Just the right video I was looking for. Thanks. Couple of questions: 1) Does it matter where you attach the pointer? Should it be as close to the center as possible or something like that? Also, Why do you need to level your tripod, if you're going to be tilting the MSM up and down and laterally to get it aligned? Thanks again!
Wow... Very nice and much informative Video. Just a query, is there any change in setting to be done on the Tracker/Rotator based upon the exposure time which we decide to take for star trail? Thanks in advance.
If you're trying to take more exaggerated star trails than what nature will give you... turn the rotator to the opposite Hemisphere. So if your in the north set it to S
Thanks for that. But not that. I am exploring this MSM Tracker on theor website and I saw 1 know with different seconds mentioned in the side. How does that work? And what is its importance and when and how to use it?
Great video!!! I have been using this tracker for a year and just spotted your video. I only to see if I could pick up any hits. I shoot from 14mm up to 85mm with the tracker. It's so portable and works great. Complements on the video from setup to editing in post was very well explained. Nice work!!!
Great Video my friend. I have the SkyGuider pro with the Ipolar camera for Polaris. This was difficult at the beginning but after about 4 tries at it I finally got it. Amazing for deep Sky. But I also love landscape Astro. This Move Shoot Move seems tobe the answer for wide angle shots. Makes Polar Alignment simple fast and easy. Thats what I really need for landscape Astro. The SkyGuider Pro will work for wide angle but could take 10 to 15 minutes to set up. Also your explanation on Iso F stop and Shutter is everything I need. Thank you for explaining that to us. I looks like a exsposure triangle but made simple. This was some thing I was trying to figure out in the field by trial and error. Using a lens best Aputure with low ISO and long shutter speed is the best way to go. This was always on my mind you really helped me with that chart. Also showing us how to blend 2 photos is the cherry on the top. I have been doing Astrophotography for about 18 months and lerning 100% from TH-cam . You have created one of the best tutorials I have seen. I also like the fact you have a EOS 6D like mine. The reds in you Sky photo look incredible and motivates me to get out and shoot. Regards Sean
Are there any changes in using the rotator with Omd em1 m3? Mainly the setting up with the cables to camera/rotator and Intervalometer? Thank you for your videos….
I'm using a Fuji X- T2 with a 55-200 zoom, and getting very noticeable star trails using the MSM. Any idea why? The camera, lens and ball head may be close to the weight limit, not sure. Thank you!
Its so hard to say... make sure your tripod is sturdy, be careful aligning, tighten. Everything that could be tightened, turn off lens stabilization and ibis... shoot shorter frames and work your way up.
Thanks for the video. One issue that I just can't seem to understand is, once the unit is aligned and the camera is attached, do you turn the rotator on and just leave it on and it is running while I adjust the camera and compose the shot? How about if I want to take a different composition from the same spot. Turn the unit off or let it continue to run and re-compose? Thanks for any advice.
You don't need to do tripod leveling, you just need to do only polar aliment. Tripod leveling required only for the wide panoramas. Also, how did you figure out that 60 sec its two EV stops from 15 seconds on 24mm lens? Please advise. Yuriy
A little late to the party😂, but basically every time you double your exposure time it adds 1 stop. 1sec to 2sec is one stop. Likewise 10min to 20min (one an extreme example) is still only one stop.
What did you stack your sky images with and did you have any foreground in those shots ? How did you get rid of it ? Is it a single image for the foreground ? Thanks.
I stacked everything using median stack in photoshop... there was almost no land and the little bit of the land was blurry and is hidden behind the foreground. Yes, single image for foreground with the tracker off
@@chasingluminance Thanks. I've got the MSM plus a couple of other mounts so far I've not had much luck with the MSM always getting star trails but with my other mounts I don't ?
Why does the tripod need to be level? the rotator will be perpendicular to the North Star right? and it'll spin? does it matter how the tripod is oriented?
I've actually rethought this since making this video.... it does not have to be level. for some other models of tracker leveling is important... but you're right, not with the MSM
I've been trying to learn proper masking for years. All the other videos I found either skipped the important parts or were too complicated to follow. I can't thank you enough!
I know that may be a stupid question but I guess I'm to hyped to think. When I polar align the tracker what do I need to do to point my camera in the area I want to photograph?
You need a head (or similar) below the tracker to orient the tracker to the north star. The head that sits on top of the tracker's turntable can be pointed where ever you want to.
Thanks again for the great tutorial. MSM just arrived in the postbox. Watching that video and getting ready for when the tripod will arrive :D Again, thank you for the video. Will get some dry setups now! Wishing everything is okay on your side.
Where do you think the point of diminishing returns is with long exposures? Where the benefits of the longer exposure are overcome with long exposure noise (hot pixels etc)? Shooting on a Z6 I see the dual gain sensor data says iso 800 is the sweet spot, any advantages to trying to get to ISO 100?
Great video… a quick question… if u are taking multiple images w 4 min exposure for stacking … camera will be rotated somewhat anti clock wise on msm … so for subsequent exposures do u start by repositioning camera to the left again. ? OR do u need more than one shot ( any need for stacking w msm) ?
@@chasingluminance it's OK mate I understand we all have responsibilities and can't be on TH-cam or social media all day. It is very much appreciated when you do get to answer a question.
Thank you for sharing this really well made video! I am looking forward to buy the move-shoot-move tracker for myself (I already got the Sky Watcher Star Adventurer, but it`s a bit too heavy for night hikes in the mountains). Best wishes from Austria!
Hello, I am new to astrophotography. This is a great tutorial. I have a Leica CL(APSC Crop Sensor camera), I cannot set a shutter speed beyond 30 sec. I have two lenses 1. 18 mm(28 mm eqv) at f/2.8 and 2. 35 mm(52 mm eqv) at f/1.4 . Please let me know if it is worth getting a star tracker. Can I stack multiple frames at 30 sec exposure with the star tracker to get a decent noiseless image? Thanks
You may need to get a remote to control your bulb exposures and get over 30 seconds. Try shooting with that 18mm lens next new moon at 20 ish seconds and see how it goes. Stacking helps for sure! Then when you're ready, a tracker will help take things to the next level
@@chasingluminance Thank you so much for your prompt response. I had tried shooting with the intervalometer on my camera. It can only do up to a max of 30 sec exposure. I stacked 5 Milky Way images on new moon at f2.8 ISO 12800 at 20 sec exposure with the 18 mm lens. The result was decent, It still had noise. Unfortunately, my camera does not have the bulb mode to extend the exposure. Should I go for the startracker to do 30 sec exposure without trails? Please let me know.
Great review and instructions! Thank you! Did you also try longer lenses on the tracker like the EF 70-200-2.8 or even newer lenses like the RF 100-500? would be interesting I guess!
3 kilos it is! You should be ok. That being said, this little unit is best suited for wide ish lenses. Have you joined the Facebook group? There's some great examples of people pushing the limits on there
Hi there, Im about to order the new Nomad MoveShootMove after seeing many of your awesome videos, but what I was wondering..... Are startrackers only for stil fotos? or can you use them for shooting timelapses as wel? And I dont mean as a panning tool. Or will those timelapse look weird cause the sky will be still and the earth looks like its moving? Im from one the worst lightpoluted places on earth but I do want to shoot some (timelapse) skies at night. therefor tracker.
I've had mine a few months and its been great. One thing I've been wondering, I should have tried it by now really.... Anyhow, does it matter what side you clamp the laser on and how high up or down the side it is screwed? You would think it would have some markings but it doesn't. Cheers, Chris
I am confused by the laser pointed opposite where the camera lens is pointed . great video BTW! As long as pointer at north star, can you point the camera anywhere?
@@chasingluminance Thanks for the info, I just ordered my MSM, and can't wait to go out to the desert east of San Diego, CA where there is hardly any light pollution at all. I'll be using a Nikon DF with some AF-D primes. Cheers!
Hey thank you so much for the video, got one of these coming in the mail. Just for clarity, after you have the tracker polar aligned, with the ball head mount for the camera - can you point that into any part of the sky and get tracked skies?
For those who lives on southern hemisphere, we don´t have polaris. will it be too much dificult to align ? And I have a tripod that already has a ball head. I need to buy another ball head to use this ?
I used the laser pointer for this one. With the new adjustable pointer you can get it ever more accurate, so i'd say up to 85 for a few minutes should be possible. I also have a video with the polar scope on here if you want to check it out th-cam.com/video/B8qNWZwJ25k/w-d-xo.html
Oh, sorry, im from Europa... we talking c. Im from the italian alps, and i love to shoot winter milky way; but i want to be sure that m.s.m can handle the average temperatures of the alps in winter at 2000-2500 mt above sea level Thank you
I live in the "alps" of America and it works well. The battery can die quicker in the cold, but you can power it off of an external power bank. I've never had to do it
@@chasingluminance Tanks for the answer .. I have another question: in other models of trackers, the head does not go to tighten directly on the rotor, but on a floating piece, which is then tightened on the rotor ... skytracker, skyguider, staradventurer, etc., all these trackers have this system .. on the msm the head must be tightened on the rotor, forcing the mechanics inside the rotor: how do you adjust? what procedure do you use to avoid straining the mechanics and at the same time tightly screw the head - or the v-z plate?
have you had any issues with the pointer dimming? just got mine and it worked great out of the box but a few days later started to dim, i’ve tried charging it more but didn’t help
HI I am just setting the Moove shoot rotator up my tripod is different than yours and i just cant work out how to set it on the tripod.i hope it is not a stupid question thank you
Hi could you please answer me one question it bothers me all the time so when you polar alight the set up are you still ok to move your camera and compose the shoot ? It’s I know you need to correct your polar alignment after slightly but can you still frame your shoot or camera can’t be moved in every tutorial no matter what tracker is used no one mention this please answer if you can
great video... 3 questions 1. how does this compare with the IOPTRON Star Tracker Pro and 2. what was the model of the pixel pro for Canon 3. what was the app you mentioned. thanks!
1. Compared to the IOPTRON it is lighter, smaller, more portable. that's a good and a bad thing. MSM is easier to use and set up but the larger tracker can handle more weight, and longer lenses for longer exposures.
Thanks Alex, just received our MSM and your video answered a number of questions we were having. one question, for what purpose does the tripod neeed to be level? it seems that we are aligning to the north star then what ever we are shooting. I almost always level my tripod however there are times when its not critical.
All the principles are the same... the em1 mkiii has the benefits of star af and hand held high res modes which are both AMAZING! Yes I use a separate intervalometer on the olympus
Thank you! I just bought one and received it today. Do you have a camera setting cheat sheet you can share? Because I’ve never used a tracker before I know how to set up my camera for MW photos but not for the tracker. Any help would be appreciated!
I don't actually have one. But learn how "stops" of exposure works. Then use your histogram to build the proper exposure. If you're looking for more specific help, let me know
I just got this tracker and I'm confused about what exposure to use. I have the Nikon 16-35mm f4 but I want to use it in 35mm to make the Milkyway larger and it to be more obvious that I tracked the sky to see that huge detailed Milkyway. I see some posts where people track the sky for 30 seconds and take 30 shots and the detail is amazing. Others where they take two minute long exposures but with only 8 or 10 shots. What's the difference in this?
I always prefer longer and fewer exposures. Adding time is the best way to improve image quality naturally because you can close your aperture which will make your lens perform better and drop your iso.
@@chasingluminance Sweet! What's an exposure time you will typically try and shoot for? And how many extra shots do you take? I will just use it as a guide. If the stars trail, I will just take the exposure back until I get a sharp image.
@@chasingluminance When installing the ball head to the tracker itself the black raised area of the rotator is able to be tightened or untightened, should it be tight and secure? Or is that supposed to rotate?
This was a really good video. I've never used a tracker and this explained a lot for me. One question though, when you align to the North Star, your camera can be aimed anywhere with the highest ballhead and it will track just fine? I noticed your example had the camera aiming opposite of were your theoretical North Star was.
@@chasingluminance seriously -- you explained it better than anyone. i knew I needed a star tracker, but I didn't really know WHY ... until you explained it. And I've watched like five hours of videos lol
Great video, I just got the 3-1, so does it matter if you attach it flat or on the end ? the instructions say flat but a lot of folks use the end. would you please do a in-depth video of all the functions of it. I'm really confused. if you wanted to do take a 2 minute exposure and you plan to stack say 5 exposures. Do I just take the 5 exposures (just let it stay on the same track?) or do I need to reposition the camera? If I do a time lapse ( of the Milky Way) a bunch of 2 minute or how ? Maybe I'm asking to much of the MSM . I'm really not sure of all of the full functions of the functions Any help would be greatly appreciated Ron
Hey ron, sorry it took me 3 weeks to get back to you!!! I use the raised side, but i guess you should experiment, see what works better for you. and as far as the 2 minutes stacked x5 ... do not move the camera in between. just leave it bee and fire off those exposures, the tracker will keep things close to where you want them then photoshop or whatever program you're using can correct any tracking errors between the exposures. if you're doing a timelapse generally you want to get as many frames as possible. so shoot at 30 seconds or so and boost that ISO. The MSM is perfectly capable of that - keep it set to the star setting, and don't worry about the hot shoe cable.
Well done on explanative Tutorial. I would suggest ARCA SWISS rather than than dove tail. I think the thing about the laser pointer is if others are out there shooting they are’t going to be thrilled your pointer ended up in their shot.
I would love to! Hopefully I make it down there some day soon. As of now, I don't have the proper experience to show it well. I do think the phone mount is the way to go
Well, I purchased a kit from MSM. It's been a few weeks now and I cannot get MSM to respond to me. My question is this. My laser is no good. Was shipped defective. Does anyone know where I can get a replacement? Does not have to be from them. Is there a replacement that will fit into their bracket? I really want to get out and shoot but this is definitely holding me back. Thanks!
As usual on YT you don't show the difficult part: aiming the camera at object that are within 45 degrees of the Pole Star once the tracker has been polar aligned. The camera can only be moved less than 90 degrees away from the ball head central starting from the central position. But when the camera is in this central position it's actually pointing downwards i.e. approx 45 degrees below the horizon (assuming the elevation of Polaris is 45 degrees). So you can't point the camera at stars that are as high as Polaris, excluding much of the sky. Or am I missing something?
As usual on YT comments - hunh? First of all. This is a video on how to set up the rotator and blend images... not how to find and photograph different objects. And yes, you're missing somthing. With a ball head... and especially with a V plate plus ball head you can point any direction in the night sky. Did you make this comment after testing it yourself?
@@chasingluminance - thanks for the speedy and useful clarification. Yes, I tried last night. The PA bit was easy but pointing the camera in different directions was not! I think it would indeed be easier with a V-plate but none of the beginner videos I looked at mentioned this. But I think part of the problem was that I was relying solely on moving the ball-head in its socket. I now realize that one can in addition rotate in RA the ball-head (while fixed in its socket) - in fact there's an index arrow which presumably should be set to zero at the beginning. I think that yes by using a combination of these 2 separate movements (essentially RA and Dec) one could point anywhere one wants, though the movements required are not intuitive - especially with various wires attached to the camera. It's like pointing an equatorial-mounted telescope manually after loosening the clutches. Normally I would use the GoTo function! I can also see that if one is doing long-exposure astrophotography any initial awkwardness/inaccuracy in pointing the camera would be a small time delay - one would not be constantly re-pointing the camera. But I like to look at and film lots of objects/constellations in quick succession, so I need a quick easy way to point and re-point the camera.
Doesn't the rotation of the tracker matter? I mean aligning it with Polaris is one thing, but how can you be sure it's tracking in the right direction? Or is that guaranteed by leveling the tripod?
Hello, Have you experienced limits in the diameter of the objective ? Have you tried deep sky shot with a 900 mm objective ? I read that the limit is set at the weight of the objective. Better not to overweight the stuff to meet success. What is your experience in that matter ?
Great Vid. I went out mine this morning for the first time. After 20 mins of taking shots i decided to check the polar alignment. It was way out.....guess who forgot to switch the rotator on ....Numpty ;-)
that was really great, thank you. Got the rotator a while ago, did not use it. Now I will go out, after I watched your awesome video
Awesome!! Go get some!
Any video on setting up for the southern hemisphere?
I haven't been fortunate enough to shoot in the south yet... I hope to one day. So, unfortunately I don't have much advice.
Cheers mate 👍
Brilliant. A well overdue video that simply shows how to set up and use the Move Shoot Move unit. Thank you.
I really enjoyed all aspects of this tutorial. Very informative and reassuring for an old pensioner awaiting my tracker. Thanks.
Glad it was helpful!
Great video thanks for for this information!
glad it helped
Thanks man, I don't get to use my MSM very often so I appreciate the refresher. Getting ready to do some Astro tonight in Maui.
Excellent Video, You have minimized some of my fears / worries on using the MSM, now off to shoot some stars. Thank you Alex.
Excellent video!! Thank you!
Glad you liked it!
Short and sharp straight to the important points..well done highly apeciated
Thank you!
Great tutorial! Thank you so much.
Thanks for the video and the quick tutorial on merging the two images
Glad it was helpful!
Excellent video. Really helped in the set up.
Thank you for that, glad it helped
Thanks for the clear and concise instructions -- this was just what I needed to be confident enough to get out and try my MSM!
Glad it helped!
Just the right video I was looking for. Thanks. Couple of questions: 1) Does it matter where you attach the pointer? Should it be as close to the center as possible or something like that? Also, Why do you need to level your tripod, if you're going to be tilting the MSM up and down and laterally to get it aligned? Thanks again!
Nice comprehensive video! Great job.
Thank you so much!!!
Merci beaucoup! Excellent video!
Thank you for this. Just got my MSM, and it was abit confusing to set up at first. (which part goes where and how?). This made it clearer.
Gurglemuffin Great! I’m glad it helped
@KJ7POP John I ordered via their website. I paid with PayPal though (as I always do when shopping online).
This is great for anyone that is starting out using a tracker and I think it applies to any tracker, not just the brand that is used in the video.
Thanks for the comment! I learned on the sky watcher, so im using all of those same principals
This is a great tutorial for anyone new to msm tracker. Thanks a lot keep up the good job!
Thank you! Appreciate it!
Wow... Very nice and much informative Video. Just a query, is there any change in setting to be done on the Tracker/Rotator based upon the exposure time which we decide to take for star trail? Thanks in advance.
If you're trying to take more exaggerated star trails than what nature will give you... turn the rotator to the opposite Hemisphere. So if your in the north set it to S
Thanks for that. But not that. I am exploring this MSM Tracker on theor website and I saw 1 know with different seconds mentioned in the side. How does that work? And what is its importance and when and how to use it?
Great video Alex! Thank you for sharing. I have my move shoot move ordered and this will really help.
Dave Shelton great to hear!
Great video!!! I have been using this tracker for a year and just spotted your video. I only to see if I could pick up any hits. I shoot from 14mm up to 85mm with the tracker. It's so portable and works great.
Complements on the video from setup to editing in post was very well explained. Nice work!!!
Thank you and I agree... love this little guy
Great Video my friend. I have the SkyGuider pro with the Ipolar camera for Polaris. This was difficult at the beginning but after about 4 tries at it I finally got it. Amazing for deep Sky. But I also love landscape Astro. This Move Shoot Move seems tobe the answer for wide angle shots. Makes Polar Alignment simple fast and easy. Thats what I really need for landscape Astro. The SkyGuider Pro will work for wide angle but could take 10 to 15 minutes to set up.
Also your explanation on Iso F stop and Shutter is everything I need.
Thank you for explaining that to us.
I looks like a exsposure triangle but made simple.
This was some thing I was trying to figure out in the field by trial and error. Using a lens best Aputure with low ISO and long shutter speed is the best way to go.
This was always on my mind you really helped me with that chart.
Also showing us how to blend 2 photos is the cherry on the top.
I have been doing Astrophotography for about 18 months and lerning 100% from TH-cam .
You have created one of the best tutorials I have seen.
I also like the fact you have a EOS 6D like mine. The reds in you Sky photo look incredible and motivates me to get out and shoot.
Regards Sean
thank you so much for that comment! I'm super glad you found this video helpful
Thank you. You have a very good presentation style.
I appreciate that!
Thank you for your video, it helped me a lot with my new tracker. I can't wait to take pictures. Regards
Glad it helped!
Great video...just what I needed. Very well explained, too. Thank you.
Thank you! I'm glad it helped
Great video man! Thanks for stringing this together 👍🏼
Glad you enjoyed it
Are there any changes in using the rotator with Omd em1 m3? Mainly the setting up with the cables to camera/rotator and
Intervalometer? Thank you for your videos….
You have anything on how to use the polar scope?
Yes sir! th-cam.com/video/B8qNWZwJ25k/w-d-xo.html
@@chasingluminance Thank You....
I'm using a Fuji X- T2 with a 55-200 zoom, and getting very noticeable star trails using the MSM. Any idea why? The camera, lens and ball head may be close to the weight limit, not sure. Thank you!
Its so hard to say... make sure your tripod is sturdy, be careful aligning, tighten. Everything that could be tightened, turn off lens stabilization and ibis... shoot shorter frames and work your way up.
@@chasingluminance Thank you. On the next calm night, I'll try again, keeping these suggestions in mind.
Excellent work! Thanks so much!
Thank you!
Thanks for the video. One issue that I just can't seem to understand is, once the unit is aligned and the camera is attached, do you turn the rotator on and just leave it on and it is running while I adjust the camera and compose the shot? How about if I want to take a different composition from the same spot. Turn the unit off or let it continue to run and re-compose? Thanks for any advice.
Turn the msm on and leave it... adjust camera orientation using ball head.... once msm is aligned don't move it for the rest of the night
Thus tracker will fit to Sony Mirrorless full frame?
You don't need to do tripod leveling, you just need to do only polar aliment. Tripod leveling required only for the wide panoramas. Also, how did you figure out that 60 sec its two EV stops from 15 seconds on 24mm lens? Please advise.
Yuriy
Im re-evaluating a few things in this video.... I get 2 stops by 15 - 30 = 1 stop. 30 - 60 = 2 stops
A little late to the party😂, but basically every time you double your exposure time it adds 1 stop. 1sec to 2sec is one stop. Likewise 10min to 20min (one an extreme example) is still only one stop.
What did you stack your sky images with and did you have any foreground in those shots ? How did you get rid of it ? Is it a single image for the foreground ? Thanks.
I stacked everything using median stack in photoshop... there was almost no land and the little bit of the land was blurry and is hidden behind the foreground. Yes, single image for foreground with the tracker off
@@chasingluminance Thanks. I've got the MSM plus a couple of other mounts so far I've not had much luck with the MSM always getting star trails but with my other mounts I don't ?
@@simonworger what camera gear? And how are you aligning? Scope or laser?
@@chasingluminance Polar scope, modded 600D or A7III with 55mm lens.
@@simonworger strange. I've tacked for about 4 minutes with a 50. Keep workin at it
Why does the tripod need to be level? the rotator will be perpendicular to the North Star right? and it'll spin? does it matter how the tripod is oriented?
I've actually rethought this since making this video.... it does not have to be level. for some other models of tracker leveling is important... but you're right, not with the MSM
love the Camera Conspiracies shirt.
Couldn't help it. We're all looking for the perfect camera
Nice video. Thanks for sharing. I live on the Equator. SO, which hemisphere should I choose. THanks
Oh that's so hard. If you can see polaris , go north for sure
@@chasingluminance I've capture the polaris from an Island. But it's always near to the horizon.
I think that could work for you easier than the south. The best thing honestly might be the cell phone mount
So you need an extra ball head for this tracker ?
You need a ball head or wedge mount to attach the tracker to the tripod. And another to attach the camera to the tracker
Thank you for the clear explanation. Completely new into astrophotography, your video was a great help.
Very well done. My tracker is on order and I'm looking forward to testing its capabilities.
i'm sure you'll enjoy it.
Excellent video. Well done.
Thank you!
I've been trying to learn proper masking for years. All the other videos I found either skipped the important parts or were too complicated to follow. I can't thank you enough!
😁😁😁 so glad it helped
I know that may be a stupid question but I guess I'm to hyped to think. When I polar align the tracker what do I need to do to point my camera in the area I want to photograph?
Or maybe once I align it I can move it freely and the tracker will "remember" where the North Star is?
once your tracker is aligned you're free to move your camera any way you want
You need a head (or similar) below the tracker to orient the tracker to the north star. The head that sits on top of the tracker's turntable can be pointed where ever you want to.
Great video and very helpful. Thank you!
Glad it was helpful!
Great video, really helpful mate. Learnt a lot from this and can't wait to try out the move when it arrives
Thats awesome to hear! Let me know if you have any questions once those skies clear
@@chasingluminance I definitely will and ill be sure to send an email with the results
What is the name of the app you referred to? Star William?
Stellarium... I might say it wrong
great instructions, i like a video to help me with the proper installation. and loads of important info. thanks a bunch and i’ll subscribe ✨✨✨✨✨
Awesome! Glad you enjoyed it 😊
Thanks again for the great tutorial. MSM just arrived in the postbox. Watching that video and getting ready for when the tripod will arrive :D Again, thank you for the video. Will get some dry setups now! Wishing everything is okay on your side.
Awesome! Have fun! Let me know if you run into any questions that could be a good video
Great video, what version of photoshop were you using to process?
I was on the CC 2019 version
Where do you think the point of diminishing returns is with long exposures? Where the benefits of the longer exposure are overcome with long exposure noise (hot pixels etc)? Shooting on a Z6 I see the dual gain sensor data says iso 800 is the sweet spot, any advantages to trying to get to ISO 100?
On my 6d I got the best results around 400.... but that's an ancient sensor. I think 800 is the sweet spot on modern sensors. No reason to go to 100
Great job making this easy to understand.
Steven Barnes thank you Steve!
Great video. Does the laser need to stay on the North Star the whole time or can you turn it off once aligned?
You can turn off once aligned
Can you tell me if polar alignment using the photopills app is as accurate as using a laser when shooting with a 300mm lens?
In my experience - no. The scope is the most accurate method I've found
@@chasingluminance Thank you
Great video… a quick question… if u are taking multiple images w 4 min exposure for stacking … camera will be rotated somewhat anti clock wise on msm … so for subsequent exposures do u start by repositioning camera to the left again. ? OR do u need more than one shot ( any need for stacking w msm) ?
Nope, don't reposition Camara. You need the stars to be identical in each frame
@@chasingluminance thx . Do u need stacking w msm ?
Not required, but it helps
Can this thing be operated while it's charging via Powerbank?
yes it can! it's a really nice feature
@@chasingluminance thank you kind sir for answering my question. I will get one soon
@@blackpanda7612 sorry it took me 2 months!! Sometimes TH-cam buries comments
@@chasingluminance it's OK mate
I understand we all have responsibilities and can't be on TH-cam or social media all day. It is very much appreciated when you do get to answer a question.
Thank you for sharing this really well made video! I am looking forward to buy the move-shoot-move tracker for myself (I already got the Sky Watcher Star Adventurer, but it`s a bit too heavy for night hikes in the mountains).
Best wishes from Austria!
Hey, did you get that msm? Just got back from a hike with mine
Great tutorial. Do you have a preferred Astro lense? Using a Tamron 15-30
That's a great lens, I wouldn't get anything different for wide angles. I also love my sigma art 50 1.4
Hello, I am new to astrophotography. This is a great tutorial. I have a Leica CL(APSC Crop Sensor camera), I cannot set a shutter speed beyond 30 sec.
I have two lenses
1. 18 mm(28 mm eqv) at f/2.8 and
2. 35 mm(52 mm eqv) at f/1.4 .
Please let me know if it is worth getting a star tracker. Can I stack multiple frames at 30 sec exposure with the star tracker to get a decent noiseless image?
Thanks
You may need to get a remote to control your bulb exposures and get over 30 seconds.
Try shooting with that 18mm lens next new moon at 20 ish seconds and see how it goes.
Stacking helps for sure!
Then when you're ready, a tracker will help take things to the next level
@@chasingluminance Thank you so much for your prompt response. I had tried shooting with the intervalometer on my camera. It can only do up to a max of 30 sec exposure. I stacked 5 Milky Way images on new moon at f2.8 ISO 12800 at 20 sec exposure with the 18 mm lens. The result was decent, It still had noise. Unfortunately, my camera does not have the bulb mode to extend the exposure. Should I go for the startracker to do 30 sec exposure without trails? Please let me know.
This was super helpful! Thank you!
Glad it was helpful!
Great review and instructions! Thank you! Did you also try longer lenses on the tracker like the EF 70-200-2.8 or even newer lenses like the RF 100-500? would be interesting I guess!
I have not, although others have. It's really not intended for a lot of weight because there is no counter weight system
@@chasingluminance thank you for your reply. what is the max weight the SMS can handle? My R5 + RF 100-100 + ballhead is just under 3 kilo's.
3 kilos it is! You should be ok. That being said, this little unit is best suited for wide ish lenses. Have you joined the Facebook group? There's some great examples of people pushing the limits on there
@@chasingluminance thank you!. will take alook at the facebook page. :-)
Hi there,
Im about to order the new Nomad MoveShootMove after seeing many of your awesome videos, but what I was wondering..... Are startrackers only for stil fotos? or can you use them for shooting timelapses as wel? And I dont mean as a panning tool. Or will those timelapse look weird cause the sky will be still and the earth looks like its moving? Im from one the worst lightpoluted places on earth but I do want to shoot some (timelapse) skies at night. therefor tracker.
I've had mine a few months and its been great. One thing I've been wondering, I should have tried it by now really....
Anyhow, does it matter what side you clamp the laser on and how high up or down the side it is screwed? You would think it would have some markings but it doesn't.
Cheers,
Chris
I haven't found that the location makes much of a difference... I just keep it as close to the raised circle as possible
@@chasingluminance thanks mate
I am confused by the laser pointed opposite where the camera lens is pointed . great video BTW! As long as pointer at north star, can you point the camera anywhere?
Yes, you got it. Generally I shoot towards the south so I just automatically set my camera that way. Laser north, camera anywhere
@@chasingluminance Thanks for the info, I just ordered my MSM, and can't wait to go out to the desert east of San Diego, CA where there is hardly any light pollution at all. I'll be using a Nikon DF with some AF-D primes. Cheers!
Hey thank you so much for the video, got one of these coming in the mail. Just for clarity, after you have the tracker polar aligned, with the ball head mount for the camera - can you point that into any part of the sky and get tracked skies?
Exactly
Great video thanks for sharing ✌
For those who lives on southern hemisphere, we don´t have polaris. will it be too much dificult to align ?
And I have a tripod that already has a ball head. I need to buy another ball head to use this ?
Great video. Thank you. Are you using a polar scope or only the laser pointer?
What is the maximum focal length you can handle with the laser pointer?
I used the laser pointer for this one. With the new adjustable pointer you can get it ever more accurate, so i'd say up to 85 for a few minutes should be possible. I also have a video with the polar scope on here if you want to check it out th-cam.com/video/B8qNWZwJ25k/w-d-xo.html
How it works in cold temperatures (-10/-15)?
Are we talking c or f ? Either way I has worked well for me in the winters in colorado
Oh, sorry, im from Europa... we talking c.
Im from the italian alps, and i love to shoot winter milky way; but i want to be sure that m.s.m can handle the average temperatures of the alps in winter at 2000-2500 mt above sea level
Thank you
I live in the "alps" of America and it works well. The battery can die quicker in the cold, but you can power it off of an external power bank. I've never had to do it
@@chasingluminance
Tanks for the answer .. I have another question: in other models of trackers, the head does not go to tighten directly on the rotor, but on a floating piece, which is then tightened on the rotor ... skytracker, skyguider, staradventurer, etc., all these trackers have this system .. on the msm the head must be tightened on the rotor, forcing the mechanics inside the rotor: how do you adjust? what procedure do you use to avoid straining the mechanics and at the same time tightly screw the head - or the v-z plate?
have you had any issues with the pointer dimming? just got mine and it worked great out of the box but a few days later started to dim, i’ve tried charging it more but didn’t help
Make sure you keep it warm, that's the biggest issue. I keep mine in my pants pocket
HI I am just setting the Moove shoot rotator up my tripod is different than yours and i just cant work out how to set it on the tripod.i hope it is not a stupid question thank you
My best advice is to join our Facebook group and upload some pictures. There's a lot of helpful people on there
@@chasingluminance thank you
Love the explanation on exposure math, thanks
HB Astronomer awesome, glad it helps!
Hi could you please answer me one question it bothers me all the time so when you polar alight the set up are you still ok to move your camera and compose the shoot ? It’s I know you need to correct your polar alignment after slightly but can you still frame your shoot or camera can’t be moved in every tutorial no matter what tracker is used no one mention this please answer if you can
Yes, you can carefully move your camera without having to polar aline again
@@chasingluminance thank you I never took photos with the tracker I’m thinking about it
great video... 3 questions 1. how does this compare with the IOPTRON Star Tracker Pro and 2. what was the model of the pixel pro for Canon 3. what was the app you mentioned. thanks!
1. Compared to the IOPTRON it is lighter, smaller, more portable. that's a good and a bad thing. MSM is easier to use and set up but the larger tracker can handle more weight, and longer lenses for longer exposures.
Thanks Alex, just received our MSM and your video answered a number of questions we were having. one question, for what purpose does the tripod neeed to be level? it seems that we are aligning to the north star then what ever we are shooting. I almost always level my tripod however there are times when its not critical.
Yeah, I've updated my thinking on that one. No need to be perfectly level
@@chasingluminance Thanks just making sure I wasn't missing something this is all new to me. great videos thanks
Is the set up for the OMD E-M1 MK III the same? Also, do you use an intervalometer on the camera?
All the principles are the same... the em1 mkiii has the benefits of star af and hand held high res modes which are both AMAZING! Yes I use a separate intervalometer on the olympus
Great video, thanks dude
Glad you liked it!
Thank you! I just bought one and received it today. Do you have a camera setting cheat sheet you can share? Because I’ve never used a tracker before I know how to set up my camera for MW photos but not for the tracker. Any help would be appreciated!
I don't actually have one. But learn how "stops" of exposure works. Then use your histogram to build the proper exposure.
If you're looking for more specific help, let me know
I just got this tracker and I'm confused about what exposure to use. I have the Nikon 16-35mm f4 but I want to use it in 35mm to make the Milkyway larger and it to be more obvious that I tracked the sky to see that huge detailed Milkyway. I see some posts where people track the sky for 30 seconds and take 30 shots and the detail is amazing. Others where they take two minute long exposures but with only 8 or 10 shots. What's the difference in this?
I always prefer longer and fewer exposures.
Adding time is the best way to improve image quality naturally because you can close your aperture which will make your lens perform better and drop your iso.
@@chasingluminance Sweet! What's an exposure time you will typically try and shoot for? And how many extra shots do you take? I will just use it as a guide. If the stars trail, I will just take the exposure back until I get a sharp image.
Around 4 minutes or so... and a minimum of 3... usually around 10
Chasing Luminance Awesome. Thanks for the help!
@@chasingluminance When installing the ball head to the tracker itself the black raised area of the rotator is able to be tightened or untightened, should it be tight and secure? Or is that supposed to rotate?
Thanks so much, great video.
Glad it was helpful!
The question I have is will the tracker work with film cameras, as film requires much longer exposure times
Yes, in all theory it should. I have not done it myself but i have seen other people shoot very nice astro images with film and a tracker
This was a really good video. I've never used a tracker and this explained a lot for me. One question though, when you align to the North Star, your camera can be aimed anywhere with the highest ballhead and it will track just fine? I noticed your example had the camera aiming opposite of were your theoretical North Star was.
Yea, you've got it! You can point your camera any direction
@@chasingluminance thanks for the reply! And again, awesome video, your explanations were very easy to understand.
@@Steezicus that's awesome to hear, thank you
@@chasingluminance seriously -- you explained it better than anyone. i knew I needed a star tracker, but I didn't really know WHY ... until you explained it. And I've watched like five hours of videos lol
@@mattoney4711 I'm so glad it worked! That video was my 1st and took forever lol
Thx, great info video for a Newbie!
Great video man! I am also waiting for mine to test it out. Thanks for all the info!
Hope you love it!
is ti possible using a 55-250mm canon lens?
Very possible 😁
Great video, I just got the 3-1, so does it matter if you attach it flat or on the end ? the instructions say flat but a lot of folks use the end. would you please do a in-depth video of all the functions of it. I'm really confused.
if you wanted to do take a 2 minute exposure and you plan to stack say 5 exposures. Do I just take the 5 exposures (just let it stay on the same track?) or do I need to reposition the camera?
If I do a time lapse ( of the Milky Way) a bunch of 2 minute or how ? Maybe I'm asking to much of the MSM .
I'm really not sure of all of the full functions of the functions
Any help would be greatly appreciated Ron
Hey ron, sorry it took me 3 weeks to get back to you!!! I use the raised side, but i guess you should experiment, see what works better for you. and as far as the 2 minutes stacked x5 ... do not move the camera in between. just leave it bee and fire off those exposures, the tracker will keep things close to where you want them then photoshop or whatever program you're using can correct any tracking errors between the exposures. if you're doing a timelapse generally you want to get as many frames as possible. so shoot at 30 seconds or so and boost that ISO. The MSM is perfectly capable of that - keep it set to the star setting, and don't worry about the hot shoe cable.
Keep it up. very informative. good luck
Thank you
Well done on explanative Tutorial. I would suggest ARCA SWISS rather than than dove tail. I think the thing about the laser pointer is if others are out there shooting they are’t going to be thrilled your pointer ended up in their shot.
Yeah, being courteous is always important. Don't want angry astro photographers!!!
Great tutorial. Thank you!
So glad it helped!
can you show us how to do star alignment in southern hemisphere?
I would love to! Hopefully I make it down there some day soon.
As of now, I don't have the proper experience to show it well.
I do think the phone mount is the way to go
@@chasingluminance ok, please let us know when you come to our side of the world, you know NZ has the best dark sky for the stars :-)
thanks for the video! got my MSM rotator today and already was able to break the laser pointer before evening even came :)
Pavel Buga That sucks! We’re you able to get a replacement ?
at what focal length was your star shot taken?
50mm
Terrific, extremely helpful!
Thank you so much!
Glad it helped!
Well, I purchased a kit from MSM. It's been a few weeks now and I cannot get MSM to respond to me. My question is this. My laser is no good. Was shipped defective. Does anyone know where I can get a replacement? Does not have to be from them. Is there a replacement that will fit into their bracket? I really want to get out and shoot but this is definitely holding me back. Thanks!
I bought extra batteries and a charger on Amazon after MSM didn’t include charger
As usual on YT you don't show the difficult part: aiming the camera at object that are within 45 degrees of the Pole Star once the tracker has been polar aligned. The camera can only be moved less than 90 degrees away from the ball head central starting from the central position. But when the camera is in this central position it's actually pointing downwards i.e. approx 45 degrees below the horizon (assuming the elevation of Polaris is 45 degrees). So you can't point the camera at stars that are as high as Polaris, excluding much of the sky. Or am I missing something?
As usual on YT comments - hunh?
First of all. This is a video on how to set up the rotator and blend images... not how to find and photograph different objects.
And yes, you're missing somthing. With a ball head... and especially with a V plate plus ball head you can point any direction in the night sky.
Did you make this comment after testing it yourself?
@@chasingluminance - thanks for the speedy and useful clarification. Yes, I tried last night. The PA bit was easy but pointing the camera in different directions was not! I think it would indeed be easier with a V-plate but none of the beginner videos I looked at mentioned this. But I think part of the problem was that I was relying solely on moving the ball-head in its socket. I now realize that one can in addition rotate in RA the ball-head (while fixed in its socket) - in fact there's an index arrow which presumably should be set to zero at the beginning. I think that yes by using a combination of these 2 separate movements (essentially RA and Dec) one could point anywhere one wants, though the movements required are not intuitive - especially with various wires attached to the camera. It's like pointing an equatorial-mounted telescope manually after loosening the clutches. Normally I would use the GoTo function!
I can also see that if one is doing long-exposure astrophotography any initial awkwardness/inaccuracy in pointing the camera would be a small time delay - one would not be constantly re-pointing the camera. But I like to look at and film lots of objects/constellations in quick succession, so I need a quick easy way to point and re-point the camera.
That hobo music is so mesmerizing! Great video. Thanks
I like the hobo music too
@@chasingluminance ...😂😂😂hobo music???
Doesn't the rotation of the tracker matter? I mean aligning it with Polaris is one thing, but how can you be sure it's tracking in the right direction?
Or is that guaranteed by leveling the tripod?
Mark Pitsilos level the tripod and make sure you have the N illuminated. That’s for tracking in the northern hemisphere. It really is as easy as that!
Hello,
Have you experienced limits in the diameter of the objective ? Have you tried deep sky shot with a 900 mm objective ?
I read that the limit is set at the weight of the objective. Better not to overweight the stuff to meet success.
What is your experience in that matter ?
Great Vid. I went out mine this morning for the first time. After 20 mins of taking shots i decided to check the polar alignment. It was way out.....guess who forgot to switch the rotator on ....Numpty ;-)
ive made every possible mistake like this! it can be frustrating out there