Sky-Watcher Star Adventurer 2i Pro Pack – Motorized DSLRNight Sky Tracker Equatorial Mount for Portable Nightscapes, Time-Lapse andPanoramas – Wi-Fi App Camera Control – Long Exposure
· Portable nightscape tracking platform: Motorizedportable tracking platform perfect for capturing incredible detail of the MilkyWay, eclipses and other astronomical objects.
· Wide-field astrophotography: The unique, modulardesign allows for integration with existing photographic tripods. Wide-fieldastrophotography as well as time-lapse video and telescopic use are allpossible with the Star Adventurer 2i.
· New features: The new, upgraded Star Adventurer2i includes Wi-Fi, allowing for smartphone control using Sky-Watcher’s free SAMConsole app.
· Equarorial base: Deluxe Equatorial base helpsposition the Star Adventurer 2i at the perfect angle for polar alignment.
Some wear on DEC bracket due to normal use - but fully functional.
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From the manufacturer
Star Adventurer 2i Pro Pack. Nightscapes Made Easy.
Highlights and Features of the Star Adventurer TrackingMount
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| Durable All-Metal Gears Durable, accurate and reliable brass and aluminum gearing allows for greater accuracy and longer exposures. Boasting a 144-tooth wheel gear and a 13mm diameter worm gear, the Star Adventurer has a payload capacity of 11 pounds, strong enough for a full-size DSLR or a small telescope. | Built-In Polar Alignment Scope with Illuminator Even for users with no polar alignment experience, the Star Adventurer is easy to setup using the included illuminated polar finderscope. Once aligned, users can attach their camera and activate sidereal tracking to start photographing the Milky Way and other deep sky objects. | Mulitple Pre-Programmed Speeds for Tracking and Time-Lapse Photography Multiple preprogramed speeds, including sidereal, solar, lunar, as well as four additional speeds for time-lapse photography and nightscapes, including 0.5x, 2x, 4x and 12x. | Time-Lapse, Snap Port, Auto Guider Port, DC Power Input With several exposure presets, the Star Adventurer triggers the DSLR using the auxiliary shutter release cable. For photographers seeking perfectly round stars, the mount also comes equipped with a standard ST-4 port, allowing users to connect an autoguider for additional tracking accuracy. |
The Importance of Polar Alignment in Nightscape Photography
Forthe best results, the Star Adventurer 2i must be polar aligned before you startshooting. To do so, set your corresponding latitude on the base, identifyPolaris and align it in the included polar scope. Once aligned, the StarAdventurer's tracking will counter the Earth's rotation accurately.
Why Use a Star Tracker?
Star trackers correctfor the Earth's rotation, allowing you to shoot longer exposures and capturegreater detail without star trails.
Withouta tracker, DSLRs can only capture 15 second exposures before the Earth'srotation make stars appear blurry. But by integrating the Star Adventurer intoany standard photo tripod, you can increase exposure times from 15 seconds toseveral minutes, allowing users to capture greater detail in the Milky Way withless grain or noise in their images, due to a lower ISO.
· Shoot longer exposures, from 15 seconds to several minutes!
· Capture greater detail in the Milky Way, as well as othercelestial objects
· Lower ISO = Less Grain!
Reviews:
The sky watcher star adventurer pro is a good mid level startracker. The device is well built and tracks well when properly aligned. Thealignment, particularly for deep sky objects, can be a bit tedious but whendone properly I have not had any noticeable movement using a 300 mm focallength and three minute exposures. It also performs well for general night skyphotography and the alignment is much more forgiving. The battery life is good,I have shot about 40 hours on one set of AA batteries and have not had toreplace them yet. I have not used the usb power source. The device has built inwi-fi (if it is the 2i) and an autoguider port. I have not used either to takephotos though. The app that works with the device is somewhat lacking andbasic. Hopefully it is updated soon. The kit is rather light, so it is easy totravel with. One of the drawbacks of this setup is the lighting of the polarscope. There is an external light and battery that must be connected into thefront of the scope and turned on. The pieces are small and if you want to checkthe alignment after putting on the mount for the camera it won't quite fit. Iusually just rig a red light from my head light instead of using the providedlight. Overall it is a good mid-level mount. It is not for large telescopes orextreme focal lengths though.
Customers say
Customers like the portability of the mount, mentioning it'san ideal mount for small scopes or cameras. They are also satisfied with theperformance, saying it works amazing and allows them to see what wouldpreviously be invisible. Customers also like the alignment, saying the trackingaccuracy is phenomenal. However, some customers have reported issues with thepolar alignment, stating it can be a challenge for the first few times.Opinions are mixed on the color scheme, quality, and ease of use.