Introducing Astro - a single axis motion control device

The Astro is a fairly simple and compact intervalometer and single axis motion control device for time-lapse and panorama photography.The unit is powered by 2 AA batteries. The unit can be positioned in one of two orientations, horizontal for rotational panning and vertical for tilt panning. Rotation can be in clockwise and counterclockwise directions. It is rated to support unto 22 pounds of camera gear when properly mounted and balanced on the central pivot point in the horizontal pan mode and 6.5 pounds in tilt mode. It has a maximum speed of 6° per second in panorama mode or 360° in 55 seconds. It is rated for operating temperatures of 32° to 104° F or 0° to 40° CThe device can be ordered with cables specific to the camera you use. A 2.5mm jack connects the Astro cable to you camera.  A cable with 2.5 mm jacks on either end is provided to connect your iPhone or Android phone for additional functionality.  The IOS and Android applications are under development and not available as of the writing of this book.Programming the astro is very easy.  The unit has three rings stacked one above the other and a status LED that also serves as a marker.

• The uppermost ring controls the “Duration” where you set the total duration of the time-lapse from 15 min to 12 hrs.
• The middle ring controls the “Rotation” that is the total rotational angle from the start of the sequence to the end.
• The lowest ring sets the triggering “Interval” in seconds.

You mount a plate that matches yourtripod head to the bottom of the Astro. Mount a ball-head on the top or mount your camera directly to the to 1/4 20mm screw. Connect the cable to the Astro and your camera. Program the Astro in three steps and press one of the directional start buttons.  The unit will turn on, follow a move, settle shoot cycles to the end of the sequence.Depressing either of the two start buttons during a sequence will terminate the sequence.The Status LED provides the following information:Single Green: Indicates each movement.Rapid Orange: Smartphone Mode. The unit is waiting for a smartphone program transfer.Rapid Red: Indicates an error in starting the program.Continuous Red: Indicated a canceled program.Rapid Red: Indicates a low battery.Two Astro units can be coupled using “L Brackets” to achieve 2 axis motion, panning and simultaneous tilting.For testing  2 Eneloop Rechargeable AA batteries were used. The Astro was fitted with a 1/4 20 to 3/8 adapter and a Feisol CB-50DC bullhead on top.  A Really Right Stuff plate was attached to the base.  This combination was mounted on top of a Gitzo tripod and the Really Right Stuff BH55 bullhead.  I first tested the Astro with a Canon 7D and a 16 - 35 mm f/2.8 L series II lens in pan mode and the the unit's performance was effortless  and accurate through the duration of the time-lapse sequences.  To take it up a notch, the Astro was mounted with the 7D and a 70 - 200 f/2.8 L series lens.  The  lens foot plate was used to balance the camera lens combination on the Astro.  This is about as heavy as you would use to do a time-lapse sequence.  Once again the performance was very good.  I did notice a slight backlash in the last frame.  This is easily solved by eliminating the frame before assembling the final sequence.Since the L brackets are not yet available the Astro was mounted in a vertical orientation by dropping the Tripod's ball head 90 degrees. For this test the camera body was a Canon 5D MkIII and a the 16 - 35 mm f/2.8 L series II lens.You can get the Astro now by clicking on the button below. The pre order price is $249 and the retail price will be $280.