ZWO AM5 - Full Tutorial & Review

[@PeterZelinka]

* In this video I show the ASIAir Plus mounted to the side of the AM5. However, ZWO does NOT recommend doing this, as a larger telescope could run into the unit. Therefore, you may want to mount your ASIAir somewhere else.

[@billyphelps6810]

W2

[@malanstecker]

I use the Buckeye adapter to attach Asiair to the tripod leg. This isolates it so there will be no interference.

[@rexsterling7346]

Thumbs down for not replying to any comments. People asking you questions and you ignore all of them.

[@gothicm3rcy426]

I have mine on its side edge but on the side of the am5. if zwo say not to put it there.... why is the mounting adaptor there?

[@gothicm3rcy426]

@@rexsterling7346 maybe he doesnt read comments because people like you expect him to read every comment and reply. Many youtubers dont even check comments.. The effort he made making a video no one has to pay for means nothing then?

[@markmathews2122]

Hey Peter, you can use the “dowel method” to find to find the center of mass for the declination axis. Before putting the scope on the mount, put a dowel (or round pencil) under the plate while it’s on a table and move the scope back and forth to to find the point on the plate where it balances. Then center that point in the mount saddle.

[@gothicm3rcy426]

only reason for balancing is so your tripod doesnt fall over.... the mount itself doesnt need it.... the strain gear works being in the centre and inside of an outer geared ring, and unlike worm gears, it always connects to gears in 2 places as opposed to the side like a worm driven by a motor..... it also means if the weight says it takes 44lb...you can get much closer to the limit than an eq with really doesnt like more than 2/3 of the max limit

[@GamjaField]

For guiding, you want to use 1sec or even 0.5 sec. The reason why is that the harmonic drive has a high periodic errors, it benefits from shorter guiding pulse unlike traditional eq mounts which uses worm gears.

[@XShadowAngel]

This. This mount really likes 0.5 to 1s guiding exposures.

[@mr.f.9672]

Many thanks for this hint. If I'm in bortle 4-5 area do you think my equipment asi 120 mini cam + wo uniguide 32mm with 120mm focal length can achieve these guiding conditions and limits using asi air plus? Assume askar 200 f4 or askar fra300 f5.6 as main scope.

[@XShadowAngel]

@@mr.f.9672 Should be, just turn up your gain.

[@mr.f.9672]

@@XShadowAngel Many thanks

[@mikas2051]

As part of the AVX gang I will also add that certain EQ mounts also have high periodic errors and require short guiding exposures ^^

[@KTachyon]

Not returning home might not be that big of a problem. You can control it back to position manually and shut down. Or, you can use the ASIAir plate solving tool to get it’s bearing in sync.

[@damiengalanaud3817]

Just watched your video while doing the first light of my AM5 Peter ;-). I pre ordered it in January and received it Monday Could not use the ASIAIR since sadly it seems to be perpetually in back order in France, so I used the phone app, SharpCap and a pole master. The phone app is crapy but does the job of star aligning the mount. The good news is that the problems that plagued the early versions of the ASCOM driver have been solved and it now works flawlessly with PHD2. Conditions are good despite the full moon and I am getting a RMS error of 0.7 on DEC and 0.3 on RA which is just insane.. I agree that not balancing the mount is pretty disturbing when you come from classic german equatorial mount. We must get used to the fact that it is not necessary for harmonic drives; indeed, apparently the reason there is still a way to put a counterweight is to stabilise the mount with heavy payload and avoid it to tip over.

[@DeereX748]

If you have a compass app on your smart phone (at least on an iPhone), it gives a lat/long readout as well as elevation and is GPS-derived. Very handy for mount setup.

[@PlootoOW]

I currently use a Sky Watcher Star Adventurer, the first mount I ever purchased for astrophotography. I've been looking for a much more capable but still portable mount and I think I just found it. Great video.

[@aerozg]

You might want to check out the new iOptron HEM27 as well.

[@gothicm3rcy426]

if you guys have a cgem, skywatcher eq6, orion atlas steel tripod you dont need the carbon fiber tripod.... just get the pe200 pier. I take off the plate from the bottom of the pier abd fasten it INSIDE, I got an 18in 3/8 16 rod, screw it through the spreader then pier after placing on the tripod... place the mount on the top of the pier, lock it down.... screw the rod.... use a wingnut or twist nut under the spreader til tight... you can then unlock the mount at the sides so its easy for polar alight... this works perfect and the steel tripod has much better stabilized weight. also doesnt get affected by wind like the carbon tripod can. ... and it saves you money if you use your own tripod :)

[@technocore1591]

lighter, smaller, holds a greater load, no counterweight... I'm in love!

[@garymanley6264]

Great Video and very comprehensive. I have a 8" Edge with all ZWO components. My wiring is simplified by using the bracket that came with my EAF which I mounted to a my Primalucelab acc bar, then mounted the ASI Air Plus to it. When I remove my OTA I only have one wire to unplug from Air to Mount. Easy to set up and move. I am also in process (darn Snow), constructing a Pier in the garden just outside my work room. I can see everything form my desk window, and will be nice when its cold outside. Keep up the great videos Peter!

[@Lord_Volkner]

The ME music at the end was a cool touch.

[@joedenisco6033]

Hi Peter, That was a GREAT tutorial. You made it look very easy. And you sold me on this mount/workflow. Excellent job. Joe D

[@elmikol2443]

When are you going to do a follow up review? Want to know how the mount performed. Could you show us a final image and guiding performance?

[@clearskiesastro1028]

curious as to why you're guiding at 3 secs exposure? I thought that high PE harmonic drive mounts were better off with 0.5s-1s guiding exposure?

[@TheEmpiredown]

EQ6-R Pro user that is VERY jelly of that quick PA. Nice, Pete. Thanks for the vid!

[@alexisvirgen8552]

Great video, thanks for making this videos! My first mount was the Skyguider pro and I watched your video about it and it really helped me, now I upgraded to AM5 and you have a video too! This is amazing :)

[@nikivan]

AM5 *is* equatorial mount just like EQ6. Harmonic drive vs worm gear drive.

[@atanshubashi1954]

I am not sure whether I have missed the question about any limitations in the Amperes of the 12 V output of the AM5 (perhaps only 3A?) that you used as input for the Asiair? As far as I have seen in your video you use the asiair for ALL USB and power inputs for your devices ... cameras, filterwheels and so on. Did you ever had any problems doing that ... exceeding a possible maximum for the AM5 power output?

[@JohnRush1]

Why wouldn't you want to take advantage of the features of the ASIAIR when using a compatible DSLR? I control my Canon 6D with the ASI AIR all the time and it works great.

[@jerryfox3731]

Great tutorial. Learned more from than one video than I could have from reading a whole book. Thanks.

[@spordniar]

Curious about your comment about not using ASIAir Plus application with DSLR, will be great if I can get more details around this.

[@jeffkimble8857]

I wonder about this as well. Sadly, Peter rarely responds to comments or questions so I guess it will remain a mystery! 😃

[@mattestabrook]

Great video, Peter, really appreciate it. I assembled my AM5 today, and I'm so glad you recommended moving the mount freely before using it. My scope hit the tripod from certain angles--time to get some pier extensions. Glad I figured that out in advance. Thanks, Peter!

[@thebearcat]

Peter. Thanks so much for this, brother. Just bought this mount. The video had been indispensible to me

[@followthetrawler]

Truly one of the best mount and asiair tuts out there. Thanks Peter

[@acshaw80]

Does the 50-60% of payload capacity rule apply to harmonic drive mounts like the am5 or is it safe to go higher?

[@derekbaker3279]

Hi Adam. Good question, and if you don't mind, I shall weigh-in on it. One of the downfalls of theses harmonic mounts is that they are very light, and come with a carbon fiber tripod that is very light. Consequently, the whole set-up tends to be light, but top-heavy, so it is quite susceptible to gusts of wind. This can be mitigated somewhat by hanging a heavier object from the underside of the mount head, down to the centre point of the legs, and having the heavier object touch the ground enough that it won't sway in the wind, but still pull down on the tripod. Nevertheless, as the telescope gets larger, the entire set-up will be even more top heavy & catch the wind more. therefore I think that there is an upper limit to the practical capacity of the mount, and the same general rule applies, even if the mount, the harmonic drive(s) & the tripod are all well-made, with tight tolerances, etc..

[@davidletz9123]

You've come a long way since your videos on the Move Shoot Move...

[@AstroHelmet-mk2zp]

Might be a little late to the party on this - but I am hearing that the ASIAIR should power the mount - as the ASIAIR outputs 5amps and can power the AM5 - where as AM5 only outputs 3amps to the ASIAIR therefore cutting off 2AMPS to the ASIAIR to power accessories like Filterwheels, guidescopes and EAFs and Main Cameras etc. Let me know if you agree with that. AM5 best be powered by the ASIAIR - THANKS! CLEAR SKIES!

[@MikeLikesChannel]

This is an amazing mount. I’m kinda hoping ZWO ships a $1200 version of this bad boy with a lower maximum payload… would be a game changer for the broke among us ;)

[@marvinwhisman3333]

Really great video. Can you expand on guiding setup including focusing? I just got my AM5 and have no idea how to setup some of the guiding parameters. I have a ZWO 30mm guide scope and ZWO 120mm mini. Are the default values on guiding of calibration step, max dec duration and max ra duration that default to 2000 correct for this mount? Again, this video was so much help. Hope to see you continue a series about the AM5 and ASIAIR Plus. Your video really has helped me get started.

[@JoeJaguar]

Hi i just found your channel. I just subscribed. As you see i also have a astro channel. Great video i just wish they made either AM3 or 5 without goto for us viual only people that need tracking. Maybe both kinds one with goto for those that want that and for rest of us only tracking no goto. Anyway great video. Joe

[@southbronxny5727]

I love everything about the mount, especially the light weight. The part I don't like is the polar alignment through the scope. I prefer my iPolar because because the scope on the mount can be off.

[@michaellorentzen1672]

I’ve been using the scope polar alignment with the ASIAIR for the past few months and once I got the hang of it, have not run into any accuracy issues.

[@canyonblue737-8]

Polar Alignment with the ASIAIR is incredibly easy, I came from an iPolar system and never used it again.

[@derekbaker3279]

If you use a 3-star alignment procedure, which the ASIAR now supports, the calculations done by the computer reveal any mis-alignment between the RA Axis and the telescope, and the computer will account for that when pointing to an object & plate solving the star field.

[@sirmeowcelot]

Nicely done video. Another method to get polar alignment is using a dovetail holder or a rubber band to use your phone with a polar align pro app or what best suits you.

[@whatmattersmost6725]

Hi Peter, please make a video explaining the "Calibrate Home Position feature" where the dovetail plate is not at a 90 & 0 please..

[@michelmoreno2140]

Thanks Peter ! Nice Tutorial Easy to follow, clear and very helpful 🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻

[@bhastro9959]

seems like a long scope would inevitably hit the tripod, or even if on a pier, the mount itself, pointing anywhere near the zenith.

[@bohussaain]

Hi Peter, I appreciate your reviews. I would like to ask why did you recommend to control the dslr manually and not through asi air app? Is it possible to polar align am5 without connecting to the dslr/telescope?

[@adrianaamez2078]

Thank you Peter! I can't wait for mine to come!

[@cizdzielsintroductiontoins6095]

Well done. I learned a lot about the process of astrophotography. And nice swords!

[@warinzozenith]

One Word for this Video … AMAZING 🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉

[@walterpastor2496]

Hi Peter and again thx for your honest & great review. This tutorial apply to SWO AM3 too?

[@sberrett]

I see that you’re powering the mount, asiair, and camera all from one source. I thought this was a nono and its recommended to power cameras separately?

[@jtepsr]

Great tutorial, it appears that when you add up all the equipment you need, you have spend thousands of dollars. I have a televue 85 but no mount or tripod or guiding equipment. It doesn’t seem like you can gradual work your way up unless you just buy a star tracker. This I have done but I am still struggling with post processing. Regards

[@badmatt4227]

12:15 home position, can we go into more detail about this. Tracking: do I assume “sidereal” is for stars and/or planets?

[@badmatt4227]

Using the hand controller, in theory once I direct the mount on my target, all I should need to do is click “T” Well I am getting star streaks, so that means it is not working.

[@saurav050206]

Hello, I have just bought an am5 mount and I am using it with asiair plus, nikon d750, Tamron 150-600mm lens, 120mm guide camera and 30mm guide scope. I saw your tutorial on KZbin about setting up the mount. I did polar alignment and started guiding on m42 at 600mm focal length. I saw a few stretched light trails on some stars at 5 mins shutter speed. I kept seeing star trails even at 10 sec shutter speed at 600mm. What am I doing wrong?

[@ginofx87]

Hi Peter, Thanks for your tutorial, it was really informative. I am waiting for my AM5 to be shipped. One question for you, how long does your battery last with your entire set up? I would like to purchase an external power station similar to yours but still debating which size. Thanks for any help you can provide.

[@travelanddrones]

Thks for this good video. But for those of us who live in the southern hemisphere, does PA apply to our SH anyway? Or should we use the experimental feature All Sky PA? I would be happy to hear any comments and help from you and the conmunity. Thks 😊

[@sreeshab4093]

Your modules are amazing Peter. Do you conduct online workshops for Postprocessing with PI? I live in India and would love to learn. Please let me know. Thank you Sreesha

[@DS-zg3sw]

Peter, quick question, I note you did not put a auto guide cable from the guidescope to the mount Is the cable now not necessary? Appreciate you doing this very interesting video

[@JoseLausuch]

Same question here

[@JoeJaguar]

do you have to do an alignment procedure for the mount to track?

[@massimo541]

Excellent review as always. I think that many, me first and foremost, are also interested in knowing the settings you would give on Asiair plus for harmonic frames: exposure time (from 0.5 to1 sec ?), calibration step, Max Dec and Max RA duration, RA and Dec Aggr. Thank you very much

Watching your video after a long time. Great content as always 👍🏻

[@olivierbufole1291]

Do you need the guide camera to use the zwo eq mount to go to objects in the sky

[@Youtuber-ku4nk]

Can it do polar alignment without seeing the Polaris? I'm asking because my terrace is south facing and view to the north is blocked.

[@jtepsr]

Peter where do you get the cable to power the mount that has the cigarette plug

[@tonypearson6205]

fantastic tutorial. Thanks very much!

[@michakubisz535]

But can you polar align this mount without ASIAir?

[@ericwilkes1840]

Great video, as always, thanks Peter.

[@rileyreynolds2663]

Do you also do voice over for How It’s Made?

[@badmatt4227]

How is everything powered (mount, camera, guide camera) if someone does not have an ASIAIR? What portable power supply do you recommend? What if I buy a laptop instead of the ASIAIR, how do I set that up? I want a larger screen then a cell phone. Wait one, did you say I need the ASIAIR plus to do a polar alignment?

[@TevisC]

Mass Effect music? I want to get this mount for my Astrotech AT80EDT.

[@btcguy]

Loved the step by step workflow, this is by far the most detailed walkthrough of the ZWO AM5 mount, I was looking for something like this to convince myself that I need it haha!

[@stirHasen]

Good tutorial but wondering how loud it is seeking compared to the quiet EQ6R?

[@Safestassets]

Can you run an automatic autofocus routine in your workflow so you don't have to wake up in the middle of the night?

[@johngleason6472]

Excellent Tutorial.

[@area51xi]

What do you mean the 533 doesn't need dark frames? I've been doing dark frames for nothing all this time?? What about flats?

[@melvinatkins3443]

I have the am5 and will use it along with my ASIAIR pro, I see on the above video that you suggest a right angel power cable. I have searched and searched but cannot find a suitable cable. Could you let me have the right angle cable details please.

[@Astrokhels]

Excellent review Peter compared to my EQ6r Pro.

[@philippefossier7178]

Hi Peter, really good video. I have a question: you did not discuss the original orientation of the mount before starting the alignment. Does it matter whether the mount is pointing North or any other direction ?

[@lastnovicewins]

it matters. I am surprised he missed that. But check the writeup below his video on asiair workflow.

[@opticat2410]

Hello Peter, great video as usual! What size of power supply did you use? And for how long you can shoot with this setup connected to the power supply you used?

[@waynearnoldCanada]

You recommended not to connect your dslr. How would you polar align then?

[@2007gtsc]

Have you tried to connect via a laptop? I have read there is an issue with the connection of of more than software at the same time. Great video!

[@DBFIU]

Amazing work

[@deanfrazeur6523]

Thank you for the video. My setup includes a RedCat 51 with a ZWO ASI533. Are you attaching the Filter Wheel directly to the Camera without an extender? Again thank you.

[@joakimastro]

Sorry to point this out, but you didnt go over focusing again after filer swap... unless your filters are parfocal ;)

[@barrymak421]

Can the ASIair do that? I know NINA can, but I thought the ASIair was manual focus only.

[@joakimastro]

@@barrymak421 yup, if you have an eaf

[@barrymak421]

@@joakimastro Huh... and that's fully built in for automation, like you can program it into your shooting schedule?

[@joakimastro]

@@barrymak421 yeah you set up your autorun, and in the eaf-settings you put it to «focus on filer change»

[@barrymak421]

@@joakimastro Wow thanks for the info I was unaware it could do that. I appreciate it.

[@vampolascott36]

Can you use a small guide scope attached to the vixen shoe on the side of the mount?

[@skye7690]

How do you polar align this. Look at 15:24

[@OddballsHobbyChannel]

So if I understand everything correctly this would be ideal for someone who has a south facing balcony (like me)/garden as this setup doesn't need actually need Polaris to align itself?

[@BlackravenarmouryUk]

Wow…. Am I blind or did the maker of this video reply to any of the comments ?? Seems to defeat the object of a KZbin video if you ask me. Went to ask a question then noticed it’s only the community replying so 🤷‍♂️

[@petef.4361]

I have an EdgeHD 8" SCT that I do a lot of EAA and astrophotography with, usually with the 0.7x reducer installed. I have always used the Celestron CGEMii mount, but I'd love to try this mount out and see if I can get pictures that are just as good. Thanks for the review.

[@kurtbauch5491]

Check out JT Connolly’s videos. He had great success with the AM5 and a C9.25” OTA.

[@petef.4361]

@@kurtbauch5491 Yes that's why I am interested because even though ZWO does not technically recommend long focal length imaging, people are doing it. I want to see more reviews of people using the AM5 at long focal lengths, I find it fascinating. Even if it's better or worse, I still find it interesting to see how they do it using that mount.

[@briandiaz3758]

good , it's good to hear from others who have already tried it, but the zwo website says that

[@kurtbauch5491]

Yes, they posted that in the very beginning. There’s plenty of reviews with heavier and longer focal length scope out there. ZWO tends to under promise and over preform. An engineering buddy of mine, who works for NASA, showed us a video of why Strain Wave Harmonic mounts don’t need a counterweight. Very convincing. A cw is more for balancing on the tripod. TJ Connolly has some good info on this.

[@paulmcnamara7023]

After one year, do you still endorse the AM5?

[@jeddymo7052]

Might seem like a stupid question. But where is the zoom button in Preview?

[@XShadowAngel]

Just pinch and zoom with your fingers.

[@AndreH3d]

looks really good man! I have a question about the opolar alignment process, which camera does ASIair uses for plate solving, the main camera or the guidecamera? I ask because I am planning to shoot unguided for awhile, and my mount is the new iOptron Skyhunter that does not have a polar scope as well, the AM5 in on my radar for the time that I decide to upgrade froma small (cheaper) mount

[@derekbaker3279]

Hi Andre. It uses the main camera to plate solve.

[@jaberalkuwari2770]

Am I able to use Asi pro with am5 ?

[@SKYST0RY]

I've heard the ZWO tripod is kind of light for larger scopes, like an SCT. Any thoughts on that?

[@astrocatinfo]

Great review!!

[@calvinsmith9186]

Hi Peter, great video. I'm a real novice as you'll see by this question, I have this mount and ASIair plus. I followed along and took a series of photos, but where do the photos go and how do you retrieve them? See, I'm a noob!

[@user-hj1il9vh6y]

They will be on the asi Emmc. You need to transfer the files across from the asi to ur pc

[@michaelharrington7797]

This is a good question I’m new too is there a tutorial for that?

[@Zealor365]

Can a single supply provide enough current for both the AAP and the cooled camera?

[@XShadowAngel]

Yeah. Do it all the time.

[@DB-be9wy]

Does the AM5 have a polar home position that it must be in before you start PA? Is it marked with arrows so you know the axes are lined up at the correct position? How do you even know if you are near the polar axis without a shaft to look through to see polaris unless you're just using the scope and if you're using the scope then the mount would have to have a marked polar home position.

[@kurtbauch5491]

Have you tried leaving the hand controller connected, then use the WiFi to control the mount (just less cables). Also, can you recommend a 90 degree cable that you mentioned earlier in the video? I love the PA with the ASIAIR PLUS. I use to have the iPolar (at one point, I thought that it was great), but this method is so much easier and more accurate. My guiding has definitely improved using the ASIAIR and scope for PA. THANKS & a great video!

[@kurtbauch5491]

Just thought of another question: when I take my Flats, I unlock the clutches and rotate the OTA so that it’s pointing straight up. Then I put my light panel on top. This doesn’t sound practical for the AM5, unless you manually rotate the two axis. Thoughts?

[@XShadowAngel]

@@kurtbauch5491 You could use the controls in the AIR to point it upward and then just turn off the tracking.

[@kurtbauch5491]

@@XShadowAngel Yes, that makes sense.

[@albertkoscielniak7075]

Very useful video

[@NMHC1978]

asi air pro does not work with non zwo cameras, so a no go for me. What about ascom drivers

[@hael8680]

Is the AM5 compatible with a small NUC and NINA?

[@caseyschultheis]

great work! thank you!

[@astrophotonics9470]

Anything over 28 pds you'll need counter weights according to ZWO.

[@astrosoulfinder]

hey does eqm 35 is still worth ?

[@anata5127]

DEC guiding is not good. Worse than RA. This should not be the case. Was that polar alignment showing true values? Comparison with data from SharpCap showed drastic differences.

[@stuparker776]

Hi Peter have you found this I have been using my AM5 mount with a redcat51 ASI2600MM filters etc and in a small roll back roof observatory.At the end of the session, I would home the mount no issues as it fitted under the roof I have just swapped the Red cat for the larger scope a Askar 130mm scope.Being much longer it needs to be parked to a flat position after homing the mount so I can shut the roof.When I tried this and turned the power off the telescope started to fall over.I thought the break was supposed to stop this from happening.Is this correct or do I have to try and balance the mount better.Currently, the only way I can close the roof is to leave the power on the mount. Am I missing something here?? Any ideas would be great Thanks

[@miklostothhorgosi8293]

Am I the only one who so sad for Peter not using the Redcat, for a full red colour setup? 🥺 But great video in any means, Thanks Peter, greetings from Hungary ^^

[@arthurwiegman5512]

How many kilos does the mount and tripod weigh?

[@tosvus]

How much could you get out of using this and the ASIAir with a mirrorless camera instead of a telescope/astrocam combo? Would it be possible to do polar align with guidescope+camera?

[@derekbaker3279]

Yes, it should work just the same with the mirrorless camera, as long as you have a USB connection between the mirrorless camera & the ASIAIR. Just make sure that you've entered all the relevant data into the ASIAIR, and ensured that the mirrorless camera exposure is set on 'bulb'/'time exposure', not a specific exposure like 1/30 sec, etc..