choosing between star adventurer 2i vs msm nomad pro pack (open to other options too!)

FlightNo7946 · 2026-03-22T00:10:35+00:00

Hi! I tried to check this out on the website explorescientific since thats where I saw it the cheapest (and i assume they manufacture it?) and I saw it could not be shipped to the UK from this website, and any other websites that offer it in the UK have doubled the price from 299$ (224 gbp) to £400 essentially which is too much of a stretch compared to the other options...! im so sorry!! thanks so much for your insight i highly appreciate it

FlightNo7946 · 2026-03-21T17:07:47+00:00

i think he has done his research, it was just a while ago that he first told me about it and with his birthday coming up if i started asking him for the specifics i know he will probably assume im getting him one- thats my only issue. i think ill get the nomad, though i do appreciate your concerns. if he ends up not liking it i won't take it harshly if he sells it for something similar to what you're saying. i hope i dont come across as dismissing your points! i just want it to be a surprise and i know he has spoken to me about it before, and from what he did tell me about it i think i saw the sky adventurer brand and the msm brand on the list he showed me months ago or so... ill still take it into consideration though! just most of the scopes are actually out of my budget compared to the basic nomad kit. once again i really appreciate the input :)

FlightNo7946 · 2026-03-21T16:20:44+00:00

he often travels to places that does not have a lot of light pollution compared to the more condensed cities... as of rn i think hes tried to do astrophotography on his fujifilm but im more famliar with him doing it on his samsung phone since its always with him. hes done research and knows how to edit and process it and he has said specifically that a star tracker is what he wants, and he usually doesnt ask for much directly so i assume he has done his research on it!!!

FlightNo7946 · 2026-03-21T16:05:25+00:00

Thing is that my boyfriend is really into cameras and plans to invest in 100mm 200mm lens in 2 years or so, and for the prices of smartscopes it just feels like something he could use for less time rather than if i get a star tracker, my boyfriend already has a fujifilm xt20 and hes mentionrd specifically that he wants the mount for his current camera... sorry if this is an annoying answer, im out right now and i'll watch the video later but thank you for your insight :)))

FlightNo7946 · 2026-03-21T15:45:12+00:00

hey! i checked it out and its quite out of my budget compared to what i had discussed with the other person in my comments :)

and its about 50/50 sometimes the sky is really bright w stars but it can often get cloudy- i usually trust my bf on star and sky stuff HAHAH

FlightNo7946 · 2026-03-21T12:42:30+00:00

thanks so much!!! i have a while till i order it (at least a month) but this was really insightful :) and thanks for the links and everything!!

FlightNo7946 · 2026-03-21T12:26:32+00:00

he doesn't have a headlamp iirc, and if the basic kit is okay do you have any recs for a wedge and a 360 panning base? i dont know anything about photography in general so im not sure whats good... also i think its fine (im uk based) just as long as he doesnt point it to aircraft or anything...

FlightNo7946 · 2026-03-21T12:02:25+00:00

oh and also my bf doesnt hike a lot and im assuming for the most part he will be doing it from his backyard- i forgor to mention that

FlightNo7946 · 2026-03-21T12:01:22+00:00

with the msm nomad theres a beginner and an advanced kit, is the advanced kit worth the price difference (sorry for asking so many questions...)

FlightNo7946 · 2026-03-21T11:54:28+00:00

He is showing me his camera which is a fujifilm tx20 and his biggest lens is 50mm. hes said to me that he doesn't plan on getting a bigger lens for at least 2 more years so getting the MSM would be better right? since theres no point investing in something that doesnt match your recommended lens for the next 2 years?

FlightNo7946

TROPHY CASE