Star tracker you use and/or recommend

blackstar

Senior Member
Hi, I am looking into acquiring a good star tracker for astrophotography. I have Benro Polaris in mind now (it attracts me because of its many uses and automation besides deep space features, but must work with a phone is a killer to me). Still need others' experience using their star trackers and recommendations. Appreciate and thanks in advance.
 

BF Hammer

Senior Member
I use a Sky-Watcher AZ-GTi. There has been a newer generation available for the past couple of years now. I bought mine nearly 5 years ago.

The AZ-GTi specifically is the wrong kind of telescope mount to use for astrophotography. As designed, it works as an Alt-Az mount for a telescope and does not track equitorially. But Sky-Watcher provides an alternate firmware that allows you to modify the mount with a stock EQ wedge and turn it into an equitorial mount. There is even a way to add a counter-weight to help balance better. It depends on a phone app to point to a sky object (it is a go-to mount) and begin tracking. I have found that in Alt-Az mode it is convenient for tracking the sun for solar photography (and this works without having to polar align at all).

So I know this option won't be in your wheelhouse, but I throw it out there for future research. Actually the newer generation of EQ star-trackers by Sky-Watcher have the smartphone connection and smart go-to ability. I find the go-to feature to be mandatory. I am often taking photos of things I cannot see at all in the sky unless I crank the ISO on the camera. But the AZ-GTi has a larger payload factor and easily handles a DSLR and Sigma 150-600mm lens.
 

BF Hammer

Senior Member
If my current telescope mount were to take a bullet to save my life, I think I would look to the Star Adventurer GTi now. This version was introduced after I bought the AZ-GTi. The payload was bumped up by 1KG and they added the WiFi feature to make it a go-to mount now.
 

blackstar

Senior Member
If my current telescope mount were to take a bullet to save my life, I think I would look to the Star Adventurer GTi now. This version was introduced after I bought the AZ-GTi. The payload was bumped up by 1KG and they added the WiFi feature to make it a go-to mount now.
First, this SA GTi requires the same manual alignment as all other star trackers except BP. Second, it requires x8 AA batteries. Then I wonder how well/extensively it performs automation like BP. Just my 2c.
 
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