iOptron SkyGuider Pro Camera Mount
A Premium Portable Star Tracking Platform
When it comes to ultra-portable, ultra-wide field-of-view, mounts, it is hard to beat a Star Tracker! With its premium construction, built-in battery, variety of supported equipment configurations, and 11 lb. payload capacity, this option from iOptron is a standout in this class of mount. Put your portable imaging setup on the right track with the SkyGuider Pro Camera Mount!
With a mount weighing at a feather-light 2.2 pounds and a fully assembled (base, mount, counterweight, and separately available tripod) weight of around 12.5 lb. that rivals the head only of some of our other Portable Grab-and-Go class mounts, the iOptron SkyGuider Pro is a standout ultra-portable mount choice. iOptron was able to cut all this weight without cutting corners, giving this mount an all metal main body, brass worm gear and aluminum alloy worm wheel, and a DC servo motor supported by an optical encoder. Four easily selectable speeds give you on-the-go wide-field image tracking of the Sun, Moon, Milky Way, and large celestial objects; and with a built-in rechargeable lithium polymer battery pack rated for up to 20 hours you'll be able to track these objects for multiple sessions in a row!
Wide Variety of Configurations Supported
While 11 lb. of payload capacity does contain this mount to smaller setups, in some respects the iOptron Sky Guider Pro is designed to be more versatile than some larger mounts! With the ability to use the separately available iOptron Ball Head 2014 for iOptron SkyTracker, the included DSLR/mirrorless camera mount, and the included V-style telescope saddle you can easily connect your gear in a wide variety of configurations. The counterweight shaft can also be replaced with one of these or have another mounting solution added to it, allowing you to mount two pieces of kit at the same time!
On The Right Track
The iOptron Sky Guider Pro star tracker gives you all the power and essentials you need to build an ultra-portable, ultra-wide-field, imaging system!
Metal and Servo Driven Strength
The iOptron Sky Guider
Pro features a DC servo motor supported by an optical encoder which powers
the brass worm gear, aluminum alloy worm wheel, RA drive. Known to be
quieter than the common stepper motor, the servo core of this mount provides
smooth and silent tracking of your targets. This combination allows the
mount to move 11 lb. of equipment, perfect for DSLR/mirrorless photography
cameras and telephoto lenses or small refractor astrophotography rigs.
Simple Operation
This star tracker features four
tracking modes to move your camera or telescope alongside the Sun, Moon, and
celestial targets—with a 1/2 celestial tracking rate designed for
capturing images with the night sky and earthbound foreground both in view.
These modes can simply be selected with a single button. Just tap until
the tracking rate you're after is illuminated, and you're all set to start
imaging!
Power and Ports
The iOptron Sky Guider Pro features a
streamlined set of connections to make using this out in the field a breeze!
A mini-USB port allows you to recharge the internal lithium-polymer battery.
This is fitting of an ultra-lightweight build where you may just want to
bring a USB power bank instead of proprietary chargers or separate power
supplies; though with up to 20 hours of rated battery life this can make
some trips on a single charge! For those looking to push the tracking
performance of the Sky Guider Pro, this also features an ST4 port that
allows autoguiding setups to be used. Finally, for use with a user supplied
iOptron Go2Nova 8408 hand controller there is a hand controller and
photography camera shutter release port.
Speedy Polar Alignment with AccuAlign
Aligning with
Earth's axis of rotation can be done quickly with iOptron's AccuAlign
system. With the help of iOptron's mobile app* you can identify the correct
position for Polaris in the polar scope and then simply match the view
through your AccuAlign to line up the Sky Guider Pro. For accurate
alignment, the AccuAlign scope comes with etched rings and an adjustable
polar scope illuminator. With easy to use adjustment hardware moving your
mount into position and locking it in is a cinch!
*Please Note: A 1st party Android app is not available from iOptron at
this point in time, though there are 3rd party options available that work
with the AccuAlign system.
1.25" Portable Platform (Sold Separately)
The iOptron
Sky Guider Pro can be connected to photo tripods with a 3/8" or 1/4"
threaded connection, but it is most at home on iOptron's
Tripod for iPANO, SmartEQ, SkyTracker , SkyGuider Pro, and Cube Mounts! Featuring 1.25" steel legs this tripod is sturdy yet
lightweight—tipping the scale at a mere 6 pounds. Leg extensions allow
the tripod to be leveled and can additionally increase the height from 24.5"
to 42.5". This additionally features a tripod spreader that enhances the
stability of the tripod when in use, and folds out of the way during
transport and storage. Finally, the tripod top is die-cast aluminum to give
your iOptron Sky Guider Pro a solid mount!
Portable Grab-And-Go Class Mount
At the "ultra" end of
portable, this star tracker from iOptron squarely sits in our Portable Grab
and Go mount class. This is thanks to its lightweight construction,
relatively light payload, and RA-only tracking, all facets that make it well
suited to travel and rapid deployment situations where you want to capture a
wide section of the night sky without a ton of set up. To learn more about
our mount classes, read our
Astrophotography Mount Buying Guide!
Let’s Delve Into the Details!
iOptron mounts are renowned for their exceptional performance, crafted with high precision internal elements that help deliver accurate tracking and spot-on GoTo slews. For those gear-heads who like to get into the nitty gritty details of their equipment, check out this comprehensive table denoting specifications such as the type of motor utilized, the power consumption of the mount, and plenty more! This way, you can compare and contrast what each iOptron mount offers, better informing you in choosing the right mount for your needs.
| iOptron Mount Specifications | |
|---|---|
| Maximum Payload (lbs.): | 11 |
| Mount Weight (lbs.): | 3.2 (w/ Battery and Base Installed) |
| Motor: | DC Servo w/ Optical Encoder |
| Max Slew Speed: | 144x |
| Operation Temperature: | 14°F-104°F |
| Latitude Adjustment Range: | -30°-65° |
| Azimuth Adjustment Range: | +/-5° |
| Right Ascension Worm Wheel: | 88 mm (Diameter); 144 Teeth Aluminum Alloy |
| Declination Worm Wheel: | None (RA Tracking Only) |
| Right Ascension Axis Shaft: | 35 mm Diameter; Steel |
| Right Ascension Bearings: | 4 Pieces |
Astronomy Hub: Your one-stop-shop for Astrophotography Knowledge!
Our Gear Experts have compiled a wealth of information to help expand your astrophotography knowledge! Below you’ll find links to articles, videos and "how-to" guides. Just one more reason that our Astronomy Hub is a one-stop-shop for all your astronomy and astrophotography needs!
| Astrophotography Mount Buying Guide |
| Top Mounts For Astrophotography in 2024 |
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