My NEW Astrophotography Mount | Skywatcher Star Adventurer GTi 🔭📸

[@Wolfie6020]

I have had mine since they were first release and the early ones did not come with the second smaller counterweight. It had a few QC issues too and the RA backlash screw kept unwinding by itself resulting in ridiculous backlash. I finally solved that with some plumbers tape on the screw and since then it has been great. Early version also had a few issues with the USB connection but later firmware upgrades fixed that and unlocked the bluetoon which was a pleasant surprise. Hopefully they ironed out the backlash issue in recent model. Otherwise it is a fabulous little mount and I leave mine fully assembled too with a SkyWatcher 50ED / MC585 camera. Great for grab and go. I use this mount the most as it is so easy to transport. Great review and clear skies.

[@scotiaastro]

Thanks for sharing your experiences mate...yes, I'm glad of the two counterweights with mine, works much better. Heard some QC issues from other folks too, but I'm lucky that I haven't had to mess with mine at all. Appreciate you tuning in and have a lovely weekend! :)

[@amacmedia3221]

Just got my GTi and that you adapter looks great, off to watch your video on it thanks

[@scotiaastro]

Thanks so much mate and have fun! I love mine! :)

[@bobbymccourt6794]

LOVE my mount! Mines is permanently mounted in my roll off observatory. Currently runs a Z61 WO, 533MC Pro, EAF and 120MM guide camera and WO 120mm guide scope. I am waiting on a Rokinon 135 that should show up any day now. I am VERY curious about the ADM DT plate. Been out of the hobby for quite some time. I was one of the first to purchase his DT mount for my EQ6 years ago. Top quality stuff. Good Luck with the mount!

[@scotiaastro]

Thanks so much for tuning in Bobby and glad to hear you're having fun with the GTi! I'll be sharing a video on fitting the ADM Dual Saddle soon, so stay tuned! Have a great weekend! :)

[@mikehardy8247]

I got mine about s year ago. Only one weight though, probably the sum of both yours. I wasn't thrilled with the Synscan app, but a month or so later when I got my asiair +, it was a match made in astro heaven! I have a small 360mm Doublet, zwo533 mc pro, asi 120 mini with 30mm guide camera and zwo EAF. I'm just now playing with the 135mm Samyang with a rebel t7i, EAF, on the THINKABLE Creations 3D clamp. This is controlled by an asiair mini. Intend to swap the mini around with different lenses etc. This is my first goto mount. I love it!

[@scotiaastro]

Great to hear you're getting on well with it, Mike! Your set-up sounds sweet too! Happy imaging and thanks for tuning in! :)

[@AmatureAstronomer]

I have a Sky Watcher AZ GTi go to mount. Tracks well. Love it. But, field rotation is eating my photos. Need a light equatorial mount, so I just bought a Star Adventurer GTi. Hasn't arrived, yet. Hope it is nice.

[@scotiaastro]

Awesome mate! I’m loving mine! Have fun and let us know how you get on! 👍🏻

[@aroxchannel]

Love your channel mate.

[@scotiaastro]

Thanks so much mate! Appreciate you tuning in and more videos coming soon! Have a lovely week! :)

[@dlmackie123]

Hi, Fellow Scot her though 25 years expat - currently in West of Ireland where weather is probably as bad as your own. I'm considering the SA GTi as a second mount (same reasons as you) but have seen some bad press about backlash problems. Have you had a chance to get any runs with the mount and what is the tracking/guiding like?

[@scotiaastro]

Hello from across the Sea, mate and thanks for tuning in! :) Yes, I'd heard about some backlash issues on the GTi on some of the forums, but also a good deal of positive stuff, so I decided to take the plunge and just go for it. So far, I've had over 15 hours on it (over various projects) and mine has performed flawlessly. It's not the most robust mount out there, but to be fair it's not trying/claiming to be either. As you'll now with mass produced gear like this, there's always a portion of less than optimal units about...but in regards to my own personal experience with it, I'd highly recommend it and have had great fun with mine! :) You can check out my social channels and Astrobin pages for recent imaging examples with my Samyang 135 for reference to see what its capable of. Hope that helps, but any other questions, just fire them over. Have a great day! :)

[@corinlewis3073]

I got my Starwatcher adventurer GTI mount, I planned take it to San Antonio Texas next year for the solar eclipse on April 8th. Then on to my island home Barbados under bortle 4 skies for some Astrophotography.

[@scotiaastro]

Nice mate! Good luck with your Eclipse hunting...super jealous of you all over here, across the Pond! Lol! Have a lovely weekend and thanks for tuning in! :)

[@corinlewis3073]

@@scotiaastro Thanks, just hope all goes well with my GTi mount, still doing some testing with it, using Green Swamp Server and NINA for 3 point alignment.

[@ChrizzlyUniverse]

Congratulations on your new portable mount! This one makes your Samyang/Rokinon 135 not look like a toy-telescope anymore 😄 (as in combination with your main mount) Clear skies mate! :)

[@scotiaastro]

Cheers buddy! Looking forward to getting imaging time with it! Hope you're having a great week! :)

[@petelopez5826]

I just acquired this mount and just wondering if you use the pier extension? I’ve noticed when using the pier extension it seems like it becomes a little unstable.

[@scotiaastro]

Hi mate, it's a great mount and I'm having real fun with it and found it to be a great performer. No, I haven't tried it with the pier extension, sorry...but yes, I can see how you might get a few more wobbles on larger rigs...good luck with it! :)

[@aaronwilliams3949]

I've gotten some real good guiding from this mount with the Skywatcher Evoguide 50ED @ 1 arc second and .66 arc second with the 130PDS perfectly balanced with an eleven pound weight that I bought separately. So you can stretch the weight limit. My 130PDS with camera and all is just over 11 pounds.

[@scotiaastro]

Great to hear that you managed the GTi with a 130PDS...I have that scope too and love it! Thanks for tuning in and have a great day! :)

[@user-Dubster.406]

I’m thinking about getting the GTI to use with a DLSR for night photography. The camera has a very good night capability. Sensor and exposure timer. The timer will run up to 900s. Great for satelite or star circles, but I want to get the Milky Way and other objects.

[@scotiaastro]

It'll be a great choice for that, mate! Best of luck with it and let us know how you get on! :)

[@user-Dubster.406]

Thanks. Will I need anything additional for connecting the camera to the top end of the GTI? Is it easy to calibrate?

[@KevinRudd-w8s]

Hi Steve, I've been considering buying one of these for a while, I do have one of the original Star Adventurer mounts which works great but has to be manually pointed at the target which can be a bit tricky at times. I use an almost identical wide field set up using the Samyang 135mm as yourself. I also have a Lunt LS 50 Ha solar scope which I think would go well with GTi as well. I do have an EQ6-R mount which is currently semi permanently set up for use with my larger scopes. Is the GTi Ascom compliant?

[@scotiaastro]

Hey mate! Thanks for tuning in and your Lunt and the Samyang setups would work great on this mount…yes, it’s fully ASCOM compliant with the usual Skywatcher drivers, etc…good luck if you go ahead with a purchase…the goto is certainly a big step up from the OG Star Adventurer (which I have too!)…

[@aaronwilliams3949]

Oh, I forgot to mention that I use a 10 amp power supply for just the mount and a 5 amp for my ASI mini.

[@chrislo1532]

I have this mount as well. Ive used it for about a year so have gotten pretty used to its functions and quirks. One major thorn in my side is the polar alignment scope and its illumination. I know the DEC axis has to be in alignment to use it, but even when it is, I get a lot of red light reflection on the recital and can barely see stars through it. Just wondering is this true with yours as well and is due to bad design, or do I have a bad unit?

[@scotiaastro]

Thanks for tuning in, Chris and for sharing your experience with the reticle...I'll check mine out and let you know! Have a great weekend! :)

[@3rdTrick-Photography]

Hi Steve, I am looking at the Star Adventurer GTi for the upcoming 2024 Solar Eclipse. Last eclipse, I used a manual AZ mount and it worked well but did not track. Will the SA GTi be able to aim the camera to the Sun and track the Solar Eclipse? Thank you

[@scotiaastro]

Hey mate, thanks so much for tuning in! :) Yes, the GTi can easily track the Sun and this feature is included on the Skywatcher SynScan app, which you can use with a cable or wirelessly with the GTi. Alternatively and a cheaper option is to go with the Skywatcher Solar Quest, which is a custom mount which specialises only in Solar tracking...its certainly less versatile than the GTi, but it depends on your set-up and use cases, but thought I'd throw it in...I'll be doing a dedicated video on the Solar Quest soon, but you can see it in this video, where I trial the Lunt Solar Wedge (which is also excellent!) kzbin.info/www/bejne/l2PHg6p6h5yan9E. Hope that helps, but any other questions, just fire them over! :)

[@3rdTrick-Photography]

Thank you @@scotiaastro

[@ElGrecoDaGeek]

​​​@@3rdTrick-Photographyfor the eclipse you're better off with the original non go-to SA because the GTI will very likely require a meridian flip around the time of totality depending on your location. I have both and I'm leaving the GTI at home.