Good video. Kind of annoying that a $2000 mount does not include its $7 power supply. At the very least, that might be mode more clear at the point of sale, so a buyer could order one from Amazon at the same time.
Excellent, thank you so much for your support. I hope you enjoy the AM5 as much as I do. Although I’m currently going through a cloudy patch at the moment. :(
Nice summary. I would balance my setup on something like a broom handle and mark the point on the dovetail. The Dec axis has no brake system and if you lose power your scope can swing if not close to being balanced. The RA has protection for this as you cannot balance this as you said. My only issue with the mount is that it only provides 3amps from the power out so running a cooled camera and a couple of dew heaters might give issues if both were working hard. Overall I think it’s a good mount, especially for mobile use. Clear skies.
@@astrojourneyuk Hi. Just an update. Although marked as 3 amps on the AM5 it actually delivers 5 amps. ZWO only put 3amps as that’s the minimum to run the ASIAir. Very odd! Anyway, that gives a bit more leeway for powering things like dew heaters.
It certainly is a beautiful and well performing mount. It looks so good that my scope is on display on our house and when I need to use it I just pick up the whole thing and carry it out with ease. :) Happy imaging when you get yours.
There are technically two options for polar alignment. You can use the main imaging camera but you can also use the guide scope camera. I have done that a couple of times.
Good point John, thank you for sharing that. I did wonder about that, but do you need a guidescope that is bang on alignment? It would be for my RedCat but my guidescope for the 80ED scope has the adjustment screws and it never feels like I've set it up correctly.
@@astrojourneyuk I don't believe it would need to be aligned to the scope that well. From what I've read the ASIAir can polar align even if you are pointing up to 30˚ off of Polaris (I haven't tried that far myself). However since it takes the picture at home and rotates 60˚ it will figure out how far off the axis of the mount is and how much to move it into alignment with North. That should be irrespective of whether or not the scope is actually pointing true north. If you switch on the All Sky Polar Alignment feature you can polar align from anywhere in the sky as long as you aren't pointing the scope due east or west.
Nice one mate - I am seriously thinking of getting the ZWO AM5 as I am getting tired of the weight of my Orion Atlas Mount (good as it is) Thanks for doing the video and all the best...Jim
It’s definitely a great mount from what I’ve seen so far but it comes at a cost. If I has a pier I wouldn’t bother but the lightweight aspect makes it a compelling purchase.
Nice Review Marc, the AM5 is a good looking portable mount, shame about the polar alignment, I’m a fan of the ipolar and would want fit one if that option was available! Great image mate👍 Clear skies!
I used to have a qhyccd pole master before the ASIAIR and since using the ASIAIR polar alignment I’ve never looked back. I sold on the pole master a few months back as it was sat in a drawer not being used.
Nice! Waiting for mine to arrive. I also got a jackery 240 power tank. How long does it last with your rig with what things powered? Ill be using it mainly for the am5 and asiair plus… still using a dslr with dummy battery and my dew heaters attached to other smaller power bank
I think the 240 Jackery lasts about 6 hours I think. Depending on how cold it is. That’s with AM5, ASIAIR Pro, 5v usb dew heaters, 120MM Mini guide camera and ASI183MC Pro cooled to -10.
Nice presentation.I was interested on how you mounted the AA Pro on the Redcat,but I saw that you have the original handlebar for Redcat.I don't,but the ProAstrogear blackCat support for Redcat which can hold ZWO EAF,AA+ and guidescope looks promising.Nice color palette for the Elephant Trunk Nebula.Also,you can get rid of the amp glow by using darks and dark flats.
I’ve been meaning to for ages design and print a bracket to hold an EAF etc. one day. :) I do use darks and flats but something might be up with them. They are the same gain and exposure time so I’m not sure what else I can do. :(
Did you run into any trouble running the mount USB cable on top of the mount? I am guessing it is not so much an issue for something as high as the elephant Trunk nebula but anything to the south could be a cable-tangle recipe.
I haven’t yet. It seems well enough tucked out of the way of anything sticking out and the azimuth and altitude bolts don’t stick out too much so it looks like it won’t cause too many issues.
Thanks for sharing your experience with AM5. I will probably have a similar setup as yours once i have the am5. Mainly getting it to be able to take it to darker sites. What jackery battery capacity are you using and does that power it for a whole night or 2?
Nice review I've watched a few videos about these mounts & people have mentioned about the polar alignment & using the locking screws shifting the pa, I were wondering if it could be polar aligned without fully locking them?
I was thinking the exact same thing. I think the azimuth feels like it might be ok, but the altitude could more easily be knocked etc. I think the trick of mostly locking it off when making the finer adjustments seems like a good approach.
@@astrojourneyuk thanks for the reply. I ended up with the 50mm guide svbony guide scope and the 120mc-s. Now onto the 220mm mini paired with the 30mm guide scope for wide field AP.
Thanks for the video. I am considering this mount. Can you not polar align using the mount software? My understanding was you do not need an Asiair to use the mount (if you wanted to use it only visually for example)
I just had a look and there is no polar alignment routine available on the AM5 app. It just provides goto capabilities and firmware upgrades. To polar align you could align with Polaris first and then use the app to goto another star and move the mount to align that star etc.
@@astrojourneyuk Thanks for the info. Does it give you the option to polar align? Sorry for all the questions. Just curious how you would use the mount if you wanted an evening of visual only. Can you plate solve with a camera first and then remove it and use visually with goto/tracking etc.. or does it solve every time you change target? Thanks for any information, seriously considering this being my only mount for astro and visual nights.
I’ll have to take a look and try I’m afraid. I wouldn’t want to say you can and it turns out you can’t. You could try the ASI forum. Someone on there is bound to know.
Nice review, love your channel. Off topic but I’m really stuck, I’m new to this hobby and retirement, I’m looking for my first dedicated Astro camera for my Zenith star 61…any suggestions? Anyone?
Thank you for the super kind feedback! One thing to be mindful of is under and over sampling, take a look at www.bintel.com.au/tools/astronomy-calculator/?focallength=360&fratio=5.9 where you can find a camera to match. A lot of people live with under sampling and use cameras like the ASI533, ASI1600 etc. One that does match from a sampling perspective is the ASI183 but the amp glow is a pain. For some reason I'm a ZWO fan and other camera manufacturers exist but they do likely share the same sensors.
Fortunately with the scope I’ve used so far (RedCat51) I don’t need an extension. I did try the 200P which clearly needed a counterweight to balance the weight but I was always next to it playing with a bit of visual astronomy when looking for the comet. The pier extension would work for that because the clearance just wasn’t there.
I would say so. I would imagine that without a perfect alignment that it errors will always creep in. Guiding tends to not really be much of an additional headache for me really. Calibrate if I've set the mount up fresh, and then just hit guide. Most of my guiding is < 0.8" so good enough for my needs.
I think it was that windy you probably shouldn’t be imaging anyway. With the RedCat it does require a bit of a push to tip it. More than I suspect even a moderate breeze would cause. The tripod is always low to the ground so that will help too. Ironically because the tripod legs only go out so far the legs don’t spread far. If the payload is heavy enough that it could tip over easily then you are recommended to use the counterweight anyway.
Good video. Kind of annoying that a $2000 mount does not include its $7 power supply. At the very least, that might be mode more clear at the point of sale, so a buyer could order one from Amazon at the same time.
Yeah, all mounts and cameras seem to be like this. I’ve been caught out a few times!
Good review thanks for putting this together, I just purchased one and will be watching your other videos too.
Excellent, thank you so much for your support. I hope you enjoy the AM5 as much as I do. Although I’m currently going through a cloudy patch at the moment. :(
Excellent video. Real nice Elephant Trunk.👍
Looks like a winner 🏆! Thanks for your helpful video!
Definitely love the mount. Now just need less cloud. :D
Nice summary. I would balance my setup on something like a broom handle and mark the point on the dovetail. The Dec axis has no brake system and if you lose power your scope can swing if not close to being balanced. The RA has protection for this as you cannot balance this as you said. My only issue with the mount is that it only provides 3amps from the power out so running a cooled camera and a couple of dew heaters might give issues if both were working hard. Overall I think it’s a good mount, especially for mobile use. Clear skies.
All great points and tips there. Thanks John.
@@astrojourneyuk Hi. Just an update. Although marked as 3 amps on the AM5 it actually delivers 5 amps. ZWO only put 3amps as that’s the minimum to run the ASIAir. Very odd! Anyway, that gives a bit more leeway for powering things like dew heaters.
Just ordered this bad boy for myself! Can't wait, my back will be thanking me haha
It certainly is a beautiful and well performing mount. It looks so good that my scope is on display on our house and when I need to use it I just pick up the whole thing and carry it out with ease. :) Happy imaging when you get yours.
There are technically two options for polar alignment. You can use the main imaging camera but you can also use the guide scope camera. I have done that a couple of times.
Good point John, thank you for sharing that. I did wonder about that, but do you need a guidescope that is bang on alignment? It would be for my RedCat but my guidescope for the 80ED scope has the adjustment screws and it never feels like I've set it up correctly.
@@astrojourneyuk I don't believe it would need to be aligned to the scope that well. From what I've read the ASIAir can polar align even if you are pointing up to 30˚ off of Polaris (I haven't tried that far myself). However since it takes the picture at home and rotates 60˚ it will figure out how far off the axis of the mount is and how much to move it into alignment with North. That should be irrespective of whether or not the scope is actually pointing true north. If you switch on the All Sky Polar Alignment feature you can polar align from anywhere in the sky as long as you aren't pointing the scope due east or west.
I might just give it a try!
Nice one mate - I am seriously thinking of getting the ZWO AM5 as I am getting tired of the weight of my Orion Atlas Mount (good as it is) Thanks for doing the video and all the best...Jim
It’s definitely a great mount from what I’ve seen so far but it comes at a cost. If I has a pier I wouldn’t bother but the lightweight aspect makes it a compelling purchase.
Nice Review Marc, the AM5 is a good looking portable mount, shame about the polar alignment, I’m a fan of the ipolar and would want fit one if that option was available! Great image mate👍 Clear skies!
I used to have a qhyccd pole master before the ASIAIR and since using the ASIAIR polar alignment I’ve never looked back. I sold on the pole master a few months back as it was sat in a drawer not being used.
Looks like a great portable mount
It certainly is!
Nice! Waiting for mine to arrive. I also got a jackery 240 power tank. How long does it last with your rig with what things powered? Ill be using it mainly for the am5 and asiair plus… still using a dslr with dummy battery and my dew heaters attached to other smaller power bank
I think the 240 Jackery lasts about 6 hours I think. Depending on how cold it is. That’s with AM5, ASIAIR Pro, 5v usb dew heaters, 120MM Mini guide camera and ASI183MC Pro cooled to -10.
Nice presentation.I was interested on how you mounted the AA Pro on the Redcat,but I saw that you have the original handlebar for Redcat.I don't,but the ProAstrogear blackCat support for Redcat which can hold ZWO EAF,AA+ and guidescope looks promising.Nice color palette for the Elephant Trunk Nebula.Also,you can get rid of the amp glow by using darks and dark flats.
I’ve been meaning to for ages design and print a bracket to hold an EAF etc. one day. :) I do use darks and flats but something might be up with them. They are the same gain and exposure time so I’m not sure what else I can do. :(
Did you run into any trouble running the mount USB cable on top of the mount? I am guessing it is not so much an issue for something as high as the elephant Trunk nebula but anything to the south could be a cable-tangle recipe.
I haven’t yet. It seems well enough tucked out of the way of anything sticking out and the azimuth and altitude bolts don’t stick out too much so it looks like it won’t cause too many issues.
Thanks for sharing your experience with AM5. I will probably have a similar setup as yours once i have the am5. Mainly getting it to be able to take it to darker sites. What jackery battery capacity are you using and does that power it for a whole night or 2?
I have the 240 and it lasts just about a full night. Definitely not more than that. That was a cold night too which will kill a battery anyway. :(
Nice review I've watched a few videos about these mounts & people have mentioned about the polar alignment & using the locking screws shifting the pa, I were wondering if it could be polar aligned without fully locking them?
I was thinking the exact same thing. I think the azimuth feels like it might be ok, but the altitude could more easily be knocked etc. I think the trick of mostly locking it off when making the finer adjustments seems like a good approach.
What are you using for guide camera, guide scope imaging camera? I just set up my AM 5 and AsiAir pus last night.🎉
The guide camera is an ASI120MM Mini, the guide scope a ZWO 30mm f4 and the main imaging camera and ASI183MC Pro. Good luck imaging.
@@astrojourneyuk thanks for the reply. I ended up with the 50mm guide svbony guide scope and the 120mc-s. Now onto the 220mm mini paired with the 30mm guide scope for wide field AP.
Thanks for the video. I am considering this mount. Can you not polar align using the mount software? My understanding was you do not need an Asiair to use the mount (if you wanted to use it only visually for example)
I just had a look and there is no polar alignment routine available on the AM5 app. It just provides goto capabilities and firmware upgrades. To polar align you could align with Polaris first and then use the app to goto another star and move the mount to align that star etc.
@@astrojourneyuk Thanks for the info. Does it give you the option to polar align? Sorry for all the questions. Just curious how you would use the mount if you wanted an evening of visual only. Can you plate solve with a camera first and then remove it and use visually with goto/tracking etc.. or does it solve every time you change target? Thanks for any information, seriously considering this being my only mount for astro and visual nights.
I’ll have to take a look and try I’m afraid. I wouldn’t want to say you can and it turns out you can’t. You could try the ASI forum. Someone on there is bound to know.
Nice review, love your channel. Off topic but I’m really stuck, I’m new to this hobby and retirement, I’m looking for my first dedicated Astro camera for my Zenith star 61…any suggestions? Anyone?
Thank you for the super kind feedback! One thing to be mindful of is under and over sampling, take a look at www.bintel.com.au/tools/astronomy-calculator/?focallength=360&fratio=5.9 where you can find a camera to match. A lot of people live with under sampling and use cameras like the ASI533, ASI1600 etc. One that does match from a sampling perspective is the ASI183 but the amp glow is a pain. For some reason I'm a ZWO fan and other camera manufacturers exist but they do likely share the same sensors.
Super video and pic
Thank you, much appreciated. The amp glow from the ASI183MC Pro is irritating me a little though, as it didn't calibrate out. :(
Did you add a Pier extension? I use a pe160 on am5 tripod and pe200 on the avx tripod
Fortunately with the scope I’ve used so far (RedCat51) I don’t need an extension. I did try the 200P which clearly needed a counterweight to balance the weight but I was always next to it playing with a bit of visual astronomy when looking for the comet. The pier extension would work for that because the clearance just wasn’t there.
@@astrojourneyuk And i bet your glad now for the remote :)
Definitely!
Does one still need to guide with a guide scope and guide camera?
I would say so. I would imagine that without a perfect alignment that it errors will always creep in. Guiding tends to not really be much of an additional headache for me really. Calibrate if I've set the mount up fresh, and then just hit guide. Most of my guiding is < 0.8" so good enough for my needs.
Does this withstand any wind? This probably needs concrete pier.
I think it was that windy you probably shouldn’t be imaging anyway. With the RedCat it does require a bit of a push to tip it. More than I suspect even a moderate breeze would cause. The tripod is always low to the ground so that will help too. Ironically because the tripod legs only go out so far the legs don’t spread far. If the payload is heavy enough that it could tip over easily then you are recommended to use the counterweight anyway.
@@astrojourneyuk I do, even at 15 mph. No observatory, no problem 😉 It is all about sturdiness of the rig.