Benro Polaris
- Thread starter Kyle Jones
- Start date
Man this does everything but fix dinner. I will be interested in how you like it. I suspect this old guy would have trouble learning how to operate it.
Hey Kyle, yeah I saw it the other day, it sounds really interesting! It’s something that could be used for both timelapse and of course Astro. It sounds like you could do some deep space Astro with it too as long as your gear isn’t too heavy.
One thing that I didn’t totally get from reading over it, as it talks about all of the abilities of it like focus stacking, multi-row pano’s and then combining them for you, where is that done? The tripod head has a built in computer with memory and a way to then to take the photos from your camera into itself to do this processing and then it somehow transfers those images to a memory card? Back to the camera?
I really want to understand the ins and outs of how it’s doing this, I found that glossed over. Unless I missed it?
One thing that I didn’t totally get from reading over it, as it talks about all of the abilities of it like focus stacking, multi-row pano’s and then combining them for you, where is that done? The tripod head has a built in computer with memory and a way to then to take the photos from your camera into itself to do this processing and then it somehow transfers those images to a memory card? Back to the camera?
I really want to understand the ins and outs of how it’s doing this, I found that glossed over. Unless I missed it?
I saw this too. The claimed functionality is impressive. To Jim’s point I believe it uses tethering capability to download the image in its own memory for evaluation and processing. It will have to save the final image in its own storage as I don’t believe cameras tethering capabilities allow writing back to the card in the camera.
Kyle Jones
Moderator
I backed the astro edition. I wanted a second star tracker for Montana anyway and this would be really cool if it works. The kickstarter price seems reasonable to me compared to a full size RRS ball head.
That makes sense Jameel. I just wish it had been spelled out clearly, or if it had, I wished I had read it slower.
If I wasn't trying to save up money to get a tracker specifically for my deep space that will cost me somewhere in the $1200 range I would sure be interested in it.
The 7k load weight for the Astro tracker part is pretty good though... I wish it was just a little more, but that's pretty good. I will have to think about it more as I drive.
@Kyle Jones I am driving and can’t look, do you know what the return policy will be on it? So if I ordered the Astro version now, when it gets delivered if I don’t like it, or it doesn’t work for me, do I have 30 days to return it? Is there a money back guarantee?
Kyle Jones
Moderator
No idea - and delivery isn't until July
Kyle Jones
Moderator
"Yes! The limited warranty is for 18 months from the date of purchase. Feel free to contact us at support@benro-polaris.com "
Mike Lewis
Staff Member
Kyle,
This is very interesting. I will have to investigate more. One thing regarding the astro tracking that springs to mind from my quick look.
This looks to by what would be defined as an Az/El mount, as opposed to an Equatorial mount. Az/El mounts are easy to set up as they do not need to be aligned to the polar axis like an Equatorial mount does. BUT - While an Az/El Mount can be made to precisely track a central star without a polar alignment, you need another degree of fredom besides the motion in azimuth and elevation to keep everything in the FOV sharp. Specifically, you need a camera rotator to compensate the star motion otherwise you get an image that essentially looks like what you get pointing a fixed tripod at the North Star and taking a long exposure.
Here is some info shamelessly copied out of Wikipedia:
Astronomical telescope altazimuth mounts[edit]
When used as an astronomical telescope mount, the biggest advantage of an alt-azimuth mount is the simplicity of its mechanical design. The primary disadvantage is its inability to follow astronomical objects in the night sky as the Earth spins on its axis. On the other hand, an equatorial mount only needs to be rotated about a single axis, at a constant rate, to follow the rotation of the night sky (diurnal motion). Altazimuth mounts need to be rotated about both axes at variable rates, achieved via microprocessor based two-axis drive systems, to track equatorial motion. This imparts an uneven rotation to the field of view that also has to be corrected via a microprocessor based counter rotation system.[1] On smaller telescopes an equatorial platform[2] is sometimes used to add a third "polar axis" to overcome these problems, providing an hour or more of motion in the direction of right ascension to allow for astronomical tracking
Maybe there is something being done internally that matches the approach shown in the last sentence that would allow for this system to give you a starfield without star motion or rotation. I will try to see if I can get any more specific info on this. If this mount can compensate for that issue it could be a cool product for both astro and other things like time-lapses with motion.
ML
This is very interesting. I will have to investigate more. One thing regarding the astro tracking that springs to mind from my quick look.
This looks to by what would be defined as an Az/El mount, as opposed to an Equatorial mount. Az/El mounts are easy to set up as they do not need to be aligned to the polar axis like an Equatorial mount does. BUT - While an Az/El Mount can be made to precisely track a central star without a polar alignment, you need another degree of fredom besides the motion in azimuth and elevation to keep everything in the FOV sharp. Specifically, you need a camera rotator to compensate the star motion otherwise you get an image that essentially looks like what you get pointing a fixed tripod at the North Star and taking a long exposure.
Here is some info shamelessly copied out of Wikipedia:
Astronomical telescope altazimuth mounts[edit]
When used as an astronomical telescope mount, the biggest advantage of an alt-azimuth mount is the simplicity of its mechanical design. The primary disadvantage is its inability to follow astronomical objects in the night sky as the Earth spins on its axis. On the other hand, an equatorial mount only needs to be rotated about a single axis, at a constant rate, to follow the rotation of the night sky (diurnal motion). Altazimuth mounts need to be rotated about both axes at variable rates, achieved via microprocessor based two-axis drive systems, to track equatorial motion. This imparts an uneven rotation to the field of view that also has to be corrected via a microprocessor based counter rotation system.[1] On smaller telescopes an equatorial platform[2] is sometimes used to add a third "polar axis" to overcome these problems, providing an hour or more of motion in the direction of right ascension to allow for astronomical tracking
Maybe there is something being done internally that matches the approach shown in the last sentence that would allow for this system to give you a starfield without star motion or rotation. I will try to see if I can get any more specific info on this. If this mount can compensate for that issue it could be a cool product for both astro and other things like time-lapses with motion.
ML
Mike Lewis
Staff Member
Looking again, way down the page they talk about Astro Expansion kit - that might be the missing piece to the puzzle. I will keep digging into this.
ML
ML
Mike Lewis
Staff Member
OK, found the mention of this on the Benro Facebook page, along with a propaganda video that made it look quite cool. I am seeing that the astro version adds a degree of motion to the setup. While looking at it I cannot quite see how the accessory they show supplies the proper motion needed, this is seeming to be more and more intyeresting. I could see myself slipping in under the Earlybird deadline the way this is trending
Thanks for the heads-up Kyle and Jim!
ML
Thanks for the heads-up Kyle and Jim!
ML
Mike Lewis
Staff Member
It is a Kickstarter, and they always sell out the cheapest slots first to the earliest backers, then move the price a little and open to other backers. If you have priced the cheapest motion control stage or panoramic motion head the price of this is very competitive even without any astro capability at all at that price. I have an email in to Benro now asking a couple of questions. I am leaning on getting this, as I need something for the Southern Hemisphere and this might be it, not to mention all the cool support for time-lapsing and pano stitching. The $700 price is $300 off what will be the commercial list price. If this thing really can do astro for 2 minute subs with say a 200 to 300 mm lens with round stars and automated set up, plus all the other stuff, it is a bargain. Unfortunately, no easy way to know that without trying it out. So if I get it I would consider it to be useful for the other 2 main reasons I mention and if astro works it is a big win...
Still on the fence myself, watching how many price slots are left on the 2 configs I am considering.
ML
Still on the fence myself, watching how many price slots are left on the 2 configs I am considering.
ML
Mike Lewis
Staff Member
One more thing - I have a pretty good vibe going about Benro right now, seeing as how they just replaced my out of warranty (by over half a year) defective GH-30 gimbal head with a brand new one no questions asked.
ML
ML
Well, they lost me. I guess I have no experience with Kickstarter, but it's a sure fire way to turn people off in my mind. At $599, it was a stretch for me, but one I could talk myself into, but at $699, that $100 puts it too close to $1000 for my budget.
It won't even be delivered until July? If I could get it now, then I might consider it harder. But for now, I don't have an extra $700 sitting around. So I will just end up waiting. Maybe next Christmas it will make a nice gift.
It looks like they have plenty of people funding it, so I am sure they don't care that I won't.
It won't even be delivered until July? If I could get it now, then I might consider it harder. But for now, I don't have an extra $700 sitting around. So I will just end up waiting. Maybe next Christmas it will make a nice gift.
It looks like they have plenty of people funding it, so I am sure they don't care that I won't.
Mike Lewis
Staff Member
OK, I just jumped in on this, the Pro version, as I am intrigued by having the option for a cellular connection and having situations where I can control this thing from great distances without worrying about WiFi coverage. It may turn out that many places I use this won't have cell coverage, and activating the cell capability could end up being pricey, but I decided to pay and have the option going forward.
I think on balance this should hopefully be a great head for panos and automated shooting of sunrise / sunset and time-lapses. My belief from what I know is that the astro functionality will hopefully be good enough for wider sky stuff but may start to not be good enough once one gets above 100 - 200 mm. If it can handle longer focal lengths for a couple minute subs that will be great. And the automated nature of the setup should be something special for sure.
Thanks to Jim and then Kyle for bringing this to my attention. Hopefully Kyle and I can start reporting back on how this thing works sometime after July.
ML
I think on balance this should hopefully be a great head for panos and automated shooting of sunrise / sunset and time-lapses. My belief from what I know is that the astro functionality will hopefully be good enough for wider sky stuff but may start to not be good enough once one gets above 100 - 200 mm. If it can handle longer focal lengths for a couple minute subs that will be great. And the automated nature of the setup should be something special for sure.
Thanks to Jim and then Kyle for bringing this to my attention. Hopefully Kyle and I can start reporting back on how this thing works sometime after July.
ML
Mike Lewis
Staff Member
So I must correct a silly mistake I made in a post above. I mentioned that I was happy with Benro for fixing my broken gimbal head out of warranty, but that was actually Oben not Benro. For some strange reason I always get those 2 companies confused.
ML
ML