ZWO AM5 - Full Tutorial and Review

AM5 Review

Before we get into the full review, I want to give you some context.  I first started off with a SkyGuider Pro back in 2017.  This small star tracker allowed me to capture beautiful Milky Way and Deep Space images.  I continued to use this mount, with great success, all the way up to 2021.  In February 2021, I learned that one of my students, Steve Chestnut, had passed away.  Click here to view his gallery. His family was very generous, and they donated all of his astro equipment to me. This is how I received my first Go-To mount - the SkyWatcher EQ6R - Pro.

I've been using the EQ6R - Pro since then and it has done a great job! I do have a few minor complaints with the mount, but overall it's a great choice. Based on my experience with the mount, I recommended that other astrophotographer's consider purchasing this mount too.

Size & Weight

In June of 2022 I received the new ZWO AM5. This is quite a bit different from the EQ6R - Pro! The most noticeable difference is the size and weight of the mount. The EQ6R is very heavy, weighing in at nearly 40 lbs for just the mount head! You still need to consider the tripod legs (probably another 20 lbs) and the counterweights (each 10 lbs). All told, you're looking at a 60lb setup! This is very difficult to move around, especially up stairs. I know a lot of astrophotographers are older, and the chance of getting seriously injured is pretty high if you're carrying this mount around every night.

Due to the weight of the EQ6R Pro, and the fact that it takes up so much space, it's hard to travel with this mount.  You won't be doing any roadtrips anytime soon... 

The new AM5 is very small, weighs around 11lbs, and comes with its own padded carrying case. I can easily throw this in my car and take it anywhere I want.  ZWO does sell a bundle which includes a lightweight carbon fiber tripod.  I highly recommend purchasing it, as the tripod pairs perfectly with the mount.

If you've been looking for a portable, lightweight mount then the AM5 is a fantastic choice!

Ease of Use

The AM5 comes with its own unique hand-controller, which can be used to slew the mount around.  I like the joystick, which is much more responsive than a traditional go-to mount hand-controller.  The AM5 hand-controller also contains a Wi-Fi chip, so you can communicate with the mount through your smartphone.  However, the AM5 controller itself doesn't have much functionality.  Besides the slewing function, you can "park" the mount, or return it to Home.  That's about it...  

Therefore, you must use a smartphone app to control the AM5. This can be good or bad, depending on your viewpoint. In my experience, the old fashioned hand-controllers are a nightmare to use anyway. I find ZWO's apps to be very well designed, and they make astro much easier for every skill level! If you are not a fan of mobile apps though, you might have a rough time using the AM5.

The AM5 does have a free standalone application - "ASI Mount". This is available for both Apple and Android smartphones and tablets, and it works okay. However, it is pretty bare-bones and lacks some functionality. Basically, you use the Sky Atlas to look for your desired nebula / galaxy / cluster. You're free to explore the whole sky using this feature. Once you've found the object you want to photograph, you click a button in the app and the mount begins moving your camera to that location. Then it will begin tracking the object so you can take your photos. The ASI Mount also has a submenu where you can update the hand-controller and mount firmware. Although, I kept getting a failure when I attempted to update the mount firmware.

If you're going to be using the AM5, then I'd highly recommend getting an ASIAir Plus too. This little device can be powered through the AM5's 12V output port, and it can be attached directly to the side of the AM5 mount. I control the AM5, dedicated astro camera, auto-guider, and filter wheel all through the ASIAir. The ASIAir broadcasts a Wi-Fi network, which I can connect to with my smartphone / tablet. Then I start up the ASIAir app on my phone. From here I can do my polar alignment, find the object I want to photograph, begin guiding, change filters, and setup a shooting schedule. The best part is that I can do all this from inside the house, thanks to the wireless connection. No more standing outside in the freezing cold!

If you will be using an ASIAir to control the AM5, I think you'll be pleasantly surprised how easy the entire process is. With a few practice nights, you'll know exactly what to do. It shouldn't take more than 15 minutes to go through the setup and begin taking photos.

Design

I don't really have many complaints on the design of the AM5.  As I mentioned earlier, it's very small and lightweight which is a nice change from the EQ6 R Pro.  Speaking of which, the AM5 has some noticeable improvements over that mount.  The Altitude knob on the AM5 is very smooth and easy to turn.  This makes it easy to do precise adjustments during the polar alignment.  The AM5 does not have a built-in polar scope though, so you will need to do your polar alignment electronically.  This is where the ASIAir will come in handy.  It will tell you very simply "Move up 2 degrees and to the right 1 degree".  Then you can adjust your altitude and azimuth screws, until the error is as small as possible.  

According to ZWO, you can use the AM5 with most tripods.  However, I found that to be misleading.  The mount does not fit properly on any of the tripods I have, including the Skywatcher legs and my Feisol tripod.  Therefore, you'll want to purchase the ZWO tripod to be safe.  It is carbon fiber, so it's pretty light and portable.  I don't have any complaints with the tripod either, I think it does a good job and pairs perfectly with the AM5.  

The only problem with the AM5 is that it relies on a smartphone app.  The included hand-controller lacks all the functionality normally found in a go-to mount hand-controller.  You cannot enter your Lat / Long, you can't plate solve / star align, you can't find any objects, etc...  So you will need to use either the mediocre ASI Mount app, or the ASIAir, to make the most of the AM5.  As I mentioned earlier though, the ASIAir is fantastic and it will make your entire night so much easier, especially with the AM5 now.  

Max Payne Payload

ZWO says that the max payload of the AM5 is about 28lbs. If you want to attach more weight than that, you'll need to install a counterweight rod and counterweight to the AM5. (Check the "Products" tab below for links) The AM5 has a threaded hole in the back, where you can install it.

With a counterweight attached, you can have up to 44lbs of total gear. You may also want to attach a pier between the tripod and the AM5 mount, so your telescope doesn't accidentally crash into the tripod when slewing.

(For reference, my EQ6R Pro has a max payload of 44lbs)

The general rule when it comes to weight limits is that you want to be at around 1/2 for the best tracking results. In other words, even though the mount can handle 28lbs, try to stay around 14lbs if possible. If you go beyond that, you may want to attach a counterweight. Then again, that common wisdom is usually for belt-driven mounts, like my EQ6R Pro. The AM5 has a much more powerful Harmonic Drive, so this might not be applicable.

The problem with the counterweights is that you have no way to actually balance your telescope.  For example, on my EQ6R Pro, I can loosen my RA clutch, lower the telescope down to the side, and then begin to balance with the counterweight.  As I slide the counterweight left/right, I feel how one side gets heavier / lighter.  With a little adjusting I can get things perfectly balanced, then tighten down the RA clutch.  For the Dec axis, I can loosen the clutch, then slide the telescope forwards and backwards until I find the balancing point.  Then I tighten the Dec clutch back down.  With both axis (RA and Dec) perfectly balanced, I can maneuver the telescope to any angle and it will stay aimed in that spot.  

Since the AM5 uses a harmonic drive, and it is controlled electronically, there are no manual RA or Dec clutches. I can no longer balance my large telescope properly. If I can't balance the mount, then how will I know where to position my counterweight? I suppose it doesn't matter that much, since the harmonic drive can power through the unbalanced payload. The whole point of adding the counterweight is just to have something on the opposite side, and put less strain on the motor.

Concerns

I like almost everything about the AM5, but there is one main concern I have.  Since the AM5 uses a harmonic drive, there are no manual clutches.  The mount is controlled entirely through a smartphone app or that hand-controller.  By comparison, my SkyWatcher EQ6R Pro, which has a belt drive, has a manual Right Ascension clutch and a manual Declination clutch.  I can loosen these clutches, then balance my telescope fairly easily.  

I don't like the fact that you can't balance a telescope on the AM5.  This isn't that big of a deal for my current lightweight setup, but it could be a serious problem when using the RASA telescope.  Once you attach a big telescope, the mount will be top-heavy.  If something goes wrong the telescope could theoretically swing around and crash to the floor, since there's no counterweight to balance things out.  

ZWO does mention that the AM5 has a built-in safety to prevent this scenario from happening. As I understand it, the mount uses a "brake" to hold things steady, even if the power cable gets pulled out accidentally. This will prevent the RA axis from rotating once power is lost. However, there is no brake on the Dec axis, which means an unbalanced telescope could still swing around if power is lost.

To be clear, the harmonic drive motor has a lot of torque, so the engineers aren't worried about things being out-of-balance. The mount should be able to handle it. I'm not an engineer though, and I just don't like the thought of attaching a large telescope to a mount without having a way to balance it.

Price

The AM5 currently retails for $1,999 for just the mount, or $2,348 for the tripod bundle.  All things considered, I'd say that's a fair price for what you're getting.  I've seen other manufacturers charging between $3,900 - $8,500 for their harmonic mounts...  And a more traditional belt-driven mount, like my EQ6R Pro, will set you back at least $2,000.

To get the best results from your AM5 you'll also want the ASIAir Plus, which costs $300.

Hopefully you already have an auto-guider, if not, I'd recommend getting one of those too.  ZWO sells a bundle where you can get the ASIAir and an auto-guider for $547.

If we factor in all the recommended accessories, you're looking at about $2,900 for the AM5.  With the current economic situation around the world, that's a significant investment for most people.  However, if this is your first Go-To mount then I think it would be worth it.  This combo will last you for years to come, and give you very good results along the way.  Plus, since this bundle is so compact, you can actual travel with your gear now!  

Final Thoughts 

I've been looking forward to trying out the AM5 since I first heard about it back in December / January.  It looked like the perfect mount for me: Go-To, no counterweights required, lightweight, portable, carbon fiber tripod, controlled entirely through the ASIAir.  I'm happy to report that the AM5 has met my high expectations, and I'm excited to take this mount with me on upcoming astro trips.  (Although, to be honest, my girlfriend will probably try to keep this mount for herself, and I'll be stuck using the EQ6R Pro ;)

Whether you're looking to upgrade your existing mount, or purchase your first Go-To mount, the AM5 is a good choice!  Just remember, you'll want that ASIAir Plus to get the best results.