Star Tracker Buying Guide | 2021 Edition

[@stephenwebber3850]

Thanks for the video Peter . I have had a star adventurer for about 4 years - best value for money astro gear I have bought. Its seems to be very popular in my local astro society as a few have bought one and some saying they are out of stock with suppliers. For what its worth the issues I have had with mine are 1) Big clutch in the mount can get so stiff it is very difficult to unlock 2) there was a little movement in the mount due to smoe play in the gearing - there is a small allan key bolt on the mount that you can tighten to solve this. 3) the hex screws on the base of the wedge need some movement for the Az bolts to move but then need tightening afterwards and being black with a black key make it difficult and fiddly. 4) The batteries are really good - last a long time (as long as you avoid accidently switching on with the dial) . Its not hard to keep 4 spare AA batteries in your bag - I always include spares for mount and finder illuminator. 5) polar scope illuminator is terrible, small and no real on/off so only way to stop battery draining is unscrew the cover until there is no contact with battery. Yes, the plastic bits are poor and 5 years after its disappointing they have not been improved at all. The polar scope cover is a waste but I have not lost the battery cover yet. otherwise, I have never had a night with it where I have not been able to use any pictures - I have used 18mm and 300mm lens on a DSLR as well as a DSLR on a 61mm refractor - all good. If you are interested in a portable EQ , GOTO mount, look at the Skywatcher AZ GTi - has option to upgrade firmware to work in EQ mode and just need to add a wedge , counterweight and bar

[@SimonAElson]

Great, that answered 6 questions but gave me 10 more ... Why don’t these manufacturers learn from each other ??? !!! ???

[@Martinko_Pcik]

I really appreciate your honest views on things based in experience of multiple people in your classes and your own. I also enjoy your calm and clear voice.

[@mikehardy8247]

Sorry, forgot to say otherwise I love all that you've done, people, support Peter, and buy his courses, a great amount of information, very affordable, especially when on sale.

[@notoironfist1280]

im not an astrophotography enthusiast but i had to sub because of the calmness and assurance in your voice

[@GalaxyArtMedia]

I had the Ioptron skygudier pro in the past, now i bought the Star adventurer 2i and got much better experience, the build feels better, i also tested up to 5 kg with an 127/1500 maksutov with success

[@geoff4009]

You hit the nail on the head with that "it can take you up to an hour to find the object". That resonates with some true pain, but also good learning experiences. I definitely exceeded that trying to find the Pavo globular cluster in a 300mm lens. That's when I realized (at about 1am) I could just set my ISO to max and take short photos while hunting instead of dropping 30s frames for every guess (followed by going inside to the computer, remember what I saw, looking at Stellarium, being completely baffled, going out again... almost give up... repeat). This will probably come up unexpectedly in a future therapy session.

[@charon7642]

Don’t quite agree with iPolar. I’ve got the iPolar version of the SkyGuider Pro. I would say if you have a laser pointer as well, then you don’t need to take a laptop with you for Milky Way photography. Just place the laser on top of your SkyGuider Pro and use the laser to find Polaris, your alignment is done so easily, laptop is definitely not needed. For deep space photography I take my laptop for auto guiding anyway. The advantage of iPolar with SkyGuider Pro is that you never need to crunch and look into that small polar scope anymore, I personally find that extremely comfortable …

[@slapski8566]

I use same method but put it on the wedge held tight against the side. Its good enough for wide angle

[@quincylee2276]

The iPolar is especially necessary where I am in the Southern Hemisphere, as there is no "south star" to eyeball in the alignment process.

[@Swaggerlot]

I certainly agree about the use of the iPolar to do the alignment. Living in Australia and close to major light pollution makes visual alignment more than difficult. Works fine for me, as does the tracker itself.

[@MakotoHawkins]

I agree with the Sky Guider Pro battery cover falling off too easily. However, I found that heating the little tab holds the cover on with a lighter and bending it a tiny bit was enough to give it a rock solid fit. It shouldn't be necessary, but its very easy to fix.

[@Colinpowellphotography]

Thanks for sharing. I've just started out with astro photography as far as milky way for now and considering a star tracker. I find your comments most use full as I know absolutely nothing about them. Thank you.

[@QuadraPixel]

I got a Sky-Watcher Star Adventurer Mini about 6 weeks ago. Got the full kit with wedge base + counter weight, and it's a pretty slick piece of kit. I've had few chances to fully utilize it but have managed a couple decent sequences. My advice with it: read the manual (especially if its your first tracker), use fresh batteries each outing (used nearly dead batteries once and tracking suffered), and get comfortable with to how the wifi works as that's the only way to use it (so make sure your phone/tablet has a good charge).

[@hanswi336]

A big advantage of AA batteries: you can get some at every outpost gas station of the world.

[@Kingeptacon]

Using traditional batteries instead of a rechargeable pack is actually a boon, not a negative for that exact reason. Just keep an extra set of Eneloop Pro AA’s with the rest of your gear.

[@jdcabauwnl]

And if you don't use the AA batteries it won't switch on accidently. So then all the negatives are gone except the cover being loose. Only need to bring a brick.

[@mylucksmiles]

Top tip with batteries , take one battery and turn it up side down in battery case . One battery is on plus + -Minus ( oppersite way round ). This means you can leave all the batteries in the battery case but it won't turn on untill the battery is turned back . No more accidents with your connection worries . I had this problem till one day I was trying to turn on my touch . When I figured out why it was not working I realised this idea. Feel free to share the idea .Then when you are ready open the case turn the battery to it's correct position . I do this with all my touches now. You never have to worry about them being turn on and empyting by accident. Or taking the batteries our and forgetting to put the batteries back in. Simple but works . Like me .Thanks I am starting night photography again but not sure which system I will go for . One thing the Nikon Z 24 +200 is light I have tried its ok it's worth a look at because it's light weight and reasonably sharp. In honestly ...I replaced it with the Nikon Z 70 .200 f 2.8 .... Also be worth thinking about is the new the two times converter for the z range . It only works on the certain lense namely the z 70-200 s f1.8 ..... I have used it and would surjest that the 1.4 tele converter may well be worth its weight in gold for that extra reach . The 2 X s one is ok but no where near as good has the smaller 1.4 converter. Worth a review do you think of the 1.4 Tele converter ? .. like I said the new Tele converter don't work on 24 -200 z Cheers for the review .it's still give a reasonable account .

[@magmus]

Just got an iPolar for my SGP. Can't wait to try it out!

[@A_RosnerNZ]

Southern hemisphere DSO astrophotographer here using a Sky Guider Pro. I'll second what Peter says about the iPolar. Makes polar alignment a breeze. And yeah. You'll need a laptop. But, since you've got that laptop - you can use platesolving to help get aligned to your target, if using a telescope. Not as convenient as a GoTo mount by any stretch, but the test-shot / platesolve / adjust heading workflow isn't too onerous if you get set up right.

[@skakdosmer]

The flimsy battery cover isn't great. But I'll always prefer AAs over inbuilt lithium batteries. In my experience lithium batteries die completely if left unused for a few months. AAs can (and should) be removed when storing the gear, and carrying extras is very easy. I recommend Eneloop - not the "lite" version, but the standard variety. No need to go with the pro version.

[@rickf4401]

Really well done. Thank you! I just got the MSM and have yet to take my first picture due to clouds, cold, and snow. So I watch a lot of your excellent videos and will now take a look at your course. Thanks again.

[@guyfromthesky1]

How is MSM tracker??

[@ascaniosobrero]

Well, you mentioned the lack of a wi-fi connection on the SkyGuider as a potentially significant room for improvement, but consider this feature as a minor improvement on the Star Adventurer 2i. Actually I got the latter, and I think it is quite handy to manage the camera itself through a phone app. Regarding the light weight for balancing the setting, you can slide the equatorial head: this allows to balance almost anything within the weight limit of the Star Adventurer. On the other hand, I fully agree on the crappy battery cover and the lack of a main power switch. I also keep a battery off to avoid accidental switching on. Maybe I could insert a microswitch just after the battery pack.

[@michaels3003]

Alessandro, is the battery cover still a problem?

[@ascaniosobrero]

@@michaels3003 Definitely: it is still the same. Besides, interferes with the polar scope cap. A strip of tape (or a rubber band) can actually solve both the battery cover problem and the dial which switches on on its own. Probably a more elegant solution could exist. I will think about it.

[@ascaniosobrero]

@@michaels3003 Actually, it's easier than I could think. Two thin velcro stripes solve the battery cover problem. And instead of taking out a battery to avoid accidental switching on, you can just interpose a small piece of plastic or paper between the + of a battery and the contact. This way you do not risk to misplace the battery somewhere.

[@JorshBrushTV]

Good channel man, I follow. But, same trackers as older versions of this video. I want to see comparisons with new models on market like Omegon LX3, Orion Starshoot Astrotracker, Star Adventurer 2i

[@yashcr7]

Just wanted to say, if someone - like me, doesn't have an external intervalometer, the star adventurer 2i can be used as an intervalometer through the app, so wifi is a good feature in that scenario.

[@andrewdawydiak5087]

Awesome vid man, I'm currently using a MSM with a fuji xt3 and 2x converter on the xf100-400. That gives me 1200mm (ff equivalent) and I'm getting pin sharp images 5 of 8 exposures on average. If you're using a light setup like my fuji, I highly recommend the MSM

[@ramimxss]

I've been wanting to buy the Skywatcher for months now... Love the features it offers

[@kerman214]

definitely

[@MichalJuul]

Look at the Skywatcher AZ-GTi GoTo WiFi Mount

[@ramimxss]

@@MichalJuul i did have a look at it a few months ago and i know it supports the same load capacity as the Orion sky guider pro and the star adventurer but I'll have to do some research in detail on that one to know if it's suitable for my needs

[@beteljooz6180]

Thank you, Peter, for this video. Just the sort of review I needed to see; you give credit where it's due, but you also give the blunt truth when pointing out the faults of each tracker. Very helpful. Thank you.

[@UNLKYHNTR]

I don't know why, but star trackers got extremely expensive lately. The iOptron skyguider pro was 499€ back in August/September 2022, now (January 2023) it's over 700€ everywhere.

[@jonathanhodge9684]

Just found this and your channel....very impressed. Love the demeanor and your easy to follow no fuss approach...its making it easy for me to get more comfortable with the concepts. I'll be watching more. Thanks!

[@brucecolman3402]

Thanks for the review Peter, interesting, I just ordered a star tracker. Your review was very helpful.

[@SirTomster1]

I use the laser trick on my iOptron for wide angle. Just point the polar scope near Polaris and point a pen laser through the viewfinder and line it up. Works like a charm.

[@snymat_68]

Just a small correction, the plastic screws on the MSM aren't 3D printed. They're just standard nylon screws. This is to keep from scratching the anodized finish on the tracker. 😉 Also, one advantage of the MSM you didn't touch on was its ability to do timelapse. Worth mentioning for anyone considering it.

[@Tim_the_Astronurd]

star adventurer does that too, time lapse mode that is

[@huexley]

I am always amazed at the technological poverty of these small equatorial mounts like the micro-USB ports. In 2021 I would have hoped to see the arrival of USB-C mounts, with automatic upgrades, auto-setting like the Stellina mounts with the help of GPS. It seems that Benro is launching itself on the market but that it is still reserved for the "wide angle".

[@07wrxtr1]

Start a kickstarter and make something that's SOLID all aluminum, no made in CHINUH bs, we're talking SOLID quality material, no games or corner cutting, no bs. The thing is: TIME. Personally I'd easily pay $2500 for something that's plug n play, no f'n around. You won't get a refund check for wasted time. Most people have maybe a few weekends a year due to weather, etc. I'm lost on how everyone here is okay spending $2000-$7000 for their DSLR setup, then when it comes to the tracker, they all want NASA JW Telescope results but only somehow have $200-$400 in the budget? I spent $1000 on a CF Gitzo back in 2004 + Arca Swiss BH, and that combo still works fine to this day. I'm continually lost on why people have insane high expectations for cheaply made products, ESPECIALLY with plastic parts which have a high variance of quality, can change shape (heating/cooling sitting in the car), and won't take any abuse. We need to get back to making SOLID products again, not this little kid crap.

[@eskrima1]

Excellent video. One thing that confused me was that you seemed to mention how much better star adventurer was at fine tuning than sky guider pro and the poor quality issues etc with sky guider pro yet you recommended sky guider pro.

[@wessidestory]

Thanks Peter, I love your objective approach and that you share both the major and minor pros and cons. This helped make my decision a lot easier. Thanks!

[@ElGrecoDaGeek]

Peter, it surprises me that few people that cover or review the SWSA discuss its inclusion of the graduated calibration dials. While daunting at first, these dials can be used to calibrate the initial vertical alignment of the reticle. This includes calibration _after_ the DSO is framed and slewed to (i.e. when the reticle is no longer aligned vertically). These graduated dials can be used along with apps like Polar Scope Align Pro (by Dimitrios Kechagias, iOS only sadly from what I can tell) to easily re-calibrate alignment without having to slew back to the "home" position such that the 0 and 6 are aligned in the vertical. While such calibration may be overkill, if you lack a Sky Guider it's a great way to improve alignment. Even if you do, it's only going to vastly improved guided alignment. The Light Explorer YT channel covers this in his excellent part 1 of his "COMPLETE Setup Guide for Sky-Watcher Star Adventurer" (in his case the 2i version). I myself have yet to try any of this out, I'm still trying to decide between SGP and SWSA. I've give a good deal of weight to the pros/cons you've made for both these scopes and I feel with some adjustment some of the SWSA can be mitigated, which along with these calibration dials give it a slight edge given the SGPro's issue with fine tuning and the DEC axis. 1) I came across a hack that may alleviate the reticle illumination: thin glow in the dark tape placed inside the tube at front and recharted with a bright light can give hours of usability. 2) Good (but cheap) Gaffer tape can hold the battery plate without leaving residue or just powering with a small 10k milli amp hour battery bank. It could be me, but the various issues with the DEC axis of the SGP are pushing me to the SWSA. IMHO, out of the box and possibly beyond if you improve it with the same WO gear, has an edge over the SGP in all but weight and bulk given some of these the calibration features noted above the more robust clutches, DEC axis, and wedge. Thoughts?

[@jml7916]

It's funny that the AA batteries in the Sky Watcher Adventure were a negative for you. I bought a used Adventure Pro and one of the best features is no internal LiPo battery to have worn out after 5 years of use. I can use fresh rechargeable AA's or a new (and cheap) external pack to power it. I purposely avoid used items with non-replaceable batteries because often they are being sold because those batteries are toast. I have a cheap multi charger that can charge single cells (important to be able to charge 3 cells for headlamps etc) of NIMH or LIPO and love either AAA/AA or 18650 powered devices.

[@farxfarx]

Would have liked to see these compared to skywatcher az-gti in equatorial mode

[@JasonGabler]

After watching, I'm surprised Peter gave the final recommendation for the Sky Guider Pro. He went on and on about the negatives fo the SGP and spoke much more positively of the Star Adventurer Pro.

[@nicemanis]

Maybe you mixed up the names? There is no such thing as Star Adventurer Pro

[@aaronhutt274]

@@nicemanis Sky Watcher Star Adventeruer 2i/Pro...

[@bluepeakworkworking]

I agree. Peter pointed out a number of mechanical issues with the SGP that are not easily addressed like the latitude base that he replaced with a $200+ Williams Optics base. Yet he went on about the cheap battery cover on the Skywatcher which is annoying but easy to deal with. The power issues with the Star Adventurer is easily solved with a small, rechargeable USB battery pack like you would use to charge your phone. No AA batteries needed at all or power switch for that matter.

[@joyjoy534]

@@bluepeakworkworking Maybe SGP is paying him under the table to say that.

[@AE5X]

I'm really surprised you prefer the Ioptron (without a fine dec adjustment) to the SA. That seems like a major flaw compared to the relatively minor ones mentioned for the SA.

[@svenvanveen4160]

Yeah I agree. I have the star adventurer and alot of the minor flaws he mentioned can be solved really easily. For example how hard is it to just remove the batteries from the tracker when not in use. And the fine Dec adjustment knob is a BIG plus for this mount imo.

[@stevenrobinsonpictures]

Same, it seems to me that the flaws with the sky guider are greater (requiring to buy a new base), also no fine dec adjustment - wheras a tracker turning on a bag (just remove the batteries).

[@michaels3003]

Totally agree. I watched carefully, and his choice looks very subjective to me. How can a switch and a cover problem outweigh a MUCH better base and better declination bracket? Also, with removable batteries design, they should be removed from the tracker until they are actually needed. It is very unlikely that Energizer Lithium batteries would fail unexpectedly. You have a power bank option as well.

[@stevenrobinsonpictures]

@@michaels3003 peter is a seriously good teacher but he is maybe not thinking this through. He has used it and it works for him i get it. However, objectively the SA seems like a better bet for my money now I've deliberated this over for a few weeks. I will be watching the channel closely as i really like his processing style and the keeping it simple approach. (Hate pixinsight).

[@AllRedLFC]

Exactly my thoughts too! I had to chose the SA due to the fact I’m far north at 63° lat and nor the original or the optional WO base are able to be set that high. Peter sort of mentioned this but missed out on the flaw on the iOptron. I’m very happy with my AsiAir Pro guided SA! 👍

[@olmo47]

Thank you, that you did will take a day or two, thank you I am new at Milky Way I really like you instruction, special star reduction.

[@MichalJuul]

There is also the Skywatcher AZ-GTi GoTo WiFi Mount which is extremely popular and it is the same size as the SkyGuider Pro

[@nielsdekruijk395]

But it doesn't track the sky

[@ly8370]

@@nielsdekruijk395 in EQ mode, it can.

[@nielsdekruijk395]

@@ly8370 oh yeah true!

[@luboinchina3013]

It should also be able to autoguide in both axis, not only one.

[@romanbardon6419]

Exactly. I'm thinking about GTI and it will be easier to find what object i want....because it has go-to function...

[@AstroQuest1]

Well done 2021 update Peter. I have the SkyGuider Pro and have been really happy with it so far. I have to update the base eventually - However, I don't use it that much since I do most deep sky stuff using larger telescopes. I do like using it when I go on vacation though. - Cheers

[@timreaves3921]

Just tried my Skyguider Pro for the first time tonight. My biggest gripe is... I polar align, then attach the bracket and camera, and everything goes out of alignment. The bracket, scope, and clutch move as one, so in order to realign, I have to awkwardly twist the camera until the light comes back on. At that point, I basically need a third hand to hold the clutch in the right position while twisting the knobs.

[@NebuloCity]

Thanks Peter for the video! I may be in the minority by having purchased this after owning a larger go to mount for the past year. But I’m looking for a small tracking mount for field trips another longer distance excursions. I’ve had some experience with these and know that they do a pretty good job. Certainly not as well as a dedicated go to mount, but good enough for some decent pictures and dark skies. Best of luck to you!

[@joyjoy534]

Benro Polaris Smart electric tripod head maybe the best star tracker for 2021. I pledged for the Astro Edition already.

[@SuccessInSightPodcast]

Hi Peter, Great video. Very informative. I bought the MSM last summer, and have been very happy with the results. Based on your review, the SA seems the bettet next move. The issues you raised will be more easily solved.

[@snowmkr1]

What tripod are you using for the Skyguider Pro?

[@DjAlonDevil]

You should've talked about pricing as well. It's important as much as the features that each device has.

[@paulmcwilliams8641]

The problems with accurate framing caused by using a ball head can be alleviated by using a gear head instead. I have a similar problem with my macro photography, in that it took so long to get the shot lined up the insect had moved on. There are only two options really and I went for the Benro because of its price. There are loads of reviews on this platform.

[@stormspottertodd]

I seem to be running into a problem in trying to track down a particular Star Adventurer tracker. I was looking for the one that has 0.5x, 2x, 4x, 6x, and 12x for time lapse photography use other than astrophotography, to hopefully get more bang for the buck. Here's the thing. Everybody seems to be showing photos with those options in the dial, but on reading more closely, you find out its the newer 2i model with wifi, which doesn't have those options in the dial. Support has suggested that's what I want, and that I'd use the app to do that. But I think he's reading me wrong. I don't think it can do that. I don't want the tracker to control my shutter speed, or delay, or whathaveyou. I'll do that with my intervalometer. If I have to. I think I've narrowed my choice down to the 2i, and I'll just hunt for a specialized tracking motor JUST for time lapse use. ANYWAY... I guess after all that verbiage my question is: Do you know which exact model has/had those panning options available, and if they stopped production of that model or something? Thanks! Todd Sherman Gainesville, FL

[@passworduser]

Hi Peter, thanks for the video, very informative. Quick question though: I noticed that there's a lack of astrophotography content using the Sky-Watcher AZ-GTi mount. I've been looking into getting an equatorial mount and I'm wondering if there are any reasons why I shouldn't go with the AZ-GTi over a star adventurer or a skyguider. Wouldn't the go-to capabilties be worth the minor price difference? Is there something I'm missing? Thanks!

[@Oxizee]

I went with the AZ GTI over all these mounts. Even today i see not worth upgrading to the new Staradventurer GTI if you have already the AZ GTI. AZ GTI tracks so good.

[@gregerianne3880]

It looks like the SkyGuider Pro has been redesigned a bit. Are you familiar with any of the changes? Also, do you think it would be possible to use a Move-Shoot-Move wedge base with this tracker rather than the one it comes with (unless they redesigned that as well)?

[@gewglesux]

Just getting into this part of the Hobby this Vid was pretty useful!! Thanks,

[@robinsonrios3199]

Hi Peter, please what tripod are you using for the Skywatcher?, i really appreciate your tripod recomendation. Thanks.

[@michaeledmonds3027]

Love your stuff Peter! .....Question please Sir: I want an inexpensive compact guiding head to attach my 20-60 85mm APO spotting scope for simple grab'n go visual astronomy with my grandsons. I'm currently considering a Sky Watcher AZ GTi head for my camera tripod. Thoughts please? Thanks, Michael

[@ArmanAm]

What about even lighter and simpler - Omegon LX2/3?

[@davidelliott6610]

thanks very informative video, question what power laser pointer are you using? I ask as I'm reluctant to use one given I live near a fairly buy aircraft route.

[@sionglooi8170]

I have the Fornax LighTrack II and it work well, was hoping you talk about it for this 2021 edition..maybe for 2022 :)

[@KulkarniPrashant]

Absolutely awesome videos, Peter. Thank you! I plan to take your course.

[@_P.K.]

Awesome.. fantastic info especially for people who are new to tracking stuff

[@NikonJax]

I don't like aa batteries because I don't carry any spares?

[@RaysAstrophotography]

Excellent work Peter! Now I am officially following you!

[@victorpablo4636]

Hello Peter, I recently subscribed and have seen some of your videos. It is not clear to me which star tracker(s) is best for the Southern Hemisphere? I live in Peru and we are between the equator and 20ºS. Thanks for your videos!

[@MilkieBeargames]

I upgraded my base on the ioptron as well

[@teresabrubaker]

Thank you for your reviews. What type of tripod do you recommend for the Move Shoot Move? Thank you!

[@deonyz]

Great review. Exactly what I was looking for. Thanks a lot!

[@davidjd123]

I like the simplicity of move shoot move

[@RScottDuncan]

Very nice in-depth overview. I'm a complete beginner and for that reason, I'd probably be better off starting with the MoveShootMove according to your blog. Given that I would enjoy the experience and challenge I'd rather use a longer 100-400 telephoto down the road. Wide-angle lenses or a lens that would not exceed the 6-pound weight limit of the MoveShootMove would really not do anything other than the milky way? Am I correct?

[@jamesjin8839]

These days with mirrorless you get previously unimaginable weight longer lenses. 70-200 for 1kg or under. There's even an 800 mil for 1.2kg(albeit F11) which is about the same weight of that Nikon wide angle setup. I'm going with the msm.

[@geonerd]

What? No love for the Fornax?! :)

[@gubigm]

Just put it in your backpack. It will fit nicely, don't worry! Oh, and don't forget to put in a stable enough tripod tooo!

[@wesleyooms]

Thanks for this comprehensive video. I just started out this hobby so sorry if this is a stupid question. But what if you can't auto track to polaris and instead just use a random star or maybe just the star you're looking at?

[@AZTEC_ARTS2023]

Hi, what about pricing ? Did I miss that in the video ?

[@dominic-ryan]

Great comparison, thanks Peter. I currently use the MSM, as you say it is not great for DSO. I do like that it doubles as a rotator though with the clever flash triggered system which ensures the unit is perfectly still for the exposure. Being Southern Hemisphere I find good polar alignment a real pain and have started look I ng at Alt-Az Goto tracking options. Some are claiming pretty impressive accuracy these days, just wondering what your opinions of these are?

[@EverGreenRubel]

could you please give me the product link that you suggested finally?

[@davidbright8978]

I wonder could you use the star adventurer camera counter weight with the star guider? kind of make a hybrid of the two?

[@screwyouyoutube5493]

won't work, the diameters of the two are different. I purchased another rod and balance kit for the Star Adventure, tapped the screw side down to fit the end of the original rod and only use one. weight. That way the extension length is so long that you could put a 1000mm lens with a D5 on the declination bracket. 👍. 50 Bucks well invested. I wouldn’t use both weights on one rod since that would cause the motor to have to carry an additional 3 pounds

[@gopinathnair9716]

Thank you for the useful Information Mr Zelinka.Always enjoy your talks I have question. MARTIN Pyott showed skywatcher Avant AzEq mount with telescopic pictures through eyepiece and, attaching a starquest RA stepping drive with Autoguider Jack(RAS Quest). So will this hold slightly bigger telescopes(114mm reflector) and camera at eyepiece and take long exposure films as well and also watch DSO through a telecope before shooting picture. . Please give your opinion. And comparing with you another video on attaching small telescope camera and guide scope to your Star trackers. Thank You in Advance. Excuse me for this becomming a long message.

[@isaacsegura]

can you suggest me a nice laser pointer? I´m just affraid of buying a cheap one that does nit work or over pay for a regular one?

[@Atlancticocean12]

Just getting into astrotophogy wo wow wow this is sooo cool!!!!

[@bloodmoney88]

Thanks for going to the trouble of making these videos, they're very helpful. I just bought a big, heavy (200-600mm) camera lens, what unit do you advise will, working well, carry the weight with ease. Hearing all the negative points... is there a better option/s?

[@Sammy10100]

Hi Paul question. What computer software do u recommend to use when doing sky photography. Where I can hook my telescope up to the computer.

[@sky-sq6di]

is it worth getting a star tracker even though I'm staying at the equator? Polaris is around 1° above the horizon for me

[@karllewis735]

"You could spend the whole night troubleshooting random problems and never even take a photo." That's only if you're really lucky, or have great equipment, and you've been at it for years. It is quite possible to spend many nights and never get a usable exposure. Happens all the time. I mean, I think "astrophotography" is just an ancient word for "profoundly frustrating." ;^)

[@karllewis735]

@Steven Robinson Pictures Congratulations! Yes, anyone can do it, and should. It's very fun and rewarding, but, there are frustrating nights, particularly once you've added a filter wheel, a cooled CCD camera, an autofocuser, a sophisticated mount, a long focal length scope, a guide scope, and guide camera, and all the associated software and drivers.

[@stevenrobinsonpictures]

@@karllewis735 absolutely wont deny that.

[@toddbarber3044]

Peter, great AND honest reviews...as always. It looks like you are using the RADIAN tripod for your Sky Guider and Star Adventure. Do you have issues with the base not locking down tight enough? I get me Sky Guider polar aligned and then move my camera to frame the shot only to notice the base has slipped just slightly off polar alignment. I was thinking of a layer of electrical tape around the circumference of the base to give it a little more to grab onto.

[@geoff4009]

For a similar problem, I went to my local rubber shop and bought half a metre of 2mm natural rubber sheeting with a fabric-reinforced core. I then cut out a washer from this and I use it between the declination mount and my camera. I hardly have to tighten the nut now, and my camera is locked onto that thing like glue. The same principle can be used when attaching the mount to a tripod. Just trace out the shape and cut yourself a rubber washer. Once you tighten down that tripod screw, you'll have difficulty taking the base off your tripod later. ;)

[@lifeinrc9051]

Peter, thanks for the videos, it has really helped me learn where to spend and not to as I'm a total beginner in the hobby. I current own the Rokinon 135/f2 & Star Adventurer Pro 2i, love the lens BTW but I want to get a little closer to DSO like Orion, Andromeda, etc. I was looking at the Redcat 51 but I'm also looking at the Tamron SP 150-600mm f/5-6.3 Di VC USD G2 Lens f/Canon, would it be beneficial to go with the lens vs the scope to have a bit more focal length for the price? Right now I have no plans of going all out with an EQ mount as I want to stay small and easy to really learn how to use my camera and applications. Eventually I'm going with the either the ASI Air system or a Ras Pi and use Astroberry or Stellarmate & a auto guide. I also would like to be able to use my camera and lenses for daytime use for distant landscape shots. Thanks in advance, clear skies.

[@Zarar5]

I second this question 🙋‍♂️

[@whitter86]

how does a star tracker fix light issues? i don't understand

[@07wrxtr1]

Help me out: So, people will spend anywhere from $2000-$8000 for a Camera + DSLR. Then, lol, when it comes to the tracking mount, all of a sudden, we're in a chapter 11 status and our budget is < $400? Are there options for people that actually just want a quality setup without all the compromises? Can one simply get a much better setup just going with a "real" telescope and dslr mount?

[@stevenmiller5452]

Well done, thank you for being so forthcoming on the pros and cons and issues with each.

[@eddier9571]

Great review, thank you for your hard work.

[@conspirateur]

Great reviews, very honest and detailed but maybe too much for a newbie like me who dreams to upgrade my astrophotography experience to the next level from just camera and tripod 😅 I feel a little discouraged, not because of technical aspects of deep sky astrophotography, but all of the flaws that offer those star trackers... why to buy one when they have so many issues? Especially when I’m goin to spend those hard earned 500 plus dollars 😓 I don’t want to buy a mount straight away, unfortunately I don’t have a backyard to use and I will have to travel to some dark locations...

[@michaels3003]

Rose, for portability there are not that many choices. Otherwise, a lower priced mount is a better value.

[@geoff4009]

I watched many reviews when I became interested in deep sky about 6 months ago, and concluded that despite the annoying stuff I was still going to gain the ability to track the stars which is ultimately what I wanted. In hindsight, I do feel that I ignored a lot of the other advice about "buy the best mount you can afford" and eventually I will upgrade mounts. There is a pretty small price gap between one of these and a cheap GOTO and I have mixed feelings about whether my introductory experience on one of those would have been any better. Don't forget to look for cheaper used gear from other astro nerds who are upgrading. I do feel that this is still a reasonable path into the hobby without excessive entry costs. Especially when you already have a camera and sturty tripod. It's a learning experience no matter which path you take. I've got my polar alignment pretty dialled now, and I'm just capturing the cosmos when I can and learning to process the images. If you're ready to step into tracking from a fixed tripod, you've already dangerously dipped your toe in the waters of obsession. It's really time for a cost-benefit analysis, where you either go all-in or do a more staged risk management approach like I did. Either way, you will soon discover whether you're passionate about staying up all night and getting mad when clouds roll in after having blue sky all day. Or taking your gear in at 3am, kicking off a stack before going to sleep and then stupidly waiting for it to finish and staying up until 7am processing. Or capturing for 2 hours only to find you forgot to tighten the bolts after aligning and everything's streaked. Or going out to see if your shots are finished only to find you took a single frame instead of starting the interval timer. It's all worth it when you stretch, stretch, stretch, and suddenly that gorgeous nebula appears out of nowhere!! If you don't enjoy it, consider what gear you're now hanging onto and what it cost. Actually, if you do enjoy it, consider the same thing. I had the occasional buyer's remorse when battling with star-trailing despite my best efforts at alignment.... Thinking "oh why did I ignore the experts and buy this crappy toy?". Turns out that I just needed to get better at alignment. And once I saw Peter's other video about auto-guiding on these mounts, I felt a lot better about my decision to ignore the standard advice about splashing-out on mounts. Periodic error is a thing. I can align perfectly, and the RA will still drift over an hour or two. The result is after just half a year I am loving this hobby, and have had some nice results with a Star Adventurer Pro and my Pentax DSLR, an old manual prime lens with terrible chromatic aberration and not-quite-infinity focus, and a 60 year-old tripod. I built my own dew heater from a 12V motor PWM kit, some nichrome wire and shrink tubing, and suddenly my frames didn't dissolve into unusable haze after 10 minutes. My next upgrade is on the way, which is auto-guiding gear to help extend my exposure times and make polar alignment less of a hassle (here in the Southern Hemisphere, finding Octans in Bortle 5 skies on a summer evening with high-altitude moisture is a pain in the butt), plus some basic attachments to help balance the camera better. After that, it's either a small scope or a dedicated camera. After both of those, _then_ it's a new mount. Given your circumstances of needing to travel, still weigh-up going for a cheap GOTO mount or some well-loved second-hand gear because you may prefer to spend your precious away-time actually taking photos instead of messing with alignment and hunting for your targets. Otherwise, a little mount like this does seem to fill a good space in the market not just for portability but also for testing the waters... and it seems to provide just enough flexibility to build up your other gear, learn to navigate the sky, and develop basic skills like alignment, framing, calibration, and processing before you really want to upgrade.

[@conspirateur]

@@geoff4009 🙏 thank you for sharing your experience and advices. I’m very new to this hobby, despite years of my interest in astronomy and all those nerd stuff. It’s a perfect alignment of two of my passions, cause I love landscape photography ass well. Now, I wish I could take anything longer than 1” exposure without trailing. That’s my only dream for now 😅 and for the next year I guess and we will see what I can get. That’s why a tracker is my plan for now. Unfortunately, I’m in a bad position begin a woman without a car and no friends who share the same interest and would sacrifice hours at night in the snow just for that purpose. That’s why I’m now sure if it will all work out, so I have to be careful with my first bigger purchase.

[@FrankCrispo]

What's the most budget friendly go to mount if you only want to use a camera with a long lens and not get into telescopes and such?

[@Tim_the_Astronurd]

look at the sky watcher az/gti. pretty slick unit. make sure you look at the version that offers "eq mode"

[@FrankCrispo]

@@Tim_the_Astronurd , thank you. Where's the best place to buy them?

[@Tim_the_Astronurd]

@@FrankCrispo if you are in the US, I prefer highpointscientific .com, but there are a few sites they can be found on. I have seen a whole eq package, but not sure where. Otherwise youd have to buy the star adventurer wedge and counterweightshaft w/weight to make it eq tracking.

[@petertaylor5861]

Great video, really informative. But now I have the same problem I have when buying a PC, should I go for one of these or an entry level GOTO, especially given once you have bought the WO add ons the prices are starting to look similar (point taken on ease of use and portability).

[@professionalpotato4764]

If I had a star tracker and closed the aperture down to f/4 or f/5.6, would that negate light pollution? I live in a city with no access to the countryside :/

[@najibnajjar9526]

Peter, thank you for your good perspective😄

[@britainthroughmylens]

There is a Mac version of the IPolar software but it hasn't ported over very well. It's jerky and slow to refresh and there's no zoom facility in the UI like there is on the Windows version.

[@davidjd123]

I got the skywatcher mini, And boy did I regret it, using my phone to set everything up was not hard but annoying, Id rather have buttons.

[@quartzimaging]

What about the the Vixen Polarie? It would be helpful to see a head to head comparison against the MSM, which is about the same size and price. Also, can the MSM battery be replaced, or does the whole unit brick when the battery eventually dies?

[@mcalexy2k]

what do you think about Benro Polaris compared to these trackers? Benro Polaris claimed tracking is much sharper or these trackers track it better? Benro claimed the accuracy is up to 0.0025 ° (9 arcsec)..

[@AncalimeNL]

Am folliwing you for some weeks now and am planning to build a setup alike your 2020 setup. Having only worked with a manual altitude/azimuth mounted refractor, my head is not really able to process equatorial mounted scopes. Actually it's driving me nuts. Stars rise in the east, and go via south, to set in the west, like sun moon and planets. When you polar align your skyguider pro it's pointing north and so does the scope. How to point the scope south? I am sure its possible, i just cant do it in my mind... Could you perhaps make a video explaining this construct?

[@dugy40]

why can i find da and dec balancing videos. i balance, then turn my camera opposite then its out of balance

[@barnaclewatcher4060]

Outstanding review! Well done. Love your channel!

[@jay6274]

Can anyone tell me a good tripod that will work with the star adventurer? The star adventurer tripod is out of stock everywhere and i've been waiting months. Just looking for a good tripod that will work with the star adventurer that's in stock and not $300.

[@Tim_the_Astronurd]

I actually got a surveyor tripod at home depot for $40. you need to replace the main thread with a 1/4x20 bolt, but that was easy enough for an extra $5. super stable as well