How to Set Up and Use the Move-Shoot-Move Portable Star Tracker for better Milky Way Photography 

I'm glad this one worked well for you - hope you were able to get some great shots!

Most of the time that's true.

Thanks David - Glad you found it helpful!

Glad you found it helpful

They are great little devices for portable trackers. I'm excited for the production version of new NOMADE tracker to come out; will definitely update reviews once I have that in hand.

I’m glad you found it helpful!

We’re pretty good at that most of the time.

Glad you found it helpful 👍

Just switch around #3 and 4. V-plate is attached directly to the MSM with another small ball head attached to the V-plate. That way the camera can attach with the L-bracket (or plate) easily to the ball head.

Hey Ken - I just used a 1/4-20 screw I had lying around. Depending on your plate, you may need to use a washer or cobble something together, but should be fairly simple. Feel free to message me (through my website, DM on Instagram, etc) and I can send you pics / help sort yours out.

@@marcrasselphotography thanks Marc. The slot seems to be pretty big; so, that’s what stumped me. A washer! Who knew? 🥴

This is the current v2 MSM (though the new one should be coming out soon)

Honestly, it's just a matter of getting used to your setup and practice. When the battery is fully charged, the laser is pretty good. And the speed of this setup is why I recommend doing it on a ball head like this - it's a matter of turning the laser on, pointing it to Polaris to it visually lines up, and locking down the ball head. For this kind of wide-angle astrophotography, usually close enough is good enough.

The V-plate has a small 1/4-20 thumb screw (like what you find on a tripod plate) that you can screw directly in to your ball head. If your ball head accepts 3/8-16 threads, you can thread one of the brass adapters on to the thumb screw so it fits the larger hole in your ball head.

I don't think they still make this exact model (Vector), but the tripod is from Colorado Tripod Company - coloradotripod.com/products/centennial-tripod?variant=31954376425539. And the ball head is the Really Right Stuff BH-55.

Ideally yes, you’d be starting with a perfectly level tripod. I often use a leveling base for this, but many times for wide angle lenses, close enough is good enough.

@@marcrasselphotography thanks for Youri quick answer Marc

That will mostly depend on the weight and accuracy of your polar alignment. It should be able to do it, but you shutter speed might be pretty limited before you get star trailing unless your polar alignment is dead on.

You're right, and the fading light doesn't help either... But you should be able to get some good details in the blog writeup here: marcrasselphoto.com/blog/move-shoot-move-portable-star-tracker

Did you increase total Ah capacity?

@@marcrasselphotography Yes, you just have to be careful that the similar one in the same case fits in terms of width and length.

The screws are easy to open with the right tool.

I got an energy drink rush at that time 🤣☝🏻

The battery was actually ordered quite cheaply from China on ebay

Thanks for the feedback - constructive criticism is always appreciated.

Any advice for using the time lapse set up?

@@greggjakoby1281 I don't use the MSM for timelapse (its original main purpose...) so can't really speak to that, unfortunately.

@@marcrasselphotography I appreciated the talking you did at the beginning as it gives perspective to your opinion and experience with MSM - thanks!

​@@marcrasselphotography the original comment is a bit rude, but it's not entirely wrong. But it's relative to context. You titled this video as a "How To" not a "What is". If you HAD labeled it as a What Is (or anything to that effect), the expectation would be different. You can always say something like "Move Shoot Move - Tiny Star Tracker - What is it and how to set up". With that you've created the expectation that you're going to explain what it is AND show how to set it up. Now, is 4 minutes an appropriate amount of time to explain what it is? Depends, perhaps a bit much. If MSMs own description page can do that in 20 seconds of text, and it's sufficient, then yes, 4 minutes is too much. It's just all context. Think it through and you'll land on a good balance. And don't be afraid to shoot long, and then cut if needed in post. Be very unforgiving in your cutting in post. If it doesn't truly add to the content (dead air, too many pauses, mistakes, going in circles, repetitiveness, etc.), get rid of it. Entertainment value is obviously acceptable as well. In any case, hope that is a bit more constructive ;)