14 replies to this topic

[Urban Observer]

The AM3/AM5 mounts are very unique! They definitely take a bit of getting used to - The AM3 is unlike any telescope mount I've ever used. One of the main things you'll notice right away, is how easy it is to use. Once you begin using one of these mounts, it will be near impossible to want to use any other kind. Now, you'll have all this extra time available - from not having to adjust, and re-adjust the settings you would on a typical EQ mount.

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[Bearcub]

If its louder than ioptron mount then i wouldnt recommend this in populated area.

[rick80134]

Great review!  I purchased the AM3 with tripod for many of the reasons you noted.  Total weight of the mount w/tripod vs total weight of a similar EQ mount head, tripod, counterweight bar and weights.  Ease of setup for me is a thing also.  I used to live in Colorado and during the winter, the weight and freezing to the touch weights and bar, time to get balance - all factors which detracted from enjoyment of the hobby.  The tracking is very good, ease of use, portability.. all big pluses.

[cmas]

Thanks for the review! I got good answers to many things that have been on my "to find out" list regarding AM3 and other similar mounts

[IGottaSoreNeck!]

Thanks a bunch for doing this review!  Excellent coverage answered all the questions I had (and more) as I'm shopping for a new mount/tripod now.  This (or the AM5) and the carbon fiber tripod are at the top of my list now.

[charlesgeiger]

I would think that plus or minus 15 or 20 arcseconds (so 30 to 40 arcseconds) is pretty significant for astrophotography.  You would definitely need an auto-guider for mid range focal lengths.  Or you would need to stack short exposures.  

[Tony_Gondola]

Agreed, Harmonic drive mounts have a lot going for them but periodic error isn't one of them. Guiding will of course correct that but if you want to do unguided exposures, a decent, old tech mount might still be the way to go.

[rick80134]

Interesting experience.  My AM3 guides within 0.5 and 1.10 arc seconds.

Agreed, Harmonic drive mounts have a lot going for them but periodic error isn't one of them. Guiding will of course correct that but if you want to do unguided exposures, a decent, old tech mount might still be the way to go.

[flightlogic]

In terms of overall cost, using a ZWO guide scope and 120 camera seems like an insignificant addition.  Both my AM3 and AM5 are guided. As Rick said above, the performance is good and just about any exposure length I need works out fine. Of course, I just use simple ASIAIR boxes on each without NINA. So, if I don't move the tripods, I just pull the Telegizmo covers off, check alignment in the routine, calibrate the guiding (about five minutes) and tell the autofocus to do it's thing. (Filter swaps do require a refocus).

I still own an old CGEM II, but it is getting fired up less and less. As the reviewer notes, Astronomics ships anything I order right away and even answers their telephone.  I sure appreciate a real human answering the phone these days.

[hyiger]

If its louder than ioptron mount then i wouldnt recommend this in populated area.

It's whisper quiet. 

[timmywampus]

AM3's big brother AM5 was a christmas gift for my wife (DSO) to replace her EQ6R-Pro which she struggled with when it came to portability.  she loves to drive out to dark skies and setup and the EQ6R was a beast for her to use that way.  The first amazing thing about this mount (AM5) is how light it is - and the AM3 is even lighter!  it changes what you can expect from a travel rig.  No longer did she have to choose between lightweight/portable and a desired degree of stability.  these mounts break down and pack into a tiny carry case that fits in any trunk, what is not to love about that? 

 

the only problem was finding time to learn how to use it.  My wife was so swamped with work, she asked for me to learn how to use it for her as her (spring) birthday gift, and after doing so, i bought one for myself.

 

i have to say the learning curve was very straightforward and intuitive, even when not using an ASI air.  I am mainly into solar, and the ASI air is worthless for me, so i am giving you a 100% "app-based" user experience. I watched maybe 3 youtube videos a half dozen times each while using the iphone app to move it around in the living room before taking it outside. as a solar user, i have NEVER polar aligned this mount and it never mattered.  i get a 98% blind alignment easily with the polar align pro iphone app and tell the asi app to drive to the sun.  then it's just a matter of a E/W tweak to center it and it's off to the races.

 

we took it out on the road and used it for the 2024 TSE with a little Bio-Lite power center.  in less than 2 minutes, i had the tripod level and i was able to get the mount head blind polar aligned on a cloudy day with an iphone on the saddle.  Once the clouds parted, it was just a nudge from dead-center.  It tracked like an absolute champ.  I can't say enough good things about it. 

 

the AM3 sounds just as good as the AM5, just targeted at smaller scopes with BT as an option, which i think would be a little better than local wifi, but not enough to make a difference in my satisfaction.  the only mount that competes with it for my attention is a road-warrior of a skywatcher solarquest, but it can't handle the payload of the AM5.  These mounts are probably the best money i have ever spent on the hobby.

[TransitVanMan]

Great review. I agree completely that visual isn't precluded with these mounts, but there are some downsides to warn about. I'm an AM3/AM5 owner, who has considered this use case but, tellingly,  hasn't gotten round to doing ANY visual since switching from an EQ6 two years ago.

 

1. Without clutches you're completely dependent on power. When the battery runs out you can't carry on with low and medium powers and 'push' RA. That's a pity because I like to do visual when the air is steadiest, just before dawn, and the scope is cooled right down and I'm done with taking pictures - that's usually when my Celestron PowerTank has drained.

 

2. There is no traditional polar scope, or any other way to get a good PA without having a camera attached. So unless (like me) you have the gear to support photo-visual (e.g. ASIair guidescope and main camera), and you used that earlier in the night, then you probably won't be able to enjoy pinpoint goto.

 

A 'ballpark' PA by squinting up the RA axis and/or using a GPS compass will likely get you +/- 30". Its a small point but for a premium price, you do want premium performance, and this is a disappointment you might want to mitigate in some way. That generally means throwing more money at the issue (of course you could drift align but how many of us are well practised in that these days?)

 

3. In this same line of discussion, indirectly related to AM3, but important for visual, IF you do have a telescope optimized for photography that you want to use visually once in a while at the end of the night, beware the auto focusser 'gotcha'. You'll need one that can be disconnected, or one with a hand controller for visual.

 

4. Unless you have a newtonian the TC40 even with pillar will be too low for comfort. I'd rather not have to use a diagonal or a stool. I put my main visual instrument (130 ED APO / AM5)  back on the EQ6 tripod.

 

These considerations all have an influence on spontaniety and making best use of the weather, as the workflow and setup and the equipment you carry become more complex and need pre-planning. Forgotten items become single points of failure. To respond to that, I love soft luggage and a pre-packed camping cart for my big rig to keep everything in its place and ready to go. The grab and go I just keep assembled on the TC40 for photography only.

 

All this said I have zero regrets about my AM5/AM3  purchases. Love this gear (and miss my EQ6 a bit too).

[tavassil]

I have an AM5 and have used it close to the capacity without a CW. My experience in various locations under varied seeing and usually under Bortle 4-6 has been an expected RMS of 0.5-0.7 for DSO guided exposures (3-8min on average) using PHD2. This is acceptable given the image scale (FL < 600) for this rig tends to be > 1. I previously owned an EQ6R-pro which as expected performed slightly better. Unfortunately, you can't air travel with the EQ6. I'd be interested in others experience with the AM5, particularly with higher payloads.

[Dumanyu2]

I have been using the AM5N mount, PE200 Pier Extension and the TC40 Tripod. I found the pier extension to be a welcome addition as it gets the tripod legs out of the way of any possible impacts with the OTA and equipment. It also makes PA easier as the adjustment knobs are higher up and my old spine doesn't have to bend as much. It does double duty imaging with either a RedCat 51 or an Edge HD8. I routinely shoot 300s subs and once I figured out the settings for guiding, I get 0.6-0.8 Total RMS with the RedCat using a 30F4 / 120MM Mini. I get slightly better numbers with the Edge HD8 using an Askar OAG / 174MM Mini combination with a 0.7 Reducer. Both shoot with the ASI533MC Pro.

 

I bought this mount because my AVX couldn't balance or guide well with the weight of the Edge as configured above, plus needing to add a 3-pound weight under the Aperture (bringing the total weight of the Rig to 21 pounds) and the 29 pounds of counterweights. With the AM5, I don't need the 3-pound weight, and it really doesn't need the 5 Kg counterweight, even though I do use one with the Edge for stability.

 

With the RedCat, it's nice to be able to carry the whole thing (Mount, Pier Extension, Tripod and OTA) outside with little effort, just point it North, and start it up. This is especially well received as I hit 60 years of age.

 

Overall, it's the best thing I could have purchased to make AP more enjoyable.

Edited by Dumanyu2, 25 December 2024 - 10:44 PM.

[RonLevandoski]

If its louder than ioptron mount then i wouldnt recommend this in populated area.

I have the AM 5 mount and you can hardly hear it when moving if you are standing right beside it. In fact, in the dark you need to be careful that the scope doesn't bump into you when slewing, it's that quiet.