I had to pick between a star tracker or a new lens for my Milky Way shots

Went with the Sky-Watcher Star Adventurer 2i and it was worth it. My 30 second exposures at f/2.8 are way sharper now, no more star trails. Anyone have tips for polar alignment without a clear view of Polaris?

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3 Comments

tara_williams16mo ago

Consider how many shots you miss while setting up gear. A fast lens lets you capture those fleeting moments of good light or interesting clouds. That spontaneity often beats perfect technical shots.

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riverperry6mo ago

Honestly I'd have gone with the lens every time. Trackers are such a pain to set up and you're stuck on a tripod. A faster lens, like an f/1.8, lets you walk around, shoot wider, and catch more sky glow in less time. Sure you get trails at 20 seconds, but the freedom is worth it for me. I've gotten shots I never would have if I was messing with alignment all night.

3

tessa_kelly6mo ago

My buddy spent a whole trip fighting his tracker, then just grabbed a fast lens and got his best shot in ten minutes. That "freedom" you mentioned is real.

1