iOptron SkyGuider Pro Camera Mount Star Tracker

The camera mount we recommend for starting astrophotography

The iOptron SkyGuider Pro is a compact equatorial camera mount, or star tracker, that turns your camera and lens into a deep-sky imaging rig. It cancels out the Earth's rotation so you can take exposures of a minute or more without star trails, bringing out the Milky Way's dust lanes, the Orion Nebula and the Andromeda Galaxy with the camera you already own. It carries up to 11 lbs (5 kg) when balanced, runs for up to 20 hours on its built-in battery, and packs into its own padded bag at just 3.2 lbs with its base.

Every SkyGuider Pro includes an illuminated polar scope, a declination bracket for aiming your camera, and a counterweight kit for heavier lenses and small telescopes. The SkyGuider Pro is on display in our Denver store.

What you can shoot

• The Milky Way with a wide-angle lens: track the core of the Milky Way for minutes at a time instead of seconds.
• Nightscapes: the half-speed tracking mode splits the difference between sky and ground, so both the stars and the landscape stay sharp in one exposure.
• Nebulae and galaxies with a telephoto lens: frame the Orion Nebula, the Andromeda Galaxy, the Pleiades or the North America Nebula with a 135mm to 300mm lens.
• Small refractors: a compact astrograph like the William Optics RedCat 51 or MiniCat 51 fits comfortably within the payload with the included counterweight.
• The Sun and Moon: solar and lunar tracking rates keep eclipses and the Moon centered (use a proper solar filter for the Sun).

Why imagers choose the SkyGuider Pro

• Accurate, quiet tracking: an 88mm, 144-tooth worm wheel with a brass worm and a servo motor with an optical encoder.
• Easy polar alignment: the AccuAlign dark-field illuminated polar scope and an alt-azimuth base with fine latitude and azimuth adjusters.
• All-night battery: a built-in rechargeable battery runs for up to 20 hours at 68°F, and charges or runs from a micro USB port.
• Room to grow: an ST-4 autoguiding port and camera shutter control for longer, sharper exposures as your skills grow.
• Travel friendly: the mount head weighs 2.2 lbs and everything fits in the included padded bag.

Choose your version

Both versions track the same way, carry the same payload and include the same accessories. The precision base makes fine polar alignment adjustments smoother and easier to repeat, which pays off at longer focal lengths.

What you'll need to complete your setup

• A sturdy tripod: the SkyGuider Pro attaches to any tripod with a 3/8" thread. The iOptron 1.25" tripod is built for it, or use a heavy photo tripod like the SIRUI ST124. A sturdy tripod matters more than anything else for sharp results.
• A camera and lens: any DSLR or mirrorless camera. Start with a wide-angle lens for the Milky Way, then add a telephoto lens for nebulae and galaxies.
• A ball head (recommended): a ball head on the declination bracket makes framing targets with a camera lens much easier.
• Focusing aid: a Bahtinov mask for camera lenses makes it easy to nail focus on the stars.
• Extra counterweight (optional): an additional 1.35 kg counterweight helps balance heavier lenses and small telescopes.
• A light pollution filter (optional): from the city or suburbs, a filter like the Optolong L-Pro improves contrast on nebulae and galaxies.

SkyGuider Pro vs. other trackers

Why buy from Mile High Astronomy

• See it in person: the SkyGuider Pro is on display in our Denver store.
• Ships from Denver: your SkyGuider Pro ships from our store.
• Expert help from astrophotographers: we can help you choose a tripod, lens and filter, walk you through polar alignment, and we're here to help after the sale.

What's in the box

• SkyGuider Pro camera mount head with built-in battery
• Alt-azimuth base (standard or Precision AZ/EQ base, depending on version)
• AccuAlign dark-field illuminated polar scope
• Declination (DEC) mounting bracket with camera mounting disk
• 1.35 kg counterweight and 20 x 200mm counterweight shaft
• Micro USB charging cable
• Padded carry bag

Current SkyGuider Pro mounts are black with red accents. Some photos show the earlier red body.

SkyGuider Pro FAQ

Is the SkyGuider Pro good for beginners?

Yes. It's the camera mount we most often recommend for getting started in astrophotography. There's no computer alignment to learn: polar align with the illuminated polar scope, choose a tracking speed and start shooting.

What can the SkyGuider Pro carry?

Up to 11 lbs (5 kg) when balanced with the counterweight. For the sharpest results, stay well under the limit at longer focal lengths. A camera with a 300mm lens or a small refractor like the RedCat 51 is a great match.

Do I need a tripod?

Yes. The SkyGuider Pro doesn't include one. It fits any sturdy tripod with a 3/8" thread, such as the iOptron 1.25" tripod.

SkyGuider Pro or Star Adventurer GTi?

The SkyGuider Pro is lighter, simpler and less expensive, and it's ideal if you're happy to aim your camera yourself. The Star Adventurer GTi adds GoTo on both axes, so it can find objects for you and guide in both directions.

Is the precision base worth it?

If you'll shoot with telephoto lenses or a small telescope, it makes accurate polar alignment faster and easier to repeat. For wide-angle Milky Way photos, the standard base works well.

How long does the battery last in the cold?

Up to 20 hours at 68°F (20°C), and less on cold Colorado nights. The mount can also run from a USB power bank through its micro USB port.

Can I autoguide the SkyGuider Pro?

Yes. The ST-4 port accepts a guide camera for right ascension guiding, which helps at longer focal lengths.

Specifications