Orion StarShoot AutoGuider
Reviewer: Geza K.
Worked right out of the box without any
issues. Combined with the 80mm short
tube it's an amazing combo for my CG5ASGT.
At the time of writing (Nov 14, 2009)
there are no Vista 64 bit drivers and I
was aware of this before the purchase.
Those drivers would be really nice, but
for now I use an XP virtual machine with
no issues.
You won't regret this purchase.
Note from Orion: We are pleased to announce the release
of 64 bit drivers for our StarShoot Auto Guider. They can
be found here:
http://www.telescope.com/rsc/img/catalog/lc/articles/star
shoot64bit.html
Orion StarShoot AutoGuider
Reviewer: Rob
I bought this autoguider over a year
ago. It would not work on my old
notebook - found that I had a bad USB
controller. I bought a new notebook and
it was Vista 64. There are no drivers for
Vista 64. They were supposed to be out
in mid October 2009. Still no driver.
Still no estimated release date. Orion
will not allow me to return it. It has
never been used and it is now 13 months
old. Orion uses a proprietary
architecture so its competitor's drivers
will not work.
I would find a quality autoguider
elsewhere.
Note from Orion: We are pleased to announce the release
of 64 bit drivers for our StarShoot Auto Guider. They can
be found here:
http://www.telescope.com/rsc/img/catalog/lc/articles/star
shoot64bit.html
Orion StarShoot AutoGuider
Reviewer: Heine Wieben
I've been using the Orion SSAG since it came out,
and been fully satisfied until recently when I got a
Macbook pro. I was looking forward to the MBP's
good battery life when I'm out in the field, but no
mac drivers are available (Phd guiding works on Mac,
but not the camera).
To my disappointment installing Windows 7 64 bit on
bootcamp didn't solve the problem, as there is no 64
bit drivers available yet.
Orion has great products, but please update your
drivers. A Mac driver would be great, but at least a
Win 64 bit driver is expected. According the website
it looks like help is on the way. 64 bit drivers are
announced to be released a few weeks ago, so
looking forward to get to use the otherwise great
guide cam.
Note from Orion: We are pleased to announce the release
of 64 bit drivers for our StarShoot Auto Guider. They can
be found here:
http://www.telescope.com/rsc/img/catalog/lc/articles/star
shoot64bit.html
Orion StarShoot AutoGuider
Reviewer: Jade Smith
I am very pleased with the SSAG. It's
made out of solid metal but is very
lightweight. It feels well built and
works great. The software is easy to
install and very intuitive to use. I was
shooting my first guided shots on my
very first night! For the price, you
can't beat it. Highly recommended. 5 stars!
Orion StarShoot AutoGuider
Reviewer: John
I received my Orion Autoguider today.
Installed the software (about a 10 min
process) and read through the manual
familiarizing myself with the camera and
software. Every easy to understand and
practically no learning curve. I then set
up my mount and waited for night. All I
can say is WOW! Sub pixel drift and
perfect guides on the first try! The Orion
SSAG is one of the first items that I've
gotten that worked right out of the box.
Software and camera is super easy to
operate. Take an image, select a guide
star, click on guide. That's it. You
just sit
back and watch it go. Great job Orion.
Orion StarShoot AutoGuider
Reviewer: Juan J. Gonzalez
A great guiding camera, but it cant work
over Vista x64, who is a problem to me.
Could be useful too a way to download
the drivers in case you have not with
you the install CDROM.
Note from Orion: We are pleased to
announce the recent beta release of 64
bit drivers for the StarShoot AutoGuider
which can be found here:
http://www.telescope.com/rsc/img/catalog/lc/articles/ssag64bit.html
Orion StarShoot AutoGuider
Reviewer: Rick Kazmierski
Great product. Has exceeded my
expectations and is a vast improvement
over the manual guiding I've been doing
during astrophotography. Easy to use
and far more sensitive to dim guide stars
than I expected. Will definitely change
my astrophotography experience for the
better.
Orion StarShoot AutoGuider
Reviewer: Richard Smith
I have been using the SSAG and it works
great - in Vista 32. But, now I've
upgraded my laptop to a state of the art
machine, which comes with Vista 64 (as
more and more of them do), and I'm out
of luck. It doesn't seem that releasing a
64 bit driver should be such a big deal,
or for that matter releasing an ASCOM
driver that will work in Vista 64. The
SSAG is a "New" product that is already
a generation behind and right now, for
me, obsolete. I'm sorry, but I couldn't
let the shortcomings of the SSAG dictate
my laptop purchase decision. This
review will become a 5-star review upon
release of a Vista 64 driver.
Note from Orion: We are pleased to announce the release
of 64 bit drivers for our StarShoot Auto Guider. They can
be found here:
http://www.telescope.com/rsc/img/catalog/lc/articles/star
shoot64bit.html
Orion StarShoot AutoGuider
Reviewer: Frank Headley
This auto guider is compact, well finished
and comes with all cables. It also
includes an earlier version of the PHD
tracking software. Unfortunately, I am
unable to find 64bit drivers that will allow
it to run on my Windows Vista 64 bit
laptop. I'll put it in cold storage until the
drivers become available.
Orion StarShoot AutoGuider
Reviewer: Mark Roberts
I bought the StarShoot Autoguider
approximatly 8 months ago and have
been nothing but impressed since I have
owned it. It is small, lightweight and is
extremely easy to set up and use. Much
easier than the ST-4 I had used
previously, with alot less cables to trip
over. In use over many imaging
sessions I have not experienced even a
single glitch. Also the PHD Guiding
software (Stark Labs) is simply the best.
Anyone from a complete novice to the
experienced astrophotographer can be
set up and guiding in minutes. I have
now downloaded the newest version of
PHD which now includes a live graph of
the guiding corrections instead of just
the guide log. Everything still working
perfectly.
Thanks for a great product.
Orion StarShoot AutoGuider
Reviewer: Steve Walton
I bought my Starshoot in 2008 and have
not looked back. The Camera is tiny and
does not get in the way at all. The fact
that it interfaces directly with my
Gemini equipped G-11 makes for one less
long cable to trip over in the dark.
Best of all is the software driver
though, Windoze loves it!! You can go
all night without ever turning off the
guiding and it goes and goes and goes
with nary a glitch. Kudos to Craig Stark
for PHD guiding too, a lovely simple
guiding program that works great with
any guiding camera I ever tried it with
(PHD comes with the camera). My only
caution to prospective buyers would be
to make sure you run the calibration in
PHD every time you change targets no
matter how small a change. I find it's
worth the extra 2 or 3 minutes. Nice
round pinpoint star images every time
and a great price.
Orion StarShoot AutoGuider
Reviewer: Ronald Foat
I have tryed with many systems to guide
my Orion AtlasEQ-G mount. Until now I
hadn't found a method that was simple
to use, acurate, lite weight, and did (not) have
all the additional cable to get in the way.
I have found the answer in my new
Orion StarShoot AutoGuider. It is so
simple to use... It is light weight... AND
IT IS ACCURATE... and with only one
cable going to my mount, what more
could I ask for. There is no better
solution for me. Oh did I mention that
the Autoguiders build was very
impressive to me, built to last many a
years. ORION - Is the best!
Orion StarShoot AutoGuider
Reviewer: Roger
My wife give me the SSAG for
Christmas. She always has a problem
finding something that I don't already
have so I suggested the SSAG. I can't
imagine how I did without it for so long!
It works extremely well and is easy to
use also (when using the supplied PHD
guiding software). I thank you for
offering such a great product, and my
wife thanks you for getting me
something for Christmas that I rave
about.
Orion StarShoot AutoGuider
Reviewer: Tim
Autoguided for the first time last night
using the
Orion autoguider. The camera is super
light and
small. Had no trouble finding guide
stars even with
a 66mm guide scope and .5 second
exposures. The
software that comes with it is so simple
my 7 year
old could use it (seriously). It did a
great job
giving me nice round stars - way way
better than
the unguided results I was getting with
lots of PE.
This is the way to go for autoguiding.
Orion StarShoot AutoGuider
Reviewer: Lloyd Flemming
It is so nice to get something that works
as advertised.
Orion StarShoot AutoGuider
Reviewer: Eric King
This has been the best thing I have ever
bought from Orion...granted, I have
purchased a lot of awesome scopes and
imaging gear from Orion, but the SSAG
is essential and A MUST BUY if you are
going to do astrophotography. Without
it, imaging will be frustrating. If
you are
tossing around the idea of autoguiding....
JUST STOP and GET ONE NOW. Not only
is it easy to install, its easy to setup
and
idiot proof to use. Pair the SSAG with
the Orion ST80 (don't forget the 1.25"
extension tube) and you got one little
honey of a autoguiding package.
Piggyback this with the Orion 6" Imaging
OTA... and the Starshoot Pro on the
Atlas... your images will rival Hubble...
not kidding at all.
Orion StarShoot AutoGuider
Reviewer: Tim
Installation was simple enough and the
manual is very handy. The only problem
I've had was getting PHD to track in
declination (consistently fails calibration
and shuts off declination tracking). I
downloaded the driver for Maxim DL and
it works perfectly with my Celestron
NextStar 11 GPS equatorially aligned on
a wedge. Note for beginners,
autoguiding still requires a good polar
alignment for imaging or you get field
rotation in long duration exposures. The
manual has a good description of how to
do polar alignment. The declination
tracking issue in PHD might be a result
of my poor polar alignment ability.
In all this is a wonderful product for a
good price. I've taken my best
astrophotos since I started using the SS
Autoguider.
Orion StarShoot AutoGuider
Reviewer: Tim
The star shoot autoguider is very easy to
use. The only problem I had was that at
first I attempted to use Maxim DL
essentials for control. It was listed as an
option and was already on my laptop.
Big mistake that cost me two hours.
Started from scratch and loaded P.H.D.
guiding and immediatly started guiding
my Celestron 10NGT. Accuracy is
excellant, guiding far better than my
previous manual efforts. And simple with
P.H.D. Guiding. The manual should state
the importance of using the P.H.D.
option for less experienced autoguider
users. My guide scope is the 80 mm
f11.4. that came with the Orion guide
scope package. It is a bit on the small
size for light gathering for the
autoguider.
Orion StarShoot AutoGuider
Reviewer: Doug Hubbell
The StarShoot Autoguider makes
AstroPhotography (AP) easy. I don't
have to perform complicated "drift
alignments". I just do a simple 2 star
alignment, get close to my target, lock
in on a star (with Autoguider), and
start imaging. The software include
called PHD is so simple! The StarShoot
Autoguider is a must have for anyone
considering long AP exposures! I highly
recommend this product. Five Stars! *****
Orion StarShoot AutoGuider
Reviewer: Apostolidis Kostas
Really better, simpler, than I ever
could have expected with that amount of
money spent. (Or with a lot more.)
It really works easily and in just 10
min I could do autoguided shots with
perfect results.
PHD guiding works amazingly good and
without needing any special knowledge.
Thanks Orion
Orion StarShoot AutoGuider
Reviewer: Les Phelps
This device significantly simplifies
autoguiding. An excellent purchase.
Orion StarShoot AutoGuider
Reviewer: Daniel Perry
A good camera/software package that
could be better. It's difficult to complain
about a product that does what it says it
does and does it at a reasonable cost.
But the chip in this camera is quite noisy
and erratic. Exposures of 3+ seconds
result in inconsistent horizontal lines
that
darks do not help to remove. PHD
guiding will often erroneously guide on a
thermally charged pixel rather than on
the selected guide star. If your guide
exposures are less than 3 seconds,
everything works quite well. If they need
to be longer than 3 seconds due to sky
unsteadiness or just to get a bright
enough guide star, there may be
problems.
Orion StarShoot AutoGuider
Reviewer: Ronald Whitehead
5 stars!!! Does exactly what is
advertised, and well! Easy, user
friendly, supported by PhD Guiding, so,
even easier. Best value for the dollar
in many years in astronomy. Makes me
want to look closely at the new top of
the line Orion imaging camera. Ron Whitehead
Orion StarShoot AutoGuider
Reviewer: Tom Pyer
Thank you ORION, For this great tool
for astro-imaging . I have an Atlas 11
inch cassegrain which is a good scope
for imaging, but the adition of the
autoguider and the 80mm short tube
made it great . thank you Tom Pyer.
Orion StarShoot AutoGuider
Reviewer: Jim Cartee
I just received my AutoGuider a few
days ago. I use it on a Orion 80mm
short tube guide scope piggy backed on
my 8" SCT telescope. It is very easy to
use and works very well. I just used it
last night and I was able to take some
oustanding photos of DSO and plannets.
If you are into astrophotography, I
highly recommend this product. Thanks
Orion for another great product!
Orion StarShoot AutoGuider
Reviewer: KM
Not many accessories make me say "wow"
but this one did. After having performed
manual guiding for a year, this gadget
eliminates star trails in my images
effortlessly. It's also great to
exercise the full potential of my Sirius
mount, and it breathes life into an
otherwise unused aging Windows XP machine.
Orion StarShoot AutoGuider
Reviewer: Chris Bayus
This autoguider was used on an Orion
120ST as a guidescope on my 10"
LX200.
It was autoguiding within minutes. I
was shooting at f/6.3 with my Canon
RebelXT. When the first 5 minute images
appeared on my screen all I said
was,"Sweeeeeeet!". I must say the
guiding was great. Needless to say that
night was an all nighter and I got some
of the best images I ever shot.
The software is really easy. A click
here and a click there and the rest is
automatic. The calibration routine is a
little slow though. On the bright side
it gives you time to get that cup of
coffee. Changing parameters is very
easy to understand and use too.
It was easy to find a guide-star even
through a little bit of those real high
whispy clouds.
Great product and at least it's
assembled in America.
Thanks,
Chris
Orion StarShoot AutoGuider
Reviewer: Murray Hammick
A really simpLe and easy to use piece of
equipment that has altered my whole
approach to astro imaging. I use TAK
refractors, an AP 900 mount and a
Canon 350 DSLR.
At last - a quick and easily set up and
operated guide camera at a sensible
price.
Orion StarShoot AutoGuider
Reviewer: Gene Lauria
Guider works very well for the
demanding
conditions of using an off-axis guider
for my C14. There is enough sensitivity
to pick up a fair amount of faint stars
in the off-axis guider, especially if
darks are taken. I've been shooting 5
minute exposures at f/7 with a shutter
speed of 1 second, and the stars are
nice and round. Again, pretty good
considering that one is shooting at a
focal length of 2500mm.
The "PHD" software is pretty good, but
it would be nice if it had some extra
utilities such as a monitor for
measuring the guiding error of the
mount. I've found this to be very
useful when imaging. I haven't found
the format of the log file to be very
useful.
Orion StarShoot AutoGuider
Reviewer: Cesar Cantu
Thanks to allow me to express my
opinion. Once I installed the StarShoot
AutoGuider in the PC, it was guiding my
mount Takahashi EM200 without
problems, really the camera and the
system is designed as it says the
announcement: to be very intuitive.
Orion StarShoot AutoGuider
Reviewer: Jon Smith
Excellent product. My SSAG works
exactly as I had hoped it would. My
Sirius mount will now track for at least 8
minute exposures. This autoguider is
very easy to setup and operate.
Orion StarShoot AutoGuider
Reviewer: Jeff Husted
I use this guider with Atlas EQG mount
and Orion 80mm guidescope. Easy to
setup and use. The nice thing about
using this light weight guider and
separate guide scope is that it works
just as well with my DSLR camera and
lens, as it does with my 6" reflector.
There is usually a bright star in the
guidescope. If not, I just realign
guidescope using tube ring screws.
Excellent guiding hour after hour.
Orion StarShoot AutoGuider
Reviewer: Yuriy Oseyev
Very easy for use. Guiding with out
problem. Fast to connect. Recomend for
all astro-photographer.
Autoguiding has revolutionized the capture of deep-sky images by mechanizing the tedious and tiring method of "manually" guiding an exposure, which involved staring endlessly into an illuminated reticle telescope eyepiece while tweaking your mount's electronic drive controls by hand to keep the stars pinpoint sharp. Until now, the problem has always been the lack of a simple, affordable autoguider camera to do the job.
