iOptron SkyGuider pro Instruction Manual

®

SkyGuider™ Pro Camera Mount

Instruction Manual

Product #3550, #3551 and #3552

Table of Content

Table of Content ...................................................................................................................... 2

1. SkyGuiderTM Pro Camera Mount Overview ......................................................................... 3

2. SkyGuiderTM Pro Camera Mount Assembly ......................................................................... 6

2.1. Introduction ................................................................................................................... 6

2.2. Parts List ....................................................................................................................... 6

2.3. Assembly Terms ........................................................................................................... 7

2.4. SkyGuiderTM Pro Camera Mount Assembly .................................................................. 9

3. Advanced Application ........................................................................................................ 17

3.1. Autoguide .................................................................................................................... 17

3.2. Attach a Telescope ..................................................................................................... 17

3.3. Dual Camera/Scope Mount ......................................................................................... 18

3.4. Use Optional 8408 Hand Controller ............................................................................ 18

3.4.1. Go2Nova® 8408 Hand Controller .......................................................................... 18

3.4.2. Go2Nova® 8408 Hand Controller Function ........................................................... 20

4. Maintenance and Servicing ............................................................................................... 25

4.1. Maintenance ............................................................................................................... 25

4.2. Trouble Shooting ......................................................................................................... 25

4.3. iOptron Customer Service ........................................................................................... 26

4.4. Product End of Life Disposal Instructions .................................................................... 26

4.5. Battery Replacement and Disposal Instructions .......................................................... 26

Appendix A. Technical Specifications (for #3550 only) .......................................................... 27

IOPTRON ONE YEAR TELESCOPE, MOUNT, AND CONTROLLER WARRANTY ............ 28

NEVER USE A TELESCOPE TO LOOK AT THE SUN WITHOUT A PROPER FILTER!

Looking at or near the Sun will cause instant and irreversible damage to your eye.

Children should always have adult supervision while observing.

Please don’t charge the battery or use USB power at or below 0°C (32°F), otherwise the

rechargeable battery might be permanently damaged.

Ver.1.0
iOptron Corp. reserves the rights to revise this instruction without notice. Actual color/contents/design may differ from those described in this
instruction.

WARNING!

2

1. SkyGuiderTM Pro Camera Mount Overview

Introducing The SkyGuiderTM Pro -- iOptron’s next generation camera tracking device! Leading

the camera tracker market for nearly four years, iOptron's SkyGuider Pro pushes closer to perfection.

Figure 1. SkyGuider

TM

Pro mount head only

TM

The redesigned SkyGuiderr

Pro mount is more compact, small enough to fit on your palm,
better precision, silent tracking, built-in rechargeable power source, ST-4 guiding port and camera
trigger port. The improved precision polar scope maintains a fine engraved reticule, now features
adjustable illumination with different brightness levels. Using with our iOS app, quick and accurate
polar alignment is just a joy. The DEC mounting bracket allows you to balance a heavy camera and/or
lens better, or even mount a light telescope. The optional 8408 hand controller allows you to check
the Pole Star position for the polar alignment, slew the mount, adjust the guiding rate, change the
mount settings and control the camera trigger.

The SkyGuider

TM

Pro features four tracking rates, 1X or sidereal, 1/2X for sky and landscape
combind, solar and lunar. All 4 tracking rates work in both northern and southern hemispheres. We
have also added a quick slew mode with both forward and reverse to help quickly reframing your
image without disrupting the cameras position.

We have made big improvements on the SkyGuider
which features a precision bubble level, degree markings for the altitude and a built in post for the
azimuth control. You can also mount the SkyGuider

TM

Pro head (without the base) directly to any

TM

Pro’s removable alt-azimuth base,

standard photographic tripod with 1/4” or 3/8” threads.

The DEC mounting bracket package, which includes DEC mounting bracket, counterweight
shaft, counterweight and Vixen-type dovetail saddle, makes the SkyGuide

TM

Pro mount suitable for a

heavier camera/lens system, even a lightweight telescope.

TM

The SkyGuider

Pro is certainly a must have tool for any photographer interested in

astroscape or wide field astrophotography.

3

Features:

 All metal mechanical structure

 Attaches to a camera tripod with 3/8” or 1/4” threads

 Capable for dual mount application up to 11lbs (5kg) + 7.7lbs (3.5kg), balanced

 Silent tracking for smooth camera motion, perfect for long-term exposures

 Detachable alt-azi base with fine latitude and azimuth adjusters for easy polar alignment

 Includes iOptron AccuAlign

 Adjustable polar scope illumination

 4 tracking speed (1X, 1/2X, solar and lunar). 1X celestial tracking for imaging the sky and

 Operation in both northern and southern hemisphere

 Quick slew (144X) for camera framing adjustment

 Built-in rechargeable battery for up to 20 hours of operation (20°C)

 Built-in ST-4 autoguiding port

 HBX port for external hand controller

 Micro USB port for power, charging and firmware upgrade

 Built-in shutter triggering port

 Padded carry bag included

 DEC mounting bracket

Figure 2. SkyGuider

TM

Pro mount system (tripod not included)

TM

dark-field illuminated polar scope

stars; 1/2X tracking speed for imaging both the starry night and the landscapes at the
same time

4

 Counterweight and CW shaft

 Vixen dovetail saddle for scope mounting

 Optional ball head available separately (#3305A)

 Optional tripod (#3221)

 Optional Go2Nova® 8408 hand controller (#8408)

 Optional DSLR camera shutter trigger cable

5

2. SkyGuiderTM Pro Camera Mount Assembly

2.1. Introduction

You have just purchased a tracking camera mount that is capable of taking your
astrophotography to a new level.. When aligned the polar axis of the SkyGuider

TM

Pro camera mount
with the celestial North Pole (CNP), or celestial South Pole (CSP), the mount will provide rotation
matching the celestial sphere rotation around the Earth. Since all celestial objects appear to rotate
around the CNP, or CSP, the polar axis allows the mount to rotate with the celestial sphere and
provide accurate tracking for visual observations and astrophotography.

The AccuAlign

TM

polar scope, along with the Quick Polar Alignment procedure, will provide an

easy and accurate polar alignment for the mount.

The following sections of this manual provide detailed steps required to successfully set up

and operate the SkyGuiderTM Pro mount.

2.2. Parts List

PARTS INCLUDED:

TM

The SkyGuider

 SkyGuider
 Alt-azi base (installed)
 AccuAlign
 Micro USB charging cable
 Padded carry bag
 DEC mounting bracket w/ camera mounting disk
 1.35kg counterweight
 CW shaft
 One year limited warranty (90 day on battery)

Pro camera mount shipping box contains:

TM

Pro camera mount

TM

dark field illuminated polar scope (installed)

Figure 3. Parts in a SkyGuider

TM

Pro package

6

OTHER ITEMS NEEDED:

The following items are needed for astrophotography or observation but are not included in the

package:

 A sturdy tripod with 3/8” or 1/4” threaded post.
 An power source with a USB port for mount charging, such as a smartphone charger, a

laptop with a USB port, or car cigarette adapter, or a portable battery pack

 A camera

YOU MAY NEED IT FOR POLAR ALIGNMENT:

 iPhone/iPad app for accurate polar alignment

(https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/ioptron-polar-scope/id564078961?mt=8

 or Android phone polar finder app

(https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.techhead.polarfinder

 Optional Go2Nova
 Or other application/program to calculate the pole star position. Please refer to FAQ

session under Support at http://www.ioptron.com

ONLINE CONTENTS (click under “Support” menu) www.iOptron.com

 This manual
 Quick Start Guide
 Video Instruction
 Accessories
 Tips for set up
 Reviews and feedback from other customers

®

8408 hand controller

for more information.

)

)

2.3. Assembly Terms

Figure 4. Front and back view of a SkyGuiderTM Pro mount head

1- Camera mounting block
2- Camera mounting block locking screw

3- RA clutch disk
4- Built-in polar scope

7

Figure 5. Control panel and ports of a SkyGuider

5- Power switch
6- Battery status indicator
7- Function button
8- Direction button
9- Mount status indicator

14- Dovetail saddle
15- Latitude lock
16- Azimuth adjusting knob
17- Dovetail locking knob
18- Azimuth locking knob

TM

10- GUIDE port for ST-4 autoguiding
11- Camera shutter triggering port
12- Micro USB port
13- HBX port for optional hand controller

Figure 6. Alt-azi adjusting base

19- Base
20- Latitude adjustment knob
21- Latitude scale
22- Leveling bubble

Pro mount head

Figure 7. DEC mounting bracket and counterweight package

23- Vixen-type dovetail saddle
24- DEC camera mounting block
25- DEC base
26- DEC mounting bracket
27- Screws for dovetail saddle mounting

28- 3/8” Ball head mounting screw
29- Counterweight shaft
30- Counterweight shaft safety screw
31- Counterweight

2.4. SkyGuiderTM Pro Camera Mount Assembly

NOTE: The SkyGuiderTM Pro mount is a precision astronomical instrument. It is highly
recommended that you read the entire manual and become familiar with the nomenclature and
functions of all components before starting the assembly.

STEP 1. Check/charge the battery

The SkyGuider

TM

Pro is shipped
with battery partially charged. Please
fully charge the battery before the first
time use. Insert the micro USB plug into
the USB port at the back of the mount
(see Figure 8), and connect the other
end of the USB cable into a USB port of
a computer, a smart phone charger or a
portable battery pack (not included).
The input power should be 5V, 1A. It
usually takes 5 hours to charge the internal Li-Poly battery to reach 80% of full power. When the
battery is fully charged the battery status indicator should flash rapidly (about 5Hz). You may charge
the SkyGuider

TM

Pro with the power switch either ON or OFF. (However, when the power switch is
turned off, the battery status indicator does not function). When the indicator stays steady on, the
battery power should be sufficient for your session. When the indicator blinks slowly (about 0.5Hz), it
indicates the power is low and recharging is necessary.

Battery
Indicator

Figure 8. Micro USB powering/charging port

9