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Sky-Watcher Star Adventurer Mini EQ Camera Tracking Mount Head

BH #SKSAM • MFR #S20580
5 reviews
Sky-Watcher
Sky-Watcher Star Adventurer Mini EQ Camera Tracking Mount Head
Key Features
  • 6.6-Pound Payload Capacity
  • Use for Long-Exposure Astrophotography
  • Timelapse & Panoramic Photo Techniques
  • Built-In WiFi, Android/iOS App Control
Enjoy advanced photographic techniques such as astroimaging, star-scapes, and timelapse terrestrial or astronomic photography with the Sky-Watcher Star Adventurer Mini EQ Camera Tracking Mount Head. It is outfitted with a right ascension DC servo tracking motor with multiple tracking rates for the sun, moon, and other celestial bodies — with more tracking and control options available using the built-in WiFi and the companion Android/iOS control app. The head can attach to most astronomic, photo, video, or field tripod using the 3/8"-16 mount, or the included 1/4"-20 adapter. An included ball head plate accepts most ball heads for mounting a DSLR, and an integrated port on the head enables the unit to activate the camera's shutter to pre-programmed intervals.
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$335.00
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Options
Head, Wedge, Multiple Adapters
Tracking Head Only
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Sky-Watcher Star Adventurer Overview

  • 1Description
  • 2Tracking Head
  • 3Star Adventurer Mini Console Control App
  • 4Mounting

Enjoy advanced photographic techniques such as astroimaging, star-scapes, and timelapse terrestrial or astronomic photography with the Sky-Watcher Star Adventurer Mini EQ Camera Tracking Mount Head. It is outfitted with a right ascension DC servo tracking motor with multiple tracking rates for the sun, moon, and other celestial bodies — with more tracking and control options available using the built-in WiFi and the companion Android/iOS control app. The head can attach to most astronomic, photo, video, or field tripod using the 3/8"-16 mount, or the included 1/4"-20 adapter. An included ball head plate accepts most ball heads for mounting a DSLR, and an integrated port on the head enables the unit to activate the camera's shutter to pre-programmed intervals.

Tracking Head
  • Supports payloads up to 6.6 pounds
  • Right Ascension axis DC servo motor tracks celestial objects as they move across the sky
  • Solar, lunar, and sidereal tracking rates for astrophotography
  • Supports star-scape and timelapse star-scape, long and short exposure timelapse photography techniques
  • Illuminated polar axis scope enables precise alignment for accurate tracking of celestial objects
  • 36mm, 72-tooth aluminum alloy wheel gear
  • 11mm, high-tension brass worm gear
  • Runs on two user-supplied AA batteries, or 5 VDC mini-USB external power source
Star Adventurer Mini Console Control App
  • Free for Android and iOS
  • Connects directly to tracking head via internal WiFi module
  • Adds 0.5x sidereal and 2x sidereal tracking rates for star-scape and other photography techniques
  • Custom exposure times, photo intervals, or number of photos for a user-defined time range
  • Save favorite profiles for faster set up
  • Manual mode allows you to control the tracking motor without directly touching the unit for more precise handling
  • Video capture option with custom settings including frame rate, and length
  • Timelapse mode: Photo or video capture, Swing range, and Pan rate in degree/hour and direction
  • Polar axis scope utility helps determine correct settings for current day/time for accurate alignment
Mounting
    Tracking Head to Tripod:
  • Mounts directly to tripod for conventional terrestrial timelapse photography
  • Bottom and side mounting points provide options for camera orientation
  • 3/8"-16 tripod mount with 1/4"-20 adapter makes it compatible with most astronomic, photo, video, or field tripods
    Tracking Head to Camera:
  • Dovetail saddle accepts included ball head adapter to easy set up without tools
  • Ball head adapter has standard 3/8"-16 stud
  • With ball head on tracking head, the camera attaches as normal
  • DSLR shutter control port for multiple brands including Canon, Nikon, Sony, and Olympus
UPC: 050234205801

Sky-Watcher Star Adventurer Specs

Mount
Mount TypeGerman Equatorial
GoTo CapabilityNo
Payload Capacity6.6 lb / 3 kg
MotorYes
Polar Axis ScopeYes (Included)
Environmental
Operating Temperature14 to 104°F / -10 to 40°C
General
Power SourceBattery (Not Included), USB
Battery2 x AA
 • Approx. 24-Hour Runtime
DC Input Power 5 VDC
Inputs / OutputsMicro-USB
MountingTo Camera: Quick Release Plate with 3/8"-16 Male
To Tripod/Base: 3/8"-16 Female (1/4"-20 Female with Included Adapter)
Wi-FiYes (Built In)
Dimensions4.1 x 3 x 2.8" / 10.3 x 7.6 x 7 cm
Weight24 oz / 680.4 g
Packaging Info
Package Weight2.305 lb
Box Dimensions (LxWxH)7.05 x 6.3 x 4.9"

Sky-Watcher Star Adventurer Reviews

Little Gem

By Sebastiaan
Rated 5 out of 5
Date: 2019-05-01

I recommend to read the manual to learn what this fantastic little gadget all can do; I am VERY impressed! Polar alignment is easy with the included scope, illuminator and the polar clock utility that comes with the free control app. I disagree with a previous review that the mount is useless without the wedge. A regular pan & tilt head works fine. Get Polaris as close as possible but on the line, and the app allows you to fine tune it with the Manual Control option. I don’t recommend the counter weight and DEC bracket as these add weight and are only meant for heavy camera / lens combinations. And that’s not what the SAM is rated to anyway. My over-rated ball head + EOS RP + heaviest lens weigh less than 4 lbs together so well below the 6.6 lbs rating of the SAM. And it’s rock solid. The options to set-up time-lapse are very flexible; you either let the app calculate the number of shots, based on length of the desired clip, or you set it manually. Same for the degrees of panning if you want a panning shot. Two features impress me the most and I’m not sure these are available in other products on the market: 1) in astro time-lapse mode the SAM will track while the exposure is made but then returns to the original position for the next tracking shot. The resulting time lapse is a much better exposed creation than if you were to use a static tripod. And no streaking stars of course. Pretty amazing IMO 2) in long-exposure time-lapse mode the SAM will stop rotating while the long exposure is made so no issues with messed-up shots of for example a city scape at night that need long exposures. But also very handy when you shoot a time-lapse in HDR mode with 3 or 5 exposures as these exposures will not be misaligned. Few suggestions for the next Firmware update ;-) - An option to ease-in and ease-out while panning. Or even better: an option to not pan for a number of shots, then ease-in, pan for a number of shots, ease-out, and not pan for the last number of shots again. That would be a pro result. - An option to ramp-in or ramp-out the exposure length for day-to-night or night-to-day time lapse. - Add 24FPS next to PAL and NTSC. It’s easy enough to convert but too many people ignore products if they don’t have a 24P option. Another great add-on would be a relay-switch that is SAM controlled; either through the USB or its wi-fi. With that one could control the movement of a slider and make it also stop during long exposure time-lapses. Needless to say, I highly recommend the Sky-Watcher Mini. The only thing mini about the SAM is the size. It’s maxi when it comes to options and features. Thank you B&H for yet another great experience.

Don't buy. Buy 2 axis mount

By Brian
Rated 5 out of 5
Date: 2017-08-10

I got this moutnt to photograph the eclipse. My decision was based on a review. At this point I would not get this mount. Some of the optional pieces are not available and by the time you acquire them all you could buy a 2 axis mount with the accessories included. If it was not so close to the eclipse I would return for a better mount. I just cancelled my orders for the optional pieces. So my once in a lifetime event my not be photographed.

Excellent

By Thomas
Rated 5 out of 5
Date: 2017-07-14

This product is very well thought out and well constructed. It operates great with the app and is very easy to setup

very good

By Robert
Rated 5 out of 5
Date: 2019-04-03

Polar scope was perfectly calibrated and easy to use. Getting 90s with 135mm lens and Canon 6D, over 50% keeper rate. The wedge is required, useless without it. Also recommend the counter weight / DEC bracket.

99% great

By Josef
Rated 5 out of 5
Date: 2018-02-26

I bought this from B&H along with the Dec Bracket and Counterweight.� I used its big brother drive to shoot the solar eclipse [photo attached], but I wanted the greater flexibility of this one, controlled by the app.� It arrived on 22 Feb 18, and when I assembled it, there was just one flaw... the legs of the clip to hold the polar scope illuminator in the slot on the Dec Bracket didn't quite fit, and the illuminator fell out of the slot. I called Sky-Watcher tech support, and they said they had a list of others with the same problem and they were working with the factory, so I added my contact info to the list. Don't let that stop you from buying this great motorized drive, tho.� For most short exposures, you don't need to point North that accurately.� Just add your name to the list.

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