canon rebel t6. Waiting for clouds to go away so I can give it a try!
Awesome video as usual! Thanks for helping me decide on my next purchase Trevor!
well said! Rotation of the SKY!
Great video very informative. I used your review along with many other reviews before deciding on purchasing a iOptron Skyguider pro with the ipolar camera. I'll be using my mount with my Nikon Z9 and 17 to 28mm and 160 to 600mm lenses. I only wish I would of started my astro Photography earlier in life, not in my early 70's.
Great video. I got the skyguider pro and recently replaced the polar scope with Ipolar. Now waiting for clear sky's to give it try.
Love your videos. I bought the Ioptron Skyguider pro after your first review of it shooting Andromeda a while ago!
I some times have trouble with exact Polar Alignment. Would LOVE to see you do a paid tutorial including polar alignment tips :0)
Excellent and very usefull presentation! Thank you! Greeting form Hungary!
Hi Trevor. Enjoyed the video, very very helpful for newbies. I do, however have one little gripe. It seems to me that at times you are sacrificing completeness and objectivity by promoting only certain brands of products. In this case, it would not have hurt to at least tell the folks that there also are other fine options out there, such as the Star Adventurer and the grand daddy of them all, the Vixen Polarie. I love your videos and appreciate the hard work you put into them for our instruction, motivation and enjoyment, but humbly ask that you please do not get into making commercials, that emphasize one or two brands for whatever reason, and ignore the rest.
2 thumbs way up for the Star Adventurer!!
Amazing video as always! I’m enjoying my Skyguider Pro w/ RedCat51!
I have the Lightrack II and it's by far one of the best and most accurate mounts I've owned. I power mine with 8AA's in a small battery holder velcro on to one the tripod legs and it lasts for days.
I power my LighTrack II with a small USB Powerbank and a cheap (8€) USB 5V to 12V step up cable. I went with it because it so compact and easy to carry because it is not such a box shape and has nice accuracy
Terrific video. Concise and to the point without rushing. I have the Sky tracker Pro but found looking up Polaris to be a pain. Any tips on how to do that quickly and accurately?
I was disappointed the skywatcher star adventurer was not mentioned in this video. It’s one of the most popular star tracker.
I have that and like it alot.
It is a bizarre omission.
Maybe they don't sell them in Canada.
Because I thought the same, "where was any skyWatcher?"
Maybe it's like what's better, Canon or Nikon? Ya know? Maybe it's just easier to do reviews on which brand you like. I guess....
What about the MSM tracker? I have a star adventurer, but its very cumbersome. I'm always jealous of my colleagues with their ioptrons. Seems easier and faster to track and align. My 2 cents.
Very informative and chill video.
I am most likely buy iOptron SkyGuider this winter. Or, at least, i hope so.
Imho the next step above the Sky Guider is a serious telescope mount with Goto like the Skywatcher EQ-35.
Cool, i planning on buying a star tracker for my trips to the mountains.
same here im looking at the omegon mini trak
@@simonwhittaker5675 Nice, i am going to check out the omegon mini trak. So many star trackers to choose from. I been eyeing the star adventure star tracker.
I have the Omegon Mini Track LX2 and it's amazing what this little mechanical champ can do. Especially shooting wide angle photos, even with rough polar alignment you can easily achieve 60s exposures. All without batteries or any form of external power supply.
@@Aaerox90 I too have been using the Omegon LX2 Minitrack for months now. Took it with me on holiday, where I took my first 2 minute exposure without star trails :)
I still use it, but at the moment, I'm waiting for the delivery of my new Skywatcher Star Adventurer.
I've been doing some deep-sky imaging for some time now with the LX2, but the Omegon isn't quite perfect for long exposure of long-distance galaxies or nebulae.
At 250mm (crop-sensor, so 400mm actual focal length) I'm getting star trails even after 30 second-exposures. :\
The Star Adventurer has the ability to connect a Guiding cam and scope because of the integrated ST4-port, which is why I bought me that one :)
@@o0L4nc3r0o The LX2 sure has its limits, but there's a polar alignment trick that might be viable for you.
Since Polaris isn't the exact northern pole, you actually have to position the star on a circle between the outer edge and the center of the tube. Half of the radius, so to speak. Though you do need to know where to position it on this circle. So draw an imaginary line from Kochab (little dipper) to Polaris. Now move Polaris away from the center, like if you would extend that imaginary line. That's called the Kochab method (explained very roughly^^).
There are several guides online which explain this method in way more detail. There's even a german guy who tried to test the physical limits of his LX2 using this method, but I don't know if a german article would be useful to you.
Hmm that Fornax doesn't push my buttons. I have a diddy little Omegon Mini track that has a similar swinging arm system and I'm not the biggest fan of having to go and recharge it. Just got myself a Star Adventurer which I'm eager to try out though. Excited about the new possibilities that a star tracker will afford!
What about the Vixen Polarie tracker? I have that one and so far it has been solid... what I like about is how compact it is specially against the iOptron rivals.
I love the Vixen Polarie as well, very well made, very compact and easy to pack. 7 pound payload, double that with a counterweighted mount. With the multi-mounting block it works great with the very inexpensive Sky Tracker L-bracket and counterweight.
Make that Sky-Watcher Star Adventurer L-bracket and counterweight.
Thanks Trevor, great reviews.
That Fornax is much like my AstroTrac. Thanks Trev.
Can you test out the move shoot move and tell us your thoughts about if it’s good or not
Thx for review, You make awesome videos with usefull info. Keep going)
Hey Trevor! Great vid as always bro! Just wondering, is there any possibility you could do some vids on photographing the planets please sir? I think you would get some awesome images with all your experience and knowledge? Thanks bro! ( From a Big Fan of yours! )
Wes, Liverpool, UK.
Certainly Wes, on the agenda. Thank you!
@@AstroBackyard Oh wow Thank You so much Trevor! I really look forward to seeing it sir! Thank You for replying too Trevor, i understand you're a busy man and have a lot of people messaging you, so Thank You so much for your reply! You're vids are brilliant, and i've learned so much from you! God Bless you sir! Wes.
Awesome video as usual! 👍🏻👍🏻
Thank you, Sir. Your videos help a lot.
Great vid as always! Although, one thing I would love to see is a side by side comparison between the Ioptron Sky guider pro and the Skywatcher Star adventurer :) clear skies!
I believe the Skywatcher star adventurer is the most common one. But I assume you showed the ones you had access to. It would have been nice to show at least a drawing of the polar alignment scope engraving. For people in the south (like me) this is quite important. Also when aligning I use a polar alignment app on my telephone ( polar align scope pro) which lets you know where to put either sigma octantis or polaris on the reticle when aligning the device.
Great vid as usual Trevor. 🤙
Uk. Fan 🇬🇧
Thanks for your test, really great, I now know what one to get !
Thank you for this video. Very helpful.
My pleasure Janette thank you!
Useful information thanks for the review! Still thinking of the skyguider pro, hope it's a good choice!
Great video and great information! Thanks!
Any chance you get get a hold of a iexos-100 and do a review? Seems like a nice next-step upgrade from these smaller trackers to get go-to functionality.
you can use 3s RC LiPo batteries as power supply.
Great info! Sky Guider is my choice....👍
I would love to see a video on autoguiding with the skyguider pro. I can't find much information.
Look up Peter Zelinka.
I am a new subsciber Trevor. You do a geat job. Many thanks from down in New Zealand.
Your videos are 🔥!!!!!! Rudy is the best!
Great stuff! Thanks for the info! Very cool products
I got a Skywatcher Star Adventurer too. I think it is more popular here in Europe.
I put too much weight on mine (3.5kgs with a Canon 60D + Televue Pronto) but get decent unguided tracking out of it.
Btw I don't think it is pronounced "side real", but "si-de-re-al". No biggie. Great vid as usual!
I am thinking of doing the same from a Dutch perspective, but I might be to chicken to get in front of the camera... 😉
i had the same nitpick on pronunciation but "si-de-re-al" doesnt help much
ie. "de" could be understood as a "deh" sound or a "dee" sound
best way id put it would be "sigh - dee - ree - uhl"
Just wanted to add I got the sky tracker and I do find my self wanting the sky guider. I kinda wish I had invested in that first. But regardless it’s still a fantastic tracker.
I don't think I could deal with having to reset that Formax multiple times per night... Great review, though! The SkyGuider looks like it'd be a great little portable tracker!
Wish I could buy one of these tracker one day, I love astrophotography :(
Good info Trevor but I wish you included sky watcher star adventurer
And more importantly, will iOptron track them?
Need one of these! Thanks Trevor.
Try the MoveShootMove Sky guider 🤗
Great comparison of the three. I like the Fornax but it's a bit pricey.
One of these days I'll pick one of these up.
Hey! Love your videos so Much!! I can’t wait to get my telescope and can’t wait to take deep sky pictures! Quick question; I’m mostly likely gonna get the WILLIAM OPTICS ZENITHSTAR 73 - F/5.9 DOUBLET APO REFRACTOR, what is a GOOD but affordable mount? Nothing crazy expensive but something for beginners???
Thank you. Very informative! Beautiful images too👍
Love the video man.. I am a beginner and have sky tracker Pro, would you recommend counter weight balance on this tracker? I was hoping to mount bit heavy gear. Or would you recommend to upgrade to Sky guider?
Excellent video as always. For those of us on a tight budget can we have your opinion on the mechanical clock drive Star Tracker? Thank You.
Btw: Loved the lineup of the trackers with Rudy. Does he get his own fan mail?
Yea! Trevor, please review the Omegon 'Egg Timer' tracker if the opportunity arises! :)
Well explained! Thank you!
Your video are verry interesting. I own a Celestron CPC 800 XLT which is good, but not for astrophotography. So Im looking to buy a star tracker or an EQ mount with goto and use it with a small refractor like the W.O. Space Cat 51. I'm wondering why someone would buy a iOptron SkyGuider Pro with a tripod and a Williams Optics base mount when you can buy a Sky-Watcher EQM-35 for at least $100 CDN less ? The weight and portability seem to be the only reasons I can see.
Very well done 👍
Do you think it would be possible to get a motorized EQ mount for a telescope and a dovetail mounting plate as a cheaper star tracker alternative?
What about the Skywatcher AZ-GTi, it's cheaper, 2 axis, EQ (with updated firmware) or AZ, is WiFi has go to functions and uses multiple star alignment ?
All the tracker reviews and comparisons I've seen kinda gloss over the wedge. I see three kinds here and I'd like to know how precise and easy to use they are. I've got a Manfrotto gear head, but I worry that I won't be able to zero in on the pole. But I'm seriously thinking of getting one of these trackers, and wonder which wedge I'd like best.
The wedge is critical! It has to be rigid and strong, and many of the less expensive ones really aren't up to the task.
My apologies if you’ve already answered this question, but what is your opinion of the Astrotracer feature on the Pentax cameras?
Thanks for the video! Can you really add a guiding system with the 11 pound limit for the Skyguider?
Yes you can
when I had the skywatcher star adventurer, with a very good polar alignement, I could take pictures with a 10 minutes exposure time, with a 200mm lens and without any waste. Just plug it with an AC adapter (like smartphone charger -2A-) and not with an external battery or batteries.
If the weight of the payload does not exceed the max payload why is there a max useful focal length? 10:13 into video. Thanks
Hey I’m brand new to this. When buying a tripod will I have to worry about it having the right attachment that will connect to my tracker, or will I have to buy the correct attachment as some sort of accessory, and screw it onto the tripod?
If I'm understanding you correctly all of the tracking mounts I have looked at have a 3/8" or 1/4" thread on them which are standards on tripod's and cameras. What you will need to be wary of some of these trackers don't come with a polar wedge as standard and if you have a tripod that does not have a head that you can tilt it would be a mare to polar align.
Hello! I hope you are well. I have been loving your videos and beginning to get a bit more serious about my rig and upgrading it.
Right now I have a Sony a7c and I am looking to buy a Redcat 51 ii. I also currently have the SkyTracker Pro. My question is - Can I use the Sony and Redcat on the SkyTracker Pro for now? I am looking to upgrade to a larger mount later (I am leaning to the CEM26) but buying both the redcat and the mount is a bit too expensive at the moment. Will I get good results with the Sony/Redcat51/SkyTracker setup?
Thanks so much and thank you for all your videos!