The Best Astrophotography Mounts with Analysis (2023) 

Something I'd really like to see more of is a comparison of mount accuracy especially at the lower end of price with longer focal length scopes. It's one thing to hold a weight, it's another to do so with finesse and precision. No one really goes into how well these mounts handle longer focal length scopes, like with SCTs and Maks that are often over 1000mm. You see a lot of people going back and forth on various forums, ZWO for example suggests a limit around 900mm for the AM5, leading some to totally discount it from handing something like an 8in SCT without a reducer or hyperstar, and then you see others saying it handles it just fine, and no one seems to agree or trust each other on this. No one has really sat down and documented a proper side-by-side between a bunch of different mounts... which admittedly would be both really hard and potentially very expensive.

I would clarify the non-counterweight versions for the harmonic ZWO mounts: AM3 + tripod = 6.2 kg (13.7 lb), and (mark 2) AM5 + tripod =7.8 kg (17.2 lb). I agree with your conclusion, the ZWO's are expensive, but exceptionally lightweight for their capabilities. The ZWO mounts (I recently acquired the AM5) does take some getting use to vs. conventional GEM mounts; you can't move/slew them by hand since they have no conventional clutch, and they really need the ASI-Air system (and hardware to plate solve) to get the best out of them, otherwise they are rather dumb/blind out of the box.

Love the screen graphics listing the specs as you talked about them...

Thanks for your analysis and perspective on these mounts

Seems to me most of the main manufacturers produce reasonable mounts these days. At the end of the day the factors that govern most people's choice are going to be down to two things - how likely are they to use it and how much can they afford. I bought an EQ6-R and hardly used it for four years! simply because due to the limited time I had available it was just too much trouble to set up and take down. I have now set it up permanently. I also had one of the original Star Adventurers on a light Tripod. This was actually my main mount for all that time simply because of the convenience. I don't get a lot of clear skies where I live, sometimes you can go for three or more weeks and be lucky if you get the odd break in the clouds lasting more than an hour or so. Having a portable mount set up ready to go is the difference between imaging something or not. I've just replaced this set up to the GTi version, I did consider the AM3 but here in the UK that would have cost almost three times as much. I have thought about replacing my EQ6 with an AM5, but as it is working perfectly well I don't see the point, though if I was starting from scratch the 5 would probably get my vote. To be fair doing a comparison of such a wide range of mounts must be difficult as you are not really comparing like for like. At the end of the day the old cliche is right, the best mount is the one you use the most. I'm happy with my SW mounts but also know there probably are better out there. The only advice I give people starting out in this hobby is to be careful about spending a lot of money on a mount that you may not use.

Hi there, I was looking for a mount comparison and there you are. I was having to make a choice for what was best for me. I own a televue 85 and needed portability so I wasn’t sure which one to choose. Was it the heq5, am3 or am5. I know this isn’t a cheap investment but I didn’t want to goof. So with prices, payload and portability, you convinced me that my gut was right. When I have the money I will go with the AM5. Thanks

Informative! I will note the chart is hard to read on a phone. I’d love to see stacked bar charts broken out by your low/mid/high range, so I can really focus in on what makes sense for me as a total noob. Would love another video talking about payload capacity and what that really means! What drives those numbers and what might be “good enough” for various experience levels? Thanks!

This was great! Super helpful!

How could you leave out the CEM40, GEM45 or CEM70. Those are all very popular and very capable mounts

You put a Skywatcher as the "very top end" mount? What about 10micron?

What does all this mean? It means that you have limited your analysis to a random selection of mounts, with a bias towards Skywatcher.

There is just so much left out.

10um, astro physics, Avalons? Wasup ? Those are all “low end” good mounts you covered….

Is less weight always better? Maybe ... Maybe not. Does the extra weight *increase* tracking accuracy? If yes, then the extra weight is worth it! Your chart just shows weight vs cost = meaningless. Payload vs cost is good measurement. Tracking Accuracy is most important for astrophotography. Also, ease of polar alignment. How about 3 Star Plate Solve alignment. This could have neen 3 videos - beginner, semi-pro and observatory grade. Contrary to your description of the video ... At the end if this video, nobody has a clue which mount is right for them. You did not discuss any real features, just payload, weight & price.

You said you were going to do this video again, properly. You didnt. I only just subscribed but am already leaving.