As of today, the older Pentax K-1 now supports this feature via firmware update 2.4.0!

Can’t get enough of your content man, keep up the good work!

I keep staring at my 600 BEGGING for clouds to dissipate or the weather to not be freezing lol. Soon I'll get out these and try it out. Great video and intro to the new Astrotracer!

Nice! I have only tried the gps astrotracer feature before on another camera. Going camping soon with little to no light pollution. This should be fun to try. thanks as always.

👏 very glad for Pentax.

Awesome results especially for your first time using it! I really need to try some Astro with the K3ii. Great info James.

Now, this was not only highly instructive, but it also makes me want a K-3 III even more (as if I didn't want it before). What a cool feature! 🤩

Excellent! I have used Astrotracer Type 3 on my K3-III and Pentax 16--85mm at 16mm: 1. I included a hill in the foreground (approx.10% of the frame), it worked. 2. If you want to avoid the calibration pre-shot, it seems that you can use interval shooting according to the manual.

Thank you so much for the video! I can’t wait to try the new Astrotracer on my Pentax K3iii. (I have pixel 6 pro too, lol!) To be honest, it’s a lot easier to use my full spectrum converted pentax KP for Astrophotography w/Pentax GPS attachment, but your video makes it sound so easy. 😊🙏

Still trying to work out my new mic setup, so sorry about those wearing headphones right now 😬but hey, how 'bout that astrotracer?

6:58 Absolutely insane quality

The Pentax K-3 III more and more looks a great buy, sports, good AF, great low light, great for portraits, rugged and good for Astrophotography. I’d struggle to think of a camera that does all of this. Maybe I will buy one 🤓

Nice thanks for the great video Great shots would be nice if they updated the k70 .

Very informative video. I too was skeptical and thought it might be a bit gimmicky and more of a marketing ploy due to them removing the GPS unit to make room for the larger pentaprism. So I'm glad to hear it works so well, and is surprisingly simple and convenient. All your suggested improvements sound great and feasible. I was not aware that it would not work with objects in the foreground. I don't know how the software is working under the hood, but it seems like it would be possible for the camera to go "ah, these objects here are small, numerous, and move in one direction, I'll use those for the tracing algorithm." I'm not sure how much spare processing power the camera has for that, and I suppose that would likely mean an even longer processing time between shots. It would be interesting if the user could select an area for the camera to use for the computation in live view with the touchscreen before beginning, and maybe using a smaller area would reduce computation time, although it would reduce accuracy as well. In any case, it's a super neat feature and I really enjoyed the video! Way to go Pentax for doing a lot with a little as always. :)

Nice video as always! I hope Pentax takes your other suggestions to heart. Too bad Pentax didn’t also update the “traditional” GPS-based Astrotracer to allow user correction of inaccurate detection of North direction, which is the primary cause of not achieving the theoretical tracking times that are based on the range of sensor movement. But they have said they will release an O-GPS2 accessory next year with improved tracking over the O-GPS1.

Excellent overview! Amazing images!

Okay, you make me want to get the K-3III much more (maybe xmas? :D )

From your review one could sense AT3 is half baked at the moment, and might continue to improve and add features in the next updates, nevertheless it is an awesome idea/feature. Since it is a script they could even implement it on the gps bodies like the K-1 and come up with some hybrid astrotracing system with improved times. Great video as always, cheers!

Nice man! In some ways seems better than the gps version. Was always a pain getting my K1 set up to work properly before. You're making me wanna scout eBay for the gps module for my K70, haha.

Thanks for the video, great information 👌🏻

9:38 if you don’t have a mode where you could keep the same corrections for multiple shots.. it’s really more of a workaround. In addition, if you cant calibrate with some foreground while the primary use is gonna be for milkyway hence wide angle.. it makes it pretty useless combined with the first issue of recalibrating at each image Interesting tech though and your 30s at 300mm is really astonishing without a tracker. But it will remain a technological toy if they don’t solve the two issues above. To the extent the gps version is more interesting

By using interval shooting together, it is possible to perform the main exposure multiple times for each test shooting

I have purchased (used) a Pentax 300mm f/4 (the last version): does not work with my K3-III astrotracer type 3 (I get the error message after the pre-shot). Same for a Samyang 135mm f/2 (the manual version), even after entering manually the focal length. Very clear sky in the Pyrenees above 6000ft. Any Ideas?

Just for your information, ISO1600 is probably the sweet spot for your camera nonetheless. You really don't have to care too much about ISO in AP, and it's quite counterintuitive sometimes with high ISOs being the "better" choice. Has to do with read noise etc, if you're interested. So I'd just stick to 1600 and in your case of Orion, change exposure by time, so maybe stack some 20s and 40/60s to get proper detail in the core and outer regions. Stacking takes care of burned out sections if you've got them properly exposed in other images.

Good video! Very promising feature that expands on the K3iii capabilities. You said you wanted to stack in camera - Have you used the built-in additive or average modes?

So, any updates? More Astrotracer type III images?

Recommended focal length, f stop and exposure times?

does the gps 02 on top of a camera do the same thing?

Would it be possible to use the K3 III and add the Aux. GPS Module so that you can use one or the other depending on the mitigating factors. That if one system is thrown off base from foreground or star brightness, the other system could be used instead? Thank You for your advice / information. je

What if you are using Astrotracer on a GoTo mount? Does the dual movements conflict and mess up the images?

I did something horrible today. There was this K3iii with a nice lens on ebay for around 2200€ and I was interested. The I ended up buying this shitty camera instead :( The Canon EOS R6 with a 50mm. I fell ashamed and somehow know that I will never own this beautiful Pentax :( I need help, I have a severe case of GAS

Off topic: As a designer, I couldn't help noticing your addiction with the blue color, wall, sunglasses, lens barrel thingy in the back, even your wedding ring. What's up with that? lol

Hi, you made me a little bit disappointed with your last K3 mk3 video... And I decided to try this stuff by myself. To cut a long story short that camera worth every dollar spent. I even don't mention perfect tactile feelings it gives...