Vixen Portable Equatorial Mount Polarie U Step-up Kit

Step-up Kit sets up a Camera with a Telephoto Lens compactly

Compared to the previous combination of optional parts*, it is now possible to assemble a lighter and more compact imaging platform for the POLARIE U.

*A combination of Multi-mounting block + Dovetail slide bar DD

Now possible to load relatively Heavy Camera Equipment

*A combination of Multi-mounting block + Dovetail slide bar DD

(Sample Photo)
POLARIE U at Celestial Tracking Mode
SONY α7RIV / TAMRON 35-150mm F/2-2.8 Di III VXD
ISO 6400, 60-second single exposure, F5.6, Focal Length 85mm

By combining the POLARIE U Star Tracker with this kit, you can mount a telephoto lens and capture impressive starry sky photos. An included 1 kg counterweight balances your camera for a stable setup that supports mounting equipment of up to 3.5 kg (measured at 10 cm from the pivot point).

By replacing the 1 kg counterweight with the separately sold 1.9 kg counterweight and using a Multi-mounting block, it is possible to mount equipment weighing up to 6.5 kg.

Polar Alignment Scope PF-LII for Telephoto Photography

The included Polar Scope PF-LII is a specialized tool designed for precise polar alignment. It features a built-in reticle that indicates the position of Polaris and two designated stars. By aligning the mount so that all three specific stars fall into the designated points on the reticle, you can achieve exceptional polar alignment accuracy. This prevents star trailing even during long-exposure photography with a telephoto lens.

What is Polar Alignment?

Stars appear to rotate around a fixed point in the sky known as the celestial pole. In the Northern Hemisphere, Polaris (the North Star) lies very close to this point. This apparent rotation is called diurnal motion. To track the stars accurately, the POLARIE U’s rotational axis must be aligned precisely with the celestial pole. The more accurate the alignment, the better the tracking performance—especially critical when using long-focal length telephoto lenses. In the Southern Hemisphere, alignment is achieved using three characteristic stars in the constellation Octans to aim the POLARIE U at the southern celestial pole.