iOptron AZ Mount Pro Review: Recommended Mount

Mechanics

The iOptron AZ Mount Pro consists of a compact mount head that can tilt and rotate on two axes, and a sturdy stainless steel tripod with adjustable legs and a built-in bubble level. The mount head has two dual saddle plates that can accommodate Vixen or Losmandy style dovetail bars, allowing it to hold two telescopes or a telescope and a camera at the same time. The mount head also has a built-in carry handle and a snap-in battery pack that can power the mount for up to 10 hours. The AZ Mount Pro can hold up to 33 lbs on the primary saddle and 10 lbs on its secondary dovetail saddle, and these are fairly accurate statements from the manufacturer.

The AZ Mount Pro does not require counterweights to balance a heavy load. Instead, it uses a system of internal gears and sensors that detect the center of gravity of the attached equipment and automatically adjust the tilt and azimuth axes accordingly. This means that the mount does not need to be carefully balanced before use and that it can handle different telescopes and cameras with minimal effort. The mount also has a clutch mechanism that allows the user to manually point the telescope without losing alignment. There is a counterweight option available for the heaviest of payloads, but in most cases, you can do without it.

The AZ Mount Pro uses stepper motors and belt drives to move the mount smoothly and quietly on both axes, with minimal backlash or vibrations. The mount can track at four different speeds (solar, lunar, sidereal, or custom), and can slew at up to 6 degrees per second. The mount also has a built-in encoder that ensures the mount does not lose its alignment even if it is accidentally bumped or moved.

The AZ Mount Pro is often offered with the iOptron LiteRoc, a sturdy stainless steel tripod that can support the mount and the load with stability. The LiteRoc tripod has adjustable legs that can extend from 31 to 43 inches, and a built-in bubble level that helps with the initial leveling of the mount. The tripod also has an accessory tray that can hold the hand controller or other items. The tripod can be further extended by an optional 8-inch extension bar that can provide more height or clearance for larger telescopes.

The larger iOptron TriPier is also available for the AZ Mount Pro. While more expensive and less compact, it’s more stable and probably a good idea if you’re putting more than 20-25 lbs atop the AZ Mount Pro head.

Electronics

The iOptron AZ Mount Pro features a GoTo system that can automatically point to over 200,000 objects in the sky, such as planets, stars, nebulae, galaxies, and more. The mount has a built-in GPS and WiFi module that can provide accurate time, location, and alignment data. The mount can be aligned using a simple and quick “level and go” procedure that requires the user to level the mount and point it to any bright object in the sky. The mount will then calculate its orientation and be ready to GoTo any object in its database. 1-, 2-, and 3-star alignments, as well as a sync feature, are also available for better accuracy.

The mount can be controlled via a hand controller, a smartphone app, or a PC. The hand controller has a large LCD screen that displays the menu and information about the selected object. The hand controller also has buttons that can adjust the speed, direction, and mode of the mount, as well as access various functions and settings. The hand controller is easy to use, but it is outdated and lacks a backlight, making it hard to see in the dark.

The iOptron smartphone app, iOptron Commander, can be downloaded for free from the App Store or Google Play. The app can connect to the mount via WiFi and provide a graphical interface for controlling the mount and selecting objects. The app also has features such as a sky map, object info, voice controls, and more. The app is more user-friendly and modern than the hand controller, but it isn’t quite as nice as SkySafari. The good news is that SkySafari also works for operating the AZ Mount Pro, and unlike with the Sky-Watcher SynScan mounts, you can control them directly via SkySafari on a single device. 

The PC can also be used to control the mount via ASCOM drivers that can be downloaded from the iOptron website. The PC can be connected to the mount via a serial cable or a WiFi adapter. The PC can provide more options and features for controlling the mount and interfacing with other software, such as planetarium programs, imaging software, or autoguiding software.

The mount also has an autoguider port that can accept a standard ST-4 cable from an autoguiding camera or device. The autoguider port can help with correcting the tracking errors or drifts of the mount during long-exposure astrophotography. However, the mount is not an equatorial mount, and it cannot compensate for the field rotation that occurs when tracking the sky on an alt-azimuth axis. Therefore, the mount is not suitable for imaging at long focal lengths or with heavy setups, as the field rotation will cause star trailing or distortion in the images. The mount is better suited for wide-field imaging or short exposures.

The AZ Mount Pro can be powered by an internal rechargeable battery pack that can last for up to 10 hours, depending on the load and usage. The battery pack can be charged via a 12V DC power adapter that is included with the mount. The mount can also be powered by an external 12V DC source, such as a car battery or a portable power station, via a cigarette lighter cable that is also included with the mount. The mount has an LED indicator that shows the battery level and the charging status.

Using the iOptron AZ Mount Pro for Visual Observation

The iOptron AZ Mount Pro is a versatile and convenient mount for visual observation with a variety of telescopes. To use the mount for visual observation, you will need to attach a telescope to the mount, either using a Vixen or a Losmandy style dovetail bar. You will also need to level the mount and align it with a bright object in the sky.

The AZ Mount Pro is easy to set up and use for visual observation, as it does not require any counterweights or polar alignment. The mount also has a built-in GPS and WiFi module that can provide accurate time, location, and alignment data. The mount can be aligned using a simple and quick “level and go” procedure that requires the user to level the mount and point it to any bright object in the sky. The mount will then calculate its orientation and be ready to GoTo any object in its database. The mount can also be fine-tuned using a two-star or three-star alignment method or using an optional polar scope that can be attached to the mount. Using a PC or an app other than iOptron Commander will require you to do a 3-star alignment, however.

After alignment is completed, you can then select and automatically point the AZ Mount Pro at any object in the sky, or manually point the telescope using the clutch mechanism as the AZ Mount Pro tracks along automatically and continues to monitor your location in the sky should you decide to make use of the GoTo system again. You can also adjust the tracking speed and brightness of the mount according to your preference.

The AZ Mount Pro can handle different types of telescopes, such as refractors, catadioptrics, or reflectors, as long as they do not exceed the payload capacity of 33 pounds. The mount can also hold two telescopes or a telescope and a camera at the same time, using the dual saddle plates. This can provide more flexibility and versatility for different observation scenarios, such as switching between wide-field and high-magnification views or using a finder scope or a guide scope. However, you should be careful not to overload the mount or cause imbalance issues.

The AZ Mount Pro can provide smooth and accurate tracking and GoTo for visual observation, as long as the mount is properly aligned and calibrated. The mount can track at sidereal, lunar, or solar speeds, depending on the object you are observing. The mount can also track at custom rates, which can be useful for observing objects that have different apparent motions, such as comets, asteroids, or satellites. The mount can also slew at up to 6 degrees per second, which can be useful for quickly scanning the sky or finding objects. The mount also has a built-in encoder, like the Sky-Watcher FreedomFind system, that ensures the mount does not lose its alignment even if it is accidentally bumped or moved.

Astrophotography

The iOptron AZ Mount Pro is a capable and user-friendly mount for astrophotography with a camera and a lens or a small telescope. To use the mount for astrophotography, you will need to attach a camera and a lens or a small telescope to the mount, either using a Vixen or a Losmandy-style dovetail bar. You will also need to level the mount and align it with a bright object in the sky. You can then use the hand controller, the smartphone app, or the PC to select and GoTo any object in the sky, or manually point the camera or the telescope using the clutch mechanism. You can also adjust the tracking speed and the exposure settings of the camera or the telescope according to your preference.

The AZ Mount Pro can handle different types of cameras and lenses or small telescopes, as long as they do not exceed the payload capacity of 33 pounds. The mount can also hold two cameras or a camera and a telescope at the same time, using the dual saddle plates. This can provide more flexibility and versatility for different imaging scenarios, such as capturing wide-field and narrow-field images or using a guide camera or a finder scope. However, you should be careful not to overload the mount or cause imbalance issues.

The AZ Mount Pro can provide smooth and accurate tracking and GoTo for astrophotography, as long as the mount is properly aligned and calibrated. The mount can track at sidereal, lunar, or solar speeds, depending on the object you are imaging. The mount can also track at custom rates, which can be useful for imaging objects that have different apparent motions, such as comets, asteroids, or satellites. The mount can also slew at up to 6 degrees per second, which can be useful for quickly framing or finding objects. 

The AZ Mount Pro also has an autoguider port that can accept a standard ST-4 cable from an autoguiding camera. The autoguider port can help with correcting the tracking errors or drifts of the mount during long-exposure astrophotography. However, this mount is not an equatorial mount, and it cannot compensate for the field rotation that occurs when tracking the sky on an alt-azimuth axis. Therefore, this mount is not suitable for imaging at exposures of over 15-30 seconds with focal lengths longer than ~200mm, as the field rotation will cause star trailing or distortion in the images. The mount is better suited for wide-field imaging or short exposures.

Should I buy a Used iOptron AZ Mount Pro?

The iOptron AZ Mount Pro is a relatively new product and may not be widely available on the used market. However, if you can find a used AZ Mount Pro in good condition at a reasonable price, it may be worth considering. The good news is that this mount is fairly simple and durable and does not have many moving parts or complex electronics that can fail or wear out. However, you should check the condition and functionality of the mount before buying it and make sure that the battery still works. A dead battery can be replaced, or you could just use external power, but the former is expensive and the latter is inconvenient. You should also check the accessories and cables that come with the mount to make sure that they are compatible and working. If the mount is missing any accessories or cables, or if they are damaged or faulty, you may need to purchase them separately, which can add to the cost.

Alternative Recommendations

The iOptron AZ Mount Pro is a unique and innovative alt-azimuth mount that offers convenience, portability, and performance for amateur astronomers and astrophotographers. However, it may not suit everyone’s needs and preferences, and there are some other options within its price range that merit consideration.

Under $1000

• The Sky-Watcher AZ-GTi is a compact and lightweight alt-azimuth mount that can be used for both visual observation and astrophotography with small telescopes or cameras. It has a payload capacity of 11 pounds, making it suitable for smaller scopes. It also features a GoTo system with a built-in WiFi module, allowing it to point to over 40,000 objects in its database with high accuracy. The mount can be controlled via a smartphone app (SynScan Pro), or via a PC using ASCOM drivers. The mount also has an autoguider port, and can be converted to an equatorial mount for use with small telescopes or camera lenses with additional hardware.
• The Orion StarSeeker IV is another compact and lightweight alt-azimuth mount that can be used for both visual observation and astrophotography with small telescopes or cameras. It has a payload capacity of 13 pounds, making it suitable for small refractors, catadioptrics, or reflectors. It also features a GoTo system with a built-in database of over 42,000 objects, and a hand controller with a backlit LCD screen. The mount can be controlled via the hand controller, or via a smartphone app (StarSeek), or via a PC using ASCOM drivers. The mount also has a tracking mode that can compensate for the field rotation of the alt-azimuth axis, and a dual encoder system that allows manual pointing without losing alignment.

$1000+

• The Sky-Watcher AZ-EQ6i is a hybrid mount easily converted from equatorial to alt-azimuth mode, with a secondary dovetail saddle for alt-az use like the AZ Mount Pro. Capable of holding 44 lbs on the primary axis, the AZ-EQ6i is considerably beefier (and less portable) than the AZ Mount Pro. A version with the SynScan V5 controller is available, but the new WiFi-equipped model is cheaper and less prone to stock issues. The AZ-EQ6i can be connected to a PC, controlled via your smartphone/tablet, or, of course, used with a hand controller. It also has an autoguider port, polar scope, and dual encoders (branded as FreedomFind) allowing manual aiming.
• The Sky-Watcher AZ-EQ5i, like the larger AZ-EQ6i, is a hybrid mount that can be used as either an alt-azimuth mount or an equatorial mount, depending on the user’s preference and purpose. It can be used for both visual observation and astrophotography with medium-sized telescopes or cameras. It has a payload capacity of 30 pounds, making it suitable for medium-sized refractors, catadioptrics, or reflectors. The mount can be controlled via a SynScan V5 hand controller if you purchase it with one, or via a smartphone app (SynScan Pro), or via a PC using its ASCOM drivers. The AZ-EQ5i mount also has a built-in autoguider port, a built-in polar scope, and a dual encoder system that allows manual pointing without losing alignment.