Star Tracker Buying Guide

[@zardoz2627]

Bought the SkyGuider Pro kit and of course it's been cloudy / rainy ever since

[@PeterZelinka]

That's the problem with astrophotography, unlike landscapes, portraits, wildlife, etc... we need specific weather conditions to even get one shot! Hopefully things clear up soon so you can get out and take some photos

[@nightwaves3203]

That is how it works :) Here we bought the optional package of every time there is a celestial event be it comet, meteor showers, eclipse it's cloudy.

[@N0TSmart]

I feel you... I am a beginner in astronomy and I bought a telescope for star-gazing and it has always been raining and thundering..

[@会按快门的赵老板]

I wish there was a premium weather package for me to purchase.

[@livintolearn7053]

Don't be sad, my guy. There are people out there with worse luck than you. Take me for example. Been looking out for eclipses - solar (happening nearby) and lunar - ever since 2018. Never missed a single date. But SOMEHOW, the skies were cloudy EVERY SINGLE TIME. Like what the actual frick.

[@enidrajm]

Almost two years old and STILL relevant. Thanks, Peter. I'm a recent astro-addict and just picked up the SkyGuider Pro with the WO extension bar.

[@AlynWallace]

Great round up of the options, hit the nail on the head

[@PeterZelinka]

Thanks Alyn!

[@traviboy004]

Peter, you have a great voice! Very calm and soothing.

[@mountain_man_mike]

Your reviews, how to guides, and website are very well done; especially for someone like me who is somewhat new to the DSLR/astrophotography game. I'm thinking of going with the iOptron Skyguider Pro as it looks like a great portable setup for my outdoorsman needs. Thanks and great work Peter!

[@alandimery3379]

Great round up Peter. In the UK you can now buy the complete Sky Watcher Star Adventurer Pro Bundle, with the tracker, L-bracket, counter weight and mount for £264. Fedex has just delivered mine this morning. Just got to wait for a clear sky now.

[@quiky9065]

something like this? www.teleskop-express.it/astroinseguitori/3595-skywatcher-kit-star-adventurer-con-testa-equatoriale-e-treppiede-skywatcher.html

[@tonydd1735]

l bought my same as you few weeks back haven't had time to use it yet plus no clear skies yet hopefully use it soon

[@PeterZelinka]

Thanks for the clarification! Hopefully some clear skies happen sooner rather than later!

[@RobinHood-yy3nq]

Lets see

[@anilwadhwani17]

Alan Dimery same here waiting for clear skies

[@BDNADLER]

I am preparing for the total solar eclipse which will be visible in Sydney during July, 2028. I am not new to using a DSLR but I am new to using a sky tracker. I am planing to buy two identical models. One for a Canon 5D MK IV and the other for a Canon R5 MK II (mirrorless). Since I will be using large heavy lenses, a 100 to 400 mm EF lens on the 5D MK IV and a 100 to 500 mm RF lens on the R5 MK II, I have decided to go with the Sky Watcher Star Adventurer with the Sky Guider Pro being my runner up choice. I have found a package with the Sky Watcher Star Adventuer which includes the declination bracket. It sells for about the same as the Skyguider Pro. Again, I am going to be using the Sky Watcher Star Adventurer to capture a total solar eclipse using telephoto lenses. While the event is over 3 1/2 years away, I know the importance of practice. I want to get an early start.

[@NorthernMan932]

I'm new to trackers and found your video very informative.

[@yanniksteiger7286]

Dear Peter, first of all: thanks A LOT for your videos. I find them very informative and helpful and I very appreciate your passion and efforts to spread your knowledge, and this for free. I bought an iOptron SkyGuider Pro (before I knew your tutorials on youtube) and unfortunately I have massive problems with loose connections every where. The polar aligning is just a "pain in the ass". The most annoying thing is the locker screw for the latitude. It was not locking correctly (I could turn the screw and it just did not lock) from the beginning and then I ordered a replacement, and this did also not lock correctly (same issue as original shipped). Secondly. the altitude snake has lots of play. Thirdly, the azimuth adjustment is sooooo annoying with the screws either bekoming locked or falling out. I know you mentioned this as a downside in one of your reviews. I have these questions now: Am I the only one having these issues with loose screws? If no, are the other trackers even worse?

[@paolofat52]

As usual with your fine videos and blogs, I have enjoyed this one thoroughly and learned quite a bit. I have decided to buy a Star Adventurer Latitude (EQ) Base to supplement my SkyGuider Pro kit. I look forward to your future presentations.

[@PeterZelinka]

Thank you Paul! I think you'll like that base a lot more than the iOptron, I know I did!

[@CriticalThinker-42]

Peter, I appreciate your videos and the effort you put into producing them, but I have to point this out. What I got from this video: 1) Peter Zalinka is an apologist for his Sky Guider Pro because it weighs less. “Realistically, its just a small inconvenience” is his mantra about it. 2) Since the Star Adventurer is heavier he nit picks things that if they were on the Sky Guider Pro he’d say “Realistically, its just a small inconvenience” but instead blows out of proportion on the Star Adventurer. Star Adventurer: better for zoom lens (implies better built / more accurate) ‘Largest and quite heavy’ (is the mark of better built / more accurate equipment, ask any machinist or anyone who builds machines) ‘Covers flimsy, the Battery Cover could slide off if you use it as a handle’ 1) leave the polar scope cover off (your Sky Guider Pro didn’t have one) 2) use the declination bracket as a handle and it will come off (you wouldn’t pick up your Nikon and zoom lens by its lens cover, would you? So why do you try to pick up a Star Adventurer with its battery cover?) ‘The power switch could be bumped on and drain the batteries’ 1) remove a battery (since its cover comes off easily) 2) use an USB charger / battery into the USB port, and unplug it when your done Peter Zalinka can remember hundreds of details and procedures to take and process very good astro-pics, BUT can't remember the few things I pointed out here? Sorry. I’m not gullible enough to buy it. Also I’ve watched several of his videos using his Sky Guider Pro and in each one I’ve seen he’s always used a zoom lens with its admitted better performance with wide angle photography and not the Star Adventurer for its admittedly being better with zoom lenses. His actions contradict his words. Bottom line, his recommendation of the Sky Guider Pro over the Star Adventurer isn’t based in performance, as he’s repeatedly using the inferior Sky Guider Pro with his zoom shots. Its based on the couple pounds less it weighs. FYI, after watching several videos from several people I chose the Star Adventurer, which four years after this video was produced cost $300 with the Declination Bracket, $33 for the Weight assembly, and Still just $65 for the Wedge. With free shipping $398. When more people praise and choose to use the SA, theirs usually a reason for it.

[@CriticalThinker-42]

TYPO... Covers flimsy, the Battery Cover could slide off if you use it as a handle’ ... 2) use the declination bracket as a handle and it will come off (you wouldn’t pick up your Nikon and zoom lens by its lens cover, would you? So why do you try to pick up a Star Adventurer with its battery cover?) SHOULD READ... 2) use the declination bracket as a handle (you wouldn’t pick up your Nikon and zoom lens by its lens cover, would you? So why do you try to pick up a Star Adventurer with its battery cover?)

[@tarry2140]

I´ve just bought a 500mm lens. Your vodeos are really a great help for me. Thanks a lot!

[@solareclipsetimer]

Peter, I am so glad I found all your videos on simple star trackers! I have been watching them over the past couple of weeks. I am in the market for one and reading about them online on the telescope supply websites was a nightmare! It was so hard to follow all of the features and specifications, even when taking notes, as I jumped from website to website. But seeing the reviews together in the video format was so helpful! I am a solar eclipse chaser and I was looking for a lightweight simple model for transporting to South America for the July 2, 2019 solar eclipse. I decided on the iOptron Sky Tracker Pro with the iOptron ball head. I am actually going to use it with a 4K video camera for that eclipse. The eclipse occurs at an altitude of about 11 degrees at my observing position so I will be OK with its base although I appreciate your information about the limitations of the base. I also like your straight forward educational approach in your videos. I have a similar style in my solar eclipse educational videos at my channel Solar Eclipse Timer. Thanks! Gordon

[@alandyer910]

To use a SAM for tracking in the field without having to have a phone present or connect to the app simply program in several hours of exposures in the Astrophotography mode, then select Auto Run in the app. Start the sequence then you can turn off the SAM. From then on you just have to power it up again and it will automatically start tracking using your last settings. Easy. I use it as a straight tracker like that all the time. You don’t need to use the app or have your phone present every time you use it, only if you want to change its mode of operation, to do motion control time lapses or Astro time lapses, functions none of the other trackers can do. And motion control time lapses involve enough variables that an app is really the only way to program them. A couple of years before the SAM came out I talked to Synta engineers who were asking me about time lapse functions and I showed them the app for a Radian controller as an example of what to do. The app they came up with does leave something to be desired for user interface - and it offers no speed ramping - but it does the job.

[@PeterZelinka]

Thanks for the correction Alan! I wasn't aware the Mini could do that, with the auto-run. That definitely makes things a bit easier, if you just set it for a standard Sidereal tracking speed and let it run. As for the timelapse controls, yeah the Mini does have a lot of flexibility there! You have a lot of control over the timelapse functions, which is nice. I just wish it was a bit more user friendly. I'm looking forward to the next generation of trackers. Hopefully the developers will release a companion app that not only gives complete control over the tracker, but has a robust user interface as well. That, combined with the traditional physical buttons, would make for a great star tracker!

[@skwrlproductions523]

Thanks very much - just ordered a SkyGuider as a result of your review.

[@monquerjacobs1814]

Thanks for this very informative guide Peter. I've always wanted the Skywatcher but now, i'm leaning toward the iOptron. I'm still undecided on whether or not I should get the iPolar version of the iOptron. The only reason is because I live in a bortle 8 in Cape Town, South Africa, and i've yet to locate the Sigma Octantis group of stars. I doubt it's visible from where I am.

[@Solarsystem50]

Excellent review. Your provided all the information and comparison that I needed. Nice bokeh for the woods in the back too!

[@MrMetelhead]

Brilliant Peter! Great choice to finally have someone take all the mystery out of the Star tracking. I'm still waiting for the tracker which has the 'auto-alignment' feature...especially something like the SAM which uses an App based run program, should also be able to 'green light' on polaris when properly aligned:)

[@PeterZelinka]

That would be nice! Honestly, I was really surprised by how far behind astrophotography tech is. Over the summer I had the opportunity to play around with some really high end telescopes, mounts, guide cameras, and more. Almost everything was still completely manual though. I'm not sure why the astrophotography companies are seemingly so far behind other fields, like photography, but I'm hoping they catch up soon! Maybe in a few years we'll have a tracker that can do an automatic polar alignment, and auto-guide itself to allow for great tracking! Hopefully by then they have telescopes that auto-focus too!

[@professorstein5855]

maybe they released the Sky-Watcher Star Adventurer Pro Pack after this video. now you can get it with everything for just three fitty. not bad.

[@TylerMillhouse]

It's a really good deal at that price. The box also serves as a very nice case with snug cutouts in the foam for all the parts. I really like mine, and I can't imagine not having that knob on the declination bracket.

[@basschreuder4731]

Thank you for your concise overview. I have one question. I live on latitude 54 and often I work in northern Norway on latitude 68. Does this mean that I cannot use the Star tracker?

[@4funboatin]

Great video. I agree with you on the counter-weight, mine keeps getting loose; seems like the rotation of the unit is unscrewing the counter-weight camera mounting bracket from the camera. Very frustrating.

[@ARBORNOCTIS]

Thread seal tape (teflon) will do the trick. It's very easily applicated.

[@leonelpadron5626]

A few months ago I wondered why the MSM didn't even make this list. I found out the hard way and it just went up for sale in facebook after I bought my Star Adventurer. Yet, I would've preferred the iOptron one coz I can pair it with the iPolar scope which comes in very handy when aligning in the southern hemisphere in slightly light polluted areas

[@fmrc69]

So you said that if using a telephoto lens most of the time, go with Star Adventurer...and if doing wide angle stuff mostly and occasional deep sky then go with Sky Guider....but you don't explain why. Can you elaborate on this please? Why is the skyguider better for wide angle?

[@Francisco_Otero]

He does elaborate, it’s apparently a hassle to mount a telephoto lens onto the Guider.

[@Hero1117a]

Thank you, this answered a lot of my questions

[@OlliLeino_sportstuff]

Thanks, a very helpful review! I shoot with a mirrorless 600mm optics so I'll probably go for Star Adventurer. My diy tracker just got jammed last night and it's probably not sensible to fix, and I need better polar alignment anyways. I hopea I will achieve it with the new tracker.

[@user-lm5br7ew1x]

Whats the normal price for the skyguider pro because at my place it costs 590$

[@GamjaField]

There's a luxury version of Sky Tracker in Japan. It's called Toast-Pro and SWAT. Both starts from around $800usd :)

[@hatemsmusicvideos1362]

I live in Japan and all astro stuff is unavailable/expensive. Can you tell me more about those?

[@markwith140]

Thanks for the video. Thinking of going for the Star Adventurer Pro. It seems to be good value in the in the UK at £270 for the full kit (Inc base, dec bracket and counter weight).

[@johanvazquez1945]

I'm planning on buying the sky watcher 2i astro package because I have a Benro 3way Geared Head, do you think that will hold the star tracker and my telephoto lens?

[@fischerboxtel]

The iOptron SkyGuider Pro and the others you show are not for sale in The Netherlands.

[@stevenrobinsonpictures]

Peter, will the ioptron skyguider pro work with my 70-200 nikkor and D850 if I don't use arca swiss? I use manfrottos best ball heads and 200 PL plates. I notice the kit comes with arca swiss though, can I just screw the ballhead on without that? PS switched my idea of getting the star adventurer to the ioptron based on your advice.

[@JimNotCarrey]

On the Star Adventurer, with larger/heavier lenses, is it necessary to have a lens collar to evenly distribute weight in the declination axis? I've noticed it's hard if not impossible to perfectly balance the rig without the help of a lens collar. Unless there is a workaround i am unaware of. I believe this is important to mention

[@desertfrag]

Look up the Neewer 140mm Professional Rail Nodal Slide Metal Quick Release Clamp

[@fenderay6strings425]

Great presentation Peter, I'm considering purchasing an Skyguider Pro. I've been looking on youtube on how to setup for Lunar shooting but no luck would you happen have any tutorials . I will be using a heavy Sigma DG APO 150-500m with a 60D canon, If anyone can point me to a video it would be helpful! Thanks

[@evildiesel1709]

I just bought the Star Adventurer bundle mainly just in case I want to use an auto-guider in the future.

[@hotflashfoto]

Thank you for discussing all 4 of the main choices! I'm still trying to decide between the iOptron SkyGuider Pro and the SkyTracker Pro. I've read a number of the questions and replies and have not seen what I'm specifically considering, so please forgive me if you've already answered it. I have never used nor bought any kind of star tracker, so I may be completely off-base (no pun intended). I plan to use my Nikon 200-500 f/5.6 (5 lbs. 2 oz.) and D7000 1.5 crop-sensor (1 lb. 8 oz.). In your video you state that the wedge and Dec bracket for the ST are designed better, but that the iOptron mechanism is built better and the polar finder is lit internally rather than the external fumbly thing for the ST. You've already mentioned that either mechanism will fit on either base. Is it possible to use the better-designed Dec bracket from the ST on the iOptron mechanism? If so, then I think I've found the "perfect" setup: ST wedge base, iOptron mechanism, and ST Dec bracket.

[@PeterZelinka]

Unfortunately no. The iOptron and Sky-Watcher systems use completely different designs, so you cannot swap parts (with the exception of the latitude base)

[@hotflashfoto]

@@PeterZelinka Thank you very much for your time and effort, and for such a quick response! I was hoping that maybe cobbling together the best parts would work. Last question, if you're inclined to consider it: In your video, you lean toward the ST for larger lenses. Some of the comments about the ST suggest that the internal gearing has issues. Do you still feel that it is the better mechanism, or would the iOptron be better suited to a longer service life?

[@PeterZelinka]

@@hotflashfoto I've noticed that my SkyGuider Pro also has problems when tracking at a high focal length. I'm not sure exactly what's wrong, but every so often it will blur the photos and the tracking accuracy isn't very good. With that in mind, both star trackers should perform the same. The best thing you can do is use an auto-guider. Once you are guiding, it will help to correct any errors and you'll have much more accurate tracking.

[@alphaphotoandvideo]

Have you tried the manual tracker omegtron, it is like $130

[@gabewrsewell]

alphaphotoandvideo You mean the Omegon mini track LX2. I bought one and it's just arrived, the quality is fantastic. My only other mount is the Star Adventurer, so having such a tiny and easily packable tracker for widefield stuff is very awesome. I'll have to use it more to be able to say more about it, but so far it's looking very good.

[@UV-NIR-Thermal]

@@gabewrsewell How's it holding up? How's the tracking? Thinking about getting that one for 24mm lens on dslr

[@gabewrsewell]

@metal moss it's great! I took it with me on a trip to Yellowstone and I got my first good milky way pictures in my life with it! I brought it with me when we had some spare time on our way out there, i only had a couple hours out of town so all I brought was that because of how quick to set up and compact it is. It's honestly fantastic how compact it is, they did a good job designing it into not only a small form factor, but also one that's easy to pack. I put it in one of my camera bags and it took up like no space whatsoever. As for tracking, it was surprisingly good for how roughly you polar align. I had my full frame camera on my bigger mount the whole time, so I used this as a secondary tracking mount for my crop sensor cameras. Main combo I used was a D7500 with a Sigma 18-35 f/1.8. At 35mm, which is 50mm FF equivalent, I had *perfect* stars in every exposure, I think I settled on 2 minute subs but judging by the amount of drift between frames and over the course of hours, I feel like you could go five minutes no worries at 50mm equivalent. They give a little guide on the mount itself, 100/(focal length) = recommended exposure time in minutes. so at 100mm they recommend up to 1 minute exposures, which is honestly probably conservative. With your 24mm, you could reasonably expose for as long as you'd like i reckon. I've had no gripes with it yet, other than the polar alignment 'straw' as I call it, it's easy to misplace within all your gear, if you're like me anyways. I didn't use it once, the clasp that holds the tube honestly suffices for polar alignment. Overall I feel like this is the best travel tracker out there, hands down.

[@UV-NIR-Thermal]

@@gabewrsewell Thanks, can't wait to order it

[@UV-NIR-Thermal]

@@gabewrsewell I have one last question if you don;t mind, Is the ticking sound really loud, that where it might bug really close neighbors if they were outside? Thanks

[@JuanRodriguez-bb5wc]

4:30 skytracker pro 6.6lbs payload but with ballmount 2.6lbs also recommends for a heavy system there 3lbs counter weight system

[@DJFITME]

What tripod would need with sky watcher star adventure or is it okay to use my k&f aluminium tripod?

[@PeterZelinka]

Your current tripod should work okay, but you might want to upgrade eventually. I usually recommend a tripod without a center column, since that can cause stability issues.

[@DJFITME]

@@PeterZelinka Thank you for fast response 😎✌

[@ignituro9411]

@@DJFITME So how did your k&f aluminium tripod, was it good ? Because i am in the same situation now :D

[@DJFITME]

@@ignituro9411 Yeah it was not enough. I use this one www.astroshop.eu/tripods-mounts/skywatcher-stainless-steel-tripod-with-3-8-photo-screw/p,59725

[@ignituro9411]

@@DJFITME Okay, thanks for the fast response :)

[@adventureswithfrodo2721]

How do you use the retail as it is direction with the DEC?

[@dopo8333]

How about buying a motorized EQ1 mount and an 1/4''adapter? It's less than half the price, and does the exact same. Right?

[@davefried]

what tripod and head would you recommend

[@fischerboxtel]

Peter, I use a canon mark 4 and use a 16 mm, 24 mm and also a 70/200 IS 2 canon lens. I really like my really right stuff balhead and my heavy Benro tripod. Because of chancing the settings, like ISO, I prefer using my heavy really right stuff balhead. This because my camera will not move in the frame I made, because of the pressure of my hand. When using my lighter balhead it does. My question: when I buy a ioption sky Guide pro a light balhead is still al little bit better to use then a heavy bullhead? This in mind of the startrack.

[@PeterZelinka]

One of the most important things with using a tracker is cutting down your weight as much as possible. The more weight you have attached, the worse results you'll get. Therefore, I don't recommend using a big, heavy ballhead if you don't need to. I've used very lightweight ballheads holding my Nikon D750 and 14-24mm lens without any problems. (surprisingly!)

[@fischerboxtel]

@@PeterZelinka Thanks for your reply Peter!!

[@jjaimesmx]

Hey Peter, another pro for the sky watcher is that the base can be mounted on a regular tripod instead of carrying 2 tripods, for traveling is better to have one tripod where you can mount your camera and later at night the skywatcher, maybe I was told different, but would I be able to mount the sky guider pro base onto a regular aluminum tripod or do I need to buy a special tripod for the sky guider?

[@PeterZelinka]

You can mount the iOptron base on any normal tripod. I have a carbon fiber tripod that has the iOptron base installed at all times.

[@brucemullis479]

Ok just bought the Skyguider Pro. Thanks for the tutorials . Hopefully my old version of PS will work.

[@PeterZelinka]

Which version are you using?

[@brucemullis479]

Using 7.0, tried the newer version but was kind of overwhelming .

[@brucemullis479]

Sky Guider is working good. 2 plus min. No trails. My editing needs work. Not bad with no editing.

[@bingus2550]

your voice is amazing mate

[@thechannelitrollwith1645]

What would you say the threshold for picking the Guider vs the Tracker is? I have an a7 III and might use a Metabones V + Canon 70-200 f/4 IS (I). I'll probably go with the SkyGuider Pro but just curious. Thanks for the informative video! Just what I needed, I'm so glad it's relatively new.

[@jongrall]

Great guide. Thank you for putting this together!

[@quartzimaging]

Vixen Polarie looks like a natural competitor to MSM as an entry level tracker. Have you had a chance to test Polarie and compare it to the MSM, or have any opinions about it?

[@jashanpreetsingh5901]

Which tripod for star tracker

[@Treo80]

Wow, excellent video. Very helpful!

[@aerozg3507]

Hello. What about an auto guider? I am new to astrophotography so i am not familiar with all the gear available and the night sky photography technical stuff yet. I own a Nikon D750, and a lot of lenses. The ones i plan to use are the Nikon 14-24 2.8, Tamron 150-600 G2 and Nikon 300 2.8 VR prime lens. I will look up other reviews and videos, but i think the Sky Watcher Star Adventurer Pro might be a good option for me since i am in Europe and Teleskop Express.de has it in stock. Good channel, i will definitely spend some time here. Thanks.

[@PeterZelinka]

Nice, that's pretty much the same gear I have! The Star Adventurer will handle all of those lenses nicely! As for an auto-guider, that's something I'm researching right now. If you get the star adventurer, the declination bracket will allow you to install an auto-guider with some success. However, you'll need to bring your laptop around now, and have it connected all night. If you plan to shoot at 400mm+, you may want to consider an auto-guider. I can usually get about 45 second exposures before I notice star trails, when shooting at 500mm+, However, with an auto-guider, it's possible I could shoot up to 3 or 4 minutes. I haven't found much information on how effective they are with these portable star trackers though. Almost everyone uses auto-guiders with the big telescope mounts

[@aerozg]

@@PeterZelinka Hey Peter, thanks for taking the time to write back, i really appreciate it. Nice coverage of the Star Adventurer and the iOptron trackers in your videos, as well as some solid general AP advice. Great stuff! Yes, you're right on the button, i plan to hook the laptop up and use a tethering software like AstroDSLR or Lightroom and experiment with that. Today i also purchased a dedicated tripod. It's a Skywatcher Stainless Steel tripod with a 3/8 hole in the center, here's the link: bit.ly/2SHgkco The stated load capacity of this thing is 30kg/66lbs, so i guess for my setup of D750 and my Tamron 150-600 G2 it should do just fine. There's still room for an auto guider, but what about a GoTo mount? I can imagine star hopping with the Star Adventurer can be a drag. Have you tried to mount the SA on a GoTo mount?

[@Andratos95]

Can I connect the Star Adventurer to a Manfrotto Compact Action tripod?

[@RafaelSwit]

Peter, how did you paint your Sky-Watcher base to match the red of Sky-Guider?

[@slipstream4572]

How’s you Nikon 14-24mm? I’m thinking about Sigma’s future 14-24mm f2.8 DG DN for Sony

[@fluffyelvis2]

Thank you sir for your time and knowledge 😌

[@prasanthgn]

Hi peter, I love astro but have an olympus em1 with 7-14 2.8. Would I get good results with a tracker? Even though its mirrorless the setup is heavy.

[@woodycarr]

Good overview. I appreciate the guidance. Been looking at the SkyGuider Pro. Any thoughts about the Move-Shoot-Move SIFO rotator? Looks like it might be an alternative for really light wide-angle setups.

[@PeterZelinka]

Somebody actually just sent me a link to that a few days ago, that was the first I've heard of it. After looking it over, it seems like a non-smartphone version of the Star Adventurer Mini. If it works as well as they say, I'm sure it would be a great, cheaper option for wide angle setups. Since you'd be shooting at a wide angle, you wouldn't necessarily even need a wedge / latitude base for the polar alignment; even a rough polar alignment with a ballhead should allow for 3+ minute exposures at ~14mm.

[@Chloewaskidnapped]

Thanks for letting me know that other people have wifi connectivity issues with SAM.

[@swapsaraf3]

Peter, Don't you think the polar scope should be on the side rather than in front of the camera. Each time you mount your camera you introduce some deviation in the setup.

[@PeterZelinka]

True, that is one nice thing about the SkyTracker Pro design, you can double check your polar alignment once you've got everything setup. Personally, I haven't had too much trouble with the SkyGuider Pro though.

[@MrPhilbautista]

Is it possible to use the declination bracket of the Sky Watcher Star Adventurer with the Move Shoot Move Star Tracker?

[@PeterZelinka]

No, the MSM cannot use any declination bracket from another tracker

[@ThanhTruong-ip5gf]

Great video.. Really appreciate it, Aslo great time for me due to the fact I'm about to buy a star tracker but was indecisive and A total noob. At astrophotography 👍

[@tsk1979]

How do you rate these, esp skyguider pro as compared to iOptron SmartEQ (3200+)? That is similar price point, a bit bigger, but is GOTO. Comparison reviews are hard to find though

[@PeterZelinka]

I don't have any experience with the SmartEQ unfortunately, so I can't say.

[@Kyle_Hubbard]

Well that is a shame. I was hoping you'd convince me on the SkyGuider. Basically what I got was some trivial things are better about the SkyGuider vs the Star Adventurer. Especially considering the price between the two where I live. The iOptron is actually a bit more expensive and I was hoping I'd get told it was much better than it actually is. Doesn't seem worth paying even the same price for something with "less" use. I don't know why anyone would pass up being able to use more gear with the Adventurer compared the the Guider for arguments sake the same price. Looks like I'll be getting the Adventurer then.

[@scarpography]

just got a Star Adventurer for 200€ + 20€ shipping with the included base and declination bracket

[@youareslick]

I got my star adventurer complete with everything and use a 6d with a 100-400 lens without the dec bracket.

[@PeterZelinka]

have you had any problems tracking without the dec bracket? I know I was originally trying to use a 70-200mm lens, without the counterweight kit, on the SkyTracker Pro and I didn't have much luck. Of course, the Star Adventurer can handle a lot more weight than the SkyTracker

[@youareslick]

@@PeterZelinka no problems...I can get 90 sec subs. Used the wedge, SA and a good ball head. I have tried with the L bracket but dont think it made that much difference because although you have a counter weight the camera is now offset. Using the L bracket did allow me to have the polar scope available at all times though.

[@deepaksudevan]

Great video. please let me know which model suit me . i have nikon 200-500 f5.6 lens and nikon 12-24mm f2.8

[@PeterZelinka]

That's a pretty big, heavy lens. I have a few students that use the 200-500 for deep space astro. Either the Star Adventurer or SkyGuider Pro should work fine, however you may need a second counterweight.

[@deepaksudevan]

Thank You @@PeterZelinka

[@deepaksudevan]

Thank you for suggesting. Brought Star Adventurer. seems like counter weight does not support my lens.

[@pawelhener5338]

Deepak Sudevan did you manage to fix your setup? I am looking for a tracker myself right now - planning on using it with a d850 with the afs 200-500 5.6 and a tamron 15-30 2.8 on a gitzo 321 tripod

[@StargazerFS128]

Great comparison video!

[@Pipe-organ-recordings]

Excellent video

[@GeomancerHT]

Hi there Peter! What would you recommend on the 1000 usd/eur range? If I could get that on Amazon europe and delivered to Argentina that would be awesome (as they do the custom taxes automatically) but I can get that on the US if needed.

[@PeterZelinka]

It really just depends what you want to photograph and what gear you have. If you are only interested in wide angle astrophotography, then the SkyTracker Pro would work fine. However, if you want to do deep space astrophotography, with a telephoto lens, you'll want either the SkyGuider Pro or Star Adventurer. They should both cost about the same (~$430 USD). If you get the Star Adventurer, make sure it also includes the counterweight and "fine tuning assembly" (declination bracket), as well as the latitude base. You'll need all 3 pieces to effectively use a telephoto lens. Some bundles include all of the components, some don't.

[@GeomancerHT]

@@PeterZelinka Thanks a million for your reply! I think I will go with either the SkyGuider Pro or Star Adventurer, will keep doing some research and I hope I can get one store shipping to Argentina :)

[@umangjeet]

must watch before buying any star tracker in the market

[@bloodsthicker5651]

Hi Peter, great reviews. Can you recommend something for the NikonP1000, I'd like to track the sun,moon and planets. Thankyou in advance.

[@PeterZelinka]

Keep in mind, none of these trackers have Go-To functionality. You would need to manually move your camera to point to all of those objects. If you're just doing the sun, moon, and planets you should have no trouble with that though. All of these trackers will work well with your P1000. I'd probably go with the SkyTracker Pro though, it's the simplest model to use and that's what I started off with. If you want more functionality and features, then the Star Adventurer Mini might be a better choice. I personally don't like the smartphone app requirements though. Hope that helps!

[@bloodsthicker5651]

@@PeterZelinka very helpful, thankyou very much.

[@CountCarbsNotCals]

So your videos are great and getting me interested in these products, ... what kind of pictures can i expect to take use a good dslr + good telephoto with these?

[@PeterZelinka]

Here's what I've captured with my DSLR and SkyGuider Pro: www.peterzelinka.com/nightscapes

[@Rajesh-cg5pz]

For the base of Star adventurer, will I need a new tripod? Or will it fir on my existing cheap vanguard tripod??

[@PeterZelinka]

The base should screw onto any tripod. However, I'd recommend having a fairly sturdy tripod. If you have a lightweight, thin, carbon fiber tripod you won't get great results.

[@surftidy]

Great information! Thanks peter!

[@levi8686]

Anybody know if there are any star trackers that can be controlled by a phone/laptop to point wherever you want in the sky?

[@levi8686]

@Seamus O'Dork I'm not actually, I looked but couldnt seem tofind any; maybe I just wasnt trying hard enough lol. I know theres go to telescopes but im looking for a goto star tracker.

[@brendanforward7322]

Hey Peter, awesome video. Quick question: I live at about the 50 degree of the northern latitude in Northern Quebec. Would you recommend going for the Star Adventurer Base with a iOptron Skyguider. Also have you ever noticed the equipment load limitation to be an issue?

[@PeterZelinka]

I'd only recommend it if you have problems with the iOptron base. If you put too much weight (8+ lbs) on either base, it will be a bit jerky when you try to adjust the altitude

[@johanthorn1968]

Hello Brendan. What option did you decide on? Were You able to combine the SA Base with the Skyguider? I live even further up north (57° 40') and my concern regards the iOptron base, since it's useless above 60 degrees!?

[@alicjab.lombard4445]

Thank you for the review. Can I and should I use the iOptron SkyGuider Pro with Sky-Watcher Star Adventure Equatorial Wedge Base?

[@PeterZelinka]

You can use the SkyGuider Pro with the Star Adventurer Base. However, I would only recommend buying the base if you have problems with the included iOptron base.

[@RugbyLock2668]

Thanks for the review. It really helps to have someone who's used them demystify the options. Since I do plan on using telephoto lenses, and eventually small telescopes, I'll be going with the Skywatcher I think. What are the options for auto guiding the Skywatcher Peter?

[@Aaronjoppoj]

Anyone know good retailers for iOptron SkyGuider Pro in UK? Struggling to find any, looks like shipping from US is only option..

[@Paavy]

Only one I've seen that stock it is Tring Astro.

[@garyrear]

I just purchased mine from www.ontariotelescope.com in Canada if that helps.

[@freeandcriticalthinker4431]

Peter, hey I am in the middle of trying to decide on what tracker to keep and I have had a lot of time with the Sky Guider and as you said the base is horrible and the Dec. bracket is just as bad. I haven’t spent almost any time with the Star Adventure though. Long story, but basically ran out of time on my decision. You state here that you think the Sky Guider is the better route but aside from the above two issues which you have identified clearly, what else swings you towards the Sky Guider despite its Dec. bracket which I don’t think there is anything to switch it out with correct? Any thoughts would be great. And yea I want to shoot plenty with tele lens but equally with wide angles. Thanks a lot!

[@PeterZelinka]

The big problems I have with the Star Adventurer are the Polar Scope, the overall size and weight, and the cheap plastic covers. These are all relatively minor problems, but they add up to create some frustration each night. The smaller size, internal rechargeable battery, larger counterweight, and illuminated polar scope make the SkyGuider Pro a more attractive option. Either way, both trackers will work largely the same. You'll just have to deal with the annoyances of either system, and you may find that one set of problems is less annoying than the other. For me, the Star Adventurer is more of a pain to use at night, but others may find the SkyGuider Pro to be more of a pain.

[@freeandcriticalthinker4431]

@@PeterZelinka , thanks Peter. Now that I see thru that scope on the Star Adventure I am seeing what you mean and yea the bulk is ALOT more as well. Let me ask you, do you have any experience with the Vixen Polarie? I know the rating of it is only 7 pounds, but there is a "Heavy Loading Kit" that doubles that load taking it to a max of 14 pounds. Now that kit with the tracker included however is $1200. THere is a part that I dont think is really needed and by parting it out and picking out what you wanting and didn't it looks like you could get into that tracker with the 14 pound load rating for $800-$1000 though its not entirely clear as mud as Vixen hasn't done a good job on being very detailed on the whos, whats, whens. etc. of all the parts available for the tracker. Regardless I have used the Polarie just as its sold with the counter weights and have loaded it up to 6 pounds and it seems to work good IF YOU GET LUCKY with the polar alignment looking thru just a small hole which I find useless, so I think you would in very least need the polar scope which is over $200 for that if you bought it alone. I guess I am trying to find out more info on the ins and outs of how it works with the Heavy Loading Kit as that does sound like it would address my two complaints with the tracker itself which is a fairly low load capacity and initial lack of polar scope. Curious of what you have heard about this or if you have used this system before. Cheers!!

[@PeterZelinka]

@@freeandcriticalthinker4431 I would avoid the Polarie. You need to buy so many additional parts to make it functional, it's a rip off. If you don't have a laser or their overpriced polar scope, you likely won't get a good enough polar alignment. As you mentioned, the counterweight system is way overpriced too.

[@freeandcriticalthinker4431]

Thanks Peter, you helped confirm my decision I think I was on the road to but just needed that extra bump👍. Cheers, Chad

[@NeAr1986]

The Star adventurer very heavy? I bet you never bring with you an AZEQ6 on the field...

[@PeterZelinka]

Hahahaha, good point! Compared to all the other trackers though, the Star Adventurer is by far the bulkiest and heaviest tracker. Glad I don't have a legit telescope mount though, I've got enough gear crammed into my car as-is!

[@NeAr1986]

@@PeterZelinka i'm agree it's the bulkiest, but (i don't have any of them) seems the more sophisticated and well build...

[@Laserpico1985]

Hey Peter! Great video, too bad I've already got my SAM on the way! Just wondering, how essential is the astro-base/wedge? I have a fluid video head on my tripod which allows me to control (please forgive me) up-down and left-right independently, along with a long handle for fine movements. Does the wedge provide any particular advantage over this fluid head? Also, just wondering if you have an opinion on how hard it is to align to the South Celestial Pole (using the Sigma Octans constellation and corresponding etching on the SAM polar scope) for a first-timer?

[@PeterZelinka]

It's not necessary, it just makes a precise polar alignment easier. What focal length do you plan on using? You might be alright with that fluid head, provided you can make small adjustments. The main problem is that the Sigma Octans (or Polaris) will move quite quickly inside the polar scope and it will be hard to align. I've never been to the southern hemisphere, so I can't honestly say. However, the Sigma Octans etching should make it relatively easy to align. Of course, you'll need to be in a dark enough sky to see them, and you'll need to do a good job maneuvering your video head so that it's as close to the South Celestial Pole as possible. Also, I did create a tutorial for the Southern Hemisphere Polar Alignment, but it sounds like you already know everything I cover in that video! The nice thing with the latitude base, is that you can dial in your latitude, and you'll know that the star tracker is now more or less angled up to the same altitude as the Celestial Pole. From there, you can use the azimuth adjustment knobs and move the polar scope left and right until you see the Sigma Octans stars. With the fluid head, you'll need to do everything by guess work mainly. However, I'd give it a try and see how it goes. Worst case, you can always practice that method, and if it doesn't work well, the latitude base should help make everything easier!

[@Laserpico1985]

Thanks for the reply Peter! I plan to use a 300mm f4 camera lens (on full frame) for objects such as the Andromeda galaxy and the Orion nebula (with about a 2x crop on each) - is there a shutter speed I should stay below to prevent blurred nebulae and galaxies from tolerances of the tracker/polar alignment? I'm thinking 30s maybe? I hear people going up to 3mins with a SAM and 50mm lens. Could I make up for the wedge's latitude scale with a simple plumb line/protractor on my fluid head? Align the "upward tilt" (yea I'm new to this) with my latitude based off the plumb line/protractor? That should leave just the "left right" adjustment for a polar alignment. "The main problem is that the Sigma Octans (or Polaris) will move quite quickly inside the polar scope and it will be hard to align." This has to do with the fact that I might not have fine control over my panning, as opposed to the wedge's azimuth knobs, right? Can I fix this by jury rigging a longer handle to my fluid head such that I can get more precise control over it? I did watch your video on aligning in the Southern Hemisphere, it's where I got most of my knowledge from! Especially useful is the tip on checking Sigma Octan's orientation through the SAM app. I have been doing all this research and asking these questions because I live in light polluted Singapore, my only chance for astrophotography is when I travel. I will be in an Australian desert for a few days in December, want to make sure I have all the right equipment and knowledge so as not to waste those few days! Also means less scope for trial and error :(

[@PeterZelinka]

At 300mm, you could probably get between 30 seconds - 60 seconds, depending on your polar alignment accuracy and counterweight balancing. I usually max out at 30 seconds when I shoot between 400mm and 600mm. Huh, that's an innovative idea! I'm sure you could probably make that work, but I've never considered that approach. Right, when using the azimuth adjustment knobs, you move the entire tracker left/right very slowly. It really depends on your setup. One thing you could try: install the polar scope into the SAM and set up everything up. Then look for any star you can actually see in your light polluted area. Get that star visible in your polar scope. Then, try adjusting your fluid head left and right, see how much the star moves inside of your polar scope. Ideally, you should be able to move it slightly left or right. Of course, you could always just pick up and move your tripod, but that can be hard to do precisely too. Just try to get as much practice in as possible, even if you can only see some random bright stars. You'll also want to get comfortable using the App to control the Mini as soon as possible. You can apply the same concepts later on, once you reach Australia!

[@jamesbennett6343]

Hi Peter, I just subscribed to your channel and I really appreciate your helpful content! I have a question about trackers. I rarely get the chance to travel far from the city to try Milky way photography. Will a tracker improve my MW photos even if I am only in a semi dark area?

[@PeterZelinka]

More light, and longer exposures, will always help your image quality. However, your top priority should be to get out of light polluted areas whenever possible. Even just driving 20 minutes to a darker sky.

[@GregAllen2]

Thanks for the great overview! I am considering the iOptron Skyguider Pro. With that said I am concerned that since I live in Spokane WA (47.6588° N) that I will not be able to properly align the mount. Do you think it will work? Are there any work-arounds? Cheers, Greg

[@PeterZelinka]

You should be fine! You may have to simply take the star tracker off of the base, flip it around, and re-attach it. That way you can go past 40 degrees easily on the base. (That might make more sense once you get your hands on the tracker) However, if for some reason you find the latitude adjustment is very hard, you could potentially get the Sky-Watcher Latitude Base, for $65, and put your SkyGuider Pro on there.

[@GregAllen2]

Thanks for the reply!. I was wondering if the Sky-Watcher base would work or not. :-) I'm looking forward to trying out the ShyGuider Pro...

[@prashantnz]

Thanks heaps from NZ. Love you bless ya.

[@ytano5782]

All this tracker work only on one axis, right?

[@PeterZelinka]

Correct, they only have an automated Right Ascension axis. The Declination axis is not motorized, so that can cause problems for deep space work. Although, it's not too big of a deal in most cases.

[@thomastarner8683]

First time buyer here looking real hard at star trackers. Will either the Sky-Watcher Star Adventurer or the iOptron SkyGuider Pro handle a D850 with a 400mm f2.8? I'm looking at a total weight of around 14 lbs. just a little over the recommended 11 lbs.

[@AndrewThomas73]

Its recommended max weight is 11ib including ball head, i use the D850 and a William optics zenithstar 61 which is affordable, lighter and gives much better final image quality than any lens.

[@PeterZelinka]

You'd really be pushing it with that setup. However, with the SkyGuider Pro, you can always purchase an additional counterweight for $25. I suppose you could also purchase an additional Sky-Watcher counterweight kit for $30, and you'd have a spare rod laying around. This extra counterweight may allow you to balance that 400mm lens and shoot decent exposures. However, you'll likely be limited to pretty short exposures, 30 seconds or less. Although, your f/2.8 aperture will help collect a lot more light than my Tamron 150-600mm at f/5 - 6.3. Honestly, I'm not sure I could recommend going for it. I'd be wary of putting such a large and expensive lens on either tracker, especially at that weight. You could always look into telescope mounts, which will handle much heavier setups, but that would most likely be overkill (price and size-wise). You're in a tough spot unfortunately.

[@thomastarner8683]

I was afraid of that, and was thinking the same thing in the back of my head. So from what I'm picking up from this video is I'll be looking to get the Sky Guider Pro with the Sky-Watcher Star Adventurer accessories, base, dec bracket and counter weight. I'll leave the 400 at home and save it for my sports and eagle photography. I should be fine to throw the nikkor 200-500mm on this set up, but I'll most likely be using the 20mm and 24-70mm 99 percent of the time anyway. Thank you for putting these videos out, they are a great help.

[@2718rm]

Peter, thank you very much for taking the time to review these... I have the ioptron skyguider pro myself and have really enjoyed using it, tracking accuracy has been excellent. I do agree however that the declination bracket is a bit of a bear to use when using a small telescope or telephoto lens... Do you know if it is possible to buy the declination bracket from the skywatcher Star Adventurer and use this with the ioptron skyguider pro in the same way that you can use swap the bases?

[@PeterZelinka]

Unfortunately, due to the major design differences between the two trackers, there's no way to mix and match declination brackets. Hopefully the next generation of the SkyGuider Pro has a better design

[@2718rm]

@@PeterZelinka thanks for the quick response! Have you figured out how to make sure the 12 oclock position on the polar alignment reticle circle is perfectly vertical when aligning polaris?

[@PeterZelinka]

@@2718rm I usually just eyeball it. At least on the SkyGuider Pro, the red light will turn on when the reticle is lined up properly. For the star adventurer, you'll need to attach the polar finder illumanitor to even see the reticle at night.

[@sophia111188]

thank you so much for this video!

[@DiegoVillalobosPro]

I'm looking into buying my first star tracker and this video sure helped. However, I recently found the MSM SiFo online but not many reviews. Any thoughts on that? Maybe contacting MSM to send you one so you can review it? Also, great website and thanks for the content.

[@sumibora640]

I LOVE YOU ALL MUSIC, MOVIES all music bends 💖 💖

[@frankmenkel8329]

Great video. Thank you.

[@MRantexe]

Hi Peter! I live at 60* North, would all these trackers work for me, or what do you reckon? Best regards Peter

[@PeterZelinka]

All of them would work, however the SkyWatcher models would be easier to use. The SkyWatcher latitude base goes all the way to 90 degrees, while the iOptron base only goes to about 65°. With that said, you could buy the iOptron trackers and buy the SkyWatcher latitude base separately.

[@MRantexe]

@@PeterZelinka Great! Thanks alot for the quick answer. Have a great week!

[@abrarmansoor7883]

Great work Peter! Excellent round up of tracking mounts available in the market. I have recently taken up astrophotography as a hobby (mostly shooting untracked with a DSLR and UWA lens setup), and am now planning to venture into shooting deep space. This video buying guide is exactly what I've been looking for. The Sky Guider Pro is most likely the one I'll put my money on, but would like to know how it compares against the Sky Watcher AZ-GTi Wi-Fi GoTo mount. Have you been able to put it through its paces yourself? Would like to know your thoughts on it. Cheers!

[@PeterZelinka]

I've only spent a small amount of time with the GTI, so I don't have too much experience. I do know they released an update that allows you to use it as an Equatorial Mount, which is recommend for Astrophotography. However, doing your polar alignment and initial setup can be a little tricky with the GTI, since it doesn't have any kind of polar scope. You use the App to tell the telescope to look at different stars, then adjust it until the star is centered. One benefit is the go-to functionality, but you'd still want to learn the night sky to make things easier. Since I've only used it for a short while, I can't say whether it would be a good idea to choose that over the star adventurer or SkyGuider.

[@abrarmansoor7883]

Thanks for prompt response, Peter! Really appreciate it. I am nearly certain now that I'll invest in SGP to get started with DSA. Also, apologies for the delay in this response. I've been on the road in the Himalayas past 2 days with barely any connectivity.

[@thethirdman225]

Good review.

[@geonerd]

Any chance you can test the Omegon and Fornax at some time? :)

[@PeterZelinka]

It's possible, but I'm not currently planning on it. I've got too much gear to deal with already haha

[@MrRhythmPimp]

What about the Vixen Polarie Tracker? Any opinions?

[@PeterZelinka]

I haven't personally been able to test one yet, but from everything I've seen online, it's way overpriced. This is something I cover in the written post over on my website. In short, I think iOptron and Sky-Watcher have completely blown the Polarie out of the market and made everything much more affordable.

[@MrRhythmPimp]

The reason I asked was, I purchased the Polarie about three years ago. At the time, iOptron only had one offering. I held one in my hand at a local telescope shop and it seemed cheap in build quality and yes, was less expensive. The Polarie, with it's heavy metal construction and all brass gears is built like a tank so I decided to go the extra $100.00 or so and pull the trigger on the Vixen product. But I guess what really matters is the tracking. I've done 10 minutes at 50mm with no star trails so I'm going to suggest I could go ever further. This is with the polar scope and dead on alignment. I agree, the price of the iOptron and Sky-Watcher is probably hurting Vixen but I go by the old adage that you get what you pay for. Having said that, I'm probably going to purchase one of the Sky Watcher products for a second tracker. You're video helped with the decision. Thanks for your response! Appreciated!

[@PeterZelinka]

Yeah, that is one thing the Polarie has going for it, the internal build quality seems quite solid! Maybe in the future Vixen will create another tracker with equally good internals, but one that can also handle a large telephoto lens setup, like the Star Adventurer or SkyGuider Pro. Glad I could help!

[@eyevincast5440]

Too expensive for what it is and get. Also payload capacity is very little. It’s great if you’re only gonna do really wide angle shoots but for 400+ dollars no thanks.the polar “scope” is non existent also so it’s hard to get precise alignment. I think the the first one he shows is the best option. All you really need is a sturdy tripod and camera gear.

[@mitymous1]

SUPER helpful!!

[@GervaisCabinets]

Glad I came across the video I can get four stars on the volume was too low

[@abhitanshuusoni]

Thanku for lovely explanation