Thank you for the excellent video. I’m in pretty much exactly the same position as you. I have an ioptron cem60 which works excellent. But it’s 70+ lbs with tripod and counterweights… This means I’m often making 4-5 trips to my car or garage when I set up, and then another 4 to 5 trips when I tear down. This is fine on some nights, but when I go camping with the kids, the thought of adding on a bunch of extra work to my weekend often means I leave everything at home. I was about to purchase a gti which I planned to leave fully assembled as a ‘grab and go’ rig. But after your experience, I think I’ll probably bite the bullet and go with an AM3 or AM5 instead. Thanks for maybe saving me from making the wrong purchase. The check is in the mail! Clear skies!
Thanks! My EQ6 sits in the corner very sad these days. I can carry my AM5 in one trip, and then come back and get the GTi to run a smaller rig. The AM5 is still my favorite mount I have. Setup is fast and easy. Clear skies!
Just got my AM5 the other day with the tripod. I agree that $300 for that short tripod is too much. I have the PE200 extension coming in as well. Might as well spend my daughter's inheritance while I'm still able to.
Cheers for the review Dan Just what I’m looking at currently I have the skywatcher gti for my Askar 65 phq but I also have an 8” Dob that I would love to mount to use more Do you think the AM5 would be suitable? Either that or I get an Edge HD in the future 😂
Thanks! I’m not sure about the dobsonian. I’ve never even looked through one, but the edge HD is a great versatile scope! The AM5 swings around like it’s not even on there! You can do planetary with a Barlow, and then you can also get a super fast setup with a hyper star. I wish I had bought this edge hd a long time ago.
@@AstroDanno Mate thx for this, Was tossing up between the EQ6R pro and the AM5 for my first big boy mount and I think you vid has convinced me of my initial thought that the portability of the AM5 and other benefits are a bit of a no brainer I’ve done planetary with my Dob but no go to or tracking on the manual alt-az mount limit it a bit for anything else. Pretty sure you can mount them put currently only have my GTI so that’s not happening with the weight
@@Si-fp2ij setting up the AM5 is so much easier and faster for me than the eq6 r pro. The eq6 is an awesome mount but it’s a big beast! If I ever get to build an observatory, it would be a great spot for it permanently. I think I’ve seen people using bigger edge HD’s like the 9.25 and the 11 on the AM5. I’m pretty sure the 11 is maxing it out. I predict that they might make an AM7 that might rival the EQ8 as far as payload capacity.
@@AstroDanno yeah, like you I have a bad back so that just might end the debate for me. I’m a fan of easy 🤣 Good call for the AM7. Do you have an Edge 8???
@@Si-fp2ij yep! I wanted the 9.25, but it was out of stock forever. It took me a few months just to get the reducer for my Edge 8, because they were backordered. I’ll get a hyper star one day, but I have to stop spending money on gear for now. 😂
@@AstroDanno I have been visual and EAA for years. When I have started astrophotography, I knew exactly what it will be. Yea, my mount is more expensive and better by far, but it is 42 Lb😀
Good idea! I'll keep my weed in there, score. After imaging session is going, spark it up😊 Yah, I actually bought a POLEMASTER for my 1st generation Star Adventurer. ASTROKRAKEN has a 3D mounting system . I found polar alignment with that silly illuminater difficult in bortle 9 skies! Asiair makes all that unnecessary. And it's cheaper than POLEMASTER alone. Anyone want to buy it?
Thank you for the excellent video. I’m in pretty much exactly the same position as you. I have an ioptron cem60 which works excellent. But it’s 70+ lbs with tripod and counterweights… This means I’m often making 4-5 trips to my car or garage when I set up, and then another 4 to 5 trips when I tear down. This is fine on some nights, but when I go camping with the kids, the thought of adding on a bunch of extra work to my weekend often means I leave everything at home.
I was about to purchase a gti which I planned to leave fully assembled as a ‘grab and go’ rig. But after your experience, I think I’ll probably bite the bullet and go with an AM3 or AM5 instead.
Thanks for maybe saving me from making the wrong purchase. The check is in the mail! Clear skies!
Thanks! My EQ6 sits in the corner very sad these days. I can carry my AM5 in one trip, and then come back and get the GTi to run a smaller rig. The AM5 is still my favorite mount I have. Setup is fast and easy. Clear skies!
'' you only live once''......thats good enough motive for me....great video
YOLO! It’s by far my favorite mount! So easy to carry outside.
Just got my AM5 the other day with the tripod. I agree that $300 for that short tripod is too much. I have the PE200 extension coming in as well. Might as well spend my daughter's inheritance while I'm still able to.
I love that PE200, it’s great for carrying! The tripod is definitely on the pricy side for what it is, but it all works together very well.
Очень хороший обзор. Спасибо!!!
Thanks! I had to translate this! The AM5 is now on sale as of today and a little cheaper than when I bought it. It’s a great mount!
Cheers for the review Dan
Just what I’m looking at currently
I have the skywatcher gti for my Askar 65 phq but I also have an 8” Dob that I would love to mount to use more
Do you think the AM5 would be suitable?
Either that or I get an Edge HD in the future 😂
Thanks! I’m not sure about the dobsonian. I’ve never even looked through one, but the edge HD is a great versatile scope! The AM5 swings around like it’s not even on there! You can do planetary with a Barlow, and then you can also get a super fast setup with a hyper star. I wish I had bought this edge hd a long time ago.
@@AstroDanno Mate thx for this, Was tossing up between the EQ6R pro and the AM5 for my first big boy mount and I think you vid has convinced me of my initial thought that the portability of the AM5 and other benefits are a bit of a no brainer
I’ve done planetary with my Dob but no go to or tracking on the manual alt-az mount limit it a bit for anything else. Pretty sure you can mount them put currently only have my GTI so that’s not happening with the weight
@@Si-fp2ij setting up the AM5 is so much easier and faster for me than the eq6 r pro. The eq6 is an awesome mount but it’s a big beast! If I ever get to build an observatory, it would be a great spot for it permanently. I think I’ve seen people using bigger edge HD’s like the 9.25 and the 11 on the AM5. I’m pretty sure the 11 is maxing it out. I predict that they might make an AM7 that might rival the EQ8 as far as payload capacity.
@@AstroDanno yeah, like you I have a bad back so that just might end the debate for me. I’m a fan of easy 🤣
Good call for the AM7.
Do you have an Edge 8???
@@Si-fp2ij yep! I wanted the 9.25, but it was out of stock forever. It took me a few months just to get the reducer for my Edge 8, because they were backordered. I’ll get a hyper star one day, but I have to stop spending money on gear for now. 😂
HAHAHA ... It's funny how your video camera makes the brick wall appear to be moving ...
That’s because it’s a backdrop. 😁
2300 for astrophotography grade mount is not expensive. This is entry level mount.
You must be ballin’!
@@AstroDanno I have been visual and EAA for years. When I have started astrophotography, I knew exactly what it will be. Yea, my mount is more expensive and better by far, but it is 42 Lb😀
@@anata5127 most expensive hobby I’ve ever had. I thought music was expensive. What mount do you have?
@@AstroDanno 10 microns.
Good idea! I'll keep my weed in there, score. After imaging session is going, spark it up😊
Yah, I actually bought a POLEMASTER for my 1st generation Star Adventurer. ASTROKRAKEN has a 3D mounting system . I found polar alignment with that silly illuminater difficult in bortle 9 skies! Asiair makes all that unnecessary. And it's cheaper than POLEMASTER alone. Anyone want to buy it?
😂 I need to sell mine as well! That could go towards my retirement weed fund!
Dont show the mount on a rickity table. Makes itvlook unstable which it isnt
Thanks for the hot tip, Dale!