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$279.00$279.00
Ships from: Amazon.com Sold by: Amazon.com
$269.72$269.72
Ships from: Amazon Sold by: Amazon Warehouse
Sky Watcher Star Adventurer 2i Astro Pack – Motorized DSLR Night Sky Tracker for Portable Nightscapes, Time-Lapse, and Panoramas – Remote Camera Control – Long Exposure Imaging (S20510), Black
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Return this item for free
Free returns are available for the shipping address you chose. You can return the item for any reason in new and unused condition: no shipping charges
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Purchase options and add-ons
- PORTABLE NIGHTSCAPE TRACKING PLATFORM: Motorized portable tracking platform perfect for capturing incredible detail of the Milky Way, eclipses and other astronomical objects
- WIDE-FIELD ASTROPHOTOGRAPHY: The unique, modular design allows for integration with existing photographic tripods. Wide-field astrophotography as well as time-laps video and telescopic use are all possible with the Star Adventurer.
- BUILT-IN ILLUMINATED POLAR FINDERSCOPE: The included illuminated polar finderscope allows for easy and accurate alignment with Polaris.
- RUGGED BRASS AND ALUMINUM GEARS: Using rugged brass and aluminum gears provide smooth, motorized, night sky tracking for easy, portable nightscape and eclipse photography.
- BUILT-IN AA BATTERY COMPARTMENT: The built-in AA battery compartment provides reliable mobile power for up to 72 hours, and an additional 5v mini-USB input allows for external power source using a cell phone charger or other device.
- LIGHTWEIGHT AND PORTABLE: Weighing just 2.4 lbs, the Star Adventurer is lightweight and portable enough to pack in a camera bag or backpack for astrophotography on the go.
- SUPPORTS MOST DSLR CAMERA: 11 pound payload capacity. Clutch-Slip
Save on Quality Tripod by AmazonBasics |
AmazonBasics 60-Inch Lightweight Tripod with Bag, 2-Pack | AmazonBasics Lightweight Mini Tripod, 4-Pack | AmazonBasics 50-Inch Lightweight Tripod with Bag, 4-Pack |
Frequently bought together
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- Sky Watcher S20540 Star Adventurer Counter Weight Kit, Telescope Accessory, BlackAmazon's Choicein Telescope Photo Adapters
From the manufacturer
Star Adventurer Astro Pack. Nightscapes Made Easy.
Highlights and Features of the Star Adventurer Tracking Mount
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Durable All-Metal GearsDurable, accurate and reliable brass and aluminum gearing allows for greater accuracy and longer exposures. Boasting a 144-tooth wheel gear and a 13mm diameter worm gear, the Star Adventurer has a payload capacity of 11 pounds, strong enough for a full-size DSLR or a small telescope. |
Built-In Polar Alignment Scope with IlluminatorEven for users with no polar alignment experience, the Star Adventurer is easy to setup using the included illuminated polar finderscope. Once aligned, users can attach their camera and activate sidereal tracking to start photographing the Milky Way and other deep sky objects. |
Mulitple Pre-Programmed Speeds for Tracking and Time-Lapse PhotographyMultiple preprogramed speeds, including sidereal, solar, lunar, as well as four additional speeds for time-lapse photography and nightscapes, including 0.5x, 2x, 4x and 12x. |
Time-Lapse, Snap Port, Auto Guider Port, DC Power InputWith several exposure presets, the Star Adventurer triggers the DSLR using the auxiliary shutter release cable. For photographers seeking perfectly round stars, the mount also comes equipped with a standard ST-4 port, allowing users to connect an autoguider for additional tracking accuracy. |
The Importance of Polar Alignment in Nightscape Photography
For the best results, the Star Adventurer must be polar aligned before you start shooting. To do so, set your corresponding latitude on the base, identify Polaris and align it in the included polar scope. Once aligned, the Star Adventurer's tracking will counter the Earth's rotation accurately.
Why Use a Star Tracker?
Star trackers correct for the Earth's rotation, allowing you to shoot longer exposures and capture greater detail without star trails.
Without a tracker, DSLRs can only capture 15 second exposures before the Earth's rotation make stars appear blurry. But by integrating the Star Adventurer into any standard photo tripod, you can increase exposure times from 15 seconds to several minutes, allowing users to capture greater detail in the Milky Way with less grain or noise in their images, due to a lower ISO.
- Shoot longer exposures, from 15 seconds to several minutes!
- Capture greater detail in the Milky Way, as well as other celestial objects
- Lower ISO = Less Grain!
Star Adventurer Astro Pack | Star Adventurer Pro Pack | Star Adventurer Photo Pack | Star Adventurer Mini (SAM) Pro Pack | Star Adventurer Mini (SAM) | |
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Customer Reviews |
4.4 out of 5 stars
817
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4.4 out of 5 stars
817
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4.4 out of 5 stars
817
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3.8 out of 5 stars
110
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3.8 out of 5 stars
110
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Price | $279.00$279.00 | $399.95$399.95 | $350.00$350.00 | $329.58$329.58 | $336.39$336.39 |
Comes with | Mount, Declination bracket, Polar scope illuminator | Mount, Equatorial base, Declination bracket, Counterweight kit, Ball head adapter, Polar scope illuminator | Mount, Ball head adapter, Polar scope illuminator | Mount, Equatorial base, Declination bracket, Ball head adapter, Polar scope illuminator | Mount, Ball head adapter, Polar scope illuminator |
WiFi enabled | ✓ | ✓ | |||
Weight | 3.63 pounds | 7.85 pounds | 2.69 pounds | 3.94 pounds | 1.5 pounds |
Payload capacity | 11 pounds | 11 pounds | 11 pounds | 6.6 pounds | 6.6 pounds |
Tracking rates | Sidereal, 1/2 sidereal, solar, lunar, time-lapse, 12x/6x/2x | Sidereal, 1/2 sidereal, solar, lunar, time-lapse, 12x/6x/2x | Sidereal, 1/2 sidereal, solar, lunar, time-lapse, 12x/6x/2x | Sidereal, 1/2 sidereal, solar, lunar, time-lapse, 12x/6x/2x, custom | Sidereal, 1/2 sidereal, solar, lunar, time-lapse, 12x/6x/2x, custom |
Power requirements | External mini-USB power support or 4 AA batteries | External mini-USB power support or 4 AA batteries | External mini-USB power support or 4 AA batteries | External mini-USB power support or 4 AA batteries | External mini-USB power support or 4 AA batteries |
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Nightscapes Made EasyCapture longer exposures of the Milky Way and take your nightscape images to the next level! Works with nearly any photographic tripod, and compact enough to fit in a camera bag. Align in minutes and start shooting exposures ranging from 30 seconds to several minutes. |
Perfect for EclipsesTraveling to view eclipses in 2020, 2021, 2023, 2024, or 2026? The Star Adventurer makes for the perfect travel companion! With it's compact size and accurate solar tracking, you'll be ready to capture this once in a lifetime phenomenon. |
Versatile Time-lapse ModesProduce stunning time-lapse videos of both terrestrial and celestial objects using one of the Star Adventurer's four distinct time-lapse modes! Choose from 0.5x, 2x, 4x and 12x speeds, and utilize complete camera automation using the included SNAP port. |
What's in the box
Looking for specific info?
Product information
Product Dimensions | 25 x 18 x 11 inches |
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Item Weight | 2.4 pounds |
ASIN | B00Z4HVOVS |
Item model number | S20510 |
Customer Reviews |
4.4 out of 5 stars |
Best Sellers Rank | #2,266 in Camera Mounts & Clamps |
Is Discontinued By Manufacturer | No |
Date First Available | May 21, 2015 |
Manufacturer | Sky-Watcher |
Country of Origin | China |
Warranty & Support
Feedback
Product guides and documents
Product Description
Whether you’re looking for a tracking platform to capture wide-field images of the Milky Way, or seeking a compact travel mount, the Sky-Watcher Star Adventurer is a necessity for photographers of every skill level. This high-precision, portable celestial tracking platform can transform almost any tripod into a powerful astrophotography tool, assisting photographers with long exposures of the night sky. It's small size and light weight (only 2.4 pounds) make it incredibly portable, while it’s sturdy, all-metal gears give it a hefty 11-pound payload capacity. The Star Adventurer breaks from the mold of traditional telescope mounts with an abundance of add-on accessories to complement wide-field astrophotography, as well as conventional visual astronomy. When paired with the included Dec bracket and counterweight, the tracking platform is transformed into a powerful astronomy mount Ideal for small telescopes and cameras alike. Optional accessories are available, including counterweight kit, latitude (EQ) base, and ball head adapter.
Customer reviews
Customer Reviews, including Product Star Ratings help customers to learn more about the product and decide whether it is the right product for them.
To calculate the overall star rating and percentage breakdown by star, we don’t use a simple average. Instead, our system considers things like how recent a review is and if the reviewer bought the item on Amazon. It also analyzed reviews to verify trustworthiness.
Learn more how customers reviews work on AmazonCustomers say
Customers are happy with the performance of the Star Adventurer 2i. They say it works well to fill their needs and is satisfied with the results obtained. They are happy that it is portable and a great tool for tracking heavenly objects. Customers like the value of the mount, saying it is affordable and works well. However, some customers have issues with movement. Opinions are mixed on quality, ease of use, and color scheme.
AI-generated from the text of customer reviews
Customers are satisfied with the results obtained with the Star Adventurer 2i. They mention that it works well for general night sky photography and that the phone app works well. They appreciate the design and the ease of setup. Overall, customers say it's a good, useful tool that works well at a reasonable price.
"...It also performs well for general night sky photography and the alignment is much more forgiving...." Read more
"...Overall, I am mostly pleased with the design and very happy with the performance. So far I’ve only used the basic settings...." Read more
"...The phone app works very well too. Five stars for quality, design and useability out of the box !..." Read more
"...It works perfectly and as described. Just make sure that if you are going to use this...." Read more
Customers like the alignment of the star tracker. For example, they mention it's outstanding, phenomenal, and a decent tool for tracking heavenly objects. Some say it'll track perfectly and is easy to use. That said, some say it makes polar alignment a lot easier.
"The sky watcher star adventurer pro is a good mid level star tracker. The device is well built and tracks well when properly aligned...." Read more
"...I’m using a Canon 800d with a Rokinon 135mm. Polar alignment was very easy and my first time trying it out I was easily able to get 2” exposures..." Read more
"...Once properly polar-aligned it tracks extremely well...." Read more
"...I wanted to love this, but this tracker wasn't easy to figure out - it has a pretty steep learning curve...." Read more
Customers like the weight of the mount. They mention it's portable, light, and a good portable equatorial mount. Some say it'll handle heavy camera setups.
"...The kit is rather light, so it is easy to travel with. One of the drawbacks of this setup is the lighting of the polar scope...." Read more
"...8 inch (200m) computerized SCT scope but this one is so much easier to carry on trips ! Once properly polar-aligned it tracks extremely well...." Read more
"It’s pretty good for amateur astrophotography, it’s very light weight and is a good price compared to other star trackers." Read more
"Great little mount for a DSLR or small scope...." Read more
Customers appreciate the value of the mount. They say it's a good product for the money.
"Totally worth the money." Read more
"This device is well worth the money. I will say it's not completely for the faint of heart. There is some configuration required...." Read more
"...PROS-This mount is quite cheap for the photos you can make with it-It's rather easy and intuitive to set up..." Read more
"...good for amateur astrophotography, it’s very light weight and is a good price compared to other star trackers." Read more
Customers are mixed about the quality of the camera other accessories. Some mention that it has an excellent build quality, feels sturdy, and handles the weight just fine. However, others say that the craftsmanship is cheap, the switch bolt is built with cheap plastic, and the battery cover is a little flimsy.
"...Overall it is a good mid-level mount. It is not for large telescopes or extreme focal lengths though." Read more
"...There are few things that need to be improved. The battery cover is a little flimsy and the on/off mode switch is too easy to toggle while being..." Read more
"excellent engineering and manufacture, but lacks..." Read more
"...batteries for extended fun, or a usb cable (2) the red light plastic mount is a bit flimsy, I downloaded and printed a 3d file from thingiverse (3)..." Read more
Customers have mixed opinions about the ease of use of the camera. Some find it well built and easy to set up and use, while others say it's not very straight forward and requires some prior knowledge. Some customers also mention that the instructions are awful and the product is not as good for a complete beginner.
"Very easy to use and well-made. There are few things that need to be improved...." Read more
"...The alignment, particularly for deep sky objects, can be a bit tedious but when done properly I have not had any noticeable movement using a 300 mm..." Read more
"...Five stars for quality, design and useability out of the box !..." Read more
"...Over all the unit is easy to set up, slaved to my computer using star adventure WiFi and off I went. I use the supplied dovetail for my camera...." Read more
Customers are mixed about the color scheme. Some mention it's really nice and small tracker, works great with easy polar alignment. They say the design is absolutely well thought out and amazing. However, others say the battery cover needs a better design and the side controls need an outer cover for protection. They also say the tracker starts looking ugly and the polar scope illumination seems bad designed.
"...Overall, I am mostly pleased with the design and very happy with the performance. So far I’ve only used the basic settings...." Read more
"...After a little use, this thing starts looking ugly. Finally, a bunch of the plastic components, like the battery cover, just don't fit well...." Read more
"...The phone app works very well too. Five stars for quality, design and useability out of the box !..." Read more
"Does it’s job! It really is amazing. Setup is easy base could def be sturdier ...." Read more
Customers are dissatisfied with the movement of the camera other accessories. They mention that the reticle moves left and right, plus up and down as they tighten it. The motor never moves, the shaft is not rotating freely, and it rotates slowly. The manual rotation introduces play into the system, which could cause slippage during tracking.
"...not likely get to a 90 degree rotation in the field because it rotates so slowly...." Read more
"...It didn't move a millimeter. When I switched it to a different mode (star) the movement did show up in my phone's timelapse...." Read more
"...Nothing. The motor never moved. I tried other modes. Zilch. I double checked setup instructions on line (the supplied manual is fairly useless)...." Read more
"The unit I received seems to have some issues. The shaft is not rotating freely even when clutch is fully disengaged and also it made some sort of..." Read more
Reviews with images
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Top reviews from the United States
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Regarding the tripod, you do want one that is very stable. I read that many times but until I set it up I didn't truly realize what it meant. It's not really about wind per say. It's more about how much play your tripod has. Meaning if you were to put downward pressure on the tripod, would it flex? Millimeter adjustments matter with this thing. It is extremely delicate. Even when turning the device on you can accidentally tweak your Polaris alignment. I do not think any photography tripod will truly qualify. Now I must admit, I do not have a very stable tripod, but I was extremely careful. I mounted the legs at a steep angle so downward pressure due to weight did not give vertical play. I did also purchase a leveling mount to place between tripod and sky watcher gear. You need to have the kit level to the ground. I think this is very important. Trying to level your tripod using the legs would be a nightmare.
I bought the Astro package even though I use a dslr. I made the right choice because I can mount my existing tripods ball head onto the L bracket no problem. It also makes it easier to align to Polaris because there is a slot in the L bracket that allows you to place the LED device which illuminates your Polaris scope. Then you do not have to add your camera after the alignment, which would surely tweak your setup and give you bad results. So I would say, only buy the Astro package.
Before you align to Polaris, you want to roughly level your gear, and roughly point towards Polaris. Then mount your camera to the L bracket using the ballhead and point it to your desired destination and tighten the clutch. You can point the camera in any direction you wish. It doesn't need to face polaris. It can point anywhere and this device will work. If this is your first run I'd highly recommend a wide angle lens. That way, even if your alignment is not perfect you will still get acceptable results. Next change your iso, aperture, focus, wb, and shutter to like 30 secs and snap a shot using a timer then check the rough results. If you are happy, attach your shutter control cable from your SA to your camera (you need to buy this), take camera off the timer, set your camera to bulb mode, proceed to leveling your tripod perfectly, then do the Polaris alignment. There are 2 ways to align Polaris. Easy way and hard way. Using the easy way I got stellar results :) it requires an app. I used the Android app Polar finder and set the recticle to the star adventurer setting to mimic the layout. It tells you where Polaris should be located in your scope. But to locate Polaris use Google sky map. When aligning it helps to have a green laser pointer and point to Polaris then look through the scope and verify. You will see the laser in your scope. Also make sure the cross hairs are pointed straight 90 degrees, not at an angle. Once aligned perfectly with a leveled rig make sure to your hemisphere N or S is set then turn the dial to the star. The tracker will then control your shutter at a default 140 seconds.
The first night I forgot to focus correctly. The second night I got a milky way picture that was absolutely stunning. The attached picture was taken with a Canon t5i, with Sigma 10-20mm @ 10mm, 800iso and F3.5 @140 second exposure. 20 separate of these images were stacked to eliminate noise.
Regarding the tripod, you do want one that is very stable. I read that many times but until I set it up I didn't truly realize what it meant. It's not really about wind per say. It's more about how much play your tripod has. Meaning if you were to put downward pressure on the tripod, would it flex? Millimeter adjustments matter with this thing. It is extremely delicate. Even when turning the device on you can accidentally tweak your Polaris alignment. I do not think any photography tripod will truly qualify. Now I must admit, I do not have a very stable tripod, but I was extremely careful. I mounted the legs at a steep angle so downward pressure due to weight did not give vertical play. I did also purchase a leveling mount to place between tripod and sky watcher gear. You need to have the kit level to the ground. I think this is very important. Trying to level your tripod using the legs would be a nightmare.
I bought the Astro package even though I use a dslr. I made the right choice because I can mount my existing tripods ball head onto the L bracket no problem. It also makes it easier to align to Polaris because there is a slot in the L bracket that allows you to place the LED device which illuminates your Polaris scope. Then you do not have to add your camera after the alignment, which would surely tweak your setup and give you bad results. So I would say, only buy the Astro package.
Before you align to Polaris, you want to roughly level your gear, and roughly point towards Polaris. Then mount your camera to the L bracket using the ballhead and point it to your desired destination and tighten the clutch. You can point the camera in any direction you wish. It doesn't need to face polaris. It can point anywhere and this device will work. If this is your first run I'd highly recommend a wide angle lens. That way, even if your alignment is not perfect you will still get acceptable results. Next change your iso, aperture, focus, wb, and shutter to like 30 secs and snap a shot using a timer then check the rough results. If you are happy, attach your shutter control cable from your SA to your camera (you need to buy this), take camera off the timer, set your camera to bulb mode, proceed to leveling your tripod perfectly, then do the Polaris alignment. There are 2 ways to align Polaris. Easy way and hard way. Using the easy way I got stellar results :) it requires an app. I used the Android app Polar finder and set the recticle to the star adventurer setting to mimic the layout. It tells you where Polaris should be located in your scope. But to locate Polaris use Google sky map. When aligning it helps to have a green laser pointer and point to Polaris then look through the scope and verify. You will see the laser in your scope. Also make sure the cross hairs are pointed straight 90 degrees, not at an angle. Once aligned perfectly with a leveled rig make sure to your hemisphere N or S is set then turn the dial to the star. The tracker will then control your shutter at a default 140 seconds.
The first night I forgot to focus correctly. The second night I got a milky way picture that was absolutely stunning. The attached picture was taken with a Canon t5i, with Sigma 10-20mm @ 10mm, 800iso and F3.5 @140 second exposure. 20 separate of these images were stacked to eliminate noise.
Equipment used:
SkyWatcher Star Adventurer Photo Package
Equatorial Wedge (Recommended. This makes polar alignment MUCH easier.)
Counterweight Kit (Recommended, especially when using heavier cameras and lenses.)
Canon 6D
70-200mm IS USM L lens (for Andromeda at 200mm)
24-105mm IS USM L lens (for the Milky Way at 24mm)
Imaging: 10 images each @ 30sec with ISO 1600 @ 38 deg F. Periodically, and after a few minutes, I noticed I started to get some star trails, so I re-aligned to Polaris between image sets as needed.
Processing: I followed the workflow with image stacking as described on the LonelySpeck web site. I'm still learning how to optimize the images.
[...]
I attached images to show different configurations with the SkyWatcher. The ball mount option makes it easier to compose wide-angle shots.
You don't need expensive camera equipment to take great photos with the SkyWatcher. However, I do recommend using a camera with manual settings that can take raw images.
To help me align the camera to the parts of the sky I wanted to shoot, I used an Xtend-a-Sight™ Plus II bracket which attaches to the flash shoe on your camera, and allows you to add a reflex site (purchased separately).
[...]
I used a Sight Mark Sure Shot Reflex Sight, but any sight capable of attaching to a weaver-style rail should work. This setup makes sighting in dark skies much easier than just pointing and hoping for the best. I still took a couple of test shots to fine-tune object centering.
https://www.amazon.com/Sightmark-Sure-Shot-Reflex-Sight/dp/B004TDQDF0
The sight is attached to my camera in one photo. I attached a close up image of the Xtend-a Sight with the reflex site.
One final thing to note. There are 2 ways to align to polaris through the polar scope. Both ways work. One method is a bit complicated, and is described in the product manual. When done correctly, this should result in accurate alignment. The other method is easier. With the reticle positioned with 0 at the top, and 6 at the bottom (see image), you just simply you place polaris in the correct position on the reticle. The correct position of Polaris can be determined using an iPhone or Android app. The easy method will work, but it can be prone to misalignment. I used the easy method when I took my images, so that may be the reason why I had to re-align periodically.
Reviewed in the United States on September 19, 2016
Equipment used:
SkyWatcher Star Adventurer Photo Package
Equatorial Wedge (Recommended. This makes polar alignment MUCH easier.)
Counterweight Kit (Recommended, especially when using heavier cameras and lenses.)
Canon 6D
70-200mm IS USM L lens (for Andromeda at 200mm)
24-105mm IS USM L lens (for the Milky Way at 24mm)
Imaging: 10 images each @ 30sec with ISO 1600 @ 38 deg F. Periodically, and after a few minutes, I noticed I started to get some star trails, so I re-aligned to Polaris between image sets as needed.
Processing: I followed the workflow with image stacking as described on the LonelySpeck web site. I'm still learning how to optimize the images.
[...]
I attached images to show different configurations with the SkyWatcher. The ball mount option makes it easier to compose wide-angle shots.
You don't need expensive camera equipment to take great photos with the SkyWatcher. However, I do recommend using a camera with manual settings that can take raw images.
To help me align the camera to the parts of the sky I wanted to shoot, I used an Xtend-a-Sight™ Plus II bracket which attaches to the flash shoe on your camera, and allows you to add a reflex site (purchased separately).
[...]
I used a Sight Mark Sure Shot Reflex Sight, but any sight capable of attaching to a weaver-style rail should work. This setup makes sighting in dark skies much easier than just pointing and hoping for the best. I still took a couple of test shots to fine-tune object centering.
https://www.amazon.com/Sightmark-Sure-Shot-Reflex-Sight/dp/B004TDQDF0
The sight is attached to my camera in one photo. I attached a close up image of the Xtend-a Sight with the reflex site.
One final thing to note. There are 2 ways to align to polaris through the polar scope. Both ways work. One method is a bit complicated, and is described in the product manual. When done correctly, this should result in accurate alignment. The other method is easier. With the reticle positioned with 0 at the top, and 6 at the bottom (see image), you just simply you place polaris in the correct position on the reticle. The correct position of Polaris can be determined using an iPhone or Android app. The easy method will work, but it can be prone to misalignment. I used the easy method when I took my images, so that may be the reason why I had to re-align periodically.
Top reviews from other countries
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