Support – I use a Gitzo 4543LS Systematic tripod. The Systematic models specifically come without a center column so I can mount the tracker assembly directly to the tripod apex for maximum stability. This tripod is made of carbon fiber for lighter weight and great stability. Carbon fiber also tends to dampen vibrations more quickly than aluminum. I specifically chose the Gitzo Series 4 Systematic model as it provides more stability at my working height than the lighter 3 Series and at the same time is not as big and bulky as the larger Gitzo 5 Series.

Tracker and Wedge – The star tracker is a Fornax LighTrack II. It is a track arm design that handles my approximate 9.2 lb. total load with excellent accuracy. The only downside of this design is that it can only continuously track for 107 minutes before having to reset the tracking arm. Power for the tracker is provided by an Anker 10,000 mAh battery via a USB to 12V cable. This battery has more than enough power to easily run the tracker for multiple night sessions before needing a recharge.

Supporting the tracker is the Fornax  FMW-200 wedge. It is a solidly built unit that allows me to easily do course and fine adjust for polar alignment.

Polar Alignment – Mounted to the polar scope arm is a QHYCCD Polemaster camera. It uses the QHYCCD universal adapter to hold it in place. The Polemaster camera plugs directly into my laptop computer’s USB connection where I run the Polemaster software to get alignment in just a few minutes. I have pretty much given up on optical polar alignment scopes as they are awkward and difficult to use. I also feel I get much better and more reliable alignment with the Polemaster.

Mounting Heads – Mounted to the tracker is an Arca Swiss Z1 ball-head. The Z1 is a heavy duty ball-head that locks down tightly and does not creep under changing loads while tracking. On top of the ball-head is a Wimberley WH-200 gimbal head that adapts to the ball-head rails via a Really Right Stuff  TH-DVTL-40 round dovetail plate.

I have used both side and cradle mounts for the gimbal head but generally prefer the cradle mount. It tends to keep the camera and lens center-of-gravity lower on the tracker than the side mount.

Camera – The camera I use is a Nikon Z7 II. It is an excellent performer for astrophotography with its high resolution, low noise sensor. Controlling the camera is a wireless Vello Shutterboss II. The receiver is cold shoe mounted to the top of the camera with a cable connected to the camera’s accessory terminal. With the wireless remote I can program in whatever timing sequence I like and start the cycle without touching or walking near the camera.

Lenses – For small deep-sky objects, I use a Nikon 500mm f/5.6 PF. This lens is particularly good for astrophotography as it is both optically excellent and lightweight. When used with the Nikon Z7 II the angular pixel size is 1.8 arc-seconds, which is approaching the limit of about 1 to 2 arc-seconds/pixel due to atmospheric distortion. If I am shooting wider fields of view, I go with the Nikon 70-200mm f/2.8 S.

In the past I used the Nikon 300mm f/2.8 with a TC-14E III teleconverter (and FTZ adapter) for a 420mm f/4 combination. While the 300mm f/2.8 + TC combination gathered about 1.47x more light than the 500mm f/5.6 PF, I found the 500mm to be better optically. This was noticeable in the fine detail of distant stellar targets. The 500mm PF is also considerably lighter, making it easier to transport as well as putting less load on the tracker. I have since sold the 300mm f/2.8.

I also tried the new Nikon 400mm f/4.5 S. It is optically excellent and also works very well with the TC-1.4x. The issue I had, however, with this lens is that it does not hold focus for exposure times longer than about 20 minutes. The heavier mechanical focus ring of the 500mm f/5.6 PF seems to work much better as it seems to hold focus indefinitely. That is why I still prefer the 500mm PF for deep sky astrophotography. For shorter exposures and a little more magnification, though, I might still opt for the 400mm f/4.5 + TC-1.4x.

That’s it for the basic setup. All this (except the tripod) can be easily transported in a Pelican 1510 rolling case as shown below in figure 2. The case holds the Fornax tracker with wedge attached along with the gimbal and ball-heads. I use the mesh pouches in the lid to store the USB battery, spare batteries for the Vello Shutterboss, cables, lights (headlamp with red LED and red-filtered flashlight), small tools, and a green laser pointer for locating star targets.