Yeah, it was pretty amazing 😊. Thanks, think I still have refinement ahead of me to get better H-alpha, possibly could have done with more exposure time on this one. Great night out though.
@@AstroRoad My pleasure :) PS. the pain of connecting an app every time (and sometimes failing to do so) was the reason I got rid of my SAM very quickly. Same reason I can't trust the Benro Polaris. I just want an on/off button and a track button :)
Yeah, the lack of physical controls has emerged as the biggest drawback of the SAM for me too. Have been able to "get around" it by setting up a long exposure and then setting the "auto-run task" option to on. A band-aid fix to problem that probably shouldn't exist in the first place.
Great little video Dominic. I love the SA Mini. I don't need the app any more at all. I just set it up to run for a very long time initially by using the app . .now every time I turn it on it starts that long sequence again. Of course, this may not work if you want to use it as a timelapse rotator .. but I never use it for that. Just a question regarding the SQM meter. Does it measure like a live light meter or is it working via an app using gps location ..?? I'd imaging that if it works like a light meter then the moonlight would upset the reading.
Thanks Richard, always appreciated 👍! I've done the same with mine too, though I think I'll still use the app pretty often as I do love the intervalometer control. The SQM is a live reading. It is the L version, so should be only measuring around about 10° of the sky where it is pointed. I waited a while between the moonset and taking my measurement, the light source at the end there is actually Bendigo.
2i is a great tracker for sure. The mini really is proving to be a good step up from the MSM, surprising given they are not miles apart on what I paid for them.
@@AstroRoad In hindsight, I don't think the MSM was particularly good value by the time you factor in the required extras. I think the laser is a nice feature for northern hemisphere but not useful in Aus, and maybe it's compact size if that is an issue but otherwise 🤷
Absolutely. My MSM is pretty beat up and I definitely learnt a lot with it. Looking now though the same unit I have is $209USD, same as their new Nomad tracker. Cost me $20 more to get the SAM. Hard to recommend the MSM in that scenario.
Absolutely, that lens is a light magnet 😁. Also use it with my a7s II as well with a follow focus. Can be a touch tricky to nail focus in the dark with it though, not much depth to the focal plane when wide open.
@@AstroRoad Nice! This might be my favorite video of yours now, the place was splendid and the a7s camera work was really good. So relaxing to see all those stars in real time. Ever thought of sacrificing just one or two thirds of stops to get smooth video with 1/25 shutter? I think the environment was bright enough here that losing a bit of light would've not changed much :) Thank you for including so many real time shots of the skies!
I'm certainly loving it so far, it really is quite a feature rich little unit. Coming from the MSM (and even the 2i), perhaps my only observation is the app only design. You can't just plonk the unit down switch it on and start tracking. There is a work-around of course, however that still requires setup via the app first. In the scheme of things though this is a tiny issue compared to the lack of locking mechanism on the MSM or the dial on the 2i which switches itself on while in your bag.
It would be nice if it just remembered the last setting and started with that. I just set it to track and use an external intervalometer/wireless remote to run the camera. I had to use painter's tape to keep the regular StarAdvenurer from turning on in the bag. I do that or flip a battery so it won't run.
Orion almost up above you, that must be a spectacular experience 😎. Great results also, love those trees and the v-shape of the hills!
Yeah, it was pretty amazing 😊. Thanks, think I still have refinement ahead of me to get better H-alpha, possibly could have done with more exposure time on this one. Great night out though.
Nice to see the Z/V plate in use 🤘🏼 Nice vid
Cheers Alyn, pretty much a standard bit of kit for most these days I'd think 😉. Thanks for watching 👍.
@@AstroRoad My pleasure :) PS. the pain of connecting an app every time (and sometimes failing to do so) was the reason I got rid of my SAM very quickly. Same reason I can't trust the Benro Polaris. I just want an on/off button and a track button :)
Yeah, the lack of physical controls has emerged as the biggest drawback of the SAM for me too. Have been able to "get around" it by setting up a long exposure and then setting the "auto-run task" option to on. A band-aid fix to problem that probably shouldn't exist in the first place.
Great little video Dominic. I love the SA Mini. I don't need the app any more at all. I just set it up to run for a very long time initially by using the app . .now every time I turn it on it starts that long sequence again. Of course, this may not work if you want to use it as a timelapse rotator .. but I never use it for that.
Just a question regarding the SQM meter. Does it measure like a live light meter or is it working via an app using gps location ..?? I'd imaging that if it works like a light meter then the moonlight would upset the reading.
Thanks Richard, always appreciated 👍! I've done the same with mine too, though I think I'll still use the app pretty often as I do love the intervalometer control.
The SQM is a live reading. It is the L version, so should be only measuring around about 10° of the sky where it is pointed. I waited a while between the moonset and taking my measurement, the light source at the end there is actually Bendigo.
I've looked at the mini as well but will probably just stick with my SA 2i. These units feel much more solid and secure than the MSM.
2i is a great tracker for sure. The mini really is proving to be a good step up from the MSM, surprising given they are not miles apart on what I paid for them.
@@AstroRoad In hindsight, I don't think the MSM was particularly good value by the time you factor in the required extras. I think the laser is a nice feature for northern hemisphere but not useful in Aus, and maybe it's compact size if that is an issue but otherwise 🤷
Absolutely. My MSM is pretty beat up and I definitely learnt a lot with it. Looking now though the same unit I have is $209USD, same as their new Nomad tracker. Cost me $20 more to get the SAM. Hard to recommend the MSM in that scenario.
Still using the a7s III paired with the Laowa 35 0.95? :)
Absolutely, that lens is a light magnet 😁. Also use it with my a7s II as well with a follow focus. Can be a touch tricky to nail focus in the dark with it though, not much depth to the focal plane when wide open.
@@AstroRoad Nice! This might be my favorite video of yours now, the place was splendid and the a7s camera work was really good. So relaxing to see all those stars in real time.
Ever thought of sacrificing just one or two thirds of stops to get smooth video with 1/25 shutter? I think the environment was bright enough here that losing a bit of light would've not changed much :) Thank you for including so many real time shots of the skies!
Thanks so much 👍.
Yeah, definitely could've bumper the shutter to 1/25 on that night. Really not used to shooting with that much light 😂
saludo desde Panama
G'day from Aus 😊
I'm a big fan of the Skywatcher Mini. It's a great choice.
I'm certainly loving it so far, it really is quite a feature rich little unit. Coming from the MSM (and even the 2i), perhaps my only observation is the app only design. You can't just plonk the unit down switch it on and start tracking. There is a work-around of course, however that still requires setup via the app first. In the scheme of things though this is a tiny issue compared to the lack of locking mechanism on the MSM or the dial on the 2i which switches itself on while in your bag.
It would be nice if it just remembered the last setting and started with that. I just set it to track and use an external intervalometer/wireless remote to run the camera. I had to use painter's tape to keep the regular StarAdvenurer from turning on in the bag. I do that or flip a battery so it won't run.