BST StarGuider 50mm Guide Scope for Astrophotography- unboxing and review

On the lookout for an affordable guide scope? In this video I check out one option from BST, a 50mm unit that will attach to a standard Synta-style finder shoe. The scope is lightweight and costs around £70 in the UK.

[@GarnettLeary]

Thanks for the review. It looks to be quite nice at its price point.

[@Station2066]

cheers mate. great video as usual.

[@RaysAstrophotography]

I had this one earlier, but I was a bit heavier than Orion 50mm guide scope. Thanks for the review.

[@xsauce3858]

The birds in the background sounds wonderful.

[@JenhamsAstro]

Xsauce Yes, lockdown has been wonderful for nature, if not for humans. Clear skies!

[@andyroo3022]

I just got mine. AliExpress, branded as a SvBony SV106. This is the same but bigger 60mm version. There is a 50mm version also.

[@cliveroberts415]

I have an unbranded version of this and I think the focal length is actually 183mm

[@JenhamsAstro]

Clive Roberts That’s interesting. I’ll double check mine.

[@breaktime1615]

Hola, sería necesario añadir un extensor para lograr foco con un ocular plossl de 32 , 25 o 20 mm ? (No importa que no haga foco con diagonal de 90). Me gustaría saber si podría usarlo para visual y ver campos estelares. ¿Qué opina sobre la calidad de imagen? Muchas gracias

[@Astronomy1610]

Looks like a great scope, but I wonder what program you use for guiding? Like your channel because you can explain your subjects really well👍

[@JenhamsAstro]

P J Maartens Thanks! I use PHD2.

[@condensermike]

I just received the Svbony version of this (exact same thing). Seemed well built and did a rough focus on some stars using an eyepiece and they seemed to come into focus. Did you have success using this to guide with? Thanks!

[@JenhamsAstro]

The honest answer is that it hasn't seen use yet. Hopefully I'll try it out soon.

[@Butzemann123]

Ive got the 60mm version of this guide scope on my mak. Do you think that one screw is enough to hold it on the finder shoe? Doesnt look very safe to me...

[@JenhamsAstro]

Koeber123 The guidescope and camera are light so the single screw does the job as long as you tighten it well, but I agree that a shoe with two screws would be better. You can buy these as replacements.

[@deeber35]

I have the Sky Watcher AZ-GTi mount in EQ mode. Can it track with a 400mm lens on a crop sensor without auto-guiding? I've had success at 300mm.

[@JenhamsAstro]

I think you’ve done well at 300mm! 400 seems like a stretch, but if you’ve got the lens, try it! You’ll probably throw more frames away, but you might have enough useable subs.

[@astroazores]

Hello! Did the rings and bracket came with the scope? Or did you buy them to? Can you share the link? Thanks!

[@JenhamsAstro]

Hello, yes they were included. I bought the scope though the skies unlimited shop on eBay. I've just checked and I can't see the unit listed today.

[@alejandrohebert8893]

Que útiles son sus vídeos, me ayudaron a decidir compras. Este buscador serviría como telescopio portátil, de viaje en maleta de mano? Funcionará correctamente con un ocular con zoom?

[@JenhamsAstro]

Thanks. Most guidescopes including this one are designed to allow an image to focus on a camera sensor positioned at the back of the scope. The focuser has quite a small range of "in and out" adjustment, compared to the focuser on a refractor telescope. I've just put a diagonal and eyepiece into this unit and it would not reach a focus. So not all guidescopes can double up as small spotting scope, if you want to use them with a diagonal for comfort.

[@alejandrohebert8893]

@@JenhamsAstro Thank you very much for your answer, it was very useful to me

[@astroshlibber9654]

Would you recommend a helical focuser for a telescope as a fine focuser. I can't afford a crayford

[@JenhamsAstro]

Astro Shlibber Not really. The ones I’ve used work ok in that they allow you to reach focus, but the amount of vibration induced in using one compared to a standard rack and pinion or crayford is annoying. For a guidescope the focus is basically set and fixed for a given camera so it’s a good solution, but using one on a main scope is not ideal in my opinion.

[@astroshlibber9654]

@@JenhamsAstro good point

[@GarnettLeary]

Are you planning to use the Maksutov for galaxies? I hope so. I’m on the same project. I’d love to compare results and information. There’s not many folks doing it and I don’t know why. I love mine.

[@JenhamsAstro]

Garnett Leary Hi Garnett, that’s interesting to hear! I’d like to do more DSO work with the Maks yes, and galaxies make tempting targets don’t they! I hope it can extend my subframe time to get a better result. It’s another “outside my scope’s niche” ideas. Given the summer it will have to wait; I’ll look out for any results from you. Clear skies. Graham

[@GarnettLeary]

Jenham's Astro I’m hoping I can. I just bought a Meade LX-85 with intentions of driving the compact mak. So far it’s not looking too good. Even with an excellent Sharpcap polar align I’m at an error of 1.2. Horrible and not very useful for 1550mm of focal length. I’m hoping I can iron those issues out, otherwise It’s going to just be a planetary mount. Off topic I just wanted to say I recommend your channel to my group. It’s really nice to see folks contributing to the community with honest and intelligent reviews. Keep it up. Clear skies friend.

[@JenhamsAstro]

Thanks Garnett.

[@3_Gold_Coins]

@@GarnettLeary Have you had success with your Lx-85 mak. I just got one also.

[@pahlavipahlavi5926]

Hi dear jenham,hope you are fine, can i ask you,why my brand new 60mm guidscope shows everythings foggy? Do i have to add somethings on it to have a clear view?thanks

[@JenhamsAstro]

Pahlavi Pahlavi Hello, are you using a camera in the guidescope or an eyepiece? If I put an eyepiece in my guidescope it will not reach focus, but as a test if I hold the eyepiece a few millimetres out of the focuser tube it does focus. If this works then the scope is ok BUT it is set up to reach focus with the sensor of a guide camera. Have you tried it with a camera? Let me know, Graham

[@pahlavipahlavi5926]

@@JenhamsAstro hi dear jenham and thanks for your reply, i didn,t use the camera,just 20mm eyepiece, but when i use x2 barlow lens,i can see better.

[@JenhamsAstro]

Pahlavi Pahlavi OK that makes sense as the barlow adds the extra light path. So to use just an eyepiece in the guidescope you would need a short extension tube. The GS is probably fine it’s just designed to focus the image onto a camera sensor that is positioned slightly in front to where the focus is if you just had an eyepiece.

[@pahlavipahlavi5926]

@@JenhamsAstro thanks my friend,you are one in the million.just one more question, do celestron starsense help to do the polar alignment? because i am not good with pa and most of the time my tescope slew in wrong direction and i have been told if pa goes wrong every things on telescope goes wrong. thanks

[@JenhamsAstro]

Pahlavi Pahlavi Yes the Starsense means you don’t need to accurately align yourself.

[@doctormclovin2634]

Can this be used with a diagonal and then an eye piece?

[@JenhamsAstro]

Mine won’t reach focus with a diagonal but is OK as straight-through.

[@doctormclovin2634]

@@JenhamsAstro Thank you very much for letting me know