The iOptron SkyTracker Pro is an affordable way to get into serious long exposure astrophotography without investing in more expensive lenses. The iOptron SkyTracker Pro's counterweight kit is a pain to use and I can't recommend it for most people. The iOptron SkyTracker Pro camera mount is a portable solution for astrophotography on the go. You will also need a ball head and tripod to use the mount, neither of which are included. If you want to take your wide-field astrophotography to the next level, you really should be considering a good tracking mount. The maximum exposure from my backyard (@ ISO 1600) is about 2-minutes at this focal length and aperture. An iOptron SkyTracker Pro and counterweight, mounted on a Really Right Stuff BH-55 ballhead. The Camera Lens used for the Photo Above (Canon EF 17-40mm F/4L), The single frames were quite bright due to the light pollution here in the city, but I was able to improve the balance of the images during processing. For an explanation of how polar alignment works, watch the YouTube video below, which covers the topic. You may want to consider the iOptron Tripod for the SkyTracker for added stability. The SkyTracker is attached to a tripod via a standard 3/8-16 threaded socket; if your tripod has a 1/4-20 screw you will need to purchase an adaptor. An iOptronPolarFinder app, which works on your cellphone, can also give a pretty accurate alignment. Customer reviews. The elevation adjustment can be a little loose but includes a silver clamp to eliminate all play. I observed the Sun for several minutes while using the Solar Rate tracking. Introducing The SkyTracker TM Pro -- iOptron’s next generation camera tracking device! Needless to say, I was packing light. iOptron Telescope ASCOM Driver: Install ASCOM Driver and Commander . Once the iOptron alt-azimuth wedge base is securely fastened to the tripod, you can slide the iOptron SkyTracker Pro camera mount unit onto the base. This is the iOptron SkyTracker Pro Review. Introducing The SkyGuider Pro -- iOptron's next generation camera tracking device! Discussions about astrophotography equipment tend to create a mix of opinions, especially when you call it a review. Longer telephoto lenses or some of the heavier faster lenses will simply be too heavy. I think it came out ok, but wish it was sharper and more detailed. SkyTracker Pro Camera Mount with Polar Scope $299 Counterweight Kit $79 iOptron Corporation For many decades I have done tracked sky photography using a camera piggybacked on an Edmund Scientific 3" Newtonian telescope, an ETX-90RA, and an 8" LX200-ACF, and most recently with a camera on a LXD55 GEM. Obviously, you aren’t going to be able to use the Polaris star in the daylight. The built-in polar scope is easy to use and includes an illuminated reticle to help aid in the polar alignment process. Very smooth movement. Introducing The SkyTracker Pro -- iOptron's next generation camera tracking device! Then, you’ll want to fix a ball-head to the tracking plate for flexibility when pointing your camera at targets in the night sky. My little Canon DSLR camera and wide-angle lens fall well below the maximum payload of the iOptron SkyTracker Pro (2.6 lbs). Can also be used in the Southern hemisphere at a flick of a switch. It wouldn’t make sense to assemble my complete deep-sky rig for a 2-hour imaging session, but the SkyTracker is a different story. iOptron SkyGuider Pro with optional iOptron ball head Build Quality The SkyGuider Pro is a well built tracker, the body itself is made of metal and feels really solid, the top plate where the controls and I assume the built in battery are located is a hard plastic, the control buttons are soft rubber with a plastic power “on/off” switch, the cover over the polar scope is metal. Talk about a bonus session! Out of the box, you simply put the SkyTracker Pro on to your tripod, attach a ball head to the plate then fix your camera body and lens. I just plug my guide camera in with one of the power cable. The Star Adventurer is more in line with the SkyGuider Pro. The iOptron was not reported as being all that great at coping with the weight, and specifically the moment that the longer tubes impart. The iOptron SkyTracker Pro is a portable star tracker that allows you to capture long-exposure astrophotography images without star trails. SkyTracker Pro. Rather than setting up my complete deep-sky imaging rig, I opted for a much faster and lightweight option. It’s hard to imagine how iOptron could have made this mount any simpler to set up than it already is. It may also be used with other brand telescope/camera mounts with similar polar scope reticle. iOptron app is available for iPhone or iPad for locating Polaris—it does cost extra though. Read honest and unbiased product reviews from our users. Keeping the overall weight of your camera gear down when traveling is important, and the SkyTracker weighs less than a carbon fiber tripod. - posted in Mounts: I was considering purchasing the iEQ 45 Pro, but my research reveals that there seems to be issues with ioptron mounts in general suggesting these mounts are risky to buy. Because this mount is battery powered, no additional power sources were needed at my campsite. Although we mentioned longer lenses above, you always have to be wary of the limited 6.6-pound payload of this iOptron SkyTracker. No longer do stars begin to trail after 20 seconds, and a new level of detail and clarity can be achieved. iOptron SkyTracker Pro Camera Mount With Polar Scope £249.00. Not only does a setup like this keep the overall weight down, but it’s also very forgiving in terms of tracking. A precise Polar alignment can be accomplished by using the adjustment bolts on the Alt-Az base to align the polar axis of the mount. Add to cart. (Other than the Orion Nebula) There are hints of the Horsehead Nebula, Flame Nebula, Rosette Nebula, and even a hint of Barnard’s Loop! The alt-azimuth base makes it easy to align the mount with the celestial pole. Do you have any experiences or thoughts with this? Here is the Coronado PST (about 3 lbs) on the SkyTracker Pro: I used the counterweight since the weight of the PST is >2.6 lbs. You can use your existing tripod to mount the SkyTracker Pro, but it will need to be extremely secure and solid for a night of astrophotography. This is clearly noticeable in the outstanding mechanical quality of this small portable mount! I always keep the SkyTracker Pro charged during the daytime to avoid running out of juice in the middle of the night, but it should be fine for 2-3 day trip. Expect to charge the SkyTracker for about 8 hours to ensure it is fully topped up for a night of imaging. Larger lenses or DSLR cameras will need the additional counterweight kit. A unique bidirectional rapid slew function lets you reframe without disturbing the camera. The Cygnus region of the Milky Way using the iOptron SkyTracker Pro with a wide-angle lens. iOS users can manually enter the location when … Frankly, they would be ideal for my purposes because of their minimal backlash and reasonable weight. The photo below was captured using a Canon EOS Rebel T3i DSLR camera, with a Rokinon 14mm F/2.8 lens attached. Upgraded from SkyTracker TM, the Pro is more compact, small enough to fit on your palm, better precision, silent tracking, it even has a built-in rechargeable power source that runs for up to 24 hours of continuous operation. The iOptron SkyGuider Pro Camera Mount Full Package is iOptron's answer to the massively popular realm of DSLR astrophotography while still being perfectly equipped to handle smaller telescopes as well. The SkyTracker Pro with a DSLR and 50mm lens attached. At this time, the mount was brand new and I knew very little about it. You can use the bubble level in the base to make sure that your tripod is nice and level before starting. iOptron SkyTracker Pro Review April 15, 2018 • 5 Comments. Each image frame was 90 seconds each, and I used 14 of the 30+ images I shot at ISO 1600. We then attached the DSLR ball head and to that we attached our camera. Below, you will find some of the key specifications of the mount including payload and tracking speeds. Secure transaction ... Review this product. The SkyTracker is attached to a tripod via a standard 3/8-16 threaded socket; if your tripod has a 1/4-20 screw you will need to purchase an adaptor. Leading the camera tracker market for nearly four years, iOptron's SkyGuider Pro pushes closer to perfection. But since it was New Moon, and the Orionid Meteor Shower was peaking – I couldn’t leave home without at least a camera and a small star tracker. Upgraded from SkyTrackerTM, the Pro is more compact, small enough to fit on your palm, better precision, silent tracking, it even has a built-in rechargeable power source that runs for up to 24 hours of continuous operation. I like to set up the SkyTracker on nights when my imaging tie is limited due to weather. La fixation pour appareil photo compact et léger peut être stocké dans n'importe quel bagage. I had a stock Canon EOS 7D on hand – with no remote shutter release cable imaging star. Any iOptron ( R ) telescope mount owners l'azimuth et supporte une charge jusqu ' 3... The go included polar scope etched reticle now has an adjustable brightness control to you... The SkyTracker takes up very little about it a night of imaging 8 hours to ensure is! The door to long exposure capabilities a compact one-axis motorized mount like the Pro. Exposures, even up to 5 minutes, without star trailing reasonably high quality and the AZ mount does! How compact it is fully topped up for a Canon EF 24-105mm F/4L lens in center! And see if that does anything the DSLR ball head and to that we attached our camera view of alignment! Your objects in a number of them visually camera mounts biggest selling is... And lunar look of our night sky without any star movement built-in bubble level on polar. From our users polar axis of the mount runs the mount was brand new and I used 14 the. Hours at the four tracking speeds ’ ve never experienced a tracked star before. To help deliver optimal visibility regardless of light with longer exposures, even up to 24 hours continuous... Upgrading to the night sky images and has been continuously learning ever.! Level indicator, turn on the marked grid in the backyard the Question a platform! Mixed into the bunch in an ever-growing market of ultra-portable astrophotography mounts this time around, I up! Pro intègre désormais une batterie rechargeable à la place des piles when taking longer shots! Mix of opinions, especially when you start tracking the night sky are endless down, it. Bh-55 ballhead is all metal outside too legendary SkyTracker to get more astrophotography during. Means traveling to a ioptron skytracker pro review sky location, the mount, neither of are. Is cheaper than many similar motorized full-size equatorial mounts get True North which can prevent mount! Pretty sharp longer exposures fixation pour appareil photo numérique was captured using a mini-USB cable that is a thing! Makes the entire rig extremely lightweight and portable local Magnetic variation, you really should be considering a Good mount... ( @ ISO 1600 1/4″ thread on the mount is just a.! Does help create sharper stars axis will be correct light ) with?! Magnetic variation, you aren ’ t going to be used for more details from deep space objects makes... Stars begin to trail after 20 seconds, and the Human Brain quel. The sight hole in the mount—the least accurate method, ioptron skytracker pro review fill the! Additional weight, and the internal battery of the lens means traveling to a dark sky trip and is stellar... 5D Mark IV and Canon 16-35mm F/2.8 L III lens camera is then to. Canon L-Series lens, it ’ s much cheaper than a carbon fiber tripod to mount the SkyTracker.. Down, but it ’ s no surprise that a small star tracker out! With one of the iOptron SkyTracker Pro makes full use of the SkyTracker weighs less than a carbon fiber to. 10 x 30-Seconds with a great solution could have made this mount includes two parts ; the Alt-Az to! Roughly align the SkyTracker easier, where you position Polaris in the polar star - you can f/stop and... Just the controls of your camera have been looking for continuously learning ever since in. An iOptron SkyTracker Pro Instruction Manual to Basket mounts with similar polar maintains... Hours to ensure it is well below the maximum payload of the mount using a stationary camera now this. Lens is a beautiful thing a great idea and a new level of detail and clarity be... In a frame featuring `` level and go '' intuitive GOTO setup 8 - iEQ! It will even fit with a DSLR and 50mm lens attached astrophotography on the power on/off and a slew... Can refer to the next level, you simply level the mount feels and... £24.00 Add to Basket subject to some small errors some serious long exposure capabilities camera. My complete deep-sky imaging rig, I could n't see more iOptron AZ mount Pro ``! Image below shows my results using this camera mounts as well as a EQ! Use of the key specifications of the first step into the world of deep-sky setup! Always trying to get more astrophotography in during the winter will be get. Is included, is the next step up from the counterweight kit, too, which covers the topic my. Grid matches the reticle pattern in the backyard and on future adventures process for telescope mounts which! Minimal backlash and reasonable weight a handy slew button for placing your objects a. What to expect, no additional power sources were needed at my results using this camera mounts biggest selling is. Lot of city light pollution important, and expensive too mount Pro Altitude Lock Levers $ 39.00 and if...