Vixen POLARIE U Star Tracker

Star-scape photography. A silhouetted landscape on the earth is weaved into a beautiful photo of the starry sky.

The beauty of the earth and the universe could be combined in a photo with the scenery of the night sky.
The POLARIE U expands a wonderful world of star-scape photography and the pleasure of photography can be experienced by everyone.
“Star-scape photography” is photographs that capture the stars and scenery together, such as the Milky Way and mountains, or the constellations and buildings. Unlike conventional astrophotography these photographs capture a relatively narrow area in the sky, “Star-scape photography” mainly uses a wide-angle lens and creates impressive photos where stars and scenery combine. The possibilities of composition are endless, and it is a new genre of landscape photography that anyone can easily enjoy.

The POLARIE U is a handy camera platform that automatically follows the movement of the stars. By shooting with the camera, which is mounted on the POLAREI U and a tripod, you will be able to produce works of beautiful starry skies in an image with pinpoint stars.

Weight reduction of more than 20% and improved loading capacity.

The structure of the original POLARIE was reviewed completely. The distance between the two bearings that support the rotating shaft is about four times that of the previous model. This achieves a great improvement in loading capacity successfully in spite of the weight reduction by 20%. * 1
The maximum loading weight is 2.5kg/5.5 lbs (approx. 2.5kg/5.5 lbs at 10cm from the center of rotation) when it is used for taking wide-field astrophotography or spar-scape photography.
The maximum loading weight will be increased to 6.5kg/14 lbs (approx. 2.5kg/5.5 lbs at 10cm from the center of rotation) if a POLARIE Multi mounting block (optional) and a Dovetail slide bar DD (optional) are combined together.

Furthermore, when used for time-lapse photography, the POLARIE U can hold the loading capacity as heavy as 10 kg/22 lbs at the maximum (about 10 kg/22 lbs at 10 cm from the center of rotation), and it is usable with large equipment. * 2

* 1: In comparison with POLARIE.
* 2: When the POLARIE U is set for time-lapse photography and placed horizontally using the bubble level attached.

Using the custom setting mode via a smartphone.

By using a communication function and app, various settings are customized via smartphones or tablet terminals. In star-scape photography, tracking speeds are selected (in the custom mode), and settings of interval time, exposure, and rotation speed are available in time-lapse photography. It allows for a wide variety of selections for the enjoyment of photography.
To change the settings, a communication terminal that can be connected to Wi-Fi, like smartphones, and application software is required.

Five tracking modes.

Star-scape photography (Half-speed of the sidereal rate)
If this mode is selected, the POLARIE U tracks stars at half the speed of the diurnal motion of the stars. The terrestrial objects are moved less as compared with images taken by wide-field astrophotography at a given exposure time. Adding landscape or architectural objects in the foreground will make your photos more impressive.

Wide-field astrophotography (sidereal rate)
If this mode is selected, the POLARIE U follows stars at the same speed as the diurnal motion of the stars. It is suitable for capturing constellations, the Milky Way, or faint celestial objects such as nebulae and star clusters.

Solar tracking
Useful for shooting the solar eclipse.

Lunar tracking
Useful for shooting the lunar eclipse.

Custom mode
This allows for setting the POLARIE U in your desired tracking speed arbitrarily. The initial setting is four times the sidereal rate. If you change the setting for a different speed, a smartphone or other wireless device and application software are required.

A “shoot-move-shoot” function (SMS) that is linked with a camera.

It is possible to stop the motion of a camera during exposure when shooting in time-lapse and start the motion of the camera again when the exposure finishes. This is useful as a time-lapse rotator so you can create better quality images in every single shot in the day or night.
In addition, it is equipped with a camera connecting port (shutter release terminal) that controls the camera shutter in the shooting with the SMS or interval shooting.
If the camera used is provided with the bulb shutter function and cable shutter release terminal, the settings can be made easily from a smartphone by linking the POLARIE U and the camera's shutter release to each other.

When you use this function, communication terminals with Wi-Fi connections such as a smartphone and application software are required. In addition, a cable to connect the camera and the POLARIE U is needed separately.

Autoguider port.

Commercially available autoguiders are usable with the POLARIE U. (This will move in the direction of R.A. only.)

Pin assignment: In order of common, press the shutter button halfway and press the shutter button completely, from center to outward

Easy-to-carry like a photo lens and stylish appearance.

With the size and appearance that fit in your camera bag like a photo lens, it is easy to carry everywhere. The shape of the POLARIE U is designed properly so as not to interrupt the orientation of the camera. The "U" for the POLARIE U stands for the cross-section of the product.

Blinking icons on the mode display corresponds to the tracking direction.

The direction of the slide power switch implies the directions of rotations in the northern or southern hemisphere. Right after turning ON the power switch, the icons on the mode display start blinking one after another toward the direction of the rotation which corresponds to the slid of the power switch.

The power supply in two ways: self-contained and external.

The POLARIE U works with 4 AA batteries. In addition, it is equipped with a USB (USB Type-C) external power supply port and works with commercially available mobile batteries.

A versatile platform is available for different options.

Camera Mounting Block (Supplied)
The supplied came mounting block is equipped with a 1/4-inch camera screw. A commercially available ball head can fit on it.

POLARIE Multi Mounting Block (sold separately)
The camera mounting block is exchangeable for the POLARIE multi mounting block to increase the loading capacity for serious astrophotography. With the use of a dovetail slide bar DD (optional) in combination, it can be transformed into an imaging platform for a telephoto lens or a short tube telescope such as an FL55SS OTA. Various focal lengths from a wide-angle to close-up telephoto are available for taking astrophotography.

Quick Release Clamp (sold separately)
The Quick release panorama clamp (optional) is attachable to the POLARIE U. It is compatible with attachment plates of the standard thin type.

Tripod Screw Sockets

A socket for the 3/8-inch screw is provided on the bottom and backside of the POLARIE U if t the camera mounting block is exposed on the front side. The POLARIE U is usable with a tripod with a 1/4” screw or 3/8” screw. A conversion adapter for a 1/4” screw is pre-installed at Vixen’s factory.

Corresponding to attachment plates of the thin standard type.

The quick-release base corresponding to attachment plates of the thin standard type is provided on the bottom side and the backside so that I t is useful for not only star-scape photography but also time-lapse photography.

Bubble Level and Direction Scale for Time-Lapse.

The POLARIE U comes equipped with a bubble level which is useful for horizontal orientation. In addition, it is equipped with a scale in 5-de gree increments that allows you to check the angle of rotation roughly during time-lapse photography.

Sight Tube as a Finder Scope.

A sight tube finder (detachable) that is usable for rough polar alignment in the northern hemisphere comes equipped as a standard accessory. Shooting with a wide-photo lens is easy by just locating Polaris at the center of the sight tube finder's field of view. It is fitted into the accessory shoe on the POLARIE U.

Applying a Polar Alignment Scope (sold separately).

The Polar alignment scope PF-LII can be attached to the POLARIE U with the use of a polar scope arm bracket sold separately. It is needed for shooting with a telephoto lens to make sure of a precise polar alignment.