Camera tracking mount

[leon]

Hi Guys, other than the conventional scope mount, has anyone any information on a mount that will accurately track only having a camera attached.
I understand there are some available, but are any worth it, or should one stick to the proper scope mounts for any tracking. :shrug:

Any suggestions and advice would be much appreciated.

Leon :thumbsup:

[Poita]

The astrotrac work as advertised, and have the distinct advantage of being extremely portable (everything packs into the pier and into your backpack).
http://www.astrotrac.com/Default.aspx?p=pier

The Pentax K-r and K5 DSLRs have tracking available in the camera itself when connected to the O-GPS unit.
You calibrate the camera and can shoot on a standard tripod and the sensor will track, allowing you long exposures without a special mount. It works really well.
http://www.pentax.jp/english/products/o-gps1/astrotracer.html

There are all the barn door style trackers but I have yet to try one.

Most of the other commercial camera track mounts I have seen are rather large or clunky compared to the astrotrac.
http://www.astrotrac.com/

[leon]

Thank you Peter very helpful.

Leon

[mercedes_sl1970]

Hi - there is the Vixen Polarie which is a fairly new one. It looks interesting, I but have no experience or knowledge of it: Vixen Polarie (http://www.vixenoptics.com/mounts/polarie.html)

Andrew

ps there is a link to a review on the site: Sky and Telescope - Polarie (http://www.vixenoptics.com/PDF/Sky%20&%20Telescope_Mar2012.pdf)

[dugnsuz]

There's also the new Losmandy StarLapse version...
http://www.atscope.com.au/losmandy/starlapse.html

does look a bit large though!
Doug

[rogerg]

I just spent Friday night at AstroCamp (http://aswa.info) walking around with my AstroTrac (http://www.astrotrac.com/). I put it all together on the tripod at the car, battery and binculars on my shoulder, compas and laser in my pocket. Then I walked to 8 different places throughout the night, each time just slinging the tripod with all gear attached over my shoulder, walking, plonking it down, align using compass then laser & binoculars, 5 minutes later taking more photo's with different silhouettes. Brilliant :thumbsup:

[Poita]

I would give the losmandy a miss, it is a cut down G8 and is rather clunky.

[dugnsuz]

Astrotrac looks the business!
Doug:thumbsup:

[jamiep]

It is a bit on the chunky side, and is closely related to a g8, but if you have a Losmandy already (ie G11 etc) you can re-use the polar scope, motors, and goto system to run the StarTrack... it's also capable of carrying a small scope payload for something like solar imaging or a small refractor...

All things to consider... handy for a travel system.

[acropolite]

As the others have said, Astrotrac has the Runs on the board, h0ughy has 2.... so they must be good.:P
You'll need a decent tripod and some sort of head as well.
I seem to remember our good friend Luis (luigi) from Argentina has one also.

[leon]

Many thanks guys, I will do some research on the subject, just wondered if it would be worth the effort to have a little play from time to time whilst traveling.

Leon