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Prices are Canadian (CAN) dollars. For non-Canadian orders, the exchange rate will be determined by your credit card company or financial institution when your order is processed. |
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NEW! UPGRADED TT320X WITH NEW FEATURES! |  |
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Jim Kendrick, owner of Kendrick Astro Instruments, is a director in AstroTrac
and was part of the team responsible for the development of this device.
The New AstroTrac TT320X, a revolutionary astronomy product!
Ever wanted to get out under the stars and take some long exposure sky images with your Digital SLR, or observe with a small telescope, but didn't feel like lugging heavy or awkward equipment around and spending ages setting up? Concerned about airline luggage restrictions? Are you looking for the ultimate in lightweight, high quality, highly accurate, portable tracking? If the answer is yes, then the AstroTrac TT320X is designed with you in mind.
The TT320X tracks the motion of the stars for up to 2 hours with very high accuracy, eliminating the usual star trails in fixed long exposure images of the night sky or the need to constantly re-adjust your manual Alt-Az mount. You can, with this very light and stable mount, build up your astrophoto exposures over a few minutes, revealing the deeper structure and beauty of the sky. It's the perfect product for anyone interested in wide field imaging with a camera and lens, a spotting scope, or telescope or for anyone wanting to do visual observing using magnifications ranging from low to high power. Because it's small and portable enough to fit into your camera bag or suitcase or accessory case, you can take it anywhere you can take a camera and tripod, without the weight, awkward shape, and inconvenience of an equatorial mount.
The TT320X has the following new features:
- Solar and lunar tracking rates as standard
- New drive mechanics - more accurate than the TT320
- Weighs just 1.1 kg (2.4 lb) - 0.25 kg (0.5 lb) lighter than the TT320
- New longer polar scope arm - easier to polar align
- Increased 15 kg (33 lb)load capacity - 5 kg (11 lb) more than the TT320
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Other Advantages are:
- 5 min setup time
- Extreme portability
- Outstanding stability & quality
- Exceptional tracking accuracy
- Use standard photo tripods & heads (3/8" 16 TPI)
- Works in both hemispheres
- Polar alignment capability (optional)
Other features:
- CNC machined to very high tolerances
- All high quality components
- Each unit is individually calibrated for tracking accuracy
- High quality circuit boards
- Anodized finish
- Exceptionally easy to use
- Audible status indicator with volume control
- Adjustable LED brightness control for control buttons
- LED illumination of drive guard to indicate drive status
(ie: tracking, pulses green; nearing end of track; pulses red;
end of track; solid red)
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Quick setup & easy to use: For visual observing or wide field astro photography, you simply centre the Pole Star (Polaris) within the polar scope (described below). Polaris is a bright star visible due north, and a 5 min setup time is easily achievable. The TT320 features an integral, magnetic polar scope arm, which works best with AstroTrac's optional magnetic polar scope. Other manufacturer's polar scopes may be used but users of the TT320 must be aware that polar alignment accuracy will become an issue. As well, a small hole located on the side of the polar arm will have to be tapped to take a thumbscrew. This thumbscrew is what would be used to hold a non AstroTrac polar scope in place.
For high accuracy tracking, critical with focal lengths of 200mm or more, we recommend the drift align method of polar alignment.
Please click here to view a streaming video that shows how easy and convenient it is to set up the AstroTrac.
Ultra portable: At about 1.1kg and about 17" long, the TT320X folds neatly into carry-on luggage, and most camera bags. |
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Use standard photo equipment: With standard 3/8" photo threads on each side, all you need is a photo tripod, a photo tripod head to tilt it on the polar axis, and another pan/tilt head to point your camera at the sky. That means you can use your existing standard photo equipment to get up and running quickly and easily. See the FAQ below for recommendations.
Build Quality: Precision CNC machined to the highest tolerances, the TT320X is equivalent to a 24" diameter worm gear. Preloaded bearings are used, to provide smoothness under load. Correctly balanced, the TT320 will carry a surprisingly large load of 10kg. Aluminium and stainless steel are used throughout for lightness, strength and corrosion resistance. Polycarbonate shields (also used for bullet proof glass), protect the drive mechanism from damage. The motor and screw are custom made in the US to specification. |
| Super Accurate Tracking: The entirely redesigned drive mechanics give the TT320X unguided tracking accuracy which has to be seen to be believed.
You can easily capture pin sharp stars at 500 mm or more focal length. The only other mounts which can match the unguided tracking accuracy of the TT320X cost many thousands more.
Most DSLR camera exposures are around 5 minutes or less. The TT320X has typical unguided tracking error of around 5 arcseconds peak-to-peak or better over a 5 minute period.
Each TT320X unit is individually calibrated at the factory, so the tracking rate is exactly right. You don't need to waste time measuring and adjusting the tracking rate to make sure its running at just the right speed to prevent trailed stars. |
[click to enlarge]
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Easier Polar Alignment: The TT320X new polar scope arm is 40 mm longer than the arm on the TT320, making it easier to view through the polar scope. The polar scope has an adjustable brightness illuminated reticle and is usable in both hemispheres. Has a unique and accurate magnetic attachment mechanism for easy insertion and detachment from the polar arm. |
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Power Supply
You don't need to worry about lumping large power supplies with you either. The TT320X draws minimal power, so you get around 10 hours tracking from a set of 8 AA cells. AA cells also have the advantage of being available just about anywhere in the world.
Worldwide use: If you cross the equator, simply unfold the TT320 drive panel anti-clockwise for the Northern Hemisphere and clockwise for the Southern Hemisphere.
For visual observing too: Why not use the TT320X for smooth viewing comfort at higher powers! Just use an Alt-Azimuth mount, such as the Stellarvue M1, William Optics EasyTouch or Tele-Optik Giro Mini with standard 3/8 threaded bases. Imagine having this level of portability, but with tracking too!
Specifications:
Weight: 1.1 kg (2.4 lb)
Load capacity: 15 kg (33 lb)
Operating voltage: 12v DC
Operating current: less than 0.25 A
Size: (stowed) 425x95x43 mm (17.2" x 3.4" x 1.7")
Tracking rates: Sidereal, Solar, Lunar
Tracking Accuracy: typically 5 arcseconds peak-to-peak over 5 minutes
Rewind Time: approximately 1.5 minutes
Mounting threads: Standard photo 3/8" 16 TPI
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Item
No. | Description | Price
CAN | Click to add
item to cart |
| AstroTrac TT320 |
If you require additional parts to complete your AstroTrac TT320X set-up, we offer the following products:
Item
No. | Description | Price
CAN | Click to add
item to cart |
| Manfrotto Accessories |
We also offer T-rings, T-ring to focuser and other photo accessories:
Item
No. | Description | Price
CAN | Click to add
item to cart |
| T-rings and other Photographic Accessories |
Try this power cord upgrade. Robust, 36" coiled, rectractable, 15' extended, fused.
Item
No. | Description | Price
CAN | Click to add
item to cart |
| Power cords |
AstroTrac FAQ:
Q: What mounts and heads are recommended?
Using a geared tripod head beneath the TT320 allows you to make fine adjustments while looking through the polar scope for more accurate polar alignment. We recommend models such as the Manfrotto Junior 410 Geared Head for camera and lens use (3kg), or the 405 Pro geared head (up to 7.5kg including the TT320). For mounting the camera and lens on top of the TT320, as well as small telescopes, you can use Ball or pan/tilt tripod heads as needed. For telescope mounting, we recommend astronomy Alt-Azimuth mount heads such as the Tele-Optik Giro Mini or the Stellarvue range of similar mounts. For use of dual telescopes or up to 4" scopes, the William Optics EasyTouch head is recommended. We recommend the Manfrotto 475 tripod range or equivalent for good stability and field use, or the William Optics wooden tripods for additional vibration dampening properties.
Q: How do I use it?
Just flip open the drive and a green light displays, showing you're ready to start. To start tracking, simply press the Play button. The unit beeps and the status LED flashes green. During the last 10 minutes of tracking, the unit beeps and the flashing speeds up. After two hours tracking stops and the LED lights red. To reset the unit ready to start again, press Rewind The LED flashes red, then lights green on reaching the start position. The LED brightness and beeper volume buttons have 5 positions, including off. With 4 buttons it's extremely easy to use in the dark. In fact, it's the easiest tracking device we have ever seen, period.
Q: How does the AstroTrac TT320X work?
The AstroTrac drive uses a patented mechanism to turn the telescope on the polar axis of the earth, at exactly the same rate the earth spins. The TT320X only accepts the optional AstroTrac polar scope. Polar scope are tiny telescopes, showing an illuminated star map against the sky background. By lining up the dots on the map with bright stars (Polaris in the Northern Hemisphere), polar alignment can be achieved in minutes. That's why we recommend a geared tripod head, so you can make small adjustments to get things lined up. The more accurately you align the AstroTrac on the Celestial Pole, the better the tracking accuracy will be. For super accuracy, and very long exposures, we recommend the drift align method.
Q: OK, I want one, how do I get it?
Kendrick Astro Instruments has the Canadian exclusive and ships to our US customers from our New York State warehouse.
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