Warning: My $50 star tracker mount was a total disaster

I spent $50 on a cheap star tracker mount from Amazon to get sharp long exposure shots of the Orion Nebula. It wobbled so bad after 30 seconds that every photo had star trails no matter how I balanced it. Has anyone else dealt with budget mounts falling apart or is there a decent one under $200 that actually works?

3 comments

3 Comments

jessem596d ago

Ha! Yeah, you basically bought a glorified toy with a blinking light. I did something similar once, got a "telescope" for like $80 and the tripod legs literally just collapsed under the weight of a soda can I put on the tray. Lesson learned, I guess. At least your mount tried to do something for 30 whole seconds before quitting, mine didn't even make it past the setup.

wesleyflores6d ago

Oh man, $50 for a star tracker is basically buying a fancy paperweight with a motor attached. Hope you at least got a good laugh out of it before it gave up on life.

jason_stone596d ago

Wait $50 for a star tracker? I thought those things started at like $400 minimum, what even was this thing made of cardboard and prayers? Man you gotta tell me what brand it was so I can make sure I never accidentally buy one.