Star Adventurer GTI - newer samples better than the original production run???
Hi All
First post in ages. Been a visual observer forever (apart from shooting the moon) and now wanting to get into some widefield astro imaging but not a huge budget as it will be an occasional thing when time permits.
Q) I've read a lot of bad reviews regarding the GTI. My question is, are the newer latest produced copies better than the original re: backlash, tracking dramas???? Anyone purchased recently????
Will be imaging at no more than 200-250mm, and plenty of wide angle DSLR stuff. Not really wanting to go guided and want a simple PORTABLE setup, but if I need to go guided I will I guess. Or, do I get something else? HEQ5 Pro for example, but not so portable and more coin I don't really want to spend.
I want a computerised mount as where I am (most of my shooting will be backyard unless camping) I can't see Octans all year round for polar alignment. Oh, I have a kickarse tripod, Leofoto LN 364C so I won't be using the mediocre Skywatcher GTI one.
For what you want to do, I think the HEQ5 is over-kill.
If you can handle going Alt-Az on a wedge, the iOptron SkyHunter or the SkyWatcher GTi Alt-Az might fit your requirements. (Although I personally feel the Alt-Az-Wedge setup is a bit of a kludge and not as good as an EQ mount.) This will give you goto and the option to upgrade to guiding (with all the extra hardware).
Re-reading your requirements, would a simple tracker like the StarAdventurer 2i (RA tracking only) or the iOptron and MSM (Move-Shoot-Move) equivalents do the trick? Only downside is the need to see Octans for a good polar alignment.
Very happy with my GTI mount. Had teething issues which are posted here, but the last outings with this mount for me have been more than satisfactory. My mount has no backlash issues, is smooth and quiet. A mount like this that can give 6 minute guided shots is nothing to be sniffed at. Others of course have had not so much fun with the mount.
Like everything else that is mass-produced there will be winners and losers, but the good thing that I have seen through out all this is SkyWatcher. It seems from what I have read here everyone who has had issues has not been left with a lemon which is very important.
Last edited by carlstronomy; 02-04-2023 at 02:07 PM.
