The Ultimate BENRO POLARIS REVIEW | In-Depth Field Test

[@astric.celestiustolls]

Thank you for this honest review. I am leaning towards this especially as it is not a hardware issue and with some fine tuning of the firmware with star alignments and software for the phone application, it could resolve a lot of headaches. I am a busy soil scientist for the federal government in rural North Dakota and I have been taking advantage of these beautiful, non-polluted skies out here. I started with an iOptron SkyGuider Pro to do deep sky astrophotography, but I am realizing that I can pick that back up when we move back to the city one day with some good filters and cooled dedicated astro-cameras. (We are originally from the Seattle-Tacoma region and we need at least a mid-size city for amenities and culture!) My current setup is very portable, but I am working against myself by wiring the heck out of my rig with autoguiding, power, a laptop, and, of course, even with wide lenses, I find myself wasting my precious time finding and framing objects. I lose too much sleep and then may need to drive three counties away the next day for work... yikes! It would be a waste not to do some landscape astrophotography or at least Milky Way astrophotography out here while we are here for another year and half. North Dakota is a beautiful state with wide open spaces and there are a ton of old churches, barns, and houses out here and the Benro Polaris seems like a good opportunity to be able to be ultra-portable and quickly set up without losing too much time. Additionally, this opens the door for daytime terrestrial photography. I am rocking a simple Canon EOS Rebel T7, and while it is astro-modified, it gets a little noisy on deep sky objects. However, I have had good luck doing extremely wide field astrophotography, such as the Milky Way and I think it would be great to see what it can do paired with the Benro Polaris. Again, thank you for the excellent and comprehensive review.

[@daleboettcherphoto]

Oof, Benro has some work to do. Thanks for being transparent! The tripod head is awesome if they can fine tune it

[@Nateinthewild]

Agreed. The potential is massive, but there's a little refinement that needs to be done first.

[@TheLDunn1]

I’m one of the original backers of the kickstarter. I opted for the astro & cellular version. I’ve only just received my unit, backers of the non cellular version started receiving theirs around a year or so ago (approx). So it’s been a long wait. During that time I kept an eye on the Facebook Polaris group page and when backers started receiving the first units, and commenting, it’s been painful reading. To the point where my initial excitement had disappeared. When my box arrived, I didn’t even bother opening it for over a week. However, when I did finally open it and start playing with it, the hardware has impressed, it’s solidly built, it feels like a well made unit. I’ve only had a couple of ‘plays’ and despite them developing the software over the past year, it’s still far from perfect, but it does show a lot of promise, just hope they ramp up their efforts on the software front now they have the hardware fully in production.

[@davidrhodes743]

Thanks Nate! I think I’ll wait for version 2!

[@dougmiller7944]

Good review, been looking at this but haven’t pulled trigger, think I’ll wait to see if kinks get resolved. Thanks for candid review 👍🏻

[@moshesalama]

Thanks a bunch for and excellent in-depth review of the Polaris, pointing out all the pros and cons in an honest and straightforward fashion. Aside from the cost issue, it seems like a fantastic solution for a good many types of photography. Once they iron out all the bugs, I will consider buying it. I have a tough question regarding the camera connection/interface, since you are a Sony user, you may be able to answer: I own a Sony A7c, it's more limited connectivity than the other A7 models. If I set the PC Remote function to On, USB cable, RAW+JPG, save pics to Camera+PC- will it work with the Polaris?

[@Nateinthewild]

I haven't tried the Polaris with the a7C so I can't be certain, but it sounds to me like those settings would be successful. That's more or less exactly the same settings I used with my A1 and a7S III with success.

[@RageStudios]

excellent review by thor

[@johnposavatz]

Thanks - very helpful review. As I'm only really interested (currently) in the astro capabilities, it's a bummer to see tracking issues at longer focal lengths. I can get 2 minute sub-exposures at 400mm with a skytracker that costs half as much (though without the awesome "go to" capabilities here). I've read that Benro is planning to add 2-star alignment, which might improve its tracking accuracy, but until it can achieve 2 minute exposures at longer focal lengths, it would be a step backwards for me. Hopefully 2-star comes sooner rather than later/never, as I really love the potential of this product.

[@Nateinthewild]

Definitely agree, the longer focal lengths were the part I was most excited about, also. I'm going to test it again next time I get clear skies and really fiddle around with it. I'll put it on my sturdiest tripod and balance the lens as best I can and see if that helps offset a bit of the movement disparity I saw.

[@johnposavatz]

@@Nateinthewild Looking forward to see how it goes! Wishing you clear skies. :)

[@akkarparkiamopas3401]

I can see this is your honest thought. Thanks for this review.

[@LLUEVE]

Post more!!! You’re good at this!!!!

[@dennismaida4188]

same issues with the connection for me as well. I also had to use my Nikon USB C to A adapter in order to connect my Nikon Z7 to the head. Over a month trouble shooting with Benro.

[@mike_abramyan]

Nice work man! I agree with most of what you said, the main thing being the clunky errors in coding of the app being frustrating. It's worth noting that many of these issues are iOS only from what I gather - my pixel has less issues. That being said, there's literally no device this small capable of capturing the night sky the way this one does. I can't wait to try out the Astro pano mode, that's the most exciting part! Also have greatly enjoyed sitting in my warm car and remotely controlling my camera 😂🥶 Also FYI to anyone who has one of these, the Facebook group is really helpful for troubleshooting.

[@DominiqueJoubert-Timelapse]

Thank you for this review. For the timelapse with the slider. How both are synchronized in shoot-Move-Shoot ?

[@DaleSteadman]

It would be great if you could do a followup video to see if Benro worked out some of the issues you had encountered, thanks for the honest review.

[@MarkGodwin-ex5zi]

Thanks for a great review. Agree with everything. Great potential, but needs a LOT of software refinement. I have a Sony A7RV and could not get the usb-c to work, I had to use the micro sd. Not sure if that was the root cause for many of my issues (along with user error). I purchased at a discounted price with a coupon, but still not sure I would spend the $850ish with astro until there were some significant improvements and refinements. The person who stated this was like the DJI Mavic 3 is spot on. Great product, released before it was ready for prime time. As long as Benro keeps refining, I am willing to participate in what is essentially a beta test to get the bugs out.

[@ABRnatura]

Not all usb-c cables are the same, you should try the astro usb-c cable for remote.

[@koenpijpersphotography]

So it has the potential to be really astonishing with software updates. Thank you for the review. Still a lot of money, but it has a lot of benefits and the timelapse features are also very nice. Best feature should be astro tracked panorama's. Have you tried that feature?

[@Nateinthewild]

That's exactly right, with a few firmware updates it could be really fantastic. Feels like it was rushed to market (surprising since it was a fully year late on the expected launch date), but the potential is really impressive. I'm looking forward to playing with it more when milky way season rolls around.

[@ajitdebphotography]

Thank you for this!! I am currently using this in the USA. And I found the phone calibration irritating, when trying to find a GoTo object it would always point to the wrong part of the sky. However, from what you say, it seems the phone needs to held upside down when following the in app diagram of how to do it? I'll give it a go soon, but if this is the user error, thank you for pointing this out! 🙏🏾

[@Nateinthewild]

Happy to help! I haven't used my Polaris in awhile so I don't know if they've changed it, but for me rotating the phone 180º fixed the calibration issue. Good luck!

[@aaronmiles3846]

Just wondering, when you used your 400m telephoto did you mount it directly on the lens or the camera itself?

[@Nateinthewild]

@@aaronmiles3846 always Mount to the tripod foot

[@DPCTechnology]

Thanks so much for the file storage location tip.. have had mine for a few days and was totally confused.. LOL

[@adriandoko]

Phenomenal review!

[@Nateinthewild]

Thanks for watching, Adrian!

[@mmeyers76]

Nice review man. Reminds me of the Mavic 3 - great piece of equipment they should have waited six months to release after they ironed out all the kinks.

[@rcv-v1c]

thanks. good to know what not to buy for astro ph.

[@markjacksonphotos]

Just make sure you have a lots of spare time for that firmware to download either via the app or a pc, 11 hours, really. Great build of a tripod though. Thanks for the review.

[@voederbietels]

cool vid. after you calibrate on a planet but you want to shoot the milkyway but it is in the opposite direction from the lens can you simpel turn the camera using the app to the milkyway ? and is the calibration still valid?

[@clubeinvestvida]

Muito obrigado Nate, seu vídeo realmente esclareceu um monte de coisas, eu moro no Brasil e tudo é muito caro aqui, custaria o dobro devido a taxas e impostos. Você seria capaz de me informar se houve algum movimento de Benro no sentido de estar pronto para corrigir esses bugs relatados ou eles ainda estão completamente silenciosos?

[@Nateinthewild]

They have told me that they are planning to fix these issues and I definitely believe them. However, I don't know anything about the expected timeline for those updates, sorry.

[@HermanTheKid]

Great review!

[@markgarrett2971]

Hey man, just found your channel and subbed. How has it been 7 months on?

[@jackhenstridge2718]

Looks like Benro hasn’t employed a UX team for the app or hasn’t thoroughly tested the app properly if they have a UX team. I’m not sure they’d have a UX team for app design, and I feel like that’s a huge issue with a lot of Camera interface apps (Nikon WMU app springs to mind). Even a single UX designer should be able to fix and address most of the issues you’ve brought up with it. Even so. Seems like this thing has potential.

[@BlueSkyofTI]

I'm a new guinea pig in astrophotography and have been searching for startracker. What i want is a star adventurer GTi, but currently out-of-stock. Could benro polaris be replacement for that? 🤔

[@Nateinthewild]

Absolutely it could!

[@andywash]

Yes I have had frustrations with mine, but updates have settled many of them. You mentioned there is no battery life indicator. But it is shown in the app when connected so did you miss that? Try the Pro setting for Panos.

[@Nateinthewild]

When using a $1,200 piece of equipment, it is an absurd expectation that I should need a *second* $1,200 piece of equipment simply to check the battery life. It should be indicated on the Polaris itself so you can see charging progress while plugged in, this is the most basic expectation of product design.

[@andywash]

@@Nateinthewild As you well know you need the phone to work the Polaris anyway. So your point is silly.

[@Nateinthewild]

@@andywash We can agree to disagree. There are times when checking the battery level without needing a phone makes a ton of sense, and considering the price of the product that's a very easy integration that they should have included.

[@deepalratnayaka7643]

Very helpful video ..!😊

[@DavidPakk]

Hey Nate, what will be a good slider to pair with this head?

[@Nateinthewild]

To my knowledge this head doesn't pair with any sliders yet, but I very much look forward to that day. For now, you need to buy an integrated slider/head combo such as the Rhino Arc II or the Kessler CineShooter

[@rareviewphotography]

Thanks for the review! I've had my unit about a year now and overall, I am rather disappointed with it. If it actually worked as advertised, it would be great but so far, like you, I have found it full of glitches. 50% of the time it simply is not capable of working as promised. I like the Pano capture process but it has never ever successfully constructed a finished image. 100% failure rate for me. In one sense I don't care though as it is only trying to produce a JPEG image anyway which is useless for post processing. The ONLY thing I have found that usually works is the star tracking and sometimes the pano star tracking which is superb, if it succeeds. I realise this is not a training video but you seem very happy with it as a timelapse unit. I also do a LOT of timelapse using both Syrp and Edelkrone gear, but I have found the Polaris is hopeless at shooting intervals. Despite setting it at say 1 sec between exposures, it usually takes 3 - 4 seconds. If I set 5 seconds, it results in a shot every 10 to 12 seconds. I use Sony Alpha 3 cameras and have made sure it is set to single shot (not 2 sec delay) and checked everything I can think of, yet the resulting interval is way beyond what I set in the Polaris. Just wondering if you have this issue or any suggestions you or your followers might have. Like you, I would be furious if I had paid full price for it and I am only hanging onto it because I was a kickstarter purchase price and I am ever hopeful the many issues will be resolved in time. Thanks again for your great review.

[@sic04250f]

Full mullet dude, I haven't seen one of your uploads in awhile..

[@AshManXP]

Please can you post tutorial videos for each of the camera shooting mode functions? Pedro has done a terrible job at offering tutorial videos and the manual is absolutely awful at describing what the feature is and how to utilize it from one step to the next. I would truly appreciate you doing something like this

[@kimpayne5356]

Think I will wait until it is cheaper and they have fixed all the issues. Seems to be too many problems to fix and I can see myself being very frustrated

[@NickHarbornePhotography]

Now im glad i didn't spend on the kickstarter and wait for 6 months to get this half finished effort. When they get it sorted i might buy but glad i didn't waste my money

[@dmystify1381]

what amazes me is that an established company such as benro have the audacity to start a kick starter,i thought kickstarters were for people that have the idea but dont have the financial support.

[@olec.salomonsen9716]

I would have hoped to find a more in depth review and info regarding remote operation and panorama shooting by now, but no. BTW your neglect of panorama-photography as anything serious is disappointing. I mean, a large format panoramic print sells for a lot of money. And making gigapixel panoramas is also popular for online use. A panorama you can do handheld is not really a panorama in my head. I did a 3000 stills panorama using an excellent Rodeon PiExpert, but it's heavy to transport. Also i normally do 200-250 stills panoramas using the head. But would love something more compact. But no info at all to find regarding the Benro's panorama capabilities/menus/setup etc.. Maybe if you get time you could look more into it. Also, being able to remote operate the head with a camera is very interesting, but again, no info.. You only mention the use of a sim card. But can you connect the head to a wifi somewhere far away from where you are located and you are able to access and operate the head? Thanks

[@luisjg2628]

It's been a while since this item was released and many people are still not happy with it. Furthermore, it is an expensive item.

[@Moonlight_Dee]

I got one and it's terrible. Would not recommend and I can't believe they can sell this unit with so many problems, the forum is full of them.

[@evemitchellanderson]

You're not going to shoot astrophotography hand held which is what this is for duh!

[@maximusaugustus6823]

fantastic, I wouldn't buy this product I like my sanity.

[@CGphotoOp]

Sounds like a hard pass