Skywatcher Star Adventurer GTi Payload Capacity Tips And Tricks
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 28 ส.ค. 2024
- Links to SkyWatcher GTi Mounts below.
I go over different weight capacity setups and discover that the IOptron Skyguider Pro 3 lbs counterweight fits the GTi counterweight shaft. Most likely a necessity for lightweight dslr/lens configurations. #astrophotography #newvideo #tutorial
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I have a very similar setup, but with an ASIAir Plus (lower profile). I mounted theASIAir on the dovetail so it was more bottom heavy on the scope side, and that did the trick for me.
@@RickySookermany I use a mounting bracket now that lowers the profile and added a Focuser. The single counterweight is enough to balance it now, but it’s tight at the limit.
You can try mounting the guide scope under the front of the dovetail. Would bring center if gravity towards the center.
I’ve removed the dual dovetail since making this video, and it has a lower profile. I’m able to balance with the 1 counterweight now.
The intro with logo was awesome too! I can't wait to see your channel blow up in popularity too! You are well on your way!!!!
Thanks, Joseph! I appreciate it so much!
I just went and shared your channel to all my astrophotography groups on Facebook! Hopefully you get some subs out of it! I truly appreciate the time you've taken to help me and everyone who has questions about astrophotography!
Thanks so much! Astrophotography has such a great community. I learned everything I know by watching TH-cam videos and reading Cloudy Nights. I also learned a lot from those Facebook groups as well. I figured it was time to give back. Thanks for sharing!
I found that for very fine weight adjustment (adding weight), Harbor Freight has 1"x2"x1/4" magnets that give it that little extra to make it work. And, Yes, I have 2 Ioptron weights that I use on my EQ6-R and my Meade LX85. when needed😀
Cool, I’ll check those out!
I was just thinking "magnets!" Home Depot has all sorts of sizes.
@djaa7 I think they updated the mount and it comes with 2 counterweights now. A few people have told me that anyway. The little Skyguider pro counterweight works great for small setups.
@@AstroDanno yes. They split the weight to 3.5 & 1.5 . But if you still can't draw balance. Magnets work great. Especially for micro adjustments. I do it on my gimbal.
@djaa7 if I ever run a bigger scope on there, I might have to try that.
Agree with the dual saddle reply. Also, If you get a longer dovetail bar for your Redcat, perhaps you could attach your guide scope to the front of the dovetail (with clamp), and put the asiair somewhere else, lower in the mount. That would lower the center of gravity. Small setups always give a bit of a headache regarding balance. Good luck, keep the vids coming :)
I looked at those as well. They are pretty heavy as well. This guidescope rides about as high as the one on my ED102. Definitely a bit much for the GTi, but it has been working for me. Thanks!
I just got this mount yesterday and it came with a 1.5 lbs and 3.5 lbs weights. Hopefully this info is decision chsnger for some people.
That’s good that they did that.
I got mine last week with the tripod and it came with the two weights as well and the extension.
Just purchased this mount. It came with 2 weights, 1.5 lb and 3.5 lb.
Wow, that’s good they did that!
Where? I haven't seen that version anywhere
I just bought the mount from a dealer who just got a shipment. There is actually a sticker with the details of the 2 weights attached to the manual page listing the parts in the package.
@@MF100CA according to the website the GTi Mount only comes with the 5lb weight apparently
I just got mine last Monday (5/23/2023) and it came with the same weight setup. Looks like a permanent change.
It comes with two weights now. A 3.5 and 1.6 counterweights. My camera and lens weigh about 7.2 lbs and I have no problems.
That’s awesome. I’m glad they did that. Much easier for dslr/lens users.
DUDE this video was THE SHI*!! Loved the "shout out"!!!!
Thanks for bringing up the dslr/kit lens question. Good to know there is a solution now!
I agree. The counter weight is to light for the listed max weight limit. I stuck a bunch of RC airplane self adhesive .25 OZ ballast weights I had laying around on the factory counter weight to even it out. I have the similar setup as yours in only with the Williams GT71/ASI553MC-P.
I think they should’ve had two 3 pound counterweights. One for light set ups, and two for max load. My EQ6 came with two weights. I use one weight for light scope and two for my edge 8.
I brought the GTi about 3 months ago here in Australia and mine came with 2 weights a 0.7kg and a 1.6kg weight as is the new specs for the 2023 models, I use the 0.7kg counter weight when I have just my DSLR and lense on works perfect
I’m wondering if they are just doing this in certain regions. That’s a good move on Skywatcher’s part.
Yeah I liked it, I’m watching your backlash video I’ve used my mount maybe 12-15 times and it has a bit of backlash already gonna have to do your fix
@@xXAussieYakerXx someone had commented that they had changed up the design to help with the backlash. I haven’t seen a newer model yet.
Mine came the same way. 2 weights.
Right up my ally Danno. Thank you. I ordered the 3lb counterweight from HPS a little while ago. Just a quick question. If I’m using a similar setup, I don’t need to balance in the DEC axis (with the black clutch with thumb grips). Just balancing in the RA axis will be good enough? What if I’m using the slightly longer lens like the 135mm or the 300mm? Man, your videos are so what I’m looking for. Thank you.
P.S. if you ever do a video with the GTi and a camera and telephoto lens from start to finish, please tag me. I’d love to see that video. I’m sure there are other noobs like myself that’ll benefit as well.
Thanks! You should be ok with a small lens like a 50mm without balancing. I would try to balance that 135 and 300 because they are a little heavier.
The ioptron counterweight bar has an extension, the red part of the shaft, unscrew the red part and screw it into the GTi shaft, I think it will fit and provide extra extension for the weight
I thought I tried that but maybe I didn’t. I’ll give it a shot.
The extension that comes with the William Optics equatorial wedge works with a thread reducer, M10x1.5 to M12x1.75 - that's what I have as an extension on my SA GTI counterweight bar. You could probably do the same with that red iOptron extension bar of you knew the thread size.
mine actually came with 2 weights...... i just got mine yesterday ...... i have a 1.5 lb and 3.5 lb...... so it can be seperated in 2 different weights ..... i wonder if that was what the delay was for which was to bring an update to the problem that you mentioned
That’s good they did that, now it shouldn’t be an issue with smaller setups.
Cable tie all your wires from the counter weight side then across to the telescope. When I get mine I am going to make the weight shaft longer, good idea. They could have done 2 things. Bevel one side of the weight so it passes the adjustment screw and still be 5 lbs or made that 5lb weight half the diameter and twice as long so you could extend it past the bottom of the shaft if you needed to giving you more balance power for your telescope.
Yeah, they could’ve made some tweaks to that weight and it would’ve helped a lot.
I want to get this mount, maybe I would look at casting some custom led (Pb) weight, which could be painted or maybe 3d print an enclosure. Just a suggestion!
It’s a good mount even though it’s not perfect. There are definitely some workarounds.
I watched this as it was shipping. Thought sh!t. They sent it with 2 counter weights. They listened.
That’s awesome they did that. Much easier to balance smaller rigs.
I purchased a heavier counter weight. The other option is to mount the ASI air to the counter weight rod with a custom bracket.
I lowered the profile on my redcat, I can now just use the supplied counterweight, but it is definitely maxed out.
Post videos with tips-setting, for taking photos with just the dslr set up and tracker!!
I tried running it with the SynScan app, and I didn’t have a lot of success. I’m familiar with that app, that’s how I ran my eq6 when I first got it.I mostly use the ASIair to run this mount and my imaging sequence. I might try just using a dslr and lens on it this summer and see if I can get it to work right.
Nice Michael Scott reference
Dammit, Dwight, that’s my line!
Awesome video, thanks for the tips. I have been considering this mount for a while, but am concerned about the balance on the lower end of the weight. My setup is quite simple - 60D + kit lenses (and Takumar primes 135mm up to 300mm). What is the weight of your camera + 50mm? Any idea what screw fitting/bore diameter the counter weight tube is? Cheers
Thanks! That Canon T5i and 50mm lens is very light, but I didn’t weigh it. You’ll probably be ok with those prime lenses. I believe the bore diameter is 20mm on that counterweight and the IOptron counterweight. They just used different size screws on the shafts.
@@AstroDanno I would like to get a spare counterweight shaft - the GTi specs only list the 20mm diameter and 213mm length but not the screw fitting. Have you measured it and the IOptron ? Alternative is buy a thread adapter to fit another makers shaft.
@@tma2001 I didn’t measure it, but the Skyguider counterweight shaft thread is slightly smaller than the GTi’s. So if it’s an M6, the GTi is probably an M8…. I just measured it with my calipers. The GTi outside thread looks like it is 11mm. I’m not 100% sure on that, but that’s what it looked like.
It’s your dual saddle on top bro. It’s too high and the center of gravity is too tall. Get a different one, then your weight distribution would be better.
I was looking at another one that should be a bit lighter and lower profile.
You should be able to get a Thread Adapter so you could use the other longer counterweight shaft.
Wish I knew how to print parts. Could save some money in this hobby. 😂
could you put a weight on camera side if you have a light setup? like a sony a 6000 and the kit lens? ofc without going over the max load
If you could figure out a way to get the weight on there and stabilize it.
Thank you for this, I'm looking to order the GTI as soon as my taxes are done, I do have a Sony a6000 and a 150x600 lens I'm hoping I can balance on there, also with the second part of your video I'm hoping I can use my a6000 and a 13 mm lens for some Milky Way stuff do you think you're set up would balance okay with something like that or do I have to find a smaller weight?
You could try it without that collar on the counterweight shaft in the low latitude position and see if it will balance. It might work without a smaller weight.
Hi Danno, which dimension has the srew at the shaft Buttom, perhaps for a liitle extension? this could slve the problem too..
It seems like skywatcher would offer a slightly longer bar, but I’ve seen people saying their GTi comes with 2 counterweights now. I just try not to run anything too heavy on the GTi anymore.
And I’m not sure what the size is. I tried my IOptron extension, and it was a slightly different size. Probably just a few millimeters difference.
see I think I'm going to have the opposite issue where the telescope is going to be too heavy. I was wondering what if I increase the counterweight. If I do that can I go higher than the 11 lb limit as long as it's balanced?
I haven’t tried a rig over the weight limit, but one of mine is very close to 11 lbs. Your tracking accuracy might suffer going over the weight limit.
Thanks, I was thinking of getting one seems it won't cope with my camera & lens.
It might be possible if you slide that weight all the way up without the collar on it. It was pretty close in that configuration.
@@AstroDanno LOL I'm using a MTO1000 on a D850 + battery grip. Being underweight isn't the problem.
@@davidbover7734 😂 that should do the trick then!
Just a heads up about the weight. I don’t think the payload weight is minus the counter weight. I think the payload is 11lbs w/o the weight.
Yep. When I was saying it’s “maxed out” with my rig, I was referring to the ability to balance it with the original counterweight. My center of gravity is high with the dual dovetail setup, so that does come into play.
It's not the total weight that throws off the balance, it's the moment arm. That's the distance from the center where the weight is. If you lower the guide scope and ASI air, it should balance better. edit- and the new GTi's come with 2 counter weights, a 1.5 pound and 3.5 pound.
I heard they started adding 2 weights. I’ve since reconfigured my scope setup since making this video. It has a lower profile with an EAF.
Luckily now they deliver it with 2 different weighs
I’m glad they started doing that. Makes small setups much easier.
what is the tripod you're using?
A Slik DX 700.
What if u try without the counterweight shaft ?
It’s not heavy enough. I tried it with only the shaft and it wasn’t heavy enough.
@@AstroDanno can I try it with 1.5 kg counterweight will it work?. Can't find any dealers in my country that sells ioptron one's
@@theunmotivatedphotographer1348 you can try using the upper counterweight shaft and see if that works. The only scenario that I would need the IOptron weight is for a dslr and 50mm lens. It’s pretty light.
What tripod are you using?
I was using a Slik 700 DX, but I started using my old IOptron Skyguider Pro tripod with the GTi lately.
Mine starts guiding well, then the RA starts bouncing in zig zag all over the place... Not impressed at all. Well balanced, PA etc.
How heavy is your payload? I try to keep mine below the limit.
What tripod model is that?
Slik DX 700 I think
what's the issue again? 7.8 pounds is still under the GTi payload specs of 11 pounds? also take the asiair OFF hang it on the tripod
I’ve lowered the profile of this rig since making this video. It works with the s supplied counterweight now. I could still use an extra counterweight if I decide to try a heavier rig.