Telescope Mount Reviews
Harmonic drive (strain wave) mounts represent a massive leap forward for portable astrophotography. Instead of relying on heavy traditional gears and bulky counterweights, they utilize compact, high-torque robotic gears that pack incredible lifting power into featherweight bodies under 5 kg (11 lbs). With these next-gen … Continue readingBest Harmonic Drive Mounts for Astrophotography in 2026
By Wido Oerlemans | Last updated: June 2026 If you are hunting for the ideal beginner astrophotography mount, you have likely realized that the 8–15 kg payload range is the ultimate sweet spot for deep-sky imaging. If you’re in the market for a cutting-edge strain … Continue readingBest Beginner Telescope Mounts for Astrophotography (2026 Guide)
What advanced telescope mount is best suited to carry heavy, long focal length telescopes with reliable, sub-arcsecond tracking? If you decide to go with a time-tested classic equatorial mount, the Sky-Watcher EQ6-R Pro is still one of the best and most affordable options available. The … Continue readingBest Advanced Telescope Mounts for Astrophotography (2026 guide)
By: Wido Oerlemans | June 27, 2026 It sounds like the ultimate too-good-to-be-true internet ad: A lightweight, dual-axis strain wave (harmonic drive) telescope mount with massive payload capacity, zero backlash, and a price tag that shatters mainstream retail. If you have spent any time browsing … Continue readingA Sub-$1,000 Strain Wave Mount?: Comparing the budget Teseek & Juwei 14/17 to the mainstream ZWO AM3N/AM5N
Sky-Watcher just announced they will be joining the the strain wave telescope mount club with their lightweight 100i and 150i Telescope mounts! So let’s take a look at the features of these new mounts and compare them to other harmonic drive mounts that are already … Continue readingNEW Sky-Watcher 100i and 150i Strain Wave mounts announced!
Are you wondering what kind of star tracker is the best choice for you? Well, after conducting some research, I’ve concluded that two brands are most popular among astrophotographers: Sky-Watcher and iOptron. If you’re seeking a small, lightweight option, the Sky-Watcher Star Adventurer Mini weighs … Continue readingBest Star Trackers for Astrophotography
AGA = Agena Astro; HPS = High Point Scientific; AST = Astroshop. Read my blog on beginner astrophotography mounts here.
You probably clicked on this v/blog to hear my thoughts on the ZWO AM5 – the latest Harmonic Drive Mount from ZWO. After having used it for a couple of sessions, I’m very impressed by the ZWO AM5 mount. It is very lightweight, doesn’t require … Continue readingZWO AM5 Mount Review
SkyWatcher released two awesome startrackers to take with you to your favorite dark sky location: The Star Adventurer 2i Pro and the GTI. But which one should you get? My main conclusion is that it depends on what you’re looking for. The 2i Pro is … Continue readingSky-Watcher Star adventurer 2i Pro vs. GTI: Which one should you buy?
Do you have trouble deciding what telescope mount would be best suited to start your astrophotography hobby? Then you have come to the right v/blog! I’ll compare eight beginner telescope mounts in the $750-$1250 range on several criteria that I think are essential when taking … Continue readingBest telescope mount to start astrophotography in 2021