SAM Astro Photo Bundle includes the SAM unit, equatorial wedge and dovetail L-bracket.
- The Sky-Watcher Star Adventurer Mini Wi-Fi (SAM) is a compact high-precision camera tracking platform that is ideal for long exposure astrophotography as well as time-lapse photography in daytime and night time settings.
- SAM easily fits in your backpack or camera bag, making it a convenient travel companion that can venture with you into remote locations.
- SAM comes with built-in WiFi and the free Star Adventurer Mini Console App for Android and iOS platforms, allowing it to be remotely controlled with your smartphone.
- SAM is easy to set up and to operate in all of its modes.
- Although capable of supporting larger camera lenses, SAM is ideal and very simple to use for Widefield Astrophotography with a standard camera lens of 55mm or shorter focal length, as only a rough polar alignment is necessary, making it ideal for all kinds of amateur photographers unfamiliar with astronomy.
- Star Adventurer Mini Wi-Fi includes the Star Adventurer Mini (SAM) mount, ball head adaptor, polarscope, polarscope illuminator, equatorial wedge and dovetail L-bracket.
- Sky-Watcher shutter release cables can be purchased separately for most popular camera models/brands.
- The Star Adventurer Mini Wi-Fi can attach to any standard tripod via its 1/4 or 3/8 inch adaptors.
- The latitude can be set by either adjusting the tilt of your tripod head to match your latitude or more accurately by using the supplied Equatorial Wedge.
- To fit a camera to the Star Adventurer, either a tripod Ball Head is required (not supplied) or the supplied Dovetail L-Bracket.
- The optional Dovetail L-Bracket can be used in conjunction with the optional counterweight shaft/counterweight.
How does the original Star Adventurer (SA) compare to the new Star Adventurer Mini (SAM)?
The advantages of SAM are as follows:
- 1. It is lighter weight, smaller and more compact in size and easier to carry for astrophotography.
- 2. Provides Wi-Fi wireless connection and remotely controllable with your smartphone.
- 3. With the free download App, which provides a graphical user interface, the parameter and profile settings are easier and more user-friendly.
- 4. Provides long-exposure in time-lapse photography.
- 5. Supports multi-language operation interfaces that users may select their native language.
The disadvantages include:
- 1. Since SAM is physically smaller than a standard Star Adventurer, the payload is less at up to 3 kg.
- 2. The PE (Periodic Error) of SAM is larger than Star Adventurer. The SAM is not suitable for a DSLR with a telescopic camera lens with a focal length of longer than about 100 mm, because of the larger PE (Periodic Error) and smaller payload.
- 3. With a smaller battery capacity, 2 AA type batteries, the duration of operation is up to 24 hours, shorter than a Star Adventurer, which is able to continue working 72 hours.
Conclusion: Star Adventurer Mini SAM is a better solution for those who want to use a DSLR with a standard or short focal length lens for wide-view astrophotography. We recommend customers to use a lens of 55 mm or shorter focal length with a DSLR on a Star Adventurer Mini mount, though lenses of up to about 100mm can be used. Since it's better for wide-view photography, only a rough polar alignment is required - it does not require a polar alignment as good as the Star Adventurer needs for telescopic astrophotography. The Star Adventurer Mini will have wide consumer appeal as a simple and easy solution for all kinds of beginners and amateur photographers who want to get into the astrophotography field without being familiar with astronomy.
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