Auto-Guider Tutorial - SkyGuider Pro and Star Adventurer
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- Опубликовано: 7 сен 2024
- Learn how to use an auto-guider with your SkyGuider Pro or Star Adventurer! We'll cover which auto-guider works best, how to attach your auto-guider, and how well this actually works. For more information on auto-guiders, and links to the products discussed in this video:
www.peterzelin...
If you want to learn even more about astrophotography, check out my Deep Space Course:
www.peterzelin...
I also have full courses for each of the major star trackers:
www.peterzelin...
Finally, I mentioned the special Star Adventurer setup, which you can watch here:
• Star-Adventurer setup ...
You consistently have some of the best astrophotography videos on youtube. Everything is explained so well and is actually useful information.
This is by FAR, the best and most informative video on how to set-up and actually use these trackers.
Welcome back, thought you retired. Got a D750 and a Sigma art 20mm. First images of the milky way were a surprise. Very happy. You and another tuber helped alot.
Peter, I realize that you have hyperlinks on your blog, but could you also include links to the gear that you discuss in your videos as well, please? It's really helpful for me to be able to look up the equipment that you reference while I'm watching your videos. That way I can check out the gear you're talking about as I follow along with the video. Thanks! & Keep up the great work.
Will comment to save anyone else a massive headache. This tutorial is spot on. It encouraged me to go out and get guiding equipment for my star adventurer 2i wifi model. I can tell you all now, guiding will NOT work if connected to the mount via wifi. Only when the unit is in direct star tracking mode will guiding work.... Hope that helps people!
You’re the best my friend. Your patience and dedication for us to understand is highly appreciated! Others claim to explain because they have a workflow and forget about us. That “other guy” is all about sponsors! You rock! Thank you.
i would recommend autoguiding for these small mounts too if you're getting into deep space. I have the Star Adventurer, and for guiding I have a Lacerta MGEN II, a standalone autoguider. It works wonderfully, and i don't need to bring a laptop and power supply around either. The Star Adventurer is great because of the declination bracket as well, because there's a spot for a second ball head which I use for the guide scope and camera. This lets me point the guide scope to the celestial equator resulting in more accurate guiding. If you have the money, I would recommend!
Darren Hill No worries. I shoot widefield, so the longest equivalent focal length i use is 540mm, but i've done tests up to 10 minutes without trails. I suppose you can think of it this way; the guide camera, guide scope, and mount are all it's own closed system, and the imaging rig is just hitching a ride on the same 'platform' as the guiding equipment. The MGEN is calibrated after my main rig is lined up to my target, I loosen the ball head and manually move the guide scope and camera around until I see some bright stars in the live view of the guide unit. The guider is going to work to make sure that it doesn't see any discrepancies between the motion of the guide scope and the motion of the stars, and since the guide scope and imaging scope are on the same bracket on the tracker, the imaging scope is going to be accurately following the stars too, regardless of if it's looking at the same part of sky as the guider. I just woke up I hope I communicated properly lol
Darren Hill I actually do, whenever I have line of sight with any area near the equator. The important thing is that I calibrate the guider *after* i've pointed it away from where i'm imaging. if the guider is calibrated to the mount and the guider is being moved the exact same as the imaging rig (i.e. only in right ascension), then it doesn't matter where the imaging rig is pointing. I feel like this only works if you're tracking and guiding on the RA axis only
I bought this kit from Adorama that had the tripod, mount, and ball head for a reasonable price. Excited to use it.
Can you send me the link?
Hi Peter, thank you for this informative video, I learned a lot. Two suggestions for an update one day: First - when PHD2 is looping before it starts guiding, the two buttons on the left side of the Star Adventurer (S and N direction) start blinking - it indicates, that PHD2 is working on a guiding routine. It should be mentioned in your video because if someone is only familiar with the standard manual of the Star Aventurer, it leads to confusion because blinking means, that the battery power is about to go down. Second suggestion: Each time one starts the system, in the menu, the declination needs to be turned off - it does not keep it turned off permanently. I needed some time to find this out (my fault) - so maybe you can remind people that every single new guiding start selection or anything after a stop command means that the declination auto setting needs to be set to off.... thanks a lot for your work! Sorry if my English is not perfect, my primary language is German... :-)
Thanks Georg, good point on the Star Adventurer blinking!
As for turning off the Dec each time, that should not happen. Mine has stayed off since the first time. It sounds like you may be experiencing a bug with the software maybe
Dear Peter I just looked at your gallery on your website. What can I say but amazing. I have never seen such wonderful compositions. My 10 year old daughter looked too and she is just beginning her love of astrophotography.
Thank you .
Paul
I bought the Star Adventurer in February after watching your videos. I decided to strip it down and tweak the mechanical parts such as tightening and thread locking the rod against which the azimuth controls adjust. I packed all the threads with lithium grease and tightened up the latitude adjuster. I also calibrated the vertical alignment on the polar scope and scored on the side an alignment mark to guarantee it stays vertical when aiming it at Polaris. I have also learned to have the balance slightly counterweight heavy so that the driven gears are always loaded to remove/minimise sloppiness from backlash/hysteresis but purchased an extra counterweight since the weight of my Zeiss lenses attached to a Canon 5DSr and a Manfrotto ball head exceed the balance of just one. And the tripod has to remain close to the ground with all legs retracted and spread one notch to provide a flex free base. After a month of training myself I can now get a 30 minute exposure from a Zeiss 15mm f2.8 Distagon T* at f5.6 ISO 200 for wide field images of the Milky Way and up to 5 minutes with a Zeiss 135mm f2.0 Apo Sonar T* without star trails. It's been much harder than I thought but i ended up with some fabulous images after quite a few awful early results. I am now considering a tracking device after watching this latest video of yours to see if I can get a 30 min exposure with the 135mm lens or longer. Thanks for all your detailed help cos I wouldn't have succeeded otherwise!
Nice tutorial! Another benefit of taking less photos per night is that it should theoretically increase the lifespan of the camera (in regards to shutter count)
Outstanding! By FAR, the best instructional video I have found regarding autoguiding with a star tracker. Thanks for taking the time to produce this. Well done!
I am having fun. I have a setup pretty much like the one shown here. It makes polar alignment much more easier, with a much more accurate guiding system and longer exposures. I am glad I found this tutorial. Thanks!
Peter, really enjoyed this video. I had not found any info on auto-guiding my Star-Adventurer; in fact, several comments had been made that it was not needed or useful. To polar align, I acquired a 3-D printer mounting connector for a PoleMaster that fits in the polar scope hole; that's available from a guy in France. He does a number of 3-D printer connectors. However, using a PoleMaster is not as convenient as using SharpCap Pro, particularly if one has replacement components in both legs. I have a finder scope that uses the camera hot shoe; "finding" the target was always a problem using the camera lenses; too narrow a field. What I got was a very light weight device that works similar to a Telrad finder, complete with circle or cross hair red or green lines. There are a number of brackets that connect to the camera hot shoe that provide two or more mounting connectors; this would allow a finder scope and the auto-guiding components to both be attached. This arrangement might be problematic for flexure issues as the mount moves, which you mention on your arrangement. To keep things off the ground, I acquired a Lifetime 4428 48" x 24" folding table from Amazon, price about $40. It is sturdy enough to set my CGX mount on while setting up the telescope. Lots of room for laptops and cases. Great for star party use. For a chair I got a Mity-Lite from Home Depot; at the time, one could buy these in single quantities; now they are only sold in sets of four. Very comfortable conforming seat, strong and durable. Thanks for all the great info on this video!
This is great.. I was using a very awkward dove tail bar to do this in a side by side configuration. I never thought of this. I did find a hot-shoe adapter on Amazon with two adjustment screws so everything is tight. I just need the skies to clear up. Thanks Peter.
Do you have a link to that hotshoeadapter, please?
Fotograf Arne Gårdman Neewer Two(2) Pack of Durable Pro... www.amazon.ca/dp/B00OT75QTA?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share
I gave this video a thumbs up, because you saved me from spending hard earned money uselessly.
Most of my night sky work requires hiking (sometimes miles). I don't need the extra weight and complication.
I have the Star Adventurer, using a Canon 7D Mk II + 300mm F4. So far testing has allowed 2 minute subs with slight out of round stars, and decent at 3 minutes. Could be slight polar misalignment. It is also approaching the max weight, as I needed additional counter weight to balance. Stacking less frames sure speeds up the processing. I was stacking dozens and dozens of shots at 3.2 second exposure. The tracker is worth every penny, and I can see autoguiding as a next step. Faster, tighter polar alignment means more time shooting once you have the set up down. 5 minute subs will be a dream. Anyone considering a tracker should just grab one! Good info Peter, thanks.
General knowledge info. Most cameras allow a MAX exposure of 30 sec. to get these longer
shoots you need to be in BULB mode.
You can manually control the shutter with an external release. (I started with a cheapo from Amazon, even it had locking) then I got DSLR CONTROLLER app for my tablet.
Very useful for larger magnified focus, and can set long exposure, interval and basic overall camera control.
For canon shooters you should have the EOS utility. It allows control in live view, but the interval function won't allow an exposure longer than the interval, so you have to sit and start and stop the exposures. You will need a laptop to run it.
If you just got a tracker even 30 subs are way better than the max static shots you can do with no tracker. At 300mm I found 3 sec subs my max, at wide angle I could go 8sec.
Golf pro shops have lead tape for club heads readily available. It’s sticky on one side - like tape. I use that on my weight. Works great and it’s not magnetic.
I bought that exact camera and scope, and it works perfectly with my laptop!~
Thank you, I was dreading auto guiding but now I understand how simple it is and It's not all that much of a hassle. Subscribed!
Thank you very much. I'm just now seriously looking at getting an autogiding system. Your information is helpful.
Best tutorial I've ever seen on anything, really.
Liking these video's a lot. Talks like a friend with lots of clear and logical information based on good and bad experiences.
I have a heavy duty power pack which I hang from the tripod hook for additional stability. Keeps it out of the way as well :)
Well done and subscribed.
20:10
This solved my issue thank you!
First time auto guiding, I kept getting the backlash error. This makes sense why it was occuring. Because the software is attempting to use both RA and DEC, theres no slew or movement for dec just ra on the skyguider
I didnt know that i could do polar alignment through my polar scope, i thought i would have to buy the ipolar camera. I absolutely hate polar alignment through the polar scope, especially because i have to turn the thing 180° , so that my telescope side is 100% exactly at the bottom (thats crazy unprecise and takes too much time).
Your guide was incredibly helpful for me and made astro more fun!
Peter, you present valuable information in such a clear, concise manner. I'm very grateful for your generosity with your knowledge! Thank you!
I really appreciate how well you explain things. Ive been watching kit of other videos but good thing about your videos are that you focus on all those small things like this one
Great video, very well done! Will definitely check your tutorials. Greetings from Germany, Frank
I would 100% endorse your comments about the ZWO 2.0 compatibility issues! My MC version will not work with my new Dell Windows 10 laptop (using as a planetary camera). Screen keeps freezing with Sharcap and other software. Either I have to replace the camera or use an old Windows 7 set up - such a shame. Thanks for confirming that the problem is not the user!
Make sure you have the latest drivers from ZWO. ZWO is pretty specific about their driver requirements: astronomy-imaging-camera.com/software-drivers
Thanks for all the information you put together. I haven't found anyone who actually explained how the autoguider works and what equipment to use, especially when it comes to the SGP! Awesome. Your videos helped me a lot with astrophotography! Keep up Peter!
Great video. The only thing I'll pick out is saying when you're doing 5 minute exposures you probably only need 20-30 exposures. While you may be able to get away with that depending on the target, more exposures improve the SNR greatly so I encourage people to get as many exposures as possible regardless of the sub exposure time.
Agreement on both.. clear and concise tutorial, and that there is some compromise with respect to exposure time and exposure/stack quantity re SNR. Also notable that most DSLR's build internal dark current on 'uncooled' chip with long exposures..'well depth' also an limiting factor for some DSLRs re long exposure/saturation. I use a Canon 6D that does well to 180s with equal number of dark frames.
Excellent video! If I’m not mistaken, the DEC bracket and Counter weight is not from the ‘SkyWatcher Star Adventure” but, from the ‘iOptron SkyGuider Pro’. He’s got them mixed-up! I thought ‘SkyWatcher’ had an up-grade! This looks a lot better than mine so, - on my bucket-list!
Anyone looking for a compact alternative to a full laptop, I find that a Microsoft Surface works well as an inexpensive option. You will want to add a multi-port USB adapter to the package.
Great Job Peter! Glad to see your subscriber count continue to grow!
THX Peter for this tutorial. I will start with my Nikon D850 and a Sky Guider Pro. First i will use a 50mm f1.8 Nikon Lense with Rollei Light Pollution Filter. Sky Guiding with a ZWO Cam is my next Update. Later i will try a Sigma 150-600mm Sport Lense for Pictures. This tutorial helps me to unterstand and Setup the Sky Guiding. But my Problem is i use complete Apple Hardware, i look around for a sharpcap alternative.
Hi Peter. Did you get all the pictures of nebulaes shown at the end of the video with this set up? Wow! Quite impressive. One year ago I bought the I optron skytracker. It's about the same price as the SkyGuider Pro Star Adventurer in terms of prices however the SkyGuider Pro Star Adventurer outperforms by far the ioptron skytracker in terms of possibilities. I think I will have to consider buying one. In all cases excellent video. Thank you very much.
Yep!
Yeah, I started off with the SkyTracker Pro too. It did a good job for Milky Way photography, but not deep space.
Either the Star Adventurer or SkyGuider Pro will be a nice upgrade if you want to do more deep space work
Excellent Peter. Ordered the Vixen dovetail hot shoe for the guide scope camera from eBay.
Peter, I'm back! I just tested PHD2 on my Star Adventurer and it works!!!! Thank you for this video, it was very instructional. My only concern is aa problem with my Star Adventurer; it wobbles during tracking. Never had that issue before, but I do know how to fix it. Thanks again, Bill
how did you fix it
Have you tried putting some kind of rubber seal on the hot shoe adapter so it won’t move or even washers?? Awesome video! Keep them coming
Good idea!
Suggestion: I put a piece of tape to my hot shoe adapter so it would not move around on the camera’s hot shoe. Works well. Thanks for your videos!
Great video. You really explained well how autoguider works and helped me a lot. Thank you
Thanks man, I was trying to figure this out in my backyard and remembered your video. Life saver!
With an L-bracket on the camera body one could fashion a robust mounting for the guidescope, adapting from Arca-Swiss to finder dovetail. Anything less than a robust mounting defeats accurate and reliable guiding.
One of the best channels about astro photography and sky guiding. Thanks for you effort and all that work! A question: at 9:00 that USB cable between guiding camera and laptop, to me that looks dangerously tense. Doesn't that cause any problems when the SkyGuider moves, does it? - Besides: I am non native English speaker, your talking speed and pronunciation as well as audio quality is so good, I can understand everything without any problems at first listening without the need of repetitions. 1000 thanks for that also.
thanks for the tutorial! i have the ioptron sky guider pro and wasn't aware it can improve that much by using a guider. i will take that into account maybe i will get one then.
I’m searching the internet since DAYS for information about auto guiding a starguider pro and was almost desperate! And today I Open RUclips and there it is - everything I was looking for! Like + Subscribe + Thank You :D!!!!
P.S.: great video! great presentation!
Amazing video bro. I found answer for all my questions. Thank you!
Great upload and info! Nice setup too. Auto guiding is fantastic, my telescope has been designed not to use a auto guider ☺
Excellent video, I have this exact setup with a redcat. Thanks!
The perfect Autoguider for your setup would be the "Lacerta Mgen 2". It is a standalone autoguider with superb guiding, and you don't need a laptop to operate. This would save you a ton of weight and batterie power.
Thanks for the suggestions, that's the first I've heard of the Mgen 2. Unfortunately, it looks like they don't have any offices in the US and I can't find any info if their trackers are compatible with a SkyGuider Pro or Star Adventurer.
Another option I was looking at was the ASIAir, but I know for sure that it is not currently compatible with either the SkyGuider Pro or Star Adventurer.
@@PeterZelinka I don't know if it will work with the skyguider pro. It is using a normal st4 cable for the guiding port. I use it with an Synscan EQ3 mount. Most Meade, Celestron and Orion mounts will work too. I think as long as your mount is ST4 compatible it should work.
The Mgen2 is more a niche product, developed from Astrophotograpgers for Astrophotographers. You can buy it in many Shops in Europe, I don't know why there is no shop in the USA. Before I had it it was such a hassle with the Laptop Batteries and cables and weight...now it's 7 minutes Setup time, no need for my EOS camera remote control (also build in) and the guiding works fine. There is just one tiny point-some parts as adapter rings for your guide scope and the remote EOS camera cable is not included. You have to buy it separately. But that is because there are so many different instrument combinations out there, so that they can not include them all. For me imho the the best invention since sliced bread.
@@PeterZelinka I use the MGEN II with my SGP, works great!
@@Poketronics Thanks for the info! So you are able to just plug in the MGEN II to your SkyGuider Pro and it works well?
@@PeterZelinka Yes, just need to disable DEC guiding. Setup, calibration, and guiding are push button easy. It also takes care of dithering between frames with the intervalometer built in.
This is a VERY helpful video...especially with PHD2! What is the best way to focus on an object that you can not actually see, so you know that you're pointing in the proper direction?
Just found you channel and watched almost all your videos! Great content 🤩
That’s a great introduction Peter, now I am tempted to get a auto guided as well!!
Nice video and thank you Peter! I've got a question/comment though...It may be a dumb one but we'll see. I've got almost the identical setup-modified D5500,Tamron 150-600mm G2, SGP, ZWO 120mm-s along with ZWO 30F4 guide scope mounted on the hotshoe(very tight/no wobble). Correct me if I'm wrong but isn't this theoretically a poor way to polar align? Not the Sharp-Cap part but the guide scope vs. SGP main pivoting axis alignment. I say this since I'm getting better results using the built-in polar scope because it seems that it is very difficult to align the guide scope (left/right) perfectly with the SGP built-in scope/main pivoting axis in order to get an accurate polar alignment due to the round nature of DEC camera mounting block (the round piece that attaches the lens tripod foot to the declination bracket). Does that makes sense? I'm curious to hear others thoughts on this too.
Hi Peter
Great video Peter, but as far as the Star Adventurer it's my understanding that the Star Adventurer guiding port is not usable for guiding since any time you turn it on in any position tracking starts automatically. I think for polar alignment only the best choice would be a PoleMaster and possibly a little cheaper.
Excellent video thanks. I like that power supply too.
wow!... this was exactly what I needed. Thank you so much Peter! :)
Great video Peter, thank you.
I like your videos and the way you speak and explain very much! May I ask you how you focus the guiding set up? In some videos they kind of rotate and screw the mini guide scope (my Asi mini guide scope seems not to have any moveable parts), in some other videos they only move the 120mini back and for within the cylindrical tube? Thanx a lot, cheers Nico🙏
Your a lifesaver. I've had the same question about finding a light and cheap solution for tracking on the skyguider. Also I heard you say that you travel alot and I'm wondering what for.
I teach photography workshops across the country each year, so that keeps me on the road for months at a time.
Fascinating and well presented too.
Great Video. I contacted Sky Watcher and they couldn’t give me any instructions on how to polar align with the guide scope.
Thanks for posting this. I think I might want to try auto-guiding with my Star Adventurer, and this helps. For me, the most difficult thing about all this is finding the target... I saw your Rosette nebula photo and immediately wondered, "How the heck did he manage to find something through a telephoto lens that's invisible to the naked eye?" Even to find the Orion nebula from my light-polluted backyard, I have to take a number of test shots... Any tips on how you acquire the object you are shooting would be much appreciated. Thanks again for your content.
It can definitely be a pain! When I took my most recent Rosette Nebula photo, it probably took me 15 minutes to get it centered.
I usually just put the ISO to 12,800 and take a 10 second exposure. I also look over the lens and try to aim it as close to the object as possible.
It's ultimately a lot of trial and error! Some objects are much easier than others to find
Peter Zelinka Thanks!
I'm no expert but invested in a digital angle finder and a decent compass. So after getting the coordinates from Stellarium (time sensitive of course), I use the compass to point the camera at the correct azimuth and the digital angle finder to raise/lower the camera. A test shot at high ISO will confirm if its in the field of view.
Graham Harris Graham Hi Graham that’s something I can try. Thank you.
Using Bootcamp on a Mac is a good work around if you have a Mac to use windows for auto guiding etc. That’s my plan anyway.
I beleive the issue with the 120 mini may have been a software or firmware issue. I bought the same autoguide camera and never had an issue with it and I have a brand new laptop (Lenovo). It's also possible, that I bought an upgraded version of it, maybe they corrected the problem and the newer-same model has no issues connecting.
awesome explanation! It seems pretty non-optimal to have to be using a laptop in the loop when all it's doing is trying to keep a guide star not moving by adjusting the rate of the tracker, that definitely feels like something that could be done by a teeny little microcontroller hmm
Great stuff, thank you for this very well understandable tutorial.
One problem with using sharpcap is, once you get it perfectly aligned, you have to be very careful not to get thrown off when you move everything to the object you want to photograph.
Congratulations for the review!
Peter I'm very confused according to Bojay Stellar / Dylan O'Donnell, they say you cant use the ST-4 cable from your guide camera to your tracker, they say both cables need to go to the laptop using USB 3.0. I have looked on eBay for a ST-4 to USB 3.0 and they don't exist. I'm using a Star Adventure Pro 🤔🤔🤔🤔🤔 I'm now stuck, as to what to do. Richard from the south coast of England.
The red line will show your PA error if you click the trend lines button. Your RA guiding may be good enough at 600mm but PA error may drift enough to mess up your stars!!
Love your videos. Very helps. I do need help in setting up the guide scope. In particular how to focus the thing? I look around to find some step bu step instructions and I don’t seem to be able to find any. Any suggestions? Perhaps a video by you could help. Thanks
Peter, I have used the Sky Guider, it’s a bit beefy for its size but the dec bracket is a huge pain. That plus the additional cost of adding a guider to it put the cost at $800 to $900. For that you could get a AVX EQ mount. While I understand the weight would be a lot less wouldn’t the possibility of expanding to small telescopes if you later wanted to get into Astro photography more? Just trying to understand if maybe I am missing something as I weigh these two opportunities. Thanks a lot and great job you do on all your videos.
If you got the SkyGuider and auto-guider setup I linked to, you'd be looking at around $700. The main reason I'd recommend investing it this way, rather than an AVX mount, is the size and weight. I personally spend 6+ months of the year, traveling and living out of my car. I'd have no way to carry around a mount that size. Of course, for the normal person it wouldn't be a big deal.
Also, this video is framed as "you already have a SkyGuider Pro, is it worth spending another ~$250 for an auto-guider?" I would say yes, if you plan to do more deep space astro. It really does make the SkyGuider much more accurate, without needing to spend another $800+ on a whole new tracker. (Which will also need an auto-guider).
A high-end mount, with both Dec and RA control and Go-To functionality would be great! I'm planning to upgrade at some point, but I need to settle down first. For other people, I suppose it just depends on their budget and how advanced they want to get. The larger trackers may work better, but they are also more complicated and time consuming to setup.
Gotcha, yea wondering if there was anything aside from your main point which can’t be understated sometimes. Size and weight. Well makes the case to have both a EQ Mount and a portable Alt/Az tracker eh?!!! Great vids
Great video but you never touched on the dslr. How is the camera being activated? Intervalometer? I'm confused. The stars on your laptop screen are from the guide camera correct? How does the dslr cone into play?
On that hot shoe adapter hack... Your solution was no longer available on Amazon. Yet for $6 I found "Camera Hot Shoe Mount to 1/4"-20 Tripod Screw Adapter Flash Shoe Mount for DSLR Camera Rig (Pack of 2)". Simply use a allen wrench to remove the wedge from the guide scope and screw the guide scope into the adapter. Saves weight and works well. See pic.
BTW - I used a small paper clip to take up the slack in the hot shoe not locking in (works fine).
theoryofeverything.org/theToE/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/2019-04-23-17.41.48.jpg
I should be more clear. The small piece of tape fits into the edge of the adapter thus inside the hot shoe to make it tighter (not on the outside).
Hi Peter - newcommer so I am deeply greatfull for all of your videos. I'm also a mac man - so I have one question - can PHD do the same polar alignment as SharpCap? Thanx in advance - Lars Denmark...
Great video! Thanks for posting! Could you provide a link for the special adapter for coupling the guidescope boot to the top of the camera, please? I have a canon t2i, though. I see like this metal slot that is very narrow, but it looks like you've managed to stuff a vixen boot into there. Please advise.
Excellent video. I learned a lot. Thank you!
Thats a good start for autoguiding , but mounting the guidescope on the hot shoe is terrible idea and is major reason for flex. You may want to look into getting a mounting rings for lens and mount on the guidescope on top of it.
That would be a huge hassle for what I do, which is why I went with the hotshoe mount. It's not perfect, but it works well enough. Once it's pushed into place, and off to one side, it won't move. I also don't shoot if there's any wind, which might shake it and screw up the guiding.
When I eventually get a telescope I will mount it to that, but for now, the hotshoe mount is the easiest for me and gets the job done
If the blue line is flat you're probably guiding on a hot pixel, OR you're so rich and your mount is so good, you don't need auto guiding! 😂
BTW In PHD's algorithms, i suggest to put none for the DEC algorithm itself.
That way you can see the DEC drift over time, it shows you how accurate your polar alignment is and how long your exposures could be.
Good point hahaha
I've seen Chuck and Trevor have gotten nearly that good though.
Unfortunately you can't put the Dec Algorithm to None in the latest versions of PHD2. I know in 2.6.5 you could, but that version wasn't compatible with my ZWO camera.
@@PeterZelinka I did it in 2.6.6 :)
You need to play around with the settings a bit to open up the feature.
I use a Zwo asi290mm mini
@@MichaelLevAstro I'll have to take a closer look then! Thanks for the tip!
Peter this video is very eloborate, thank you for sharing. I wonder now after seeing this, is there really much more to learn with the Star Adventurer/equivilants.
The Star Adventurer process is identical
you are amazing man! so much useful info. thank you very much!
Peter - I just purchased your class and am loving it so far. One quick question - do you still recommend buying a guider for someone who owns the SkyGuider as opposed to the SkyTracker? And also the ZWO camera (even though I shoot with a Sony A7RII)? I'm a bit confused on that side...
Thank you!
The SkyTracker Pro doesn't have the ability to use an auto-guider. The SkyGuider Pro and Star Adventurer can use an auto-guider.
How long can you shoot right now, before you notice star trails? If you can easily shoot 1 or even 2+ minutes, an auto-guider might not be worth the hassle.
The ZWO camera is exclusively for guiding, your Sony camera is still used for your astrophotography.
Although, you could use the auto-guider to take some photos through a telescope, if you wanted to experiment.
Ultimately, I only recommend buying an auto-guider if you are using a large telephoto lens with your SkyGuider Pro or Star Adventurer, and you are having problems shooting longer than ~45 seconds. In that case, an auto-guider will really help!
If things have been working fine, or if you are only shooting wide angle photos, an auto-guider isn't necessary.
I continually watch your amazing and informative videos. I sometimes come up with questions like these: Should we be concerned about vibration from the DSLR (non mirrorless) shutter activating even while using an intervalometer? Is that minute vibration enough to cause tracking issues with the Guide Camera and SkyGuider Pro mount?
So, can you use any zwo camera for autoguiding? Zwo now has a ASI290mm cmos guide camera. The camera you have and the one you suggested are listed as planetary cameras.
Does anyone know about using the 30F4 as a finderscope. Online I have seen the description say that it can be used in this manner, but only looking directly down the axis of the scope - no right angle viewing. I can't find any information about whether or not the aiming of the scope can be adjusted. It doesn't appear so in pictures; it just looks like a solid vixen mount with no little guide ring adjusters. The two thumb screws appear to just hold the camera in the 1.25" hole. Thanks for any insight anyone can provide!
I just ordered that hot shoe adapter myself that you are using. I ordered it because the 3D printed one I used was cheap and flexed too much. I was hoping the metal one with the shoe lock would be nice and tight but it looks like even it has a lot of wobble. Bummer.
Can you tell me what hot shoe did you bought and where. I dont know which one to choose. I have Nikon Dslr camera
Thanks for this brilliant tut...
Just a quick ques: do i have to turn ON STAR ADVENTURER or leave it at OFF.... apologies for this stupid question. Just starting to learn
I usually turn on my star tracker after I've done the polar alignment.
I was hunting for this question before I asked it myself. So thank you!
Would it be a good idea to confirm the polar alignment is still good after moving it back to horizontal position ?
Do you have to continuously connect your laptop to the guidescope in the field? or can you plug out once you find the deep sky obeject you wish to find?
Very well done review mate!
Trying to figure out how are you doing polar alignment via guidescope, if its not centered like a built in polar alignment tool
I heard that ASCOM is better compared to ST-4. Do you know if your can use ASCOM in PHD2 with this one?
ASCOM is definitely better, but unfortunately neither the SkyGuider Pro or Star Adventurer can use ASCOM. Both star trackers are pretty "dumb". If you had a Go-To mount though, it should have ASCOM functionality.
I wonder if attaching those guide camera cables with velcro to the counter balance pole would solve the stability issues.
It's bloody never ending the extra bits of kit u need to buy ... matbec ill stick tocbirdcphotography :)
I'm confused. The autoguider controls the only movable axis of the mount. The same rotation is supposed to be provided by this motorized mount. Does it mean the mount speed of rotation is so imprecise it needs to be micromanaged by an external camera ? The Earth rotates the same speed every night. How hard is it to get it right?
Even the high end mounts usually require an auto-guider for the best tracking results. I think it's due to the manufacturing process and motor. They aren't perfect, and when shooting at very high focal lengths any problems are instantly visible. The auto-guider is almost like a taskmaster, and keeps the motor running correctly at all times
@@PeterZelinka Thank you. Does it mean that with the auto-guider the rough polar alignment is sufficient and the rest will be taken care of RA and DEC motors ? I'm thinking of getting Az-Gti mount instead of Star Adventurer in that case.
@@Martinko_Pcik No, you always need to do an accurate polar alignment. If the polar alignment isn't good, guiding won't be of much use. However, even when I did a perfect polar alignment with my SkyGuider Pro, I couldn't shoot longer than 30 seconds with my 150-600mm lens, or I'd get star trails. Once I began using an auto-guider though, it kept that motor running properly and I could shoot 3+ minutes with sharp stars.
Hi Peter! was wondering if you had any idea why after calibration in PHD2, using essentially the same set up you have, the star that I lock on to slowly drifts on right ascension alongside the horizontal croshairs. Hope youre able to help out with this. Thanks for posting these helpful vids!!!