Skywatcher Star Adventurer GTi Mount & Tripod

Skywatcher Star Adventurer GTi Mount & Tripod
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Skywatcher Star Adventurer GTi Mount & TripodSkywatcher Star Adventurer GTi Mount & TripodSkywatcher Star Adventurer GTi Mount & TripodSkywatcher Star Adventurer GTi Mount & Tripod
Price  £525.00
List Price  £599.00
Saving Of  £74.00
(Inc. 20% VAT)
+

Model:  20327
Brand:  Skywatcher

Availability  

  

Generally In Stock, Please Confirm Before Ordering

       
2 Year Warranty On All New Items
(Excluding Batteries & Globes)

  (1 Review)



Since its introduction the Star Adventurer has been at the forefront of the lightweight, portable astro-imaging revolution. And now, with the Star Adventurer GTi, we take the next step with full Go-To performance in a compact package.

The exciting new Star Adventurer GTi features a built-in illuminated polar scope for precision alignment, interfaces for USB, autoguider, optional SynScan hand controller, and SNAP shutter control for your DSLR (programmable via Sky-Watcher’s free SynScan Pro app for iOS and Android). The Star Adventurer GTi also includes a dual-position counterweight for use at low latitudes as well as full smartphone control via Wi-Fi.

With the added Go-To feature plus multiple tracking rates including lunar, solar, and sidereal, the heavens are yours to capture and explore.

With its 5kg payload capacity, the Star Adventurer GTi is well-equipped to handle your DLSR or mirrorless camera sporting a wide-angle or telephoto lens plus accessories, a small aperture astrograph with a dedicated astronomy camera, or simply an OTA for visual use via its 45mm dovetail saddle.

The Star Adventurer GTi is the perfect mount for the astro-photographer that wants the ultimate in both performance and portability.

(The Star Adventurer GTi is also available as a mount head only, code 20326).

PRODUCT FEATURES:
Controller: Via Wi-Fi using free SynScan App for iOS and Android devices or Synscan Hand Controller (available separately)
SynScan App Database: Total 10,000+ Objects. Deep Sky Objects: 10759, including Messier, NGC, IC, Caldwell Catalogues, Named DSOs, Named Stars: 305, Double Stars: 55, Solar system objects: 7 planets, Sun , Moon. (Unlimited objects when working with a 3rd party planetarium software).
SynScan App's Other Features: Tonight's Best Sky Tour, Point and Go with a mobile device, Identification of Celestial Objects, Remote control over Internet, User defined objects, Pointing Accuracy Enhancement (PAE)
Tracking rates: Sidereal, Solar and Lunar
Built in polar scope with illuminator
Dual counterweight positions for use at low latitudes
Latitude Adjustment 0~70°
Interfaces: USB, ST4 Auto-guiding, SynScan Hand Control Port (Synscan handset available separately), DSLR Shutter Release Port, Built-in Wi-Fi Module
Compatible with 3/8" tripod thread
45mm Dovetail Saddle
Free firmware upgrades
Supplied with 2.3kg Counterweight
Adjustable Stainless Steel Tripod with Accessory Tray and extension pier
Counterweight Bar: 20mm diameter, steel
R.A. worm gear 180 teeth, 92.5mm diameter. R.A. wheel gear 15.8mm diameter
Dec worm gear 144 teeth, 73.6mm diameter. Dec wheel gear 10.8mm diameter
DC Servo Motors
Resolution RA: 0.35 arc-second; Dec: 0.44 arc-second
Power Supply: 8 x AA internal battery pack (batteries not included) or external 12v DC source
Payload Capacity 5kg (11 lb)
Mount head weight 2.6Kg

Average Rating (1 Review):  
Write a Review and share your opinions!

Rating:  
AWESOME PORTABLE MOUNT!!!
29 September 2023  | 

Very easy to assemble and set-up, Not happy with the plastic cover for the Polar scope, though the Polar scope was already aligned.
The mount does have a bit of RA backlash freeplay, but you can peel back the Patent sticker to reveal an access hole, for you to tighten the 2mm allen bolt, which totally eliminates the freeplay.
I've got WIFI working very easily with my old laptop and my smart phone, using the dedicated Synscan Pro App, but you can use any Syscan handset, using the hand controller port as well.
You can connect USB for computer connection, and it has a great snap port, so that you can control your DSLR camera using Synscan PRO app.
Mount is so light and very sturdy that it was good enough to hold my RVO 60ED Refractor with RVO 32mm Guidescope with ZWO ASI120MM Guide camera, 0.8x FF/FR, Canon 600D, with Pegasus Astro Buddy power box with a total weight of 3.8Kg, the mount held superbly, with it's 5kg payload, it handled my set-up with ease.
This mount kit does include 2 serperate counterweights (0.7Kg & 1.6Kg) which they have stopped using the single 2.5Kg, so the mount is ideal for mounting DSLR cameras.
The tripod is way better than the standard black Sky Adventurer tripod.
The GTI mount head now includes a level bubble.
The battery cover is not great with a small screw holding the batteries in place, but battery life on the tracking lasted me at least 2 days of tracking, Highly recomend High grade 2500mA Rechargeable batteries for this mount, as this mount takes 8 AAs.
Both clutches had good grip, though I feel Skywatcher should have installed a dual vixen and losmandy dovetal bracket to prevent marring on your dovetail bracket, but I'm guessing they wanted to keep manufacturing costs down.
Overall with just a few minor adjustments on the RA freeplay, everything worked a treat, practically straight out of the box, and with autoguiding via a ST-4 lead, through PHD Guiding I was achieving 0.4 RMS on the guiding values which is very impressive performance for a lightweight portable mount.
The mount, being very portable and very easy to transport, I would've expected something like a dedicated Skywatcher GTI travel case or soft bag for it, as the box where the mount is stored is just a normal cardboard box, so I'm hoping Skywatcher would make such product, has I can see this mount being very popular.
Highly Recomended!! If you want a Star Adventurer, than save your money and go straight to the top of the range, this GTI package has everything you need for Astrophotography, So make sure you buy yours from RVO today!!

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6 of 6 people found this review helpful.

Some items that are showing as in stock are in stock at our holding warehouses, not at the shop. To double check the stock levels at the shop, please contact us on 01909774369 or sales@rothervalleyoptics.co.uk.

The delivery times for most items is 1 - 2 days but again, please double check stock levels on important orders before placing an order via the website.

The delivery costs for courier next day are for mainland UK only. If you live in the Scottish Highlands/Islands, Channel Islands or Northern Ireland, then a shipping surchage will apply. please contact us for prices. Smaller items can still go 1st class via Royal Mail.

Please note that if you are wanting to take advantage of our Saturday and Sunday timed services or next day pre 12 or pre 10:30 services, you MUST check that the stock is here at the shop before placing orders. Also, orders using the Saturday and Sunday services must be placed before 1pm the previous working day. Also, please remember to check that the stock is here at the shop before placing orders. If the stock is not at the shop, we won't be able to ship on any of the timed services. 

Please note International customers will need to contact us for a shipping price prior to ordering via the website. We don't ship all items internationally. It is at our discretion what we ship outside of the UK. This all depends on the size and weight of the items. Please get in touch with us for any postage costs. Please note we do NOT ship telescopes or heavy items outside of the UK. This is due to massive postage costs and problems regarding returns.

If you have any questions regarding stock levels or delivery, please get in touch.

Zygo Interferometer Testing For ED Refractor Telescopes!

We are extremely pleased to announce our Zygo Interferometer is now installed and ready for use! Our experienced staff can test refractor lenses up to 120mm aperture and provide a comprehensive 2 page report showing the optical quality and Strehl ratio, plus much more information. We are using the very latest Zygo MX software to provide a more detailed report compared to other standard reports.

 

The interferometer is essentially a measuring instrument. Within the interferometer is a calibrated laser that is pointed through the optical test surface, then onto a high quality reference sphere, then back through the test subject then to an internal camera which gives us the measurement on the screen. From this, we can adjust the position of the test optic and the reference sphere to obtain a perfectly calibrated system. The more central the laser to the test optic and then on return, the better and more accurate reading and measurement we can take. This takes a lot of adjustment to get the best results from the optical surface. Once the measurement has been taken, we are provided with a series of results that show the optical quality of the surface plus other information. Continue reading for an explanation of the individual values and you can also see a test report that was done on one of our RVO Horizon 60 OTAs. 

We are offering certain telescopes with a Zygo test at an extra cost. Mainly ED doublets and triplets. All available telescopes with a Zygo test report are listed here. Just select Zygo Test Report from the drop down box at the top of the listing and we will test the optics in house and provide a full 2 page report with your scope. This will show you the optical quality of your telescope optics. We can also offer this service on your refractor telescope. Please get in touch for more details about this. 

At Rother Valley Optics, one thing we pride ourselves on is customer service and quality of our equipment. When we test your telescope, we will ensure that it is of the highest quality otherwise, we will reject the scope under our strict quality control and test another model for your peace of mind. One of the main values to look at when testing a refractor is the Strehl ratio. The higher this number, the higher quality lens you have. At Rother Valley Optics, we will guarantee the highest possible Strehl ratio for your telescope.  We will aim to provide 0.95 Strehl or higher on Takahashi, RVO Horizon, William Optics and many more! Generally, the higher the Strehl ratio, the lower the Astigmatism and Coma meaning a better image quality from your instrument. 

Other measurements such as the PV and RMS are important too. With these measurements, the lower the number the better as it shows less curvature on the lens. The flatter an optical lens, the better it will perform. The PV rating (Peak To Valley) is a measurement from the highest point (Peak) to the lowest point (Valley). From this we get the RMS (Root, Mean, Square). This is a similar figure to the PV and measured exactly the same way. The RMS is basically an average height difference from the PV so again, the lower the better. As you can see form the example below, we measured an RMS of just 0.027 wave which is a very good value.

We also measure the Power with our systems which is essentially the error from the reference sphere to the test optic. The reference sphere we use on our system is a very high quality sphere so the closer to zero the Power, the less error between the 2 elements thus ensuring a higher quality optical surface. 

You will also see some more values such as Astigmatism and Coma. Again, these are measured by the interferometer when we take measurements of the optical surface after adjustment. These are values which ideally would be at 0 but as our test optics are all curved lenses, there will always be astigmatism and coma present. The lower the number, the less of these aberations you will effectively see but with most refractors, you can buy field flatteners which will compensate for the coma anyway. The astigmatisms value is explaining the error between the symmetrical curvature of the lens. Basically, no lens will be perfectly symmetrical, the lower the astigmatism, the more symmetrical the lens surface is. 

Once the Zygo test report has been completed, the optical alignment is thoroughly tested and tuned to ensure they are spot on before they leave us. 

All available telescopes are on the website at the link below and ones we've tested already that are available straight away are also listed.

https://www.rothervalleyoptics.co.uk/zygo-tested-refractors.html

Here is an example of the test what we provide. This was a test on one of our Horizon 60 ED OTA's.

For any questions about this amazing new service, please either call 01909774369 or email sales@rothervalleyoptics.co.uk.

 


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Since its introduction the Star Adventurer has been at the forefront of the lightweight, portable astro-imaging revolution. And now, with the Star Adventurer GTi, we take the next step with full Go-To performance in a compact package.

 

 

 

Rother Valley Optics Ltd
Rother Valley Optics Ltd