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I understand you're hyped? :D But you should be thanking yourself for this as well. Your enthusiasm and excellent teaching got a lot of us into this hobby and kept us here. It's my opinion that without people like you, who make the complicated less complicated, the market would be smaller and these Chinese companies wouldn't be innovating as much and as fast. So give yourself a pat on the back too.

I like it when companies step up their game without taking a bunch of shortcuts! Seems like this should be a good intermediate mount for a 'not too horrible' price when compared to the competition!

At first glance I really liked the AM5N, with the 12v 3 A connector on the dovetail, but after thinking more since it will supply 3 amps, then no way to power a ASI Air and the ZWO camera, focuser, filter wheel and someday the rotator, as that would be 6 or so amps. No way. Since the AM5N input is 12 volts 5 amp, then looks like ZWO is expecting a 2 amp load for the mount (on the safe side) then only outputs 3 amps. Maybe if ZWO had 2-5.5mm x 2.1mm ports (1 on the left & 1 on the right) as those can handle 5 amps each and then have an 5.5mm x 2.1mm additional input on the mount for powering a ZWO camera (so this would be for the camera only, and the other jack for ASI Air, focuser, filter wheel and the rotator). This would be the ideal solution in my thinking! This might have been the best upgrade? Now BT is great and so the PE, but how did they improve that, maybe they upgraded the stepper motors for the additional weight without counter weight... Looking for a teardown.. Just WISHED they offered a BT - Bluetooth user upgrade....

Looks look they finally add a pointer on the Dec. The triangle is a bit more accurate that sighting a round bolt through the side. Base looks larger than TC40 tripod. Maybe TC50 is next! Thanks for reviewing!

The change to the power pass-through port and the addition of that USB-C port up on the saddle seems like it’s going to be amazing. Those would eliminate a whole lot of cable-snag concerns on my AM5. Great showcase Cuiv!

Oh I appreciate the Airplane reference 😂 perhaps the new version may make the previous version cheaper so that I can afford it 😂 surely….

Wow Cuiv! Christmas in July 😂 ZWO really tries their best to be at the top! After all the mount issues I've had recently, I think if I were to purchase a new one it would be that new ZWO AM5N 🙂 Thanks for the video!

One change: the AM5N has dropped the pair of bubble levels from the original. Important for leveling especially in alt/az mode. I guess you could stick your own onto it, but, bummer.

$4200 AUD with tripod yeah nah there is no competition at all seriously disappointed with ZWO

Il n'y a pas de niveau à bulle sur cette version

would love to know if you'd rather have the am5n or, for $400 more, get the wd-17, which for the most part is comparable spec wise. and i know it's been a long time, but has the am5 meridian flip issue been fixed? i remember it being a problem, but couldn't figure out if it was fixed or not. i assume the wd-17/20 works fine (once you get past the terminology differences). are there any other strain wave mounts with similar payload capacities to be aware of? watching all these astro videos makes me want to do astro again. too bad the weather has other plans. thanks for the info! can't wait to see the torture test

One obvious design choice they could have made on the original was to use M8x0.75 threads on the alt and az adjustment screws. Makes PA easier. Can you tell if they changed these screws to extra fine threads compared to the previous version? Re: weight the mount will support w/o a counterweight, I assumed the counterweight was to prevent the load from toppling over at extreme positions. The fact that they've reduced the P-P periodic error spec suggests they're using higher quality strain wave guides, but it's still the rate of change in error (slope of PE) that must be dealt with in guiding. The fact that it supports more weight (by providing more torque) plus the 500g increase in weight suggests a longer stepper than before? Why don't you take the face plate off and post a photo or three? I also feel like the connectors in the saddle are a little sketchy, especially if the power plug is only rated for 3A. I want my dew heaters and camera to be powered through the ASIAIR :( Does it still have the dual bubble levels? That was a head scratcher. Lastly, carefully read the return policy of _any_ vendor you buy from. You don't want to be hit with a hefty restocking fee if a pricey piece of kit does not meet your expectations.

This is on my wish list. Anybody want to buy an Esprit 100ED Triplet scope?

Thanks Shirley! Since I already have the AM5, I won't be getting a new one, but it is clear ZWO raised the bar in this one (especially the improved PE). As usual, your video is well presented and useful. Looking forward to the review. One question: did you solve the funky star crosses one you Carbon 150? I haven't seen anything...

Hey Cuiv, could you please do a buying guide on these new trackers and cameras? Which would you recommend for use and price, ideal for beginners or not, etc. Maybe you could do a video like this once/twice a year?

If anyone in the UK who will be selling their old AM5 for the new one, let me know .

I left my AM5 and setup outdoor during a rain one day, the wind is so strong that it blew away the telescope cover cloth that the AM5 got the rain hit for about 2 hours, I moved it back to room and thought: ok maybe that would be dead, and it is purely my bad, then I let it dry for 2 weeks, when I power it on, still worked, amazing quality ! till today, it is still my work horse

This is the version of the AM5 that we should have gotten three years ago. I’m an old AM5 owner, and I’m disgusted 😂

👍👍👍👍👍👍👍

Is the old am5 going to be on sale?

Has the price changed? Defiently some nice upgrades.

I never liked the soft cases, they're quite fragile and feels a bit cheap, especially for a mount which costs a few grand.

I love my AM5! I would consider buying another one. Great video!

These improvements are great and I’m especially a fan of the new ports on the saddle, but aren’t you not supposed to power the ASIAir through the dc out on the AM5? Perhaps the ASIAir by itself is fine, but what about when the Air is also powering your guide camera, main camera, EAF, etc.?

Can hardly wait for you to get your hands on the new ASIAIR “competitor” apparently it’s compatible with all hardware.

Don't call me Shirley ah a classic line that never gets old lol, great video as always clear skies.

Ooooo - i just wanted to order a counterweight for my AM5, but it seems I need to buy a new AM5 :) thanks for the video Cuiv!

You mentioned twice you looked at the Japanese web page. Why? ZWO is a Chinese company. I feel a bit like you are trying to mislead me into thinking the AM5 is made in Japan.

Hello Cuiv, would this project also work with mounting the Az Gti in equatorial mode? Beside FW update of AzGti what other things have to be done? Where in SynScan App or Stellarmate App do I have to select the azimutal or equatorial mode of the motor?

Small point, the 12V through the mount supply is rated at 3A but the ASIAIR is rated at 5A.

can it handle a 8 inch sct

Now I want it. Previously AM5 was not capable enough (my rig is 32 lbs).

I wish ZWO would quit making such tasty stuff. I can't afford to keep up with this. Surely you agree. (Loved the reference to the Airplane movie)

I replaced my AM3 saddle with the Pegasus 10 amp one. It powers everything. The mount, the ASIAIR, the camera etc. 3amps is insufficient. Is this new saddle on the AM5 removeable so I can replace it with the Pegasus? If not, I will use the Pegasus Power box to power everything. I'll just Velcro it to the front of the mount!

Hello Cuiv Nice review. It seems that they took the upgrades the AM3 had over the AM5 and integrated them in the new version, in addition to the upgraded saddle and specifications. I am lucky enough to have both the AM3 and the old AM5 :-). By the way, there are 2 other differences between these 2 mounts, not obvious on the first look: - the front plate is plastic vs alu. - the az adjustment screws are bigger but shorter, which is a good thing since those on my AM5 are already slightly bent (I travel a lot with my mounts, not always carrying them in the case…) Have these modification been added to the new AM5 ? Best Damien

Already have the AM5, opening my wallet and it looks empty :(

"Soft spot for soft cases." Very funny!!!!

Can you plug your imaging camera USB cable into the saddle and then have it connect through the USB port on the base to a PC?

Super jealous about the periodic error refinement. Where do they encourage you to mount the AsiAir though?

With the reduction in periodic error will longer focal lengths OTA be suitable with this mount? Thanks

Excellent video mate!! Looking forward to seeing the torture test with your dual-rig haha!! :-D Clear skies!

Good usb/power on seat… wonder the max power🎉

Thanks for the review.. these new mounts are so awesome... This would be perfect for trips to the house in Andros, Greece...

Got the Agena email about this a couple hours before your video posted. Good timing. I don't see many of the specs updated. Is the 12v output on the saddle still limited to 3A? If they bumped up to 5, we could (but just barely) use it to power cooled cameras when not slewing.

Nice review thanks. I’m waiting for a strain wave mount with cabling to a part of the mount that doesn’t move like my CEM120.

Caracoles...

Nice.

Thanks for the unboxing video on the new AM5 Cuiv. I’ve been using an EQ6R Pro for two years and want to get a SW mount in the near future. These upgrades should make the AM5 even better!

Looks like the AM-5 is on my shortlist now... The decision is getting tougher every week! 😅

Ha! Finally.. an unboxing video from the lazy geek...