The monumental difference that a “star tracker” makes in your astrophotography will be experienced after the very first exposure is taken. Evangelists on YouTube have promoted it as THE unit to buy to start out in long exposure astrophotography. Finding the heart nebula was a bit tricky for me – so I had to shoot a number of test shots (30-sec subs started to show brightest areas on nebula at ISO 6400) on the DSLR to frame it up right! I am curious. Do I need a special adapter to mount a Nikon D850 to the iOptron Skyguide Pro? A lightweight tracking mount is a convenient option for those who choose to vacation under dark skies and want to image while you’re there. SmartEQ/SmartEQ Pro mount 5. A star tracker allows you to capture the faint details of the Milky Way in a single shot. Can anyone confirm that one of those two apps are accurate, more than the other? I’m super impressed with the long exposures I was seeing with only a careful polar alignment. Bringing a full deep-sky imaging setup from home can take up a lot of trunk space, and simply isn’t realistic in many situations. If you are ready to attach a small telescope to the SkyGuider for deep sky imaging, here are a few examples, and what I recommend. To mount the iPolar Electronic Polarscope, you need to remove the original optical polar scope from the SGP unit, but this is not difficult. - posted in Beginning Deep Sky Imaging: Hi everyone! The Sky-Watcher Star Adventurer mount is strikingly similar in terms of features to the SkyGuider Pro with the same payload capacity and autoguiding abilities. The Polar Alignment will not change – that axis will remain stationary when moving the RA/DEC around. That's the way to quickly align if you are out in the field without a computer. The RA clutch and the mount on top of that are rotating freely in front of SGP. Alchemy; Ardrossan to Oban Expedition; The Shape of Water (90 days on battery). William Optics Zenithstar 61 II (360mm F6.1) - Zenithstar 61Adjustable Field Flattener iOptron SkyGuider Pro Camera Mount Full Package K&F Concept Aluminium Tripod with 2kg weight Canon EOS 250d (cropped sensor 1.6x) The problem: I take roughly 40 pics with each being 1 minute long at 1600 ISO and stack them on DeepSkyStacker. Step 1- Remove the two screws at the front of the mount (2 mm hex key). A wobbly and “skinny” tripod may get the job done for starry landscapes with light gear, but will stop there and photographing anything else will become a frustrating experience. But remember: to get the most out of your SGP, you have to use a sturdy tripod. But how can I do that? Finally, if you are into travel, all the goodies of the SGP are packed in a lightweight and portable tracker that will follow you in your adventures under the stars. For $150 more, you get a much more robust star tracker. I brought the SkyGuider Pro on my honeymoon to Costa Rica. If you are serious about photographing the night sky, the SkyGuider Pro (SGP throughout the review) is the perfect tracker for you. With this level of polar alignment accuracy, it’s possible to shoot even longer exposures on the SkyGuider Pro. Now if the snow would just clear I might get a chance to test this. This new SGP mount looks like the answer for me, I think I’ll order one! At this time, the mount was brand new and I knew very little about it. If tripods are the base, they could at least be of wide angular sections (like Avalon M-Zero but only much better), Az and Alt bases need to be oversized and ultra-precision- polar-scopes need to be preferably over 32mm objective and suitable for light camera use to enable ultra accurate polar alignment and drift alignment, and should have right-angle correct view for easy use (then tripods can be lower to ground and lighter). I do plan to purchase a refractor for future use with the SGP (the carbon fiber refractor that I am researching weighs the same as my telephoto lenses). The SGP is one of the most performant trackers for lightweight and mobile astrophotography. This mount is incredibly simple to use and straightforward (even in the dark). It made a low volume but horrifically invasive whining noise. Remove 1/4” to 3/8” thread converter use a coin. 1. This is handy in the backyard to work around obstructions, and when traveling with the mount to darker skies. Alt and Az adjustments need to have far better energy organisation systems and extreme precision. The image below was captured entirely using the DSLR and telescope combo above, without the use of autoguiding. Guiding the SGP allows you to push its limits even further. Leading the camera tracker market for nearly four years, iOptron's SkyGuider Pro pushes closer to perfection. It is an attractive option for those getting started in long-exposure astrophotography, or that want to build a travel rig to take on adventures. Ive been doing photography for a long time and decided to finally combine that hobby with my interest in space. SkyTracker/SkyTracker Pro camera mount 4. Hey Sean! I am often asked which telescope is best suited for the iOptron SkyGuider Pro camera mount.The SkyGuider is an entry-level astrophotography mount, which means that a … It is listed as "Capable for dual mount application up to 11lbs (5kg) + 7.7lbs (3.5kg), balanced." The iOptron SkyGuider Pro Camera Mount with iPolar provides clear wide field captures of astroscapes and astrophotography. Below, you’ll see images captured using the SkyGuider including the Carina Nebula, and the Milky Way. Assembly was quick and straightforward, though you do have several options depending on the sort of imaging you have in mind. skywatcher star adventurer pro kit. I am thinking about getting a SkyGuider Pro but I am wondering what cable is used for autoguiding? These days, there are many options available in this class of portable astrophotography mounts. The iOptron SkyGuider PRO TM offers high precision silent tracking, a built-in rechargeable power source and ST4 guiding. iOptron iPolar for SkyGuider-Pro is an excellent device for getting perfect alignment with this supported mount. ron, Trevor, great job reviewing the tracker. The consistent results and positive user experience make this EQ mount one of my favorite astrophotography products of all time. When selecting a telescope to use with the SkyGuider Pro, make sure it falls below the maximum payload capacity of 11 pounds. The SGP is only one serious flaw: the equatorial wedge. I don’t have a tripod though. Mounted on an iOptron SkyGuider Pro EQ camera mount. Since then, I have photographed many deep sky objects with this mount including Comet 46P Wirtanen, the Orion Nebula, and many more. I enjoy controlling my DSLR camera with a third-party remote shutter release cable when using the SkyGuider with a small telescope or camera lens. iOptron SkyGuider Pro Camera Mount Full Package; Everything works great, selling because I like my full guiding setup more. If you are hiking into your location with a star tracker, you … The iOptron SkyGuider Pro is one of the most common star trackers among beginners, keen amateurs, and astrophotographers on the move. Now I’m wondering between Fornax (expensive), SGP or the Sky-watcher Star Adventurer 2i. And thus, we enter the realm of the new highly-portable tracking mounts like the iOptron SkyGuider Pro. Office chairs usually have 5 points of support. When I purchased the SGP, I was initially going to mount it on top of my Manfrotto MT055XPro3 Aluminum tripod (19.8 pound capacity) but I chose to purchase the iOptron 1.25” stainless steel tripod (30 pound capacity). With no GoTo and other advanced functions found in astrophotography mounts, the only critical step is polar alignment. Being able to capture a specific area of the sky while tracking gives you the freedom to collect exposures on anything you want. Find the best deals at OPT! I purchased the SGP earlier this month and have had success with my Canon 7Dii, either using a Canon 70-200ii or 100-400ii telephoto lenses (with a 1.4x Teleconverter iii) and counterbalance system with no problem (my equipment weight is roughly 8 pounds). It's too expensive to ship. SkyGuider Pro tracking mount 2. iPano AllView camera mount 3. Correct – you don’t want to move the mount after polar alignment – or you’ll have to do it all over again! I've taken it out today to take a test with a 55mm lens, 3 minutes exposure. Also, such max payload allows you to use a guiding system to further improve the quality of your images. Don't get the ipolar version of the skyguider pro. Once calibrated, I was able to utilize the dithering in my images captured on the SkyGuider. With successful 4-minute exposures taken at 250mm, I likely don’t feel the need to add an autoguiding system to my portable setup. So I bought the counterweight ([[ASIN:B0752VQWCZ iOptron SkyTracker Pro Counterweight Package]]) now it works really well. Your email address will not be published. I dream about the Celestron CGX mount daily… My friend has this particular mount, and it is perfect for what I plan to build (when I can afford it). If so, why do you need a ballhead for the DSLR? Will PHD2 auto guide in RA only? Until next time, clear skies! At $89, it was a good purchase (that fell within my budget). The following video was published to my YouTube channel in July 2017. The Lumicon Easy Guider worked well on the William Optics RedCat 51 refractor to capture 3-minute exposures. Thank you! How are ratings calculated? If this type of astrophotography interests you, then a star tracker likely does too. I’m currently using my Manfrotto MXHPRO-BHQ2, but it is frustrating at times (with the extended knobs and slight creep). Related Video: Adding the iPolar to the iOptron SkyGuider Pro. The only change I made was to replace the DEC camera mounting block for a 360° panorama head, making object’s centering through DSLR live-view very easy and smooth (no shifting at all while locking the screws). The factory wedge base is easy enough to adjust, and the altitude knob is smooth and it locks down securely. One of the most popular low-cost “star trackers” is iOptron’s SkyGuider Pro (MSRP $498, but typically sells for $428). I recently launched into the wide field DSLR area with an Ioptron Skyguider Pro at MSSF. Making small adjustments in either axis is much more accurate and smooth. Are you wondering how to frame a target without a computerized GOTO system? Camera Accessories iOptron SkyGuider Pro Quick Start Manual 2 pages. Step 2‐ Remove the screws on the top (2.5 mm hex key). To add to the confusion, a lot of these EQ mounts have similar names and features. The simplest and fastest solution is to get a cheap red dot star finder you can mount on your camera hot shoe. Nothing displays this trait better than a long exposure photo of the Milky Way or a deep sky nebula. :O) I will look into the ideal configuration for guiding a DSLR and get back to you soon. The high-quality fit and finish of the William Optics base is a big upgrade from the original, black iOptron wedge. The right ascension tracking motor of this camera mount allows you to “freeze” the movement of the night sky for long-exposure astrophotography. Depending on your camera’s focal length, the stars could begin to trail even sooner. I assume that once polar alignment is done, we should not move the tripod anymore. Once installed, you need to connect a computer to the mini USB of the iPolar Electronic Polarscope to be able to polar align. I figured out that pentagons provide the best support for a rotating platform. About My Account Newsletter Sign-up . Cygnus region of the Milky Way, with NGC 7000 North America nebula at the bottom left, the Sadr Region in the center, and it's crazy how much of the Veil Nebula showed up--that's the ring of wispy, mostly white nebulosity on the right toward the bottom. You can purchase an additional counterweight for the iOptron SkyGuider Pro … I have an Astrotrac. I do not currently own a telescope yet, but I am overly impressed with the images I am getting with only a dslr and telephoto lens. The SkyGuider manual displays a 72mm refractor in use with the mount! Be careful to choose the appropriate version among the High Latitude or Low Latitude ones, depending on where you shoot most. I haven’t used the autoguiding feature yet. The iOptron company creates some of the most innovative and practical astrophotography mounts in the world. I believe the problem may be difficulty locking everything down and polar aligning. The iOptron SkyGuider Pro can be used on a regular photography tripod and is less obtrusive than a traditional, large equatorial mount. I would also like to try the camera attached to my Orion 80mm F/5 short tube refractor on the Skyguider pro. The SkyGuider Pro continues to provide me with incredible wide-angle and deep-sky images with minimal effort. Andrea Minoia works as a researcher in a Belgian university by day and is a keen amateur astrophotographer by night. If you would like to share your experiences using the Sky-Watcher Star Adventurer EQ mount for astrophotography, please feel free to leave a comment. You need to download the full manual from Ioptron. All that you need to get started in wide-field astrophotography is a camera, a tripod, and the iOptron SkyGuider Pro. I just received this mount after reading your post. And if you want to push the tracker even more, you will be able to guide it and get several accessories to improve the performances, such as the Electronic PolarScope to polar align the SGP with ease and with great precision. In the photo below, I mounted a Canon EOS 7D DLSR and 17-40mm wide-angle lens to the SkyGuider for an image of the Milky Way. iOptron SkyGuider Pro Camera Mount Full Package £374.00 £311.67 (ex. But it showed potential for a while- at one stage M42, Horsehead, Running Man and Flame Nebulae from one photo with a Fuji XM-1 and 230mm lens over 5 minutes exposure. So under such a setting, how to point it to a particular object in the sky? The factory altitude and azimuth controls are solid, which makes polar alignment quick and accurate. Trevor. Let’s see more in detail some of the pros for the SGP. It is important to remember that the SkyGuider Pro does not have a declination motor, so you will need to turn declination guiding off in the settings of PHD2 to get it to calibrate properly. SkyTracker/SkyTracker Pro camera mount 4. Fujifilm X-T2; … If you use the SkyGuider Pro portable star tracker from iOptron, you probably know it can be a little difficult and uncomfortable to polar align by using the included polar scope, as it ideally requires either a tall tripod in order to see through the polar finder comfortably, or you have to crouch down to look through it. Have they provided you a drawing for this?. By contrast, by replacing the existing low aperture polar scope objective on an Astrotrac polar scope with a 32mm riflescope objective, which I checked via photography to find the correct new location of the SCP, this larger objective I found gave a vast improvement on seeing the faint pole stars, though less predictable accuracy due to makeshift attachment system. I have sold my soul to WO and gone for the upgraded mount and extender.. fingers crossed. This is not a necessary upgrade to enjoy the mount, but it does make polar aligning the mount a more enjoyable experience. The images were stacked in DeepSkyStacker and then processed in Photoshop to boost clarity and contrast. I tested the iOptron SkyGuider Pro under the pristine dark skies at the Cherry Springs Star Party, and needless to say, it … (990 grams) Meanwhile, the iOptron base weighs about 1 lb and the Sky-Watcher base weighs roughly 1.7 lbs. I have successfully used the ST4 autoguiding port on the iOptron SkyGuider pro with a ZWO ASI290mm mini guide camera, and an off-axis guider. The adjustment knobs on this version are more robust, which provides a more stable base for the SkyGuider Pro unit overall. The North America Nebula and Pelican Nebula captured with help from the iPolar device. SkyGuiderTM Pro Camera Mount Overview Introducing The SkyGuiderTM Pro -- iOptron’s next generation camera tracking device! Clear skies! The redesigned SkyGuiderr TM Pro mount head is more compact, small enough to fit on your palm, better precision, silent tracking, built-in rechargeable power source, ST-4 guiding … The SkyGuider Pro is much better suited for heavier payloads. For an in-depth look at the mount from a technical standpoint, David Morris has put together a useful video on his channel. Unread post by bluemax » Wed Jun 19, 2019 12:10 pm NGC7000 180mm 8 X 30 seconds.jpg. The iOptron SkyGuider Pro is a light weight portable EQ Mount.