My Profile/ Equipment

Ioptron Sky Guider Pro

I was a big fan of the Ioptron Sky Tracker for wide field Milky Way shots so I recently upgraded to the Shy Guider model. A versatile set up and a great rig for folks looking to get into astrophotography without breaking the bank. With the included counter weight it has a payload of 11 lbs so it can handle heavier zoom lenses better than the skytracker and can also handle a small refractor like with Williams Z61. It has the integrated polar scope installed which makes polar alignment a breeze with the Ioptron smart phone app. I think this is a perfect setup for a new astrophotographer. You can use your DSLR for widefield star shots or if you want to couple it with a small 60/70 mm refractor like a Williams ZenithStar 61. The small size will be very forgiving on any tracking errors and the price point wont ruin your budget.