Sky-Watcher Star Adventurer Pro vs. iOptron SkyGuider Pro

If you’re looking for your next star tracker to get started in astrophotography, stick around. We break down the Sky-Watcher Star Adventurer Pro and iOptron SkyGuider Pro, two of the most popular trackers, to help make your decision easier. Star trackers are great for capturing the Milky Way, especially during the Milky Way season in the late spring and summer when the core of our home galaxy rises earlier in the night sky. But they can do so much more! Learn more below.

Experience Level

TheSky-Watcher Star Adventurer Pro and theiOptron SkyGuider Pro are used by astrophotographers of all levels. They equally make great beginner astrophotography gear like they do for the more advanced. We haveguides like this one ongetting started with the sky-watcher star adventurer mount to help you with a quicker start.

Weight

The first spec we are comparing is the weight capacity difference. A star tracker is essentially atelescope mount meaning it is a crucial part of supporting your equipment. Generally, you want to have your payload at about half of your star tracker’s weight capacity and your equipment to get the best performance.

Start by figuring out the weight of your camera and other equipment. This is important because if your equipment weight is more than the payload it can hold than it can create blurry images or worse- damage your equipment.

The Star Adventurer Pro and SkyGuider Pro both have a weight capacity, or payload, of 11 lbs. Their durability makes them perfect for attaching a DSLR, astrophotographyaccessories,andsmall telescopes.

Both star trackers are also great for traveling to dark sky sites or hiking to your favorite spot.

Using Telescopes with Star Trackers

If you can keep the total weight of your gear around half of the capacity, you should be good to go. Please contact our Sales Team for more help with questions on your setup.

What They Can Do

One of the main types of astrophotography star trackers are used for is Milky Way photography but each includes multiple settings for a variety of photography types likelunar andstar trails. Specifically, the Star Adventurer Pro features: Sidereal, 1/2 Sidereal, Solar, Lunar; Time-lapse Astrophotography: 12 hr, 4 hr, 2 hr rev. The SkyGuider Pro features, 4 tracking speeds (1X, 1/2X, solar and lunar). 1X celestial tracking for imaging the sky and stars; 1/2X tracking speed for imaging both the starry night and landscapes at the same time.

Power

You have an option to choose from a rechargeable lithium battery for the SkyGuider Pro or AA batteries for the Star Adventurer Pro. The lithium battery will provide about 20 hours in comparison to the AA batteries that will provide 72 hours.

Special Features

The Star Adventurer Pro 2i features WiFi functionality meaning you can control various features of your tracker like timelapse modes.

Check out more feature comparisons below!

What has your experience been like with these trackers? Let us know in the comments below!