Are there trackers you could recommend? It would have to be a light one though. Can you mount them on any tripod (arca Swiss standard) or do you need a special one?
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Studier the tripod the better of course. Wind is your enemy so weight it down if you can.
They would range from Artcise to RRS in pricing. Aluminium would be heavier than carbon fibre and better except for certain resonances. Lots of reviews out there. You can spend a lot on a dedicated EQ mount for deep sky (telescopes) shooting but that wouldn't be needed for wide angle astro landscapes.
Dan has a good review of trackers with pricing etc. https://capturetheatlas.com/best-star-trackers/
Polaris is expensive but good. Hard to learn and there is a lot of people hoping that Benro can improve their software (which they haven't). I would recommend getting Dan's course on the Benro as he has worked out all the issues over years of running workshops with different people/cameras/setups.
I use a Star Watcher Star Adventurer Pro 2i. Not the lightest but good price and solid. The EQ base is great and I mount directly on the tracker ie not using the counterweight option.
I don't polar align using the built in scope. Southern hemisphere is harder than the northern hemisphere (no north star) and my eyesight isn't great focusing at that distance. I use the PS Align Pro app on my iPhone resting on the back of the tracker and it gives long exposure times without trailing.
The one "trick" I learnt is for the double ballhead setup. I use a 2 way tilt head at the base and is a lower profile than a ball head eg
https://www.amazon.com.au/dp/B0BFCX9MFX?ref=ppx_yo2ov_dt_b_fed_asin_title
It doesn't get caught by the notch like a normal ball head. I then add a standard heavy 55mm ballhead for the top one eg Artcise and a L bracket on the camera.
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Thx for your extensive answer! I am looking into your suggestions as I am planning on going to NZ (if time and budget allows, Sydney as well). I am interested in a tracker but I don't know if can handle the weight due to luggage restrictions. Plus, I´d have to carry it around.... renting is probably not an option because I´d have to get the tracker in Germany in order to practice a few times. Let´s see how it works.
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What we did on some trips is to mail parts of the luggage back to us to make room for the gifts and souvenirs we gathered during the trip.
That doesn’t solve the problem of getting into the country or lugging it around, though.
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Choosing flights for me always starts with luggage limits
Flying to US next month for 3 weeks will have underwater gear but no drone/astro. 2x 23kg bags should be enough plus my eVest!
Gym membership will pay off
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South Island of nz will be good for Aurora and Milky Way from March new moon (maybe February). Same latitude as Tasmania which is a thousand kms south of Sydney.
Need to travel out of Sydney a while to avoid the light pollution. Allow 90 minutes to go west to Katoomba for bortle 3.5.
Happy to help with itinerary around Sydney if you need. Lots to shoot from seascapes to the harbour, waterfalls to architecture. My Flickr page has a bunch of examples.
Renting isn’t an option unfortunately. You will need some practice and polar alignment is harder in the southern hemisphere
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Yeah, that´s always a pain in the a**. In the early 90s, we used to fly to the states (from Germany) with 2x suitcases a piece each weighing 32 KG. As a family of six, we brought 12 suitcases. Then airlines figured out they make a killing if they limit luggage, sell it for horrendous rates and sell the free space to companies like UPS and DHL... bye, bye good ol´times (in this case it actually true!)Choosing flights for me always starts with luggage limits
Enjoy and have fun! Where are you heading to?
uw gear is usually very bulky and heavy, sry you can't take more gear.
a drone is also on my maybe list for NZ. Doing some research and I'll decide in May/ June on which gear to take.
Hehe, my wife and I are actually starting at gym tomorrow
hope it pays off
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Since we both are teachers and bound to our vacations, we gotta go in August. Not perfect for Astro, but I did catch the Milky Way in 2019. Aurora is much more difficult at that time.
Sydney would be all about the seascapes, harbour and architecture. If I could catch some waterfalls that'd be great.
I´ll check it out!
Thought so about the renting
I'll either be practicing or booking a workshop of some kind (or both). We will see how it works out.
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Mailing luggage back is what a lot of American travelers do in Germany. I've considered it but I won't be doing it for three reasons:
1. we are planning on visiting the north and South Island, so there are at least two domestic flights
2. still have to lug it around all the gear
3. I am not comfortable with mailing photo equipment.
Might pick up your idea of mailing gifts back.
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Florida, a couple of cruises (hence no drone) and nyc. Snorkeling with manatees and diving with hammerheads so bringing the strobes as well as cold weather gear
Definitely take the drone to nz!
My Scott evest has enabled carry on of lots of kgs of camera gear and saved my bacon when the airline lost my luggage in Iceland for 11 days.
Australia and New Zealand can be strict on weighing hand carry.
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Domestic flights not essential depending on your itinerary. You can fly into Auckland drive down to Wellington and get the ferry across to Picton on the South Island . Fly to Sydney from Queenstown
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That sounds like a lovely trip! Enjoy your swim with the manatees, it sounds really interesting. I had to google "manatees" and the German translation is "Rundschwanzseekühe" (roundtailseacows)
It'll probably come down to drone or tracker because of all the other gear (tripod, lenses, camera, filter...). I am leaning towards the drone because I can probably get more shots out of it.
NZ airlines was very, very strict on the weight in 2019! Not only did they weigh my suitcase and my carry on, but also my backpack. I had to pack everything in a specific order to stay within the weight limits. They also wouldn't allow me to have less weight in the backpack and more in the carry-on. Therefore, I am being cautious this time again.
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Sounds like a good plan. In 2019, there was a problem going on the ferry. I think the rental car company wouldn't allow it. Then I planned on taking the ferry to Picton and then the coastal pacific railroad from Picton to Christchurch. But the train wasn't running to due wintery conditions... therefore, I flew from Auckland to Christchurch and then did a roundtrip and on my way back I flew from CC to Wellington.
Since I am taking my wife this time, I'll be doing a lot of the same spots (Auckland/ Waitomo/ Cape Reinga/ lake Taupo/ QT) again to show her, but I´m also trying to incorporate new sites for me. I´d love to go to mount Taranaki and the northern part of the South Island (Picton, Marlborough country, pancake rocks and such).
Good thought. We could do NZ from North to South if everything works out with car rental and such. Whew, it´s going to be an expansive once in a lifetime (well, twice for me) trip.
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I always think that German needs to invent very long words for everythingThat sounds like a lovely trip! Enjoy your swim with the manatees, it sounds really interesting. I had to google "manatees" and the German translation is "Rundschwanzseekühe" (roundtailseacows)
In Australia, they are called dugongs (or sea cows)
I agree that the drone is more important than a tracker for NZ. I have the DJI mini 3 pro and at 250gm (plus bigger batteries), it is simple to include and have taken it as my +1 for carry-on luggage if the airline allows.
My backpack with medications, RF100-500 + 16" macbook pro + cables = 7kgs => meets the allowance for weight and size (Lowepro protactic AW450)
I don't work for the company and (I've said it before that my wife detests it!!)....
The vest https://www.scottevest.com/products/quest-vest-for-men holds:
all bodies batteries including the drone 3pack + large power bank... I can't check these anyway
2 bodies (R5/RP)
lenses: 8-15/4, 16-35/4, 20/1.4
couple of protein bars for the plane and other miscellaneous stuff
=> pockets on the inside so not quite as obvious but never had an issue with any flight check in or security check. They can't make you take out stuff in your pockets
Repack it all into my backpack after security.
You can even put your 16" PC in the back of the vest if absolutely needed!
The only airline I have come across with a smaller than normal carry on bag dimensions was Iceland Airways.
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My wife is a teacher so I understand the time limitations... that said, August is perfect for milky way/aurora as it is winter in the southern hemisphere ie longer nights. 23-August-25 is new moon. Solar maximum at the moment so excellent chances for sightings if no clouds.
Join the facebook group Aurora Australis for education (KP index is not really applicable for southern hemisphere) and notifications. There is another one specifically for NZ that I would need to dig up.
Sunrise is best for seascapes and heaps of options along the coast especially with many ocean pools as foreground. If you have a car and can drive down to Kiama, then Bombo quarry is a unique location for sunrise seascapes and milky way. Happy to join you for a shoot if on the weekend.
Some nice waterfalls/hikes (and astro) in the Blue Mountains (~1000m altitude) west of Sydney.
Gary Hayes put together an amazing overview of the things to see/shoot in the Blue Mountains. I have used it many times and he is generous with his advice if you want to follow him on facebook.
https://garyphayes.photography/garys-photo-guide/
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Rent a car for the north island and return it in Wellington. Take the ferry without the car (may be cheaper anyway). Rent another can in Picton.
Many people hire a camper van to reduce costs for accommodation and flexibility for scheduling.
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Yeah, adding one noun to another and another and another is a typical German thing, but I kind a like because you be very preciseI always think that German needs to invent very long words for everything
In Australia, they are called dugongs (or sea cows)
I am leaning towards the drone as well.Just makes sense and has more use cases. I'll check out the DJI mini 3 pro (Black Friday is coming!). If I don´t get it now, then probably in March or so.
I am taking the Mindshiftgear rotation 34 L and a peakdesign camera cube in my carry on. Should be enough unless I need a lot of specialty lenses. Definitely taking the RF 100-500mm, RF 14-35mm and something for the night sky. Will decide on a fourth (mid-tele) lens later.
I usually don't wear vests but it might be a worthwhile investment.
Absolutely impressive!all bodies batteries including the drone 3pack + large power bank... I can't check these anyway
2 bodies (R5/RP)
lenses: 8-15/4, 16-35/4, 20/1.4
couple of protein bars for the plane and other miscellaneous stuff
=> pockets on the inside so not quite as obvious but never had an issue with any flight check in or security check. They can't make you take out stuff in your pockets
Repack it all into my backpack after security.
You can even put your 16" PC in the back of the vest if absolutely needed!
Air NZ was the strictest company to date for me.
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Hehe, thanks a lot! I was going to look up the new moon and planning on being on the South Island by then
You were faster than me! We will definitely get a rental car or a camper. Thx for the tipps. I'll put them on my list. It always amazes me to get advice from people who actually know the place/ country and how you find these great locations you can't find on any tour guide. I do have a couple of spots along the Arthurs pass which I was recommended last time but couldn't make it to.
I told my wife all about your tipps for Sydney and now she really wants to go! So, I guess I have to look for flights then. Before, we were leaning more towards Singapur, but Sydney sounds like it is more like our kind of place.
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A camper at the end of winter can be really cold on the South Island, but we might be doing that on the north Island. Your plan actually makes a lot of sense and we will keep it in mind.
Thanks a million for all the advice and tipps, they are highly appreciated! Would it be ok if I contact you on this forum if I have any further questions? That way I don't need to hijacker the entire thread (sry guys and thx for the patience with us! )
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Singapore is okay as a stopover to Europe but mostly architecture IMO. Not too much nature if that is your thing. They have a night zoo but Sydney Taronga has Roar & Snore for a price and some of the best views of Sydney Harbour.
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