Built-in polar axis
One of the most important things in tracking platforms for astrophotography is the polar axis setting.
With Kenko SKYMEMO S accurate polar axis alignments are always possible, and are further supported by a polar scope illuminator device
Choose your tracking mode
Kenko SKYMEMO S is equipped with a total of 8 tracking modes, including not only the Fixed Star tracking mode, but also a Sun and Moon tracking modes. Therefore it shows its full potential in all the fields of astrophotography, as you can also shoot at celestial objects, like the sun or the moon, other than fixed stars.
By rotating the dial, you can easily select the tracking mode you would like to use.
Fixed star tracking mode
- This mode is particularly suitable for astrophotography. By rotating the dial on the ☆ symbol, the tracking system starts working according to the diurnal motion of the stars and, by doing so, it can keep tracking the same star. Also, when shooting in this modality, the stars become an image point. Fixed Star tracking mode is therefore particularly recommended if you want to shoot at celestial bodies such as dark stars and nebulae.
Sun and moon tracking modes
- Compared to fixed stars, the Sun and the Moon have completely different moving speeds and diurnal motions that, as a concequence, necessitate different tracking modalities. Kenko SKYMEMO S has therefore been equipped with specific tracking modalities for the Sun and the Moon respectively, and you can choose the one you need by simply rotating the dial on the ☼ or ☾ corresponding icon.
0.5X speed tracking mode
- Kenko SKYMEMO S is also equipped with a 0.5x speed tracking mode that will support your star-scape photography by allowing you to include in the same frame both the scenery on the horizon line and the starry sky above. This 0.5x speed tracking mode also facilitates steady and slow motions, and with a short exposure, you can freeze and immortalize the starry sky right over your favorite scenery. All this features make the 0.5x speed tracking mode mostly suitable for star-scape photography.
Other tracking speeds
- By rotating the dial on 2x, 6x or 12x respectively you can speed up the way you can shoot the stars' diurnal motion. These modes are particularly convenient for interval time shootings.
Off mode
- Last but not least, the OFF mode turns off the power once you are done with your tracking. But that's not all. In OFF mode you can shoot still images in which the stars will appear in an arch line having the Polaris as its center.
Built-in intervall timer
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Interval timer shooting is a shooting method that makes it possible to take pictures automatically at set shooting intervals. Kenko SKYMEMO S is equipped with an interval timer shooting function so that, by connecting its shutter control port to your camera's external shutter control port with an optional shutter control cable, you can set shooting intervals to take pictures automatically. Interval shootings can be also performed while tracking.
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When combining time-lapse shooting and astrophotography, it is fundamental to know beforehand where the celestial subject you want to shoot is and how it moves. For this reason, each tracking mode of Kenko SKYMEMO S corresponds to time lapse values preset according to the subject or the speed you want to shoot at, and you can easily check it by consulting the following chart: https://kenkoglobal.com/product/skymemo_s_portable_tracking_platform/
Kenko SKYMEMO S makes use of 4 AA alkaline batteries (not included) for power supply. It can be used continuously for about 72 hours.
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