Vixen Optics 35508 Polar Scope for Polarie

A required item if you own a Vixen Polarie. The built in finder is just not functional. However, the polar scope, while difficult to use, is VERY useful and makes alignment a snap. I was able to pull 5-minute exposures my first night out with it and the results are repeatable.

This is an item that technically is optional--you won't need it to use the Polarie tracker. But I can say that after using it just once, I would consider it a necessary option, as you won't be able to take long exposures consistently without having an accurate polar alignment. The Polar Scope allows you to get an accurate alignment--provided you use relatively light wide-angle lenses. I read other reviews where people said the scope is tricky to use the first time and I can agree that at first it was challenging. But once you understand what needs to be done, and how to read and move the dials, it is easy to do it right the next time. My complaint with the Polar Scope and Polarie as a system is that you can't have your camera mounted on the Polarie while you do the alignment. In my case, when I want to take pictures with my 70-200mm Canon f/4 zoom lens, I have over 3 pounds of DSLR camera / lens / and ball-mount that gets attached to the Polarie. So I find that even though the polar alignment is accurate with the polar scope inserted into the Polarie, as soon as I remove it and mount the camera to the Polarie, the alignment changes due to the weight, and the alignment is lost. I've come to determine by trial and error how much this sag is relative to what I see in the alignment scope, so I have been able to compensate by putting Polaris in a spot higher than what the directions state and it works Ok. I use a Manfrotto Gear head mount on my tripod so doing this compensation step is made easier and more accurate than if I used just a ball mount on the tripod. So I'm taking away one star simply because the designers obviously didn't take into account that if you load down your Polarie with a camera / lens / ballmount that is closer to the upper weight range--but within the Polarie specification--then the system will not go out of alignment. I can make my setup work but I can easily see how someone who used a ball-mount on the tripod as Vixen suggests could be very frustrated by their results with a heavier zoom-lens. Having said all this, I still recommend it as it is very well made and works outstandingly with light-weight lens or cameras. I can easily get 2 minute exposures with my DSLR and a wide angle lens. See my attached picture of the Milky Way taken in September 2016 at Mt Pinos here in California.

Junk!

The only problem I have with this item is the fact that if you must do another alignment, you must remove the camera. Also, once alignment is made, the weight of the camera can pull down on your rig, taking you out of alignment. Don't skimp on all the other gear you need (tripod, ball heads). I learned the hard way. Bought cheaper stuff just to get started and ended up just being frustrated. I've replaced all the cheap stuff with more robust stuff. Anyway... back to my first gripe. What I did was to purchase a 1" Inch 30-mm Ar15 Flat Top One Piece See Through Ring Mount Picatinny (available on Amazon). Using the polar alignment hole, I fastened this to the Polarie using a 1/4 20 nut and bolt (I think). With some rigging, my Polar Scope sits in the picatinny. Because, once tightened down, the scope does not easily turn, I have a trick I use to dial in my alignment and it is dead on!!Here's my rig...Vanguard BBH-100 Magnesium Tripod Ball Head1" Inch 30-mm Ar15 Flat Top One Piece See Through Ring Mount PicatinnyOrion Paragon-Plus XHD Extra Heavy-Duty Tripod Stand for Binoculars (Black)Manfrotto 410 Junior Geared Head - Replaces 3275Vixen Optics 35511 Polar Meter for Polarie (I don't use this much but it has come in handy)Nikon D7000 DSLRVixen Optics 35508 Polar Scope for PolarieVixen Optics 35505 Polarie Star TrackerAll of this purchased on AmazonSo... all this being said, the Vixen Polarie is a well made and very precise. I wish it could handle a little more weight as I have a Tamron 150 to 600 mm lens that I have to strip down in order not to exceed the 7lb capacity of the unit but all in all, all my complaints have a work around. I have taken 6 minute exposures using a wide angle lens at 12mm and 5 minutes with a 35mm with no star trails.

Great product. I could easily get 2 minute exposures just by carefully aligning the Polarie using the built in hole, but adding the alignment scope made it possible to take over 5 minute exposures with no hint of star trails! Very satisfied!