Revised Star Tracker Review: Recommended Sky-Watcher Star Adventurer 2i
The Star Adventurer 2i, a popular DSLR tracker, is a go-to choice for astrophotographers seeking an ultra-portable and lightweight solution for capturing stunning widefield images of the night sky.
Unlike its counterparts designed to handle telescopes, the Star Adventurer 2i and its predecessors are not equipped with multiple motorized axes. Instead, they are manual mounts, offering a single axis of control, inspired by the Right Ascension axis.
One of the standout features of the Star Adventurer 2i is its illuminated polar scope, which works in both hemispheres, making polar alignment a breeze. The mount also includes a camera intervalometer port for triggering photos at specific intervals, allowing for time-lapse photography.
The Star Adventurer 2i can track faster or slower than the stars, providing flexibility for various astrophotography needs. However, it's important to note that while the mount can be autoguided, this feature is somewhat limited due to its guiding capabilities.
The Star Adventurer 2i has a stated weight capacity of 5 kilograms (11 lbs), but in practice, it can comfortably carry a decent DSLR and lens combo, which typically weigh around 3 kg or 7 lbs. This makes it an ideal choice for those who prefer a lightweight and compact setup.
For those seeking a used option, a pre-owned Star Adventurer 2i is a good choice, as its few moving parts make it easy to test for functionality.
If the need arises to hold a telescope, a larger true equatorial mount would be a better option.
For those looking for alternatives to the Star Adventurer 2i, there are several lightweight, portable DSLR star trackers comparable in performance and portability. These include the Sky-Watcher Star Adventurer Mini, iOptron SkyTracker Pro, iOptron SkyGuider Pro and SkyHunter, and Sky-Watcher Star Adventurer GTi.
The Sky-Watcher Star Adventurer Mini is a highly portable and smartphone-optimized mount, suitable for DSLR lenses up to around 100mm, with a 3kg payload option using a counterweight. It offers built-in intervalometer functionality and easy polar alignment via an app.
The iOptron SkyTracker Pro is a lightweight and compact mount, popular for long-exposure astrophotography with DSLR cameras. It can carry lenses or small scopes effectively.
The iOptron SkyGuider Pro and SkyHunter are back-friendly portable kits, supporting DSLR cameras with lenses or small telescopes up to about 5 kg. These mounts are designed to be compact yet capable of handling more substantial payloads than typical star trackers.
The Sky-Watcher Star Adventurer GTi is a more advanced equatorial star tracker mount with WiFi and GoTo functionality, capable of handling payloads up to 11 pounds (~5 kg), making it suitable for DSLR cameras with heavier lenses or small telescopes.
In conclusion, the Star Adventurer 2i is an excellent choice for widefield astrophotography, offering a compact, lightweight, and versatile solution for capturing stunning images of the night sky. Alternatives such as the Sky-Watcher Star Adventurer Mini, iOptron SkyTracker Pro, iOptron SkyGuider Pro and SkyHunter, and Sky-Watcher Star Adventurer GTi provide options for those seeking more features, higher weight capacities, or smart functionality. Your choice depends on your specific weight and feature needs, but these models represent the current leading options in the market.
*Note: References available upon request.
[1] [Reference 1] [2] [Reference 2] [3] [Reference 3] [4] [Reference 4]
- The Star Adventurer 2i, popular among beginner and experienced astrophotographers alike, is a manual mount designed for DSLR astrophotography without being equipped to handle telescopes like its counterparts.
- The Star Adventurer 2i offers a single axis of control, inspired by the Right Ascension axis, and features an illuminated polar scope for easy polar alignment in both hemispheres.
- The mount includes a camera intervalometer port for time-lapse photography and can track faster or slower than the stars, offering flexibility for various astrophotography needs.
- While the Star Adventurer 2i features autoguiding capabilities, they are somewhat limited compared to mounts designed for telescopes.
- With a weight capacity of 5 kilograms (11 lbs), the Star Adventurer 2i can comfortably carry a decent DSLR and lens combo, making it an ideal choice for those seeking a lightweight and compact setup.
- For those considering a used option, the Star Adventurer 2i's few moving parts make it easy to test for functionality, and alternatives such as the Sky-Watcher Star Adventurer Mini, iOptron SkyTracker Pro, iOptron SkyGuider Pro and SkyHunter, and Sky-Watcher Star Adventurer GTi offer additional performance and portability.
