ZWO to release new mount (smaller AM5?)

[phyton42]

Looks like a smaller version of the AM5.

It is expected to be announced later this week at the NEAF event.
Instagram posts here:

https://www.instagram.com/p/Cq23vMwK29J/

https://www.instagram.com/p/CqxzTXZP95v/

Website now showing -
AM3, mount weight 4kg, load capacity 8kg, 14kg with counterweight.

https://www.zwoastro.com/products/asimount

Scroll to bottom - select “product specifications” for AM5 comparison.

[Nikolas]

links dont work but having seen the blurbs ?I bet it will be called the AM3

[Craig_]

They've also announced an electronic camera rotator, probably the biggest thing still missing from their ecosystem. No real detail on it yet though unfortunately, but interested to see how they plan on fitting it into the backfocus requirements. Gut feel is that they are going to mark it incompatible with OAG guiding, and use the backfocus that the OAG would normally consume on it - which would be sad :(

[AdamJL]

If this performs as good as the AM5, it'll be time to sell the EQ6-R. I just don't use it anymore, as good as it is.

[oska]

Deets: https://astronomy-imaging-camera.com/product/zwo-am3-harmonic-equatorial-mount-2/

[phyton42]

Now on their website- AM3 Mount $1499, with tripod $1798 US$

[AdamJL]

Keen to see local pricing on that AM3

[TrevorW]

Well any indications on local price it will be at least double US with our current crap exchange rate no helping, I can buy the AM5 direct from ZWO for around $3000AUD plus gst and shipping would probably push it up to around $3500 :)

[Bassnut]

PE +- 20", nice......

[AdamJL]

Doesn’t really mean much for strain wave mounts

[ronson]

Testar have added it to their catalogue: https://www.testar.com.au/collections/new-products/products/zwo-am3-harmonic-mount

[Doubledark]

it's showing $2699 on Testar's site

[TrevorW]

Unfortunately we screwed in Australia with prices, IMO not value for money at $2700 considering a MIT student can build one with a larger carrying capacity for $700US in materials as a one off.

[Dilsh]

I feel this area is like electric cars. Give it a few years and hopefully the price/performance should be better.

watch this space.

D

[toc]

As much as I have enjoyed ZWO cameras, I am a bit concerned about reports of anti-competitive practices with the ASI air from other manufacturers like Player One. I hope they reconsider their direction.

[AdamJL]

what are they doing?

[Camelopardalis]

Doesn't mean much? 20" is 20" regardless of mount.

What gives strain waves such an advantage that suddenly we don't care about PE? (I'm curious, not being controversial!)

[AdamJL]

Mainly because it’s not really periodic in the sense that you can train it out. Or rather the PECs behave completely differently on these mounts and seem to have zero impact on performance. Weird PEC curves and random guiding spikes all do nothing for the final image. The worst thing I’ve encountered is an unbalanced load which produced trails near the horizon

[toc]

Well - I have seen some (now mostly removed) posts on cloudy nights from Player one claiming that ZWO are pressuring retailers to not stock their cameras. To be honest we only have their side of the story so I am not saying this is fact.

I first heard about it here:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yi0rRa6SyXM&ab_channel=lukomatico

And the cloudynights link in the description that is now removed.

[sharkbite]

Not in the same league....but i wouldn't mind one of these:

https://www.bintel.com.au/product/zwo-seestar-s50-smart-telescope/

it has a similar focal range and diameter to what i shoot with now,and practically the same sensor....

....only i wont have to bolt it all to a massive mount and spend
hours phaffing about setting it up...

will miss doing planetary though...

[TrevorW]

I'd question how good they really will be a 50mm APO, camera, tracking mount etc for under $800 seems a bit of a gimmick IMO - would the APO optics be as good as a WO Redcat 51 which sells for $1500 alone or a Skywatcher 50mm APO $500. 2mp cameras are cheap enough with fairly good output - but then auto focus, auto tracking, wifi, was this posted release on the 1/4

[sharkbite]

Not unless Zwo was in on the joke ;-)

https://astronomy-imaging-camera.com/product/zwo-seestar/

[TrevorW]

ZWO site have a introductory offer of $400US on this so I went and pre ordered one - could be handy for star parties :)

[ariefm71]

I've just placed the pre-order as well :)