ZWO AM5 Strain Wave Astrophotography Mount: What I liked and what I did not like about it
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- čas přidán 16. 06. 2024
- In this video, I share my experiences and thoughts on the ZWO AM5 astrophotography mount after using it for one year. Instead of a typical product review, I focus on highlighting what I liked and didn't like about this mount. Additionally, I conduct a simple amp draw test to determine the power consumption when slewing a large telescope.
With the market offering numerous strain wave mounts, I hope this video helps you in your decision-making process for your next astrophotography mount. Whether you're a beginner or an experienced astrophotographer, I aim to provide valuable insights that will assist you in choosing the right mount for your needs.
Thanks to my subscribers and thank you for 2100 subs! I am a tiny channel and I appreciate you all for following my journey in astrophotography.
Check out my AM5 first impression video!
• ZWO AM5 HARMONIC DRIVE...
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ZWO AM5 (Agena Astro)
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Very cool!
I really like my AM5. It's my second mount after a SkyWatcher GTi. I mark the balance point on my kit losmandy and then line that up with the center of the AM5. Seems to work ok for now but it's only about 13 pounds. FRA400 with .7 reducer, EAF, EFW, ASI2600mc, ASI Air+, and some dew heaters. I have no football shaped stars and I'm happy. Clear skies!
I also went from my GTI to the AM5.
Mine packed in after 8 hours use (needed replacement board)! I do like it now it works!!
Thank you for this video. I like AM5 it's easy to Polar Align. It's my first mount so I'm used to it.
Great to hear! And thanks for watching this one!!
I had an Ioptron gem28 to start with. Not a bad mount.
I got an AM5 and sold the Ioptron gem28. Have not looked back.
The balancing for Dec is done off mount. I take my imaging train, set it on a flat surface and use a round ball point pen under the dovetail plate. I balance the OTA on the pen and mark the position. Then I mount the scope with that mark centered in the saddle.
I went from an iOptron SkyGuider Pro to AM5, the upgrade was incredible. But I learned that I still enjoy polar aligning the old fashioned way.
Thanks for your AM5 video. I think that anyone buying this mount is a ZWO gear user. So, they will have an ASIAIR controller and related peripherals for integrated operation. Thank, Michael
Can you provide a link to how you set up your battery/power solution? That looks very cool.
It's true, once someone gets spoiled by the EQ6R pro, it's very hard to use anything else, especially those cheaper mounts out there! I already bought/sold 2 other mounts I bought after the EQ6R, because they just couldn't measure up to it and I didn't want to use them! 😊
Nice Video!
I own the mount to for about 3-4 month.
Allways used it in Az for visual with the App.
Last week I used it the first time in EQ mode with my photo rig.
TMB 115/805, Flattener, IMX571 from Touptek, 50mm Guidescope and so on.
Weight was about 9kg and the AM5 lought about that :D
Now I like to buy a second bigger HD mount.
But it is hard so finde one.
There are the iOptron HAE43 and 69, but I dont like iOptron that much.
And there is the NYX101 from Pegasus Astro.
I like the Pegasus products, but I read some not so nice things about the mount.
But many users love the mount.
And then there are the mounts from small chines companys like the WD20 or (hopefully in the future) a bigger UMi mount.
Its hard to decide.
I would love to see an announcement for a ZWO AM7 or something like that.
Payload without CW like 20kg.
Would buy it instantly :D
Man just the thought of an Am7 lol. For sure
Just a word of caution: that battery could be dangerous and potentially a fire hazard because the 3 batteries are not self-balancing. It would be best to put a diode on the positive of each battery.
Good review. Question; will the AM5/3 work with NINA?
I'm sorry I haven't tried it on Nina!
Eq6r pro for the backyarder AM5 for the traveller
Nice mount. Expensive mount.
Yes it is lol!
It’s all relative, everything has gone up. I bought my original CGEM II from Highpoint Scientific for 1499, that same mount goes for 2049 now. I am sure it is the same for the EQ6R Pro. I preordered my AM5, which was a good thing as the step motor controller on my CGEM decided to give up the ghost, $328 to fix, so it’s a paper weight. I paid around 2300 for my AM5 with tripod. The CGEM mount head weighs in at around 40lbs. My AM5 kit is a dream to pack. I am never looking back. Right now an EQ6R Pro from Agena goes for 2025, they have a sale on the AM5 1999 with free tripod. So really right now the AM5 is cheaper lol.
But yes right now everything is expensive. 🙁
Not at all expensive!
Hello,
Thanks for the review.
I just have one question : does it guide well in presence of wind. Does it have too much sensitivity with the wind ?
Thanks
Not at all it seems to handle it very well with something that has no counterwieghts. I haven't had any issues and I've mounted SCTs on it.
Where did you get the cable that goes from the mount to the asi mini? Link please thanks
I actually made it soldered up some wire scraps I had laying around.
AM5 changed the hobby for me. I was shooting with AVX mount for 3 years. Anyone has an AVX know, on a good day: it's ok, but on bad days : prepare to pull your hair out.
With the AM5, it just works. stupid simple and light weight.
Would you recommend the AM5 with a Celestron C8 SCT running focal lengths of 1442mm and 2032mm with a Celestron OAG/ASI174MM Mini for guiding? I'm interested in stable guiding around 0.7" total RMS. My C8 with image train is about 19lbs. Most reviews of this mount is with refractors like yours. It would be interesting if you put your C6 on it and removed the Hyperstar and went native shooting a galaxy. I would probably get the PE200 because I could use the adaptor with the pier to use my AVX tripod.
This might perhaps help you. I've only ran my C6 with the reducer on it but shot through my 183mm at bin2 and had no issues guiding with that. In my area I generally get between .5 and .7 so I think the Am5 would serve your purpose. You are well within spec of this mount with a C8. You might check out the Facebook group and check out people's set ups there I've seen bigger SCT's than mine on there with great results
I liked the AM5, which I bought 4 months ago, so much, when they threw the tripod In free, I bought an AM3.
Aso have asiair + and mini. In early May, ZWO forced a fitmware update from
11.01 to
11.06.
After the update, my location changed from
N 43 X X
E 87 X X to
N 39 54 25
E 116 23 50
I attempted entering them manually with no luck. They do sometimes show up properly. Even then PA doesn't work properly. It keeps changing. When I get it close. Then slew to target ( eagle nebula), which is at about 30 degrees, it tells me object is below horizon! Since other people must have gone through this, can someone PLEASE, help. I'm going to dark skies end of week, and won't be able to image. As a side note, I also put my rig on my SW SA GTI. same weird results😮
9:12 You don't use pier? I would be terrified about hitting a legs with scope :o
I use the 160mm featured here ! czcams.com/video/Y3FHYZYL09w/video.html
Ever had the 'pitch angle adjuster' clamps on the side not tight enough and had a telescope flop? Yikes.
No but new fear unlocked! lol
$300 of on which planet? Still over priced in Australia
I thought the AM5 was to run at 12vdc. But your meter was showing 15.+ volts.
Yep it sure does! I explained i was running 3 4 cell batts parallel into a Bec that regulates the voltage at 12 volts @ 9 amps. My meter displays 15+ volts because im measuring the current draw at the power source. Hope this helps
@@astronotna ok I thought that might be the case. So in reality, you’re drawing more current at 12vdc but the regulator easily handles that. Very nice.
@@astronotna - Are you able to share with us the complete list/specifications of the batteries, BEC and meter you're using? I believe there is plenty of room here for another video covering how to power a complete astrophotography rig using custom parts (like yours). It would be a $ saver for most people, extremely useful and well worth looking into.
Hey Chris I was thinking about it but I wasn't sure how much interest there was on this topic. I'll keep it in mind thx!
@@astronotna I run a large website (+24 years online presence) and always search competitors to see what's available. There doesn't seem to be much on this topic:) The trick is to cover a wide range of options e.g home made (like yours), commercial products etc. This will help capture a wide range of users.
14:17 It is very good looking. Unlike the strain wave mounts coming from Sky-watcher, that are super hideous.
ZWO is at a very privileged position profiting way too much for their products. We need more quality competition to force the prices down.