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Review: My New Tracking Mount

July 8, 2025Backyard Astronomer
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Review: My New Tracking Mount - SkyWatcher Star Adventurer 2i

After months of research and saving, I finally upgraded my portable astrophotography setup with the SkyWatcher Star Adventurer 2i Pro Pack. This compact tracking mount has completely transformed my ability to capture deep sky objects, especially when I'm traveling to dark sky locations. In this review, I'll share my experiences after three months of intensive use.

Why a Tracking Mount Matters

Before diving into the review, let me explain why a tracking mount is essential for deep sky astrophotography:

Earth's rotation causes stars to appear to move across our sky. This movement limits exposure times to about 15-30 seconds (depending on focal length) before stars begin to trail in your images. A tracking mount counteracts this rotation, allowing for much longer exposures that capture more light and detail from faint celestial objects.

The SkyWatcher Star Adventurer 2i

Key Specifications

  • Weight capacity: 5kg (11lbs)
  • Tracking accuracy: ±0.5 arc-minutes
  • Battery life: Approximately 24 hours on 2x AA batteries
  • Connectivity: Built-in WiFi for control via smartphone app
  • Weight: 1.2kg (2.6lbs) for the mount head

What's in the Pro Pack

  • Star Adventurer 2i mount head
  • Equatorial wedge
  • Counterweight shaft and 1kg counterweight
  • Declination bracket
  • Fine-tuning mounting assembly
  • Polar scope illuminator

Setup and Polar Alignment

One of the most critical aspects of using any tracking mount is achieving proper polar alignment. The Star Adventurer makes this process relatively straightforward:

  1. Level the tripod
  2. Roughly align the mount to Polaris (Northern Hemisphere)
  3. Use the built-in polar scope and the Star Adventurer Mini Console app to precisely align

The app provides a real-time position of where Polaris should appear in the polar scope reticle based on date, time, and location. This feature alone has saved me countless minutes of frustration compared to my previous setup.

Alignment Accuracy

I've found the polar alignment to be very accurate when done carefully. On a recent trip to Joshua Tree, I was able to achieve 3-minute exposures at 200mm focal length with perfectly round stars - something that was impossible with my previous untracked setup.

Field Performance

Tracking Accuracy

For a mount in this price range (under $500), the tracking accuracy is impressive. Here are my findings:

  • Wide-field (14-35mm): Flawless tracking for 5+ minutes
  • Medium telephoto (85-135mm): Excellent for 3-4 minute exposures
  • Telephoto (200mm): Good for 2-3 minute exposures with careful balancing
  • Small telescope (RedCat 51): Usable for 90-120 second exposures

Payload Capacity

The 5kg rated capacity is reasonable but conservative. I've found the sweet spot to be:

  • Camera body + lens under 3kg for best tracking
  • Well-balanced load is more important than total weight
  • Counter-weight positioning is critical for optimal performance

Real-World Results

Let me share some before-and-after results from my astrophotography:

Before: Untracked Imaging

  • 15-second maximum exposures
  • ISO 6400 required for sufficient light
  • Significant noise in final images
  • Limited detail in deep sky objects

After: Star Adventurer 2i

  • 2-3 minute exposures
  • ISO 800-1600 is sufficient
  • Much better signal-to-noise ratio
  • Dramatically more detail in galaxies and nebulae

Pros and Cons

What I Love

  • Portability: Easily fits in a backpack alongside my camera gear
  • Battery life: 24+ hours on a set of AA batteries
  • Ease of use: Quick setup and alignment process
  • App integration: Helpful for polar alignment and control
  • Value: Excellent performance for the price point

Room for Improvement

  • No autoguiding support: Limits maximum exposure times
  • Manual declination adjustment: No motor for the DEC axis
  • Plastic construction: Some parts feel less durable than I'd prefer
  • WiFi connectivity: Occasionally drops connection in cold weather

Who Should Buy This Mount?

The Star Adventurer 2i is perfect for:

  • DSLR/Mirrorless astrophotographers looking to move beyond static tripod shots
  • Photographers who value portability for travel to dark sky sites
  • Beginners wanting to explore deep sky imaging without investing in a full telescope mount
  • Experienced astrophotographers needing a portable secondary setup

It's less suitable for:

  • Those wanting to use larger telescopes (over 3" aperture)
  • Photographers requiring precise autoguiding for very long exposures
  • Imagers focusing primarily on planetary photography

Conclusion

After three months of use, the SkyWatcher Star Adventurer 2i has exceeded my expectations. It bridges the gap between untracked wide-field astrophotography and a full equatorial telescope mount, offering an excellent balance of performance, portability, and price.

For anyone looking to take their night sky photography to the next level without breaking the bank or carrying excessive equipment, this mount deserves serious consideration. It has certainly transformed my imaging capabilities and opened up a whole new realm of deep sky objects that were previously beyond my reach.

Sample Images

Here are some of my recent images taken with the Star Adventurer 2i:

  • North America Nebula (NGC 7000) - 24 x 120s exposures at ISO 800
  • Andromeda Galaxy (M31) - 36 x 90s exposures at ISO 1600
  • Rho Ophiuchi Cloud Complex - 18 x 180s exposures at ISO 800

[Images would be displayed here in the actual blog post]

Have you used the Star Adventurer or a similar tracking mount? I'd love to hear about your experiences in the comments below!

Tags:equipmentreviewtracking mountastrophotography