Testing the iOptron SkyTracker Pro for Star Timelapses in New Mexico

A field test of astrophotography timelapse technique in New Mexico paired a Fujifilm GFX100 II with the iOptron SkyTracker Pro, a motorized unit mounted between tripod and camera that follows Earth's rotation. Setup occurred before dark, since the new moon left no ambient light; Polaris was aligned using the iOptron app's crosshairs, with the Night Sky app used to locate the star through overcast. The tracker offers 1x, Half-X, Moon and Sun modes, plus a hemisphere switch and slew and fine-adjustment controls. A SmallRig battery offset rapid drain from long exposures, and a rain cover protected lens and connections. Footage was processed in LRTimelapse Pro at roughly 40-second intervals, f/2, with keyframes exported via XMP into Lightroom Classic, then rendered in ProRes at 23.98 fps at full 100-megapixel source resolution for 4K reframing. A ball head loosened mid-shoot and the camera swung down, discovered only in post. Stars stayed crisp regardless, since a 15-second shutter limited smear; the author concludes the tracker suits long-exposure stills but adds little to fast-shutter timelapses.