Honestly seems like a big oversight on the design. This unit was advertised as being more secure for attempting longer focal lengths, and while rotating your camera for wide angle setups for polar alignment might be fine, for longer focal lengths where I check alignment often, I’m worried by the time the weight is rotated back to center that the alignment would be off. Seems like the proper solution would be some sort of clamp bracket like the original MSM unit had to allow the placement of the polar scope in varying positions rather than being tied to the upper right corner. I hope to be able to purchase something if the sort in the future.
Hi Alex! I solved the problem of the laser that hit on my camera during the alignment using, like you do, the Polar Scope and Laser support but instead of use the laser inside the polar scope I use a "2 laser solution". I had the old MoveShootMove laser and I put it inside the Polar Scope Support and screwed with the supplied plastic screw. It fits very well and since I'll use the Nomad especially for Nightscape I don't need the Polar Scope in the most of the cases. This solution can be a little "stupid" but I solved another problem with it. When it's cold the lasers 5mW doesn't work fine so I use one for the first important alignment, fixed to the Nomad, and the second it's removable so I can put it to the "warm" of a pocket and use it for the realignment when it's needed.
How much slop is there when you attach that laser adaptor to the scope? does it perfectly align with the scope center or does it vary depending on that set screw? If the scope and the laser combo are not perfectly centered, the laser pointer could be way off when pointing at Polaris.
Got excited by this until you mentioned it requires a polar scope. I'm rolling without one at the moment. Wish someone could create some kind of rigging that didn't require one.
Good solution Alex. I am wondering if you could just mount the laser pointer in the polar scope bracket and use the little white screw tighten it? I also wish the Nomad laser pointer mounting point is at the bottom right instead of the top left. That way the camera or ballhead or V bracket won't be in the way?
Bought the NOMAD tracker and loving it so mich. Did watched your videos before buying and so far no regrets. Really looking forward for the Total Solar Eclipse . If you can do a video how to aligh the NOMAD during the daytime for the Solar Eclipse that would be great. And thanks for the advice, had some difficulty initially setting the of the tracker with the laser and the camera ball head and tried to setup the tracker first and worked perfectly.
Thanks for your video and for your tricks :) I'm waiting for my MSN Nomad, it will arrive in about one week! :) I would love if you some day explain how do you mix the final stack photo of the sky and a foreground photo (wich is called Blending, I think).
I have an another brand nomad tracker and there is no laser option. Only two peep holes. It takes me about 30 seconds to lineup with the Polaris and I'm good to shoot 2-3 minutes exposures. Of course it takes time to get the tripod in level. If I would like to shoot deep space I would buy a very different tracker and is there need a laser pointer either.
Any solutions for the Southern Hemisphere where neither lasers or scopes are much use? Is there a good way to attach a Polemaster or Ipolar? Using a phone and app is so-so as I find the metal of the mount throws the compass off and its not that accurate.
Been learning a lot from your channel, I just bought the nomad and I will be going through your playlist dedicated to it. I was wondering just how long an exposure can you hope to make with a 20mm 1.8 lens with a rough polar alignment with a laser. Is a 2 to 3 minute long exposure a reasonable expectation?
Hi Alex, thanks for your video. Do you have any comments for the wedge sold by MSM? I saw some disappointing comments that its latitude lock does not lock tightly. Some youtubers recommend the Benro 3-Way Geared Head but it is quite heavy. What is your view, any advice?
The wedge I received from msm has worked perfectly. I just like the 3 way because it's faster to spin and has more range of motion.... but the wedge has worked just fine for me too. Msm did just release a newly designed wedge... I'm still waiting for mine to arrive but I will be reviewing it
Great video Alex! I guess you don’t have this problem if you cannot use the laser tool (country restrictiobs) and you use a mobile phone for that, right? Planning to buy the Nomad shortly, but without laser 😊
Had the same issue. The D screw was bottoming out before it got the V-mount tight. I placed a washer under the D screw so it gets the V-mount secure before bottoming out.
Alex, why don't you contact MSM and have them sell just the bracket on their site and Amazon so we don't have to purchase another laser pointer we don't need. This would make the bracket less than half the price of the combo package.
In some countries it is absolutely forbidden to use a laser. You can be fined astronomically (pun intended) if "caught". I cannot see any good reason to use this when you have a polar scope. It is also not very accurate as the alignment is quite a bit offset on a circle around polaris depending on time of night. Maybe OK for those only shooting milky-way/wide angle shots.
@@chasingluminance 4-5mins, that is very good. I use no more than 30sec to 1min to align using the polar scope, but I can see that a laser is a very useful tool. Too bad I do not dare to use it where I live. 😊I usually use lenses in the 100mm+ focal range, so accurate polar alignment is mandatory for any longer exposures.
Don’t be such a wuss. The laser is fast, nobody will know where you are from a few seconds of it on. Enjoy pretending like using the scope isn’t annoying
Honestly seems like a big oversight on the design. This unit was advertised as being more secure for attempting longer focal lengths, and while rotating your camera for wide angle setups for polar alignment might be fine, for longer focal lengths where I check alignment often, I’m worried by the time the weight is rotated back to center that the alignment would be off. Seems like the proper solution would be some sort of clamp bracket like the original MSM unit had to allow the placement of the polar scope in varying positions rather than being tied to the upper right corner. I hope to be able to purchase something if the sort in the future.
Hi Alex! I solved the problem of the laser that hit on my camera during the alignment using, like you do, the Polar Scope and Laser support but instead of use the laser inside the polar scope I use a "2 laser solution". I had the old MoveShootMove laser and I put it inside the Polar Scope Support and screwed with the supplied plastic screw. It fits very well and since I'll use the Nomad especially for Nightscape I don't need the Polar Scope in the most of the cases.
This solution can be a little "stupid" but I solved another problem with it. When it's cold the lasers 5mW doesn't work fine so I use one for the first important alignment, fixed to the Nomad, and the second it's removable so I can put it to the "warm" of a pocket and use it for the realignment when it's needed.
That works for sure. And yeah, I keep my laser in my glove until it's time to use
How much slop is there when you attach that laser adaptor to the scope? does it perfectly align with the scope center or does it vary depending on that set screw? If the scope and the laser combo are not perfectly centered, the laser pointer could be way off when pointing at Polaris.
My answer is.... it works well enough for me. It's better than the older msm set up
Got excited by this until you mentioned it requires a polar scope. I'm rolling without one at the moment. Wish someone could create some kind of rigging that didn't require one.
makerworld.com/en/models/252808?fbclid=IwAR3omHhMYJGOQadWpxuw3mJPh6ijsXQIzMq42w5bwFOCK-YI_xiMrM32qYU_aem_AWoKmuF43KJkZ2E5LbLTuN7kKVJ2y_1zAAdkj6HKZhUgzYSH6zEWSJdD0L7rfV1_MszpFwx1ldc0HdrUVx6LFb3x
@@chasingluminance Yeah, that's closer to what I was thinking about. Hopefully they'll be available for sale so I can try one out.
Good solution Alex. I am wondering if you could just mount the laser pointer in the polar scope bracket and use the little white screw tighten it? I also wish the Nomad laser pointer mounting point is at the bottom right instead of the top left. That way the camera or ballhead or V bracket won't be in the way?
Good ideas. I'm going to suggest selling just the bracket
Bought the NOMAD tracker and loving it so mich. Did watched your videos before buying and so far no regrets. Really looking forward for the Total Solar Eclipse . If you can do a video how to aligh the NOMAD during the daytime for the Solar Eclipse that would be great. And thanks for the advice, had some difficulty initially setting the of the tracker with the laser and the camera ball head and tried to setup the tracker first and worked perfectly.
I should do that tomorrow.
Thanks for your video and for your tricks :)
I'm waiting for my MSN Nomad, it will arrive in about one week! :)
I would love if you some day explain how do you mix the final stack photo of the sky and a foreground photo (wich is called Blending, I think).
ruclips.net/video/TG-G2zmb2cA/видео.htmlsi=UVOq7AIbrxFNg1Rw
I have an another brand nomad tracker and there is no laser option. Only two peep holes. It takes me about 30 seconds to lineup with the Polaris and I'm good to shoot 2-3 minutes exposures. Of course it takes time to get the tripod in level. If I would like to shoot deep space I would buy a very different tracker and is there need a laser pointer either.
What brand tracker is that?
But yeah, the peep holes work pretty well
@@chasingluminance It's Slik Astra but they seem to sell it couple different names nowadays
Any solutions for the Southern Hemisphere where neither lasers or scopes are much use? Is there a good way to attach a Polemaster or Ipolar? Using a phone and app is so-so as I find the metal of the mount throws the compass off and its not that accurate.
This video was made for the msm, but the idea still applies
ruclips.net/video/p7NcaBQxfDk/видео.html
Been learning a lot from your channel, I just bought the nomad and I will be going through your playlist dedicated to it. I was wondering just how long an exposure can you hope to make with a 20mm 1.8 lens with a rough polar alignment with a laser. Is a 2 to 3 minute long exposure a reasonable expectation?
2-3 minutes is very possible with a proper set up.
Oh, and thank you
Eclipse coming up. How do I track the sun with an iOptron SkyGuider Pro…
Hi Alex, thanks for your video. Do you have any comments for the wedge sold by MSM? I saw some disappointing comments that its latitude lock does not lock tightly. Some youtubers recommend the Benro 3-Way Geared Head but it is quite heavy. What is your view, any advice?
The wedge I received from msm has worked perfectly. I just like the 3 way because it's faster to spin and has more range of motion.... but the wedge has worked just fine for me too.
Msm did just release a newly designed wedge... I'm still waiting for mine to arrive but I will be reviewing it
Great video Alex! I guess you don’t have this problem if you cannot use the laser tool (country restrictiobs) and you use a mobile phone for that, right? Planning to buy the Nomad shortly, but without laser 😊
Yeah the phone mount works well
Can nomad handle a 70-200 gm lens?
It handled my Canon rf 70-200 with 30 second exposures really well last night
Tried using the link for your workshop and got an error?
Oh no! It must be broken. Email me at chasingluminance@gmail.com
Just bought my nomad, I didn't buy the laser because I'm on a tight budget. I'm hoping skysafari on my phone will do the alignment.
How do you keep that alyn wallace plate so secured. Mine slowly comes loose and the camera moves down :(
All the ones I've used are nice and secure just buy synching down on the lever.
Sorry to hear yours is having struggles
I've got the Z and the V plates and mine are super secure. How much weight are you putting on your plate ?? I'm sure there's a weight limit somewhere.
@@huf67 I am using 14mm Sony GM and a Sigma 100-400. Both are within the weight/payload threshold.
@@americandronecompanyllc4268 .... That's odd. Both of my plates almost hold too tight. Maybe you got a dud 🤷
Had the same issue. The D screw was bottoming out before it got the V-mount tight. I placed a washer under the D screw so it gets the V-mount secure before bottoming out.
Alex, why don't you contact MSM and have them sell just the bracket on their site and Amazon so we don't have to purchase another laser pointer we don't need. This would make the bracket less than half the price of the combo package.
Solid idea. I'll do that
@@chasingluminance Thanks Alex!
I can't even see this week-a*s laser beam in bortle 9, Much more through the polar scope. And as you know they don't work brlo50 degrees F.
I use mine in sub 0 temperatures, and it works great... long enough to polar align for sure
purple
People eater
In some countries it is absolutely forbidden to use a laser. You can be fined astronomically (pun intended) if "caught". I cannot see any good reason to use this when you have a polar scope. It is also not very accurate as the alignment is quite a bit offset on a circle around polaris depending on time of night. Maybe OK for those only shooting milky-way/wide angle shots.
Yeah, that's rough. The laser helps you get close very very quickly and is accurate enough for 4-5 minute shots with a 35mm lens
@@chasingluminance 4-5mins, that is very good. I use no more than 30sec to 1min to align using the polar scope, but I can see that a laser is a very useful tool. Too bad I do not dare to use it where I live. 😊I usually use lenses in the 100mm+ focal range, so accurate polar alignment is mandatory for any longer exposures.
Don’t be such a wuss. The laser is fast, nobody will know where you are from a few seconds of it on. Enjoy pretending like using the scope isn’t annoying