There’s nothing more awe-inspiring than a crystal-clear photo of the cosmos! Astrophotography is a special art form that perfectly captures the wonders of our universe above. But, it’s not as easy as it looks! You can’t just point a smartphone or camera at a telescope’s eyepiece and expect to get good results. Basic photography is hard enough. When you add low-light targets into the mix, getting a beautiful shot is no easy task. That’s where the best star tracker for DSLR is a very useful thing to have in your kit.
What is a Star Tracker and Why Use One?
If you were to set up a time-lapse shot of the night sky, you’d notice that the stars do not stay in one place. They look like they’re constantly on the move along with the moon! In reality, it’s not the stars that are moving. It’s you!
The Earth rotates on an axis. A full rotation is just shy of 24 hours. Humans use the 24-hour day cycle for simplicity. But, astronomers use a measurement known as sidereal time. Sidereal time measures the rotation of our planet in relation to the stars above.
The problem with astrophotography is that you must take long-exposure shots with a low ISO setting to get clear results. Light is one of the most important factors in photography. When you’re trying to capture star constellations or deep-sky objects, you have to let as much light into your camera as humanly possible.
Sure, you could set up your camera on a tripod and take an eight-minute snapshot. When you take a look at your image, you’ll see haziness and a slew of star trails. It doesn’t matter if you have the best camera for astrophotography, you will still get the haziness and star trails. That’s because you can’t take a stationary shot when the Earth is rotating. While those star trails are beautiful in their own right, it’s not an accurate representation of what’s shining in outer space.
So, how do you overcome the Earth’s rotation? With a star tracker!
Star trackers are just what they sound like. They follow sidereal time, account for the Earth’s rotation, and follow your target. Think of the accessory as an equatorial mount for a telescope. The only difference is that it’s motorized to prevent haziness or blur in your image.
These accessories mount onto a tripod and hold onto your DSLR camera. When turned on, the entire camera will follow the night sky. The movements are minute, but they make all the difference!
The Best Star Tracker for DSLR Cameras Reviewed
Whether you’re a seasoned photographer dipping your toes into the astronomy world for the first time or you’re completely new to stargazing, choosing the right star tracker is a must. There are plenty of great products on the market. Here are some of our favorites! Don’t forget to check out our buying guide below to get a better understanding of what these accessories have to offer.
Sky Watcher Star Adventurer Mini (SAM)
Sky Watcher is a trusted telescope brand. The company’s Star Adventurer Mini, lovingly referred to as SAM, is a great accessory to have in your astronomy arsenal. Weighing only 1.5 pounds, it’s small enough to toss into a camera bag. But, it’s still packing plenty of features.
The unit is Wi-Fi enabled. Connect it to your smartphone and use the available SynScan app to take control! The unit also has a built-in polar finder and a DSLR interface. The interface supports features like automatic shutter control.
Key Features:
- 6.6 pounds of payload
- Integrated Wi-Fi
- Android and iOS app
- Ball head adapter
- Battery-powered
- External USB plug
- DSLR interface
- Lightweight design
AVAILABLE ON AMAZON
iOptron SkyTracker Pro Camera Mount with iPolar Electronic Polar Finder
Here’s another great smartphone-enabled tracker. From iOptron, the unit is very simple in design. There are no complicated buttons. Most of the controls are located within the smartphone app. However, you can also take matters into your own hands and make manual adjustments to the altazimuth mount.
This particular unit has a high-capacity rechargeable battery. It only takes about five hours of charging to reach 80 percent capacity. When fully charged, the unit will continue to track the sky for up to 24 hours!
Key Features:
- 6.6-pound payload
- Rechargeable battery
- Up to 24 hours of runtime
- Four tracking rates
- Smooth altazimuth mount
- Smartphone compatible
- Precision polar finderscope
AVAILABLE ON AMAZON
iOptron SkyTracker Pro Camera Mount with iPolar Electronic Polar Finder
Also from iOptron, this unit looks very similar to the previous model. But, it’s hiding one important feature: the electronic polar scope. This scope takes care of all the alignment duties for you. There’s no need to find the North star or any other reference points.
The automated system will figure out where you are regardless of whether you’re in the Northern or Southern hemisphere. Best of all, you don’t have to have visible reference stars in the sky. The system is smart enough to align itself either way.
Key Features:
- 6.6-pound payload
- Electronic polar scope
- 24-hour runtime
- Rechargeable battery
- Quick reframing feature
- Plug and play operation
AVAILABLE ON AMAZON
Omegon Photo Mount Mini Track LX3 N
Want a unit that doesn’t rely on electricity? Check out this star tracker from Omegon. It’s a finely crafted tracker that’s entirely mechanical. The accessory utilizes tune springs for smooth and precise tracking. Just wind the spring system up to get up to 60 minutes of rotation!
Because it doesn’t use an internal or external power source, the tracker is very compact. It fits onto most tripods without any issues at all. Plus, it has simple spirit levels, friction screws, and quick-release plates for easy setup.
Key Features:
- 6.6 pounds of payload
- Fully mechanical
- 60-minute runtime
- Lightweight and compact
- Built-in spirit levels
- Strong friction screws
AVAILABLE ON AMAZON
Sky-Watcher Star Adventurer Astro Pack
This star tracker is great for wide-angle photography, time-lapsed shots, and more. It works with most DLSR cameras and small telescopes. Thanks to the 11-pound payload, it should have no problem holding most setups.
There are a total of four tracking rates available. You can follow celestial tracking, lunar tracking, solar tracking, and timelapse. The different modes offer unique tracking speeds to follow your target. Pair the tracker up with an intervalometer and you can take longer exposures without any image distortion.
Key Features:
- 11 pounds of payload
- Works with cameras and small telescopes
- Equatorial base
- Powered by AA batteries
- External Mini-USB port
- DSLR interface
- Four tracking modes
AVAILABLE ON AMAZON
iOptron SkyGuider Pro Camera Mount
The SkyGuider Pro is a robust star tracker that can handle large gear without missing a beat. It has an 11-pound payload capacity. Not only that, but it comes with an adjustable and removable counterweight kit.
Like iOptron’s other tracking systems, this one uses the iPolar electronic scope. It automatically finds the celestial poles in both the North and South hemisphere. The system is also smartphone-enabled. With an Android device or iPhone, you can fine-tune the alignment to get things just right.
Key Features:
- 11 pounds of payload
- Rechargeable battery
- 20-hour runtime
- Four tracking rates
- Up to 144X sidereal speed
- Smartphone enabled
- Electronic polar scope
- Removable counterweight
AVAILABLE ON AMAZON
Omegon Autoguider Mini Track LX2 N/S with Tripod Head OM8Omegon Mount Mini Track LX2 Bundle
With this Omegon star tracker, you can capture nightscapes however you want. This is a versatile system that’s not confined to one type of camera or lens. You can utilize a lightweight wide-angle lens or a robust telephoto lens up to 300mm.
You won’t find any batteries or charging ports here. The system is entirely mechanical. Just pull the included cord to wind the springs up and get 60 minutes of runtime. Before you do that, peak through the sight hole of the polar finder to get things aligned.
Key Features:
- 4.4 pounds of payload
- Mechanically operated
- 60-minute runtime
- Simple polar finder tube
- Comes with tripod ball head
- Spirit level
- Flexible use
AVAILABLE ON AMAZON
Vixen Optics 35505 Polarie Star Tracker
The Vixen Polarie is a pocket-sized astrophotography mount with a lot to offer. While it only weighs about 1.6 pounds, it can hold a camera or refractor telescope that weighs up to 7 pounds.
The star tracking device has a built-in polar scope that offers an 8.9-degree field of view. This makes finding your reference star much easier. Once you have the system aligned, you can choose between four different tracking rates and use the system to take photos with long exposure times.
Key Features:
- 7-pound payload
- Works with standard tripods
- Durable and compact design
- Four tracking rates
- 8.9-degree field of view
- Battery-powered
AVAILABLE ON AMAZON
SLIK ECH-630 Astro Tracker
Here’s a compact star tracker that you can slip onto most tripods. It’s very compact and lightweight enough to add to your standard camera bag.
The unit features a small LCD screen. You can use it to choose the appropriate tracking rate. The star tracker is good for time-lapse photography. You can also use it for several minute exposures. The tracker is powered by simple AA batteries, which provide up to 20 hours of runtime.
Key Features:
- Up to 11-pound payload capacity
- Two tracking rates
- 20-hour runtimes
- Built-in LCD menu screen
- Battery-powered
- External micro USB port
- Two-hole polar scope
AVAILABLE ON AMAZON
Celestron StarSense Automatic Alignment Telescope Accessory
This accessory from Celestron is a bit different than others on this list. It’s not a standalone astrophotography mount. Instead, it’s a star tracking and alignment system that can work with your existing gear. Use it with your Celestron telescope. Or, attach it to a Canon or Nikon camera.
Whatever you use it with, this system is Wi-Fi enabled. It connects to the SkyPortal app. Using this app, you can find over 100,000 celestial objects. Turn your camera onto time-lapse mode and adjust the shutter speed to get some killer shots throughout the night.
Key Features:
- Accessory tracking system
- Works with SkyPortal app
- Wi-Fi enabled
- Quick automatic alignment
- Works with telescopes and camera mounts
AVAILABLE ON AMAZON
Feature to Look for in a Star Tracker
When you’re shopping for the right star tracker for your needs, there are a few things to keep in mind. The following factors could impact the tracker’s performance and capabilities.
Power Source
Star trackers need some form of power to keep running. The most common power source you’re going to see out there is a battery. Battery-powered units offer the most flexibility, as you’re not tied down to a power cord.
Corded units are available, too. While not the most portable devices on the market, corded star trackers could be beneficial on a rooftop or deck. As long as they are plugged in, these trackers can continue running all night long.
Finally, there are mechanical star trackers. These models don’t utilize electricity at all. Instead, they rely on a manual spring winder.
Maximum Runtime
Chances are, you’re going to be taking photos on a dark hill or field with very little light pollution around. You’ll be away from power sources, so you must ensure that your tracker can last throughout your entire photography session.
All batteries have limitations. Scrutinize a tracker’s battery life to prepare yourself for your journey. If you need more juice, you can always invest in a model that uses replaceable batteries or external battery packs. But, that’s another thing you will have to carry with you.
Payload Capacity
This is one of the most important factors to think about. DSLR cameras can get pretty hefty. This is especially true if you attach a small telescope or high-zoom lens. The last thing you want to do is overload the tracker’s servo.
Applying too much weight could lead to reduced tracking rates. The motor could slow down, ultimately throwing off your shot. Even with a 30 second exposure, a slow tracker will create star trails and blur.
It’s also important to think about weight distribution. Star trackers are relatively compact. Tacking a sizable DSLR or mirrorless camera on top could force the entire setup to topple over.
In these cases, having a counterweight is important. Luckily, you can easily take advantage of the counterweights on standard equatorial mounts to provide some balance.
Focal Length Limitations
Looking to capture some deep-sky targets? Deep-sky astrophotography is even more challenging than just capturing star constellations or the Milky Way galaxy.
Many star trackers provide information about the maximum useful focal length. If you use a camera lens that goes beyond these limitations, you could start to see issues with tracking accuracy. More accurate units will offer higher focal lengths, making them suitable for deep space photography.
Polar Finder
Before you can turn the star tracker on, you need to align it. Polar alignment allows the tracker to compensate for the Earth’s rotation effectively.
Get a star tracker with an integrated polar scope. The polar alignment scope is usually illuminated and found on the side of the tracker. Use it to find an appropriate star. In the Northern hemisphere, that would be Polaris, also known as the North Star. Look through the polar scope and adjust the declination bracket to point the tracker in the right direction. Once everything is lined up, you can turn the unit on and trust that the movement is accurate.
Weight and Overall Portability
Last, but not least, it’s good to consider the unit’s portability. Your camera is hard enough to carry to your stargazing spot. You don’t want to add too much bulk.
Keep an eye out for compact and lightweight units and tracking mounts. Models that fit inside your existing camera bag are ideal. But, you can also get trackers that come with their own carrying case.
Conclusion
A star tracker is a must-have for any astrophotography enthusiast! These accessories look simple. But, they’re packed with some advanced technology that can keep you aligned with the stars as you snap away. Pick up one of our recommended star tracking devices and start using the cosmos as inspiration for your next photography session!