New ZWO AM3 Unboxing + Comparison with AM5
Vložit
- čas přidán 17. 08. 2023
- ZWO AM3 product page: bit.ly/3o2DMCE
ZWO AM5 product page: bit.ly/3W2KrJC
💪🏻 Found this helpful? The best way to support us is through Patreon: / galactic_hunter
✨ Become a lifetime member of our Premium Astrophotography Course: www.galactic-hunter.com/galac...
🎨 Our PixInsight Processing Guide: www.galactic-course.com/colle...
📚 Learn more with our books: www.galactic-hunter.com/books
Galactic Hunter was created by Antoine and Dalia Grelin, a stargazing couple from Las Vegas, NV. We do our best to publish entertaining and helpful Astrophotography content, through videos, written tutorials, books, and more. The main goal of this CZcams channel is to help as many beginner astrophotographers as possible in this difficult yet rewarding hobby. We hope our content will help you reach new heights in your deep-sky imaging journey!
Website: www.galactic-hunter.com
Facebook: / galactichunter
Instagram: @galactic.hunter
Starting Astrophotography, a Complete Guide: www.galactic-hunter.com/post/...
Beginner DSLR Astrophotography Equipment Guide: www.galactic-hunter.com/post/...
The equipment you see in most of our videos: www.galactic-hunter.com/blog/... - Zábava
I have been using my AM3 with the PE160 pier, TC40 tripod, and my Redcat51 for about a month now. Really enjoying the lighter weight set up for moving and portability. About the same set up for imaging as the AM5. Just need a separate power cord (12VDC) for the ASIAIR Plus and polar alignment is the same. (I don't seem to miss not having locks for the RA.) But being a harmonic mount with wave strain gears on both DEC and RA makes this unit extremely accurate for movement and position location (like the AM5 of which I have two) and light years ahead of my AVX and CGXL mounts.
I have years of experience working in production automation and robotics and the AM5's and AM3's performance and precision easily matches up with CNC equipment I have used such as, Kuraki, Servo Products, Fanuc, Mazak, and many others. And some of those were in the $80K to $200K and up range! Precision, repeatability, and premium performance are definitely built into the ZWO AM series mounts. I'm hoping ZWO will soon produce a larger model of the AM type for heavier payloads in the 75 pounds and up range. I'd love to put something like that on a pier set up in my observatory for my C11 EDGE and my Askar 151PHQ. And in the future, a C14 EDGE!
And for new purchases of the AM3 be advised. I ordered mine in April (2023) and just got it last month (September). Also ordered the 2600DUO then and still waiting!
Thanks for the video and CS!
I’m afraid we’re going to have to demand that Chester appear in all of your videos from now on.
Haha no need to ask, he probably will always try jumping into the frame now that he tasted fame
I am looking forward to the review. I have a little concern about no locking knobs for the Azimuth adjustment. Apparently ZWO thinks they are unnecessary. I wonder if they somehow adjusted the base to make those locking knobs unnecessary? Anyhow, please address that in your next video. Thanks for the sneak peak!
Yes I am wondering about this as well, curious to try my first polar alignment!
Thanks for the quick comparison!! Exactly what i was looking for! I have the AM5 and am looking for an even more portable setup for my 80mm. I actually like the foam case over the metal case - provides more “cushion “ and more compact than the metal AM5 case! It’s like the Seestar S50 and is great for travel! I would have no worries about putting it in a checked bag since it doesn’t have an internal battery!
If I want to add a bubble level to the AM3, what size (diameter) would be the best fit? Maybe you could measure the levels on the AM5 as an example. Based on ZWO drawings I'm guessing around 15mm. I have AM3 on order and would like to be ready.
Congrats to you both and everyone that contributed to your APOD.
Oh wow, saw that amazing M51 pic this week, but didn't check the credits. Congrats 🎉💫
Under the mounts, it looks like a 3/8 screw in the center, is it ? Do they both have it ? I wonder if you could put these on a regular but biffy tripod
Can you power it using a 12v output port of the asi air plus ?
Could you please tell the size of the box? I have to check if it fits in a small suitcase ...
Hi, have been waiting for the detailed review to take the decision. Hoping to expect it soon!!
I am wondering if the apertura carbon fiber tripod would except the ZWO mounts. I want the taller and stronger tripod than the tc40 that I have.
Congrats on your APOD. Well Deserved. Thanks also for this unboxing review. I have an AM5 and thinking of getting the AM3 to increase portability of my wide-field setup. Does the AM3 come with the TC40 mounting ring like the AM5?
Thanks! Yes it does, I just swapped the AM5 for the AM3 on the tripod an it was easy.
Great stuff - I have an AM3 now and am very happy with it. One significant thing you didn't mention at the end there.... There is bluetooth available on the AM3 and not on the AM5. You can see the indicator for it (BT) on the front of the mount in your last comparison scene. Thanks :)
How do you like your AM3?
Nice comparison thanks! And in the spirit of spot the differences game - there is no place to stow the counterweight bar in the AM3 box.
Interesting - the specs and photos on the High Point website show the azimuth adjustment knobs on this. Oh - more CATS please! 😁😁😻😻
Like the new degrees gradient, nice! Not thrilled with the kid with balloons logo though.
Salut Antoine. There is also another tiny but significant difference with the AM5: the azimuth screws are much shorter. This means that your initial polar alignment needs to be relatively accurate before making the fine adjustments.
Ohhh that's a good point! Thanks for letting me know, I didn't even pay attention to that, will need to include it in the review!
@@GalacticHunter Yes that will make the absence of the AZ locking tabs much more significant. The only way to correct a rough (mis-)alignment of a couple of degrees from the pole will be to loosen the pier locks and rotate the whole head (risking a drop). That should be OK with a relatively light FF80 on the AM3, but I would NOT want to do that with the FF130 (even though it comes in just under the 13kg limit). Better put that one on the AM5! I have an EON 130APO on my AM5 and I tried loosening the pier once to help PA, (instead of using the AZ locking tabs). I'll never do that again!
Do you find the AM-3 to be much smaller than the AM-5? I've seen photos, but can't tell in person. I own three (3) AM-5s now, but for travel and Milkyway widefield work i'm considering getting an AM-3 due to its smaller size.
If its not much smaller, I'll just use the AM-5 as that is still pretty small to carry on an airplane. What do you think?
It's smaller but not by much, when I first placed the two side by side I expected the AM3 to be much smaller. You can look up the exact dimensions on ZWO's website if you're unsure
I hope that ZWO make and sell a larger mount (AM 7?) so the price can drop, in my opinion is the price for AM 5 to high if you compare it with the EQ 6R. In Europe we pay for the AM5 2715,-- Euro and the AM 3 1985,-- Euro (SW EQ 6R 1999,-- Euro).
Damn
Get that review happening guys 😅 well done though looking at getting either the AM3 or AM5 after my skywatcher star adventurer gti died last night 😢
Cheers
Si
How did that happen?😢
@@Visualographer_ There is an allen screw that work it’s way loose, apparently it’s a common issue which has disengaged the gears moving it in RA
I’ve tightened it now but the guiding is woeful. Going to try backing it off a bit as maybe it’s too tight now 🙄
Wow😮
Looks like it's Chester approved!
Meow 🐈
Thanks for doing this video.👍Kudos for calling your video an "unboxing", rather than a "review". IMHO, review videos should be based upon actual use of the product, which is what you do....unfortunately not everyone differentiates between "unboxing" and "review". 👍Also, it is good to see that the mount passed your cat's "sniff test", but he is probably disappointed that he didn't get to climb in the box! lol😁p.s. Have you recovered from your APOD celebration yet? 😉😀
Haha he spends 90% of his time in boxes 🤣 And yes we had a nice celebration and we are recovered and ready for the next one 😁
@@GalacticHunter 😀👍
ZWO really missed the "ASCON" typo on the back of the box? damn... 🤭
Not sure the AM3 has any advantage. Price, Size and weight are not different enough I think and otherwise the AM3 has only disadvantages to the AM5 imo.
Oh wow I didn't even notice the typo lol
I have (and love) the AM5 as well as a good star tracker so I guess I can’t justify an AM3, but DAMN it’s hard to watch this and not want one!
We didn’t need the side by side comparison. We had cat for scale.
Haha very true!
why USB 2.0 ...8 kg Payload is good.. 1800 Dollar is too expensive for me....
meh, where is the AM7/AM10 ...
Someday for sure :D
WHY? WHY? WHY? HAVE YOU CZcams REVIEWER BEEN SITTING ON THE AM3 FOR 8 MONTHS AND DONE ABSOLUTELY NOTHING WITH IT??????? I WANT TO BUY ONE BUT I CAN FIND NO INFORMATION AT ALL, NOT EVEN FROM THE MANUFACTURER!!!! HHHHHEEEELLLLPPPPP!!!!