TS-Optics travel mount with drive and camera connection - for beginners in astrophotography

TS beginner´s mount and astro tracker for astrophotography

Every stargazer and photographer who has ever tried to photograph the stars with a photo tripod will notice after a very short exposure time that the stars are distorted into lines. This effect is caused by the rotation of the earth around its own axis. This apparent movement of the stars and celestial objects from east to west is compensated for by mounts with tracking. Prices in the upper four-digit range are not uncommon. The EQ1-Foto is an inexpensive alternative and offers good tracking for little money. It is ideal for beginners in astrophotography, but is also a nice transportable second mount for short focal lengths for dedicated astrophotographers.

The EQ1-Foto is especially suitable for short focal length camera lenses:
The mount is well suited for wide-angle lenses and is the basis for very beautiful images of the Milky Way, which are best taken with focal lengths up to 35 mm. Larger gas nebulae or dark nebulae can also be photographed well; focal lengths of up to 135 mm are recommended. If the mount and the tracking speed are well adjusted, focal lengths up to 135 mm can be tracked well. Exposure times of up to one minute are no problem. With fast lenses, you can dive deep into the sky and if you take several shots and then combine them (stacking), you can go much further.

Attaching the camera to the mount:
The EQ1-Foto has a photo attachment with a 1/4" thread on the top, just like a photo tripod. This makes it easy to adapt the camera. The camera is secured with a large knurled ring and you can get started straight away.

Operating the mount is simple:
The image shows a similar mount for illustrative purposes. Set up the mount as shown in the picture. The camera is attached, the mount is balanced and the counterweight is pointing downwards.

Set the northern latitude of your observation location on the polar wedge, you will see a small scale directly above the tripod. Munich, for example, has a latitude of 48° north.

Loosen the small screw between the tripod legs and turn the mount until the side with the counterweight points north. A compass is a good aid if you cannot see the North Star.

If the camera is also pointing north, you should see Polaris approximately in the center of the camera viewfinder.

Then set the lever on the tracking motor to N (North) and switch on the tracking (a battery must of course be connected) - Then set the desired celestial region by loosening the clamping screws of the two axes (declination and right ascension). After setting and locking, you are ready to go.

Practical tip - How do I set the optimum tracking speed?
The motor drive has a small potentiometer under the operating light which is used to set the tracking speed. For short exposure times and short focal lengths, it is sufficient if the small rotary screw is approximately in the middle. If you want to use longer focal lengths, you can attach a spotting scope or small telescope instead of the camera and set a star to the south. After a few minutes you will see a drift, depending on whether the motor is running too fast or too slow. You can then adjust the speed with the rotary control so that the star always remains in the center. Of course, this also works with the camera lens and the central marking of the camera.