Great video and channel. Hope to drive to northwest New York to see totality (at least 3 minutes). I'll be bringing the Seestar S50 with the tripod it comes with (legs down). I've been testing it out during sunny days to see how it will work. Using the onboard wifi, I've done timelapse at 10 second intervals. Tracking keeps the Sun centered for at least 4 hours even in late afternoon where some trees are definitely in the way. Battery goes down to about 10% so there should be no problem. I'll have an old Mophie connected in case, that keeps power at 100% for at least 2 hours, so I think it could go for at least 5-7 hours easily. I didn't notice any heat buildup on the scope, and I've tested in 25-65F temps over the last few weeks including some windy days. I've also tried it with iPhone 13, iPad2 air (2017), and iPhone 7+ so I'll bring all 3 of them. At the end of each session, I take the solar filter off for 5 minutes, then put it back on to see if the tracking gets knocked off, but it keeps it right in the center each time, so I'm fairly confident that it won't be a problem. I also have been able to get the Seestar to find the Sun initially by first calibrating compass (3-4 times rotation counterclockwise), then leveling (Cavix LP-64 really helped out) and most of the time the Seestar will center the Sun on first try. Using it in 5GHz wifi mode is definitely a must, I had many problems in 2.4GHz mode. I'll also bring along my Nikon Coolpix 900 with solar filter that worked fairly well for 2017 partial eclipse and 2019 Mercury transit. I'll most likely take individual pictures at various time intervals instead of timelapse as I don't want to take the chance of the timelapse video having some issue and getting nothing.
Hi Wido. I'm in the path of totality here in Rochester NY. I'll be using my 8se with focal reducer, and the asi224mc cam. Hoping for clear skies for all. Thanks Wido
I will be going to Waco to see it and will be using a Fujifilm X-S20, with the 70-300mm zoom and 1.4X teleconverter. This will be mounted on the AZ-GTI mount that has be modified to make it an equatorial mount. An external intervalometer will be used and the camera will be set to take 9 auto-exposure bracketed images every time the intervalometer triggers the camera.
Hi Wido - Great video! I am going old school (real old) and capturing images with the my Canon EOS 600D Mod and a EF 200mm f/2.8L II USM with Canon 1.4 Tele Extender. I am only going after totality and using Backyard EOS to control the camera. Prior to totality I will be observing it with a Quark attached to an Orion ST80. Both of these will be mounted on my ZWO AM3 with I can easily control with the mount APP. I am going to Dallas, Texas and staying with my wife's sister and her husband who live in totality. I figure we can observe it with the Quark and then I will switch it about 30 min before totality - it is pretty easy with the way I have everything configured. If I get a decent shot - fine, if not oh well. I don't really care about getting the whole before and after especially since we have to leave for the Airport just after totality anyway. I do have a Dwarf but I have also experienced whacky software issues so I am hesitant about it. Cheers Kurt
I will use my C8 with solar filter using my Canon EOS Ra. I will also use several other cameras with solar filters and 300-600mm lenses. I may also use a C90 with a camera. Wish me luck. My C8 and Canon 60Da worked well for the 2017 eclipse. Also a Sony a7 with a 70mm lens and solar filter worked for the overall Corona. ❤
Can you share w us what the Dwarf update was? Was it a Beta? I have the latest available iOS updates and been practicing for the eclipse and it’s been working flawlessly with solar tracking and time lapse. Another plus to the Dwarf is the wide field of view for capturing totality. Thanks for the review!
I’m hoping to use my Dwarf II, but like you, my app update has stopped my tracking feature. Fingers crossed that the company gets a fix out before April 8.
I'm heading to Texas and will be taking my Seestar S50, my Sony A7RII with Sigma 150-600 lens and a ND100000 solar filter. I'll also be taking my William Optics GT71 that has been outfitted with a Lunt Solar etalon and blocking filter for visual observing and maybe some lucky imaging. The telescope will be mounted on an ioptron CEM25p equatorial mount and the camera will be on a manual gimbal mount on a tripod. The Seestar will be set to do the timelapse, the Sony for high resolution shots at random times, and then without a filter to capture the corona during totality. Luckily my wife and kids will be helping with all this carryon luggage :)
Any update on the dwarf 2 solar tracking? I already own the seestar but am super close to convincing myself to get the dwarf 2 as well. I would use it for a lot more than the eclipse, but that is a primary factor in wanting two options. I am thinking the seestar will just get its solar filter left on and the dwarf 2 I could remove it and catch more of the corona as its wider angle is probably better for that anyway. I just don't want to spend too much time fiddling with telescopes though as my primary goal is to just enjoy the experience, so the magnetic filters on the dwarf would be ideal. Also, thanks for a great breakdown between these options. It was very informative as to what could be accomplished with each.
New to Astro from a photography background some similarities and some huge differences light as in underwater is amped consideration .got a Tele with a 3000 mm reach with two Times Barlow which is why got tele reach for solar system .Ive always liked terrestrial objects and planetary together wide lens tele options for this .?Planetary cameras in theory v possible to do seen v little in the Astro telescope genre of this ...why ?
Planets are some of the smallest objects in the sky, so big sensor cameras would only reveal more space around planets. The smaller sensor size makes planetary cameras affordable and they have a smaller pixel size for increased digital resolution.
I'll be using the dwarf lab!
Great video and channel. Hope to drive to northwest New York to see totality (at least 3 minutes). I'll be bringing the Seestar S50 with the tripod it comes with (legs down). I've been testing it out during sunny days to see how it will work. Using the onboard wifi, I've done timelapse at 10 second intervals. Tracking keeps the Sun centered for at least 4 hours even in late afternoon where some trees are definitely in the way. Battery goes down to about 10% so there should be no problem. I'll have an old Mophie connected in case, that keeps power at 100% for at least 2 hours, so I think it could go for at least 5-7 hours easily. I didn't notice any heat buildup on the scope, and I've tested in 25-65F temps over the last few weeks including some windy days. I've also tried it with iPhone 13, iPad2 air (2017), and iPhone 7+ so I'll bring all 3 of them. At the end of each session, I take the solar filter off for 5 minutes, then put it back on to see if the tracking gets knocked off, but it keeps it right in the center each time, so I'm fairly confident that it won't be a problem. I also have been able to get the Seestar to find the Sun initially by first calibrating compass (3-4 times rotation counterclockwise), then leveling (Cavix LP-64 really helped out) and most of the time the Seestar will center the Sun on first try. Using it in 5GHz wifi mode is definitely a must, I had many problems in 2.4GHz mode. I'll also bring along my Nikon Coolpix 900 with solar filter that worked fairly well for 2017 partial eclipse and 2019 Mercury transit. I'll most likely take individual pictures at various time intervals instead of timelapse as I don't want to take the chance of the timelapse video having some issue and getting nothing.
Thanks for sharing your test info Frank! Have a good one in NW New York, hopefully with clear skies!
I will also drive around 6 hours to Buffalo, NY. Good luck!
Hi Wido. I'm in the path of totality here in Rochester NY. I'll be using my 8se with focal reducer, and the asi224mc cam. Hoping for clear skies for all.
Thanks Wido
Now that's an excellent setup. Enjoy Perry!
I will be going to Waco to see it and will be using a Fujifilm X-S20, with the 70-300mm zoom and 1.4X teleconverter. This will be mounted on the AZ-GTI mount that has be modified to make it an equatorial mount. An external intervalometer will be used and the camera will be set to take 9 auto-exposure bracketed images every time the intervalometer triggers the camera.
Hi Wido - Great video! I am going old school (real old) and capturing images with the my Canon EOS 600D Mod and a EF 200mm f/2.8L II USM with Canon 1.4 Tele Extender. I am only going after totality and using Backyard EOS to control the camera. Prior to totality I will be observing it with a Quark attached to an Orion ST80. Both of these will be mounted on my ZWO AM3 with I can easily control with the mount APP. I am going to Dallas, Texas and staying with my wife's sister and her husband who live in totality. I figure we can observe it with the Quark and then I will switch it about 30 min before totality - it is pretty easy with the way I have everything configured. If I get a decent shot - fine, if not oh well. I don't really care about getting the whole before and after especially since we have to leave for the Airport just after totality anyway. I do have a Dwarf but I have also experienced whacky software issues so I am hesitant about it. Cheers Kurt
What a wonderful trip Kurt! Good old Backyard EOS to the rescue. Simple and effective. Have fun!
Heading to Indianapolis and bringing the dwarf ii
I will use my C8 with solar filter using my Canon EOS Ra. I will also use several other cameras with solar filters and 300-600mm lenses. I may also use a C90 with a camera. Wish me luck. My C8 and Canon 60Da worked well for the 2017 eclipse. Also a Sony a7 with a 70mm lens and solar filter worked for the overall Corona. ❤
It’s been a long time” hope all is well as always take care stay safe xx from London ✌️
How's life in the UK James? Thanks for watching!
Can you share w us what the Dwarf update was? Was it a Beta? I have the latest available iOS updates and been practicing for the eclipse and it’s been working flawlessly with solar tracking and time lapse. Another plus to the Dwarf is the wide field of view for capturing totality. Thanks for the review!
I deleted the APP and re-installed it. Unfortunately, the problem persisted. I'm now on v.2.1.0 B96
Wow thanks for this! Between the s50 and the dwarf, what would you suggest for the solar eclipse?
I’m hoping to use my Dwarf II, but like you, my app update has stopped my tracking feature. Fingers crossed that the company gets a fix out before April 8.
Also having glitches with dwarf GOTO and calibration tracking need s a software fix stacking in camera is standout feature
I'm heading to Texas and will be taking my Seestar S50, my Sony A7RII with Sigma 150-600 lens and a ND100000 solar filter. I'll also be taking my William Optics GT71 that has been outfitted with a Lunt Solar etalon and blocking filter for visual observing and maybe some lucky imaging. The telescope will be mounted on an ioptron CEM25p equatorial mount and the camera will be on a manual gimbal mount on a tripod. The Seestar will be set to do the timelapse, the Sony for high resolution shots at random times, and then without a filter to capture the corona during totality. Luckily my wife and kids will be helping with all this carryon luggage :)
Wow, quite a setup. Have fun and good luck with setting everything up! Hope you'll end up with some amazing vids/pics of the eclipse!
Any update on the dwarf 2 solar tracking? I already own the seestar but am super close to convincing myself to get the dwarf 2 as well. I would use it for a lot more than the eclipse, but that is a primary factor in wanting two options. I am thinking the seestar will just get its solar filter left on and the dwarf 2 I could remove it and catch more of the corona as its wider angle is probably better for that anyway. I just don't want to spend too much time fiddling with telescopes though as my primary goal is to just enjoy the experience, so the magnetic filters on the dwarf would be ideal. Also, thanks for a great breakdown between these options. It was very informative as to what could be accomplished with each.
What software/tool do you use to center the SeeStar timelapse?
New to Astro from a photography background some similarities and some huge differences light as in underwater is amped consideration .got a Tele with a 3000 mm reach with two Times Barlow which is why got tele reach for solar system .Ive always liked terrestrial objects and planetary together wide lens tele options for this .?Planetary cameras in theory v possible to do seen v little in the Astro telescope genre of this ...why ?
Planets are some of the smallest objects in the sky, so big sensor cameras would only reveal more space around planets. The smaller sensor size makes planetary cameras affordable and they have a smaller pixel size for increased digital resolution.
excellent video ... what software you used to stabilized the video taken with the Seestar?
FFregistration in pixinsight, but you could probably use PiPP (free) as well.
You don’t need to bother levelling the Dwarf 2.
What brand of tripod are you using for the Seestar
That's an iOptron tripod
@@AstroForumSpace Thanks. Finding the little Seestar tripod good, but not practical. BTW love your videos
thanks Henri, the iOptron tripod is a bit heavier but very sturdy.