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Stellar Strain Wave Geared Star Tracker
Experience the power of strain wave gearing in an ultra-compact package! Withno counterweight required and 8.8 lb. of capacity, tracking your photographycamera across the sky is simpler than ever before. Capture captivating imagesof the night sky with your camera and the iOptron HST MiniTracker!
The incredible mechanical muscle of strain wave gearing and iOptron’sexperience in producing premium star trackers come together to takephotography camera astro-imaging to the next level with the iOptron HSTMiniTracker! With a built-in battery and no counterbalancing required, thistracker is easy to transport and quick to setup, with no weights to pack orbalance. Four speeds give you the versatility to track larger deep skyobjects, the Moon, the Sun*, and the Milky Way, bringing you all of the mostpopular targets for mirrorless/DSLR setups in one device. With 8.8 lb. ofpayload capacity, even large photography camera and lens combos areeffortlessly synced with targets! Framing your targets is easy when combinedwith a ball-head (sold separately) and the quick adjust controls that allowyou to jog the axis back and forth. Controls are built into the housing,meaning there is no hand controller required, and mounting is made easy withsupport for common photo tripod connections and V-style saddles. With thisperformance, simplicity, and compact design in a premium CNC machined housing,you can easily create astounding astrovistas with your favorite camera andlens from wherever you are!
* Do not point your camera at the Sun without a proper solar filtersecurely attached. Doing so can cause irreversible damage to your camera, and additionally your vision if the Sun is viewed through the viewfinder.
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A Premium Star Tracker Experience
With strain wave gearing, a premium CNC housing, and straightforward set up,the iOptron HST MiniTracker brings you an incredible star tracker experience!
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New Wave Gearing, Incredible Portability
Strain Wave Gearing (SWG) has revolutionized the astronomy mount space, bringing impressive payload capacity in a compact form factor with no counterweights required. iOptron has packed this impressive technology into the HST MiniTracker, making the star tracker design more portable and easier to use! This stepper motor powered gearing allows this tracker to smoothly, silently, and comfortably carry up to 8.8 lb. of gear, while still being able to fit in the palm of your hand and weighing in at about only 1.75 lb. This gives you performance on par with a conventionally geared star tracker with a counterweight, while coming in at about half the weight and with significantly less bulk!
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Sublime Star Tracker Simplicity
If you’re looking to capture the wonders of the night sky without the world of telescopes and T-rings, a star tracker is perfect for you! With one axis of rotation, the iOptron HST MiniTracker will counteract the major source of motion blur in celestial shots, allowing you to freeze targets in place with the (relatively speaking) short focal lengths of photography lens. All the controls you need to keep your camera in step with the stars are built into this star tracker for a self-contained experience, with no hand controller or computer required! Simply pair your photography camera with your lens of choice and capture spots on the Sun*, craters on the Moon, stunning deep sky objects like the Orion Nebula, or the beautiful band of the Milky Way!
*Do not point your camera at the Sun without a proper solar filtersecurely attached. Doing so can cause irreversible damage to your camera, and additionallyyour vision if the Sun is viewed through the viewfinder.
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Straightforward Set Up
Setting up for a stellar imaging session with the iOptron HST MiniTracker is straightforward! The star tracker’s base features a 3/8″-16 mount point and includes a 1/4″-20 adapter for pairing with the majority of photography tripods, with a V-style dovetail bar that allows the tracker to be paired with iOptron’s Alt-Az Adjustable Base and AZ/EQ Base for tripods that don’t allow for alignment or when more precise alignment is desired (tripod, bases sold separately). A 1/4″-20 connection with 3/8″-16 adapter for your camera easily integrates solutions like the iOptron Ball Head for fluidly finding your framing (sold separately). The built-in polar alignment site allows for fast and simple alignment, perfect for pairing with ultra-wide and wide camera lens; with compatibility for iOptron’s separate HST Polar Scope and iPolar solutions for those looking to push focal length and exposure time limits! Finally for powering the tracker is a built-in rechargeable 3000mAh battery, with support for an external 5V power through the USB C port to keep things running even once the internal pack’s 5 hour runtime is exhausted!
*iOptron recommends using lithium AAA cells for this high performancedevice, to ensure reliable operation when not using the built-in batteryor an external source.
Let’s Delve Into the Details!
iOptron mounts are renowned for their exceptional performance, crafted withhigh precision internal elements that help deliver accurate tracking andspot-on GoTo slews. For those gear-heads who like to get into the nitty grittydetails of their equipment, check out this comprehensive table denotingspecifications such as the type of motor utilized, the power consumption ofthe mount, and plenty more! This way, you can compare and contrast what eachiOptron mount offers, better informing you in choosing theright mount for your needs.
| Maximum Payload (lbs.): | 8.8 |
| Mount Weight (lbs.): | 1.75 |
| Motor: | Stepper Motor with Strain Wave Gear |
| Tracking Rates: | Sidereal, Milky Way, Lunar, Solar |
| Operation Temperature: | 14°F-104°F |
| Power: | Internal 3000mAh Li-Polymer Battery; External 5VPower via USB C |
| Run Time: | Up to 5 Hours w/ Internal Battery |
| Construction: | CNC Machined Housing |
| Dimensions: | 133 x 93.25 x 71.5 mm |
| Camera Block: | 50 mm Diameter w/ 1/4″-20 Stud (3/8″-16 Adapter Included) |
| Polar Alignment: | iOptron 3330-HST Polar Scope or 3339iPolar (Not Included) |
Astronomy Hub: Your one-stop-shop for Astrophotography Knowledge!
Our Gear Experts have compiled a wealth of information to help expand your astrophotography knowledge! Below you’ll find links to articles, videos and “how-to” guides. Just one more reason that our Astronomy Hub is a one-stop-shop for all your astronomy and astrophotography needs!
| Beginners Guide to Imaging the Milky Way |
| 10 Things to Know About Milky Way Photography |
