LCD screen
The Bresser PM-100 includes an illuminated LCD screen that displays the mount settings. The screen is basic and low resolution, but clearly displays the settings you need. The screen lights up at the press of a button and turns off after a few seconds of inactivity.
1.38kg and 1.1kg respectively with our camera. Indeed, when coupled with our DSLR, a modified Canon 70D with a cropped sensor, we found that each was well within the safe weight range. We also tried out a 150mm lens that gave a combined weight of 1.6kg; despite it being within the suggested weight capacity it felt unstable on the ball head due to the length of the lens.
We put the PM-100 through its paces over a few damp autumn nights while the Milky Way was still visible in the early evening sky. Once set up, we performed a quick polar alignment, which proved easy with the illuminated Bresser polarscope. We started with the 14mm lens attached to our DSLR, testing 30-second exposures and building up to three minutes. Each gave us perfect stars (apart from the usual distortion from this lens). Deciding that our field of view was still not wide enough, we opted to capture a mosaic, which was relatively easy thanks to the supplied ball head adaptor; we were able to move the camera with ease, without any risk of knocking the mount out of its polar alignment. After capturing the Milky Way, we switched the lens for a 50mm one and aimed at the constellation of Cygnus, the Swan. At this focal length Bresser claims that 120-second images are possible. After ensuring our polar alignment was accurate, we discovered we could easily track for
80 seconds without any trailing; it was only when we went higher than this length of exposure that trailing started to become visible.
We loved the compact nature of this kit and found we could pick it up and move it to different locations with ease; if you are needing to hike to a dark and remote site you definitely won’t be hindered by the weight. Indeed, the tripod comes with a bag for this very purpose, but even without this the PM-100 mount easily fits in a camera bag alongside your camera and lenses.
As a lightweight tracker that is aimed at wide-field Milky Way photography, this little mount punches well above its weight; the Bresser PM-100 will be a welcome addition to any astrophotographer’s kit.