This is really neat and I'll probably order them tonight! One feature I'd like to see addressed in V2 would be a "storage" port for the 3/8 inch thread adapter - just a thread in the plate itself that you could screw in that adapter so you don't lose it in your pockets/camera bags constantly.
Wonderful production! It really takes into account the design of each detail along with the real use on field. Really impressed since it's so minimal but efficient. I might use it one day, thanks for the effort Alyn
Already ordered mine 🙌🏻 Great idea to fill the tracker ballache issue I always have when aiming up. Might start using the tracker all the time now... Cheers Alyn, stay safe 👍🏻
This is awesome! I was thinking using two ball heads to fix this problem 🤣 but this is a lot more lightweight and practical 😁 Just order the V and Z and can't wait to try them 🤩
As soon as I saw them on at the MSM site I ordered them. I have the V as the wedge and the Z on the rotator with a panning base instead of a ball head, which keeps the gear a little closer to the exact center of the rotator, reducing the moment of inertia significantly. The Z + panning base is only a little less than the 450 gram ball head I prefer, but again, the camera sits a little closer to the rotating base, which is important. I may replace that with a small leveling base to make quick Milky Way panoramas a little faster workflow. Anyway, thanks so much Alyn for your great idea and kudos to MSM for adopting it because the execution is so well thought out. It's such a great implementation. Clear skies in 2021!
Excellent collaboration Alyn, you used your background engineer knowledge work with company you admire and help them to improve their product what shown how much you love of what you do and how better it could be for everyone ; )
Thanks Alyn. My family got me the MSM tracker last Christmas and haven't had a chance to use it yet. Going up to the Big Bear Lake, CA near me to try Milky Way during the new moon in a few weeks. I ordered the Z & V pack with your discount and get free shipping so worth a shot for more options as I pretty much will be fumbling around figuring things out. Wish me luck.
Nice one Alyn, just ordered a Z to use with my MVM if I can actually ever get out to use it! Good luck with the sales mate 👍🏻 All the best Ryan Raymond.
Just got mine yesterday. I think it’ll quickly become a valuable asset in my astrophotography arsenal. My only suggestion would be a thin rubber/neoprene type pad where it attaches to my sky guider pro. The 3/8” screw thread bottoms out before the MSMZ plate actually come into contact with the sky guider pro mount plate. Nice work overall Alyn and a reasonable price too.
Just received my two Z mounts. Planning to use one on my macro mounting setup to give camera tilt without the height gain that a ball head would require. If I may Alyn...one small correction. They are indeed a friction based system. The mounts do not "lock" when tightened, but the leverage from the thumb lever seems to allow enough torque on the nut to create good holding strength in the hinge.
Just ordered one because i need something compact and light for the MSM alignment. I planned to use a video head but i realized there's too much stuff in my backpack. And this Z mount is way cheaper than an equatorial head so... cannot wait to test it!
I am always looking to be able to do more with my camera support. One thing that’s always been a challenge is getting a camera really low to the ground while still having full control. Even low profile ball heads aren’t really low, but a V platform is.
Z platform is fantastic, you can save some weight by replacing your Ballhead and L Bracket and still be able to put your camera in a vertical orientation. Also, you can use it as a panoramic head for a single row pano with no parallax effect!
Just order Z bracket👌 I hope it will have enough payload for my panorama setup. Now i am using Sirui L20s, for leveling my pano setup above tracker, but it is a bit heavy and big. Good work💪
Alyn this looks great. I am using a star adventurer 2i and a manfrotto x pro ball head. Would this work with this or is it only compatible with the MSM tracker? Ps which indexing rotator do you use to simplify overlaps in the dark?
How you do tighten this to the MSM without turning the whole motor assembly , just got mine and I want it snug and tight but it wants to turn the whole device around
That looks great! I have a MiniTrack LX3 and I have problems pointing my camera to certain regions in the sky, so this might be the solution. I thought it was probably too expensive for my tight budget, but I went to the product page anyways and wow, I could get both for the price limit I set myself! Can't wait for them to arrive, but I'm "afraid" they arrive long before the next clear sky...
Still waiting for my order to be shipped. Got a tracking number last week and it's still not shipped. Quite disappointing. I trust you so I'm sure I'll get them one day, but it's frustrating when you get an email saying it's on it's way when it's not...
And here I expected to see it priced at $200 like a RRS bracket would be. I'm so impressed that you all market this at a reasonable price for what it is!
That is amazing, Alyn!! I’ll definitely be getting one of each. I reached out to MSM about solutions for allowing us to photograph in vertical/portrait mode without the camera slipping out of tightness - do these address that challenge?
Hi mate. I am considering this for use in Australia for astrophotography. I am comparing against the much more expensive ioptron skyguider pro with ipolar. My main concern is getting accurate polar alignment. Do you think with the phone mount for msm that you can get accurate alignment here is the Southern Hemisphere or do I need to spend more and get the ipolar?
I wish I had seen the V mount used as a equatorial wedge before I bought the second ballhead for the same purpose. That cuts down on my weight and packing issues even more, not to mention a most stable platform. Oh well, I guess I just have an extra ballhead to put on a spare tripod.
Hi Alyn, I bought both the V and Z platforms on preorder. They make the move shoot move so much easier. One question on Panorama’s - would you do a video on doing one using these as I’m still not sure if I should correct for the rotation after a tracked shot before rotating slightly?
Thanks Alyn! I have purchased other Zmounts that use allen key to tighten and it doesn't hold strong enough, allen key no good, maybe Alyn is the key, LOL. Just ordered this from MSM with preorder discount, any idea when they will begin shipping these?
I bought the V and Z platform, I like it, very sturdy, light weight and easy to lock. However for Polar alignment and lock it precisely with the laser or the scope is a not that easy. Don't get me wrong, you can still do it, but I think a tilt & pan head would be better suited. I ordered the one from MSM. But still I have great uses for V and Z. They are well made.
Tried to set up my camera for the first time on the MSM and immediately found an issue in having the camera be level espectially if pointing N... Wish I had seen these plates when I initially ordered the MSM ordered 1 of each and can't wait to test em out. It will be so nice to have a star tracker that I don't have to counter weight. I love my iOptron but it's such a pain to lug into landscape photo locations with its counter weight and all
Nice Video! I have a Nikon D750 with Manfrotto Befree tripod with ball head. I tend to shoot with my Nikon14-24 F2.8. Can I just buy and shoot with a MSM tracker or do I need to buy other adaption gear? As the online catalouge I'm not sure what I'd need to be able to go out and use it straight away. I'd hate to purchase and realise I also needed this ball head or that platform.Anyone on here help or advise? Thanks.
Thanks so much for this Alyn, just order the Z Platform. Have tried other Z mounts just like you pointed out, have always been puzzled by the absence of a straight forward and robust locking system. Interesting to see it used as an equatorial mount, how easy do you find it to acquire alignment with this versus something like the Benro 3 geared head?
