Great video. I love that you don't skip steps assuming people will know things that they don't. Keep up the great work.

Thank you! Amazing details! I would love to see examples of different time-lapse

Your videos are amongst the most useful and engaging ones on YT. Many thanks, Des

Thanks for the video. I recently got the Star Adventurer and this and your other videos have been very helpful.

@TheLightExplorer

3 жыл бұрын

Thanks Eric. This app and mount are a little quirky, but once you understand the limitations, at least you can work around them. For instance, I just keep my Photos option turned off - and any time I have issues, I just do a quick reset of the mount. 😀

EXCELLENT video and your quirks section explained my issues last night!!! Simply can not thank you enough!!! I have watched your other videos and loved them!!! THANK YOU!!!!!!

@TheLightExplorer

2 жыл бұрын

Thanks much Cathy - glad the video was helpful.

Very good, I just obtained a new Star Adventurer 2i and your videos have been a great help. Thanks for taking the time to make these videos!!😃

@TheLightExplorer

2 жыл бұрын

You re very welcome.

Your video is wonderful! I’m just starting out in astrophotography and was struggling trying to learn how to use my SA and the app before I head out in the dark with it. Thank you so much!

@TheLightExplorer

2 жыл бұрын

You are so welcome! Glad it was helpful.

Nikhil, The Light Explorer is awesome, his teachings are excellent. We are just beginning Astrophotography, buying the best gear we can. Nikhil is an excellent instructor. George C.

This video you did fixed the issues with my star tracker pro 2i -I fought with it every time I went out . Thank you so much for your videos. I was about to throw in the tracker towel. I was able to go out last weekend and take tracked shots after over a year of having it. Again Thank you ! Thank you! Thank you!

@TheLightExplorer

2 жыл бұрын

Thank you Michael. Great to hear that it worked out for you.

Just starting out using a star adventurer 2i. You have made it easy to understand. And easy to follow your videos to refer back to if needed.

@TheLightExplorer

5 ай бұрын

Thank you for your feedback. Glad you found the video helpful.

Thank you for these videos! I'll be setting up for the annular eclipse this weekend and this info has been a great help. Of course I'll be doing some test runs beforehand :) I'm super lucky that I have relatives that live right in the middle of the 'maximum'/'totality' shadow. Hoping for clear skies!

@TheLightExplorer

7 ай бұрын

Thank you for your feedback. Hope you got some great photos.

Another outstanding presentation on the use and application of the Star Adventurer. I was under the assumption that dithering was only available with the Star Adventurer when using it with a guide scope with camera. Thanks for your outstanding videos.

@TheLightExplorer

Жыл бұрын

Thank you for your feedback. Glad you found the video useful.

Once again another great presentaion. Very helpful for the novice. Thanks for the information RATING ******* . Beautiful background !

@TheLightExplorer

2 жыл бұрын

Thanks again Gopinath. Appreciate that you enjoyed the video.

Excellent video Jeroen 👏👏

Excellent presentation! To the point and very informative. Good to find someone that has already encountered the glitches and shortcomings of the software. Still not sure why Sky Watcher does not improve the app/tracker interface. I just use the tracker and an intervalometer for nightscapes/MW photography. Just got a Sigma 150-600 mm so I'll be trying out some Moon/Solar/DSO captures. Thanks for your time/work on this, it has saved me hours of head scratching!

@TheLightExplorer

Жыл бұрын

Thanks much for your feedback. So glad you liked it and found it useful.

Superb!!! Helped me out of my trouble I had using with the dial my tracker I bought used! It tracked only 1h, and the I got trails. I had no idea why, and thought the unit was faulty!!! But the original owner just used the app before!!!

@TheLightExplorer

11 ай бұрын

Awesome to know that you're able to get it working now. Hope you get some great shots with it.

Excellent information!!!

@TheLightExplorer

9 ай бұрын

Thanks for watching!

Thanks for the videos, you explain very well and now I have a better idea to use my new star adventurer 2i Greetings from Peru 👍🏽

@TheLightExplorer

3 жыл бұрын

Thanks much for your feedback. Have a great weekend (I always wanted to visit Machu Picchu).

@jlchacon73

3 жыл бұрын

@@TheLightExplorer hi Nikhil, will be a pleasure to have you here, by the way, there’s a lot of offers in plane tickets and hotels and also, clear skies for Astro photography 👍🏽

Great tutorials !

@TheLightExplorer

Жыл бұрын

Thanks Frank. Glad you found them useful.

Thank you for the video. It is really useful to me. I noticed that the green bracket of your mount has massive indentations 5:20 . The mechanical engineer inside of me just cringes when I see the stainless steel bolt biting into the soft aluminium.... I resolved that problem with gluing a sacrificial strip of 1mm thick aluminium sheet to the damaged contact surface (ideally one should do that when the mount is brand new). Now the bolt wrecks the sheet metal strip but this costs 1 euro and it lasts many many months. Clear skies my friend!

@TheLightExplorer

2 жыл бұрын

That's a great idea - thank you for the information. Like you said, best to do it when it is new.

Me: "I wonder what this dithering thing is." Nikhil: "So, what exactly is dithering?" Stellar (no pun intended) stuff. Keep it up! I have a Star Adventurer 2i on its way thanks to you.

@TheLightExplorer

2 жыл бұрын

Thanks much for your kind words. Glad you enjoyed it.

I was struggling with connecting. The tip of putting into airplane mode then enabling the wifi worked! Thanks.

@TheLightExplorer

5 ай бұрын

Glad you found the video useful.

Excellent once again. It seems that using the APP mode causes to many "preset" problems. Using a quality external intervalometer would seem to be preferable. I previously mentioned that my cable did not cause the app mode to trip my camera. Nothing happened. In shooting Milky Way time lapses, is sidereal mode, the preferable mode or the specific astrophotography time lapse? Sidereal mode causes an arc, not a longitudinal pan.

Hi again, light explorer. A couple of years ago you solved me a doubt about polar alignment with my SA. Now I've seen your videos again and I miss something that is being a headache. I'm talking about autoguiding. It would be really appreciated if you could make a video about this topic and different troubles we could find and how to solve them. I know I'm asking a lot, but it's no easy to find this information in the Internet (I couldn't) and you explain so clear and easy (and also your diction and speech is easy to understand to me). Thank you so much and best regards from Spain. Clear skies.

@TheLightExplorer

3 ай бұрын

Thanks so much for your feedback and so sorry for the delayed response. I used to get notifications when someone left a comment, but for the last few months I have not been getting any. I do have the auto guiding tutorial on my to do list, but need a chunk of time off from work (and to be in a dark location) to make it. Hopefully I will get to it soon. In the interim, have you looked at Peter Zelinka's channel? I believe he has one there.

@newton6664272

3 ай бұрын

@@TheLightExplorer Thanks for taking the time to answer, and don't worry about delay, I understand you are a busy person, aren't we all? He, he, he... I will check Peter's channel until you bring your own video. Thanks again.

Thanks for your detailled informations in Front of this wonderful nature. Can you sometimes Comment on how to use autoguiding with the staradventurer Mini? Thanks

@TheLightExplorer

3 жыл бұрын

Thanks for your feedback. Yeah, that definitely is on my list of videos to make in the future.

Thanks a lot! I had problems with the mount, I was using the app and then returned to normal sideral mode, and the mount stopped! I was confused, but now I understood the problem! I will write an email to skywatcher as you adviced! :-)

@TheLightExplorer

Жыл бұрын

Thanks much for reaching out to Skywatcher too. The more of us that reach out, the sooner they will update the software.

Great videos on the star adventurer 2i. I've seen 3 of them and always learn a lot. Got mine a few weeks ago and it looks like I'll be able to take some fantastic photos compared to my already pretty darn good untracked night landscape photos. Just arrived at a bad time in the moon cycle. But, good time to learn how to use it. Have you heard or experienced any issues with the latest app version? The only program that will run from the app is astrophotography, and only with infinity photos. If you check photos box or in any other mode, you just keep getting the dialogue about it overriding the dial functions. If you, however, turn the dial from app to the desired mode, it will then start the run and fire your camera. Also, location just says "North" without a latitude value. I have noted several other reviews on the app with same issues.

@TheLightExplorer

2 жыл бұрын

Hi Matthew - it must be a glitch in the software update. Hopefully, they will update it soon.

Thanks for the excellent video explanation, and all the useful tips and warnings! Based on the example you showed @33:22, am I correct in thinking the actual time is 15.63 hours? Won't the sun rise before you're done taking the 300 photos?

@TheLightExplorer

3 жыл бұрын

Yes, that is correct. I showed an extreme example as I used 180 seconds as the exposure time. Normally, you would be using much lower exposure times. So if we used around 45 seconds for instance, then it would lower the Time Span to around 4.16 hours.

thank you for making such a detailed video: in case this helps anyone - I found it won't connect using iOS 15.2.1 but will connect on iOS 15.1

@TheLightExplorer

2 жыл бұрын

Thanks much for that information. I have also pinged Skywatcher - hopefully they address this in their next update.

Thanks!

Very helpful video! One question; I see a lot of panning long exposure astrophotography videos, but don't see how you can accomplish this with the SA app, as sidereal tracking is only an option in modes without panning. Any ideas?

@TheLightExplorer

2 жыл бұрын

Hi Scott. The 'Astro Time Lapse' mode in the app has Sidereal tracking. But you are right that it doesn't have panning.

Great information. I just ordered the Pro 2i and was wanting to use it for the eclipse on the 8th. In the color setting using the app can you set the exposure speed for less than a minute. When I tried I can only get 5 sec as a min. Thank you so much for sharing your knowledge.

@TheLightExplorer

3 ай бұрын

Glad it was helpful! Could you just rephrase your question? I think auto correct may have changed some words.

@shakeandbake9562

3 ай бұрын

@@TheLightExplorer thank you for replying. Oh yes love auto correct. While using the app in the solar setting can you use a decimal point in for the exposure. I would like to capture some fast exposures during the eclipse next week.

@TheLightExplorer

3 ай бұрын

Makes sense now. I don't believe you can use shutter speeds less than whole seconds in the app. I would just get a cheap intervalometer like Phottix from Amazon.

@shakeandbake9562

3 ай бұрын

@@TheLightExplorer Ok, I’ll go that route. learning astrophotography is a lot of fun. 🤩

@TheLightExplorer

3 ай бұрын

@shakeandbake9562 have lots of fun. It's such a fun hobby.

hi thank you for this useful video! I have one question regarding the formula for calculating dithering. For the focal range, do we calculate having in mind the crop factor? I have a Canon 1300d, so if i shoot in 200mm, should i put 200mm in the formula or 320mm in order to compensate for the 1.6 crop of ny sensor? Thank you in advance!!

@TheLightExplorer

10 ай бұрын

Glad you liked the video. Yes, you must take the crop factor into account.

You said ask questions. I have the Canon R5. The first and only time I went out, I did not have a Star Adventurer 2i. Nor did I have my camera settings correct @ 100 ISO. With a 14mm f/1.8 Signa Art lens, if I wanted to track the Heart of the Milky Way at the end of the month (far from home), what are ball park time lengths to start with? Sure appreciate any suggestions to help preserve the precious time I have at Truman Lake in Missouri May 28th. Much darker than the last (only) place I visited. Thanks! Again, great video and right on time.

@TheLightExplorer

2 жыл бұрын

Hi Aaron, For tracking the Milky Way, first start with ISO 400 and put in around 1 minute at f/1.8 or the next f stop up. The exposure length will vary based on how dark the skies (i.e. what Bortle skies) you are in. Then play with the speed and ISO to fine tune.

@BlackOps-Ent

2 жыл бұрын

@@TheLightExplorer Thank you so much!

Hi, can you please tell me, I have the D7500 with a 4.22 pixel size, according to your calculations I come up with 0.49 this seems incorrect? Am I doing something wrong? By the way, great video, thanks for sharing!

Thank you! Great video, loads of info; I'm taking my SA2 out tonight for the first time. Can I just ask...the formular for the dithering d = 35 * p/F, is that d = 35 * (p/f)... or d = (35 * p)/f ?

@tomservo3728

2 жыл бұрын

Ok don't worry!! It doesn't matter which (Doh!)

@TheLightExplorer

2 жыл бұрын

Correct. It should be the same. :-)

Updates & Notes --------------------------- I will post any corrections to this video, along with any future updates, in this comment box. 1. Android users: I have received feedback that the version in the Android App Store is not stable and crashes. You can try to download the "stable" version from Sky-watcher's website. The link is: skywatcher.com/download/software/star-adventurer/ If that link does not work, then there seems to be a new app in the Android store called Polar Clock that addresses a rotated reticle. Check it out and see if it works for you: play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.astrotools.polarclock&hl=en_US&gl=US 2. If some of you are experiencing an issue, whereby the SA stops tracking after a while, when using an external USB power bank (instead of the batteries), it is most likely because the SA is not drawing enough current. The power bank thus thinks it is not connected to anything and shuts down. In such a case, you can attach another device to the power bank to keep it going or get another power bank that does not auto-shutdown at all. I still prefer to use the AA batteries instead of a power bank - those last for multiple nights and you will not face this shutdown problem. 3. Jan 2022 - Skywatcher has updated the SA Console app and so the layout might look a little different. However, the basic principles still stand. There do seem to be some software issues with the update: a) Cannot see the latitude when you tap ‘Polar Clock’ - it is just blank b) Can connect to the SA in settings, but when you open the SA Console app, the app cannot find the mount - the SSID is not visible c) Cannot trigger the camera using a SNAP cable in any mode in the app (except for Astro) d) Even in the Astro mode, can only run from the app when the number of photos box is unchecked - if you choose any number of photos, then the warning does not disappear and the app does not run the mount I understand this is very frustrating and I advise you all to email Skywatcher to fix this in a software update.

Fantastic and very detailed guide...maybe I missed something but I have huge problems with a Fuji XE3 and a Samyang 135mm f/2. When I try (through the snap cable) to run e sequence of let's say 120 exp of 40 sec each, on Bulb mode it won't start, when I try with shorter focal lengths ( fuji lenses) it works perfectly..could it be that it doesn't work because there is no electronical connection between the body and the Samyang lens that lacks of electronical connection and is completely manual. Is there any way to work around that problem. Thanks in advance.

@TheLightExplorer

3 ай бұрын

Thanks much for your feedback. I believe the Samyang has no electronic wiring? Is that correct? Having said that, I don't understand why the camera is not getting triggered as the SNAP cable is supposed to trigger the camera shutter. Did you try to reset the mount?

I do enjoyed watching your videos. FYI, my SA reset will only work if powered with USB, does nothing on batteries. I thought maybe needed fresh batteries, nope. Also, the reset only changes network settings, doesn’t put all other settings back to factory. Doesn’t appear that I need to hit run for the changes to be locked in either. These changes made in the app did drive me nuts one night when I couldn’t figure out why when I was using the dial instead. Your video would have definitely helped me that night. Firmware is 3.11.

@TheLightExplorer

2 жыл бұрын

That is very strange. It should be able to reset everything (not just network settings) and it should also be able to reset when using batteries. How are you resetting? Holding the arrows together for more than 5 seconds?

@Winkndink

2 жыл бұрын

@@TheLightExplorer as per page 43 of the manual, but only changes the network settings. For example the SSID name. However, will not reset without USB cable plugged into power or computer USB port.

Hey, great video. How much time can you expose with this mount without having to use an autoguider ?

@TheLightExplorer

2 жыл бұрын

Hi Juan. It really depends on your PA. I have been able to get 10 minute exposures (600 seconds) of the Milky Way at 70mm FL on a FF camera. At 200mm I have been able to get 4 min subs fairly easily (80% keepers). Autoguider will make all the difference though for more keepers. It is a great mount.

@juancruzfortunatti9792

2 жыл бұрын

​ @The Light Explorer Awesome ! I'm trying to get a setup that I can easily carry around... I'm thinking on a apo refractor + the ioptron base mount or maybe this one. I was thinking on getting some kind of autoguider.. but apparently there isn't any autoguiding system without a PC

@TheLightExplorer

2 жыл бұрын

Actually ZWO has a fully contained auto-guider which you control with your smartphone or tablet in the field (no need for a PC). You will need the ZWO ASIAIR Pro and of course, the guide camera and guidescope (ZWO makes those also). Currently they are having a sale on this via their retailers. Check out some YT videos on how to use the ZWO ASIAIR and see if that fits your needs.

@juancruzfortunatti9792

2 жыл бұрын

@@TheLightExplorer Oh really ? I'll check that one up. Thank you

Always be sure to create a Plan and select it before you hit RUN in the APP If you RUN without a plan selected, and you select STOP , the app will shutdown the WiFi, and you will have to cycle power to regain control.

So when you want to use lunar tracking, do you still need to have a polar alignment or do you aim the tracker at the moon itself?

@TheLightExplorer

2 жыл бұрын

You will still Polar Align always and then point your camera towards the moon. I show how to do that in Part I of the series.

What's the cable that you used to connect from your camera to the skyadventurer? (the remote control cable thing?)

@TheLightExplorer

Жыл бұрын

That’s called a SNAP cable. You’ll need one with the connector for your camera.

I enjoy very well from your videos. Thank you for your sharing. I'm using D850 with Sky-Watcher Star Adventurer 2i, using the cable from Nikon to SNAP. I haven't heard any exposure from the camera, however, it was counting from the App. Could you please help me to solve this issue? Thank you very much.

@TheLightExplorer

2 жыл бұрын

Hi Viet. Thanks for your note. It is strange if your camera shutter is not being triggered. 1) Is your camera set to Manual focus (and not AF)? 2) Is the cable connected securely? 3) Are you sure your phone is connected to the mount via Wi-Fi? LMK the above and we can troubleshoot some more. Thanks - N

@crash141c

2 жыл бұрын

@@TheLightExplorer I'm having the same issue. I have tried with my Z9 and my D500. It won't actuate the shutter. I have confirmed I'm in MF, and the cable is securely attached, and the wifi is working. When I hit RUN on the app, and then select progress on the bottom of the app, the progress screen shows photos taken (estimated) and the number it estimates I've taken, but no photos have been taken. Any suggestions?

@crash141c

2 жыл бұрын

I forgot to add, I really like your videos. They explain everything very well.

The issue with no tracking unless you run your sequence has to be adressed. Totally wasn’t aware of that. Of yours one can use the built in intervalometer of your camera but you have to touch it - and your polar alignment ist out of the window. Great tutorial tho 👍🏻

@TheLightExplorer

2 жыл бұрын

I agree. I don't understand why they can't offer the option for continuous tracking in the app? I don't think they'll address this until a whole bunch of people email them.

@tomwolf9420

2 жыл бұрын

Just did the math on my Canon 6D: Pixel Size is 6,55 , Focal lenght of my 61 EDPH is 342. So d=36*(6,55/342) so d= 0,689. Even if I apply a factor of 1,5 I'm ending up with a factor of 1. First I thought 'that couldn't be correct' but then I realised that my focal lenght is much bigger then your (wide field?) lens. Am I right? Edit: email to SkyWatcher sent. Edit 2: they answered: "We'll pass these requests over to the engineering team for consideration for future updates"

@TheLightExplorer

2 жыл бұрын

Thanks for sending the email and yes, you are right about the FL.

I've a Canon M50 so I can't connect the star adventure to the camera as It doesn't have cable connection. But it's possible in the app to run the tracker and rotate (ON/OFF function), right?

@TheLightExplorer

3 жыл бұрын

Correct. You can do all the functions of the tracker other than let the tracker control your camera. However, if you don't intend to use the SA Console App to control your camera, then just use the dedicated mode dial on the mount.

Question regarding minute 20: this is only important when using a cable, true?!? Or will the tracker make dithering movements also when using the tracker the next time, but without cable?!? You know what I mean??

@TheLightExplorer

11 ай бұрын

That's such a great question. I'm really not sure. I'm thinking that the information will get downloaded into the tracker for that mode and it should impact future trackings (even when the cable is not connected). I'll post an update if I try it out in the future.

@Chorge1972

11 ай бұрын

@@TheLightExplorer THANK YOU!!!

Sp that snap cable doesn't come with the Sky watcher pro kit? So can you buy this connector anywhere? Or is it some SPECIAL cable you can only get from Skywatcher, which means you have to order it and wait weeks or months to get?

@TheLightExplorer

2 жыл бұрын

No, it does not come with the pro kit as the connector is different for different cameras. You will have to check the manual for the connector type for your camera and then order it from Sky-watcher or a retailer like B&H. Otherwise, you can even look at eBay for a SNAP cable that fits your camera.

@-WhizzBang-

2 жыл бұрын

@@TheLightExplorer I found one on Amazon. Only 3 days to deliver. Thanks.

@TheLightExplorer

2 жыл бұрын

Awesome news.

Have you used the Star Adventurer with a ZWO ASIAIR? If so how do you power the 2i on if you no longer use the APP??

@TheLightExplorer

2 жыл бұрын

Hi Frank. I have not used the ZWO ASIAIR (although I just got it), but would just power it using the AA batteries. Did you mean to ask about power or control?

My 2i lets me put in the decimal for the dithering range

I realize this is an older video but can anyone tell me if I can use a third party brand of shutter release cable for SNAP? The one I need for my Nikon camera has been on backorder from Skywatcher for what seems like forever. Will a brand like Vello, for example, work? I'm desperate.... lol. You're videos have been extremely helpful! Thanks

@TheLightExplorer

2 жыл бұрын

Hi Deborah. Yes, you can use a 3rd party SNAP cable. Just make sure that the connectors fit your camera (the end of the SNAP cable that goes into the SA mount is standard).

@deborahritchphotography

2 жыл бұрын

Thank you! I can't wait to put everything I learned from your videos into use.

@randyjohnstone8318

8 ай бұрын

@@deborahritchphotography hope you got your cable. Skywatcher does no longer carry SNAP cables and they refer you to someone like B&H, where I got mine.

What would be the Maximum Time of Exposure in Astro Time Lapse Mode for say a 20mm Lens on a Full Frame Camera?

@TheLightExplorer

2 жыл бұрын

I would just use the exposure time you would use for a regular astro photo. 1 to 2 minutes or so. The mount will move back to the original position after each shot.

@johncarter591

2 жыл бұрын

@@TheLightExplorer Just noticed when you showed this Astro time lapse mode in Your Video that you set 3 minutes ! I've done one time lapse at 50 Seconds but will have to play around more to find a nice balance of getting a nice long shutter speed time and getting enough frames for an interesting Time Lapse Video

Please assist. Can you confirm if dithering still works on latest console app and tracker firmware? I cannot get dithering to work.

@TheLightExplorer

Жыл бұрын

Hi Jaco. Yes, it is working. Did you try to reset the mount?

So if I use the app to do a run, then on a different day I use the solar setting on the mode dial, and I do NOT use a snap cable, will the rate be affected?

@TheLightExplorer

10 ай бұрын

Hi Kevin. Any inputs you make in the app will get downloaded to the mount. So the next time you use the mode dial (even without a SNAP cable and the app), those old inputs will be effect. You will either have to reset the mount (press the left and right arrows for 5 seconds) or go into the app to change the settings (making sure you run it once via the app to download the new settings).

@kevinashley478

10 ай бұрын

@@TheLightExplorer Yeah, I think that at the end of each run, im just going to press the 2 arrows and do the factory reset, just to be sure.

sir my camera does not have wifi so will the tracking start remotely after connecting snap wire and camera

@TheLightExplorer

Жыл бұрын

Hi Anshul. The tracking will start the moment you turn the mode dial on the mount to one of the tracking modes like Sidereal.

Your videos are great but iam confuse about dithering last night I have captured rho ophiuchi with 55 mm lens i haven’t dither my frames and iam new to Astrophotography my images turn really bad and noisy fixed noise and lines in images my image was ruin I have Sky-Watcher star tracker Wi-Fi version you have given dither formula I have confusion about that for example I have 300mm lens 3.72 pixel pitch of my camera I have calculated and my answer is 0.434 did I calculate the amount right and should I need to put this amount in sa console app for 55mm lens it’s giving 2.36 can you tell that iam calculating properly iam confuse and great video new subscriber

@TheLightExplorer

10 ай бұрын

Hi Aditya - sorry for the much delayed response. Your calculations are correct. The formula says d = 35 * p / f (where f is the focal length). Since the focal length is in the denominator and is inversely proportional in the formula, the higher the focal length, the smaller the number for 'd'. Try with that number you get (you could even use 1 and then go from there).

@adityakarade8034

10 ай бұрын

@@TheLightExplorer Thanks friend appreciated and great video

In Astro Time-lapse mode is there a way of lengthening the delay while the camera write the image to the card, using a Sony A7R IV and set up the way you have described I am finding every second frame exposure is getting cut short.

@TheLightExplorer

3 жыл бұрын

Hi Stephen - can you please answer a few questions so that I get an idea of what is going on? 1) Is your camera shutter speed set to bulb? 2) If yes, then what is the exposure time you are setting on the app in astro time-lapse mode? 3) Can you provide each setting in that mode? The only boxes that should be checked are Video Length and Frame Rate. Are any other boxes checked?

@stephenradford3384

3 жыл бұрын

@@TheLightExplorer To answer 1. Yes camera set to bulb 2.Exposure time is 35 seconds, video time span 3hrs, on the 25(pal) using Sidereal tracking rate, the star adventurer has the latest 3.11 firmware. It starts off 35 seconds next frame is 6 seconds alternating until I stopped it after 20 frames, the only reason I can think of is the camera is not writing to the card fast enough ( it is a Lexar Pro 250Mb/s) or the interval between shots could be increased.I wonder if the adventurer should sense when the camera has finish writting to the card?

@TheLightExplorer

3 жыл бұрын

Any reason why you have chosen to input into Video Time Span and not Video Length? Also is your Long Exposure Noise Reduction turned on or off? Please check this section of your manual and advise if it is on or off in your settings - it needs to be turned off. tinyurl.com/chb3b9fy

@TheLightExplorer

3 жыл бұрын

Forgot to add - do you have any exposure delay set in your camera? I know you said your camera is set to 'bulb', but do you have an exposure or shutter delay set in the camera? Just checking.

@stephenradford3384

3 жыл бұрын

As you suggested checked the long exposure noise reduction, it WAS set to on, will try this set to off. Thank you for your help, great channel and advice keep it going 👍

My mount disconnects as soon as I star an imaging sequence. I have turned off the "WiFi Off on Run" option. It happens when I use manual control as well.

@TheLightExplorer

3 ай бұрын

Have you tried to reset the mount?

Thank you for the video however mine doesn't take the 5 second interval between shots. Instead my camera shoots a 5 second exposure and then goes on to shoot another 60 second exposure as I have mine setup to take 60 second exposures, 5 second interval. Please help because I'm not sure where the issue is. My camera is also set to bulb mode so why is the camera not taking that 5 second interval to record the previous 60 second exposure. I don't want my sensor to heat up because its being overworked and I want the camera to take enough time to write the data to memory card.

@TheLightExplorer

2 жыл бұрын

Hi there - sounds like you might have the Long Exposure Noise Reduction feature turned on your camera. That needs to be off. Can you check to see if it is off? If you don't know how to check that, please post the model of your camera (make and model) and I can take a quick look to see how to turn that off.

@theresawilliams4228

2 жыл бұрын

@@TheLightExplorer thanks so much for the video that covers the skywatchers app. I just received my tracker and decided not to start with the app since I don’t need any additional issues to deal with until I learn how to use the tracker. Just one question after reading about the tracker shutting down at odd times. If I don’t used the app will the tracker automatically shut down at the end of the intervalometer’s cycle? Tks!

Amazing tutorial ..this is a real guide unlike any other resources you find on skywatcher. I am running into a problem, I was wondering if you could help me with it.. I am focusing on a dso and when I take a test shot .. the tracker works perfectly .. I couldn’t keep the shutter open for 30s with no star trails.. but when I start using the app on the sidereal mode I start getting the star trails ..can you think of a reason why this could be happening ? Thanks in advance!! -Deep

@TheLightExplorer

2 жыл бұрын

Hi Deepayan - thanks much for your feedback. How are you using the app? Are you connecting your camera to the star tracker with the SNAP cable and then using the app to trigger the camera? Or are you using your camera's built in intervalometer (or an external one) to trigger the camera's shutter when using the app?

@HAZERC

2 жыл бұрын

@@TheLightExplorer hey thanks for responding.. I am using a snap cable to connect my camera to the device. A good fellow star gazer recommended I check the tension of the cable but I don’t know if that can cause this. Your expertise in this area is very impressive, can you think of something else?

@TheLightExplorer

2 жыл бұрын

So you have the SNAP cable connected to the tracker. And then you go into the app (I assume it is connected via WiFi) and then put in the exposure time, interval (leave the no of photos to infinity) and then hit 'Run'. When you hit 'Run' does the camera take the first picture? And then does it take photos for the exposure times at the intervals specified?

@HAZERC

2 жыл бұрын

@@TheLightExplorer that’s exactly the setup .. I specified the number of shots before I saw your video on the app. But I leave that on infinity mode now.

@TheLightExplorer

2 жыл бұрын

Okay - but you did not answer my question. When you hit 'Run' in the app mode, does your camera trigger the shutter at the requisite intervals and for that exposure time?

Just purchased one of these. Seems to work well for tracking but I can’t seem to get the app to work. When I start the cycle it doesn’t close the shutter after the programmed time. Using it with a canon 6D mk 2. Anyone else have this problem???

@TheLightExplorer

10 ай бұрын

Hi Robert - are you saying that the app connects to the mount, opens the shutter for the exposure but then doesn't end the exposure? Or is it that the app is not working at all with the mount?

I have no idea why but now my phone doesn’t want to connect to app eve though it’s connect via Wi-Fi my phone can not be found ! I have restart all setiings and everything and nothing - but I can connect Mount to my MacBook Pro M1 pro with no problem I don’t understand that any suggestions ?

@TheLightExplorer

2 жыл бұрын

There seems to be some issue since they have updated the app. If you look, even the location is not showing the latitude for some reason. Hopefully they address this in the next update.

does anyone know if they have updated the software with a new firmware?

@TheLightExplorer

Жыл бұрын

You can check for the latest firmware version on their download page and compare against what you have on the SA 2i.

man i cant find that cable for a sony a7 iv. i really wanna try this. i just got the star adventure 2i

@TheLightExplorer

2 жыл бұрын

Hi James - I think I found one on eBay. Is this it? www.ebay.com/itm/332174841851

@TheLightExplorer

2 жыл бұрын

Actually, Amazon also seems to have some. Just ensure the connectors are the same as that for your camera. www.amazon.com/dp/B075GYLLNL?tag=amz-mkt-chr-us-20&ascsubtag=1ba00-01000-a0049-mac00-other-smile-us000-pcomp-feature-scomp-feature-scomp&ref=aa_scomp

@jamesb8818

2 жыл бұрын

thanks so much!

Does this system still have the tracking quirks?

@TheLightExplorer

11 ай бұрын

Yeah, the app unfortunately has the same quirks. A simple reset is best to switch to default values.

is there a point of using the app when using a telescope on the tracker?

@TheLightExplorer

3 ай бұрын

If you aren't doing photography and just observing via the telescope, then the app adds no value.

Hello Sir! I just got a brand new Star Adventure Mini and I can't, for the love of God, have it connect to the Star Adventure Console. Is there anything I need to do in order for this work?

@TheLightExplorer

2 жыл бұрын

Hi Antoine. What kind of operating system does your phone have? iOS or Android? Can you tell me exactly what you are doing - step by step?

@MeQuerry

2 жыл бұрын

@@TheLightExplorer I solved it, I had to change cellphones, literally. My Google Pixel 4a doesn't like to connect to devices. It does the same with my DJI M2P.

@TheLightExplorer

2 жыл бұрын

Okay, awesome that it worked out. For the future, it seems that the app in the Android store does not work properly. You have to download the app from Skywatchers own store as they have the updated app there. Glad it is all good.

@MeQuerry

2 жыл бұрын

@@TheLightExplorer Exactly what I did, and to no avail. Seems like new Android security updates prevent the phone to connect to such devices. Very happy I kept an old Android LG 6 running Android 9 for those occasions!

Hi, so were you able to test the mount with the 150-600mm lens yet? How were the results? I'm wondering if the focal length and focus drifted during your exposure with the pull of gravity on that heavy lens. I was thinking of trying the same thing, but wonder if I need to gaffer tape the lens barrel to prevent drifting of focus and focal length, especially at the far end of the zoom range. I have the Nikkor 200-500mm and am anxious to try it out when my mount comes in the mail. Keep up the good work. I ordered the plates though your Amazon affiliate link.

@TheLightExplorer

3 жыл бұрын

Thanks much for your feedback - appreciate it. Yes, I did try the 150-600 at 400mm for 60 second exposures and it worked well. I did not have to tape it as the target was not at a high elevation (so the camera was not tilted up all the way to allow for zoom shift). I think your idea of using gaffer tape is great. I had no issues at 60 seconds (your polar alignment has to be spot on at these focal lengths). I just got a guiding camera and intend to try use that with my 150-600 lens. Let's see how slow a shutter speed I can get using auto-guiding. I came across a thread with some photos with the 150-600 at 300mm (with an iOptron Skyguider Pro - but should give an idea). www.dpreview.com/forums/thread/4239165#forum-post-60562127

@TheLightExplorer

3 жыл бұрын

Forgot to add that at the link above, he used a Nikon DX camera, so the effective FL is 450mm.

@sumitshresth

2 жыл бұрын

@@TheLightExplorer hey Nikhil What was the weight of your 150-600 lens? i have nikon af-s 300mm 2.8(450mm on cropped sensor i am using) which is pretty bulky 5 lb and around 6lb with d7000. I am worried that my SA might not able to hold that weight. Did you use auto guider with SA or was it unguided SA?

@TheLightExplorer

2 жыл бұрын

@@sumitshresth Hi Summit - the weight is around 5 lbs. I had to use a second counter-weight with it and am able to get 2+ minute exposures at 600mm. Your PA has to be spot on. I had not used an auto-guider at that time, but recently bought one. Have not had a chance to use it though.

I am having issues again. Last few times i did dithering and yesterday i did not use App and just used intervelometer. Everything was perfectly aligned and balanced. I was shooting at 300mm for 2 min. I found that out of 5, 3 had trailing and 2 were sharp round. Trailing was looking like its taking few shots to reach at roundness. So my point is, if i dithered using app, and next time even if i use sidereal dial and use intervelometer, it will still dither? I think its happening bcz when i checked my shots, they were more like dithered shots as the frames moved a bit in every shot. Then i changed to 1 min tracking and 15 sec interval between photos, and the tracking was perfect. So, it means dithering is also getting downloaded into the system. Should i reset? Please help. I lost so much data last night😭

@TheLightExplorer

2 жыл бұрын

Hi Aditya. That's correct. If you used dithering via the app, it will then also get used when using the mode dial. I mention this in Part 2 of my tutorial. You'll need to either disable dithering in the app, run it so that it gets downloaded to the mode dial, or simply reset the mount.

When i do the math for dithering, i get 0.602 My pixel size is 4.30 and my focal length is 250mm. Did i do something wrong?

@TheLightExplorer

10 ай бұрын

No, that is correct. The formula says d = 35 * p / f (where f is the focal length). Since the focal length is in the denominator and is inversely proportional in the formula, the higher the focal length, the smaller the number for 'd'. Try with that number you get (you could even use 1 and then go from there).

@kevinashley478

10 ай бұрын

@@TheLightExplorer Oh ok... Thank you for taking the time to clarify. Now that i rewatch it, I think i was misunderstanding the "10 times" note, thinking the number would be at least 10 or higher. I realize that you are talking about D being a factor of 10. I am now plugging in the equation and then multiplying the 0.602 by 1.2 and I'm going to use that number for the dithering. If I dither, do I still need to take darks? Does dithering change the way I stack in DSS? I guess I'm curious as to how the stacking software will know which object to align.

Great tutorials. Sent message to Sky-watcher asking for continuous tracking after program ends, they could also publish the code and let the community take care of options and updating....

@TheLightExplorer

2 жыл бұрын

Yeah I agree. Wish they would publish the source code. Thanks for sending the email.

@ollifl

2 жыл бұрын

Does this answer mean, Yeah don't hold your breath "We have passed this along to the engineers to consider for future builds. Thank you!"

@TheLightExplorer

2 жыл бұрын

That seems to be their standard response. I really hope they will address this - it is such a small change to the firmware code.

Why do you change the SSID name ?

@TheLightExplorer

3 жыл бұрын

HI Bill. Sometimes when I go out with my friends who have the same tracker (or if you are in an area with some astro photographers with the same tracker with Wi-Fi on), then having the default SSID might make identifying your tracker and connecting to it a little bit of a pain (as the SSID of your tracker would look similar to the SSIDs of the other trackers). By changing the SSID, I am able to instantly know which tracker is mine and connect to it. It is not really required if you are going to be alone in that area - but I just like having a familiar SSID that I can recognize instantly.

for some reason under location, my longitude comes up but my Latitude just states North. has anyone else found this and a remedy?

@TheLightExplorer

2 жыл бұрын

Hi Darin - very strange. Have you tried to uninstall and reinstall the app?

@darinweiss4050

2 жыл бұрын

@@TheLightExplorer Yes, I did try that.

So when I use the control port and connect via wifi, everytime i click run nothing happens with my Nikon D7000 camera. I don't know if one of my settings is off or if I'm doing something wrong within the applicaiton. Overall it's just very frustrating.

@TheLightExplorer

2 жыл бұрын

Hi there - can you let me know what the settings on your camera are? What do you keep the aperture and shutter speed at? Is your camera set to manual focus or auto focus?

@carbeeb315

2 жыл бұрын

@@TheLightExplorer aperture is 4.5, shutter speed is set to bulb, and is set to manual focus.

@TheLightExplorer

2 жыл бұрын

Okay - and how have you connected your camera to the Star Adventurer?

@carbeeb315

2 жыл бұрын

@@TheLightExplorer with the N3 Camera Remote Shutter Release Cable that connects to my GPS port in my D7000

@TheLightExplorer

2 жыл бұрын

So one end goes into your camera port and the other end goes into the Star Adventurer?

what is dithering/

@TheLightExplorer

10 ай бұрын

Hi James. The mount essentially moves by a slight amount after each exposure (or a couple) so as to randomize any hot pixels, fixed pattern noise (which can then be removed in post). You can see the explanation from 09:00 onwards in the video.

Joshua tree???!!!

@TheLightExplorer

3 жыл бұрын

That’s correct. 👍