22 replies to this topic

[stars-Dust]

I will place the order for used moded Z6 in few days, and for the Benro in a week

For the Z6 I asked for full spectrum and astronomik 2

Any advice before my wallet get lighter

[SpaceMax]

Have fun with the toys, mate! Can’t go wrong with any of it. Happy falling in love days 😉

[scanner97]

Be sure to check out Nico at Nebula Photos.  He has some vids that are useful for getting started with a modded cam, including processing.  Plenty of other folks with vids on using the Polaris or other trackers. 

 

What lens are you starting with?

 

Welcome to CN and have fun!

[stars-Dust]

Have fun with the toys, mate! Can’t go wrong with any of it. Happy falling in love days

Many thanks

 

Philip

[stars-Dust]

Be sure to check out Nico at Nebula Photos.  He has some vids that are useful for getting started with a modded cam, including processing.  Plenty of other folks with vids on using the Polaris or other trackers. 

 

What lens are you starting with?

 

Welcome to CN and have fun!

 

I will use the viltrox 16 mm Z mount for landscape/milky way

 

I have the pf-500-f/5.6 (F-mount) for deep space. Not sure if that is good lens for the task but I will visit Niko and educate my self. I also have the Nikon f/1.2s 50mm Z mount 

 

Thanks 

 

 

Philip 

Edited by stars-Dust, 29 May 2025 - 09:49 AM.

[xonefs]

The Benro Polaris?

 

Thing is trash and not ready for prime time. I've been struggling getting it to work lately and it's a new issue every time. First there is a bug with one of my cams that is unsuable where iso jumps around (a7cr), then it doesn't know where it is pointing or what time it is and cant calibrate, and finally two nights ago just would not send wifi signal and could not connect to it at all no matter what I did. 

 

Also very odd design choices like not including physical bubble levels on the unit itself when it is required to be perfectly level. Relying on the tripod one doesn't help if you use a bowl head to make leveling easier. Guess I can get a different bowl head that has one but the thing just doesn't work so I'll probably throw it off a cliff first. 

Edited by xonefs, 29 May 2025 - 11:37 AM.

[stars-Dust]

The Benro Polaris?

 

Thing is trash and not ready for prime time. I've been struggling getting it to work lately and it's a new issue every time. First there is a bug with one of my cams that is unsuable where iso jumps around (a7cr), then it doesn't know where it is pointing or what time it is and cant calibrate, and finally two nights ago just would not send wifi signal and could not connect to it at all no matter what I did. 

 

Also very odd design choices like not including physical bubble levels on the unit itself when it is required to be perfectly level. Relying on the tripod one doesn't help if you use a bowl head to make leveling easier. Guess I can get a different bowl head that has one but the thing just doesn't work so I'll probably throw it off a cliff first. 

Sorry to hear about that

 

The other choice will be something like the Skywatcher Star Adventurer GTi. Some people complaining about the back lash which is a lesser issue than the problems you described with the Benro. 

[scanner97]

I don't know anything about the Polaris beyond the fact that there don't seem to be many users here - perhaps due to some of the issues raised.  The SA GTi seems to be much more commonly used as an entry level mount.  Either of them would be quite limited in how much they can carry, which I'm sure you've already figured out.

 

Backlash is something that any worm-driven mount has to deal with, but more of an issue if you want to guide. 

[xonefs]

Sorry to hear about that

The other choice will be something like the Skywatcher Star Adventurer GTi. Some people complaining about the back lash which is a lesser issue than the problems you described with the Benro.

That’s a much better option and equatorial is better if you plan to do deep sky. I would only consider the polaris for very wide landscape panos, that’s if I could get it to work.

[stars-Dust]

That’s a much better option and equatorial is better if you plan to do deep sky. I would only consider the polaris for very wide landscape panos, that’s if I could get it to work.

I am familiar with the equatorial mount. I still have very old 8" Schmidt cassegrain with bad mirror.

 

As a matter of fact the Z6 will arrive in few days I will mount the camera as piggyback on the SCT or remove the tube and use the fork while waiting for the tracker . 

 

Where I lack is the post processing and I am educating my self in this area.

 

Appreciate your valuable input

 

Philip

[stars-Dust]

I don't know anything about the Polaris beyond the fact that there don't seem to be many users here - perhaps due to some of the issues raised.  The SA GTi seems to be much more commonly used as an entry level mount.  Either of them would be quite limited in how much they can carry, which I'm sure you've already figured out.

 

Backlash is something that any worm-driven mount has to deal with, but more of an issue if you want to guide. 

 

Very helpful

 

Thanks

[stars-Dust]

I have been reading since my last post.

 

It looks like I will settle with Skywatcher 150i tracker

[scanner97]

It looks like I will settle with Skywatcher 150i tracker

The Wave 150i is an excellent mount and a big stup up that will give you a lot of room to grow.  

 

On processing, I'm sure you've seen the variety of excellent freeware options out there.  You can't go wrong with somthing like Siril or Seti Astro Suite, and there are plenty of videos to get you going.  A lot of folks also use PixInsight, and the cost is not much compared to your investment in hardware.

[UKnewbie1729]

If I'd have spotted this thread sooner I'd have agreed with the others advising you against the Benro, and added that Benro aren't an astro-gear company, they're a general photography accessory company, my guess is the Polaris happened because their analysts noticed how popular astrophotography has become in the past years and they wanted to cash in.

 

SkyWatcher is a much better choice.

Edited by UKnewbie1729, 30 May 2025 - 08:24 AM.

[stars-Dust]

If I'd have spotted this thread sooner I'd have agreed with the others advising you against the Benro, and added that Benro aren't an astro-gear company, they're a general photography accessory company, my guess is the Polaris happened because their analysts noticed how popular astrophotography has become in the past years and they wanted to cash in.

 

SkyWatcher is a much better choice.

Thanks

 

I am very glad that I started this thread, otherwise I would have proceeded with the Benro being convinced from few youtubers.

 

Really appreciate all posts in this thread

 

Philip

[erictheastrojunkie]

Absolutely do NOT buy the Polaris, they have a facebook group that I've been apart of since the very beginning since they launched the kickstarter, the thing is a disaster and basically not supported anymore by Benro. A basic tracking mount like the iOptron Skyguider Pro or Sky Watcher Star Adventurer is a MUCH MUCH better choice, and if you catch the bug and want to pursue the hobby more you'll at least have gained some experience with equatorial based tracking mounts for imaging. 

 

The 150i is a great mount, but you're jumping into the deep end with it and will have to worry about several things, including power and controlling it with something like an ASIAir. I would start with something simpler depending on your imaging goals, are you trying to do more Milky Way wide angle stuff up to ~135mm focal lengths? Get a good tracker. If you are trying to do imaging with things like a 200mm lens or longer focal lengths then get a decent mount to start like a AM3 or 100i, those are lighter and easier to travel and setup with than their bigger brothers. 

[BlueMoon]

 

Absolutely do NOT buy the Polaris, they have a facebook group that I've been apart of since the very beginning since they launched the kickstarter, the thing is a disaster and basically not supported anymore by Benro.

This. I've been following the Benro for some time and I agree with this sentiment 100%. 

 

If you want a simple tracker, no goto but very solid and precise, you might take a look at the MSM Nomad: https://www.moveshoo...M8MuzBhWysA6MFT

 

I've been using one with a modified Canon SL3 and various lenses. Other than no having goto, (I use a laser pointer mounted on the camera) it's been trouble-free and tracks very well.

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Edited by BlueMoon, 31 May 2025 - 11:18 AM.

[stars-Dust]

This. I've been following the Benro for some time and I agree with this sentiment 100%. 

 

If you want a simple tracker, no goto but very solid and precise, you might take a look at the MSM Nomad: https://www.moveshoo...M8MuzBhWysA6MFT

 

I've been using one with a modified Canon SL3 and various lenses. Other than no having goto, (I use a laser pointer mounted on the camera) it's been trouble-free and tracks very well.

very interesting

 

So I need equatorial wedge and ball head with it.

 

the "go to" function is beautiful but for me at this time I can do without. What I am looking for is the accuracy.

 

 

Many thanks , I will look into that.

Edited by stars-Dust, 01 June 2025 - 10:16 AM.

[BlueMoon]

 

So I need equatorial wedge and ball head with it.

In the photo, the mount is a Skywatcher AZ PRONTO which I had purchased for another project but works beautifully with the Nomad. The alt/az controls make it child's play to do a simple polar alignment with the Nomad. A good quality photographic tripod would suffice as well. The camera mount between the Canon and the Nomad is a VERTECFOTO GV-5 3-axis mount which I prefer over using a standard ball-head. The GV-5 allows me to point the camera at my target area via the laser easily.

 

I use this combination a lot as my portable wide-field rig. Cheers. 

[stars-Dust]

In the photo, the mount is a Skywatcher AZ PRONTO which I had purchased for another project but works beautifully with the Nomad. The alt/az controls make it child's play to do a simple polar alignment with the Nomad. A good quality photographic tripod would suffice as well. The camera mount between the Canon and the Nomad is a VERTECFOTO GV-5 3-axis mount which I prefer over using a standard ball-head. The GV-5 allows me to point the camera at my target area via the laser easily.

 

I use this combination a lot as my portable wide-field rig. Cheers. 

 

 

So Skywatcher AZ system tracks using 2 motors compared with one motor for the equatorial type of tracking. In this case you have to stay updated because the coordinates changing all the time. While in the equatorial tracking coordinates are fixed.

Edited by stars-Dust, 01 June 2025 - 02:26 PM.

[BlueMoon]

 

So Skywatcher AZ system tracks using 2 motors compared with one motor for the equatorial type of tracking

Don't mistake the Skywatcher AZ GTI which is a tracking alt/az mount, for my AZ PRONTO which is just a simple manual alt/az mount suitable for small telescopes and without any tracking/goto capability. In my case, I mount the MSM Nomad which has a polar alignment laser attached (the black tube with the silver stripe on the left side of the Nomad) onto the PRONTO and use the alt/az slo-mo controls to do a manual polar alignment. After doing a polar alignment of the Nomad, I use the laser on the camera to point at my intended target by adjusting the 3-axis GV-5 mount, switch on the Nomad and let it do the tracking.    

Edited by BlueMoon, 01 June 2025 - 02:35 PM.

[stars-Dust]

OK

 

now it is very clear

[stars-Dust]

In the photo, the mount is a Skywatcher AZ PRONTO which I had purchased for another project but works beautifully with the Nomad. The alt/az controls make it child's play to do a simple polar alignment with the Nomad. A good quality photographic tripod would suffice as well. The camera mount between the Canon and the Nomad is a VERTECFOTO GV-5 3-axis mount which I prefer over using a standard ball-head. The GV-5 allows me to point the camera at my target area via the laser easily.

 

I use this combination a lot as my portable wide-field rig. Cheers. 

One more question if I may

 

Can I use my guide zwo asi camera and guide scope to guide at least the ra coordinate?