ZWO FF131 APO Refractor with AM7N Mount Bundle - FREE TC40/PE200! - FF131+AM7
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This special bundle from ZWO includes the FF131-APO Refractor, the AM7 Harmonic Mount, and a FREE TC40 Tripod & PE200 Tripod Extension, for a savings worth over $600! Offer good while supplies last!
About the ZWO FF131-APO Refractor....
Main Features
Flexible Connectivity for Multiple Configurations
Four-Element Optical Design
The FF131 APO features a four-element, fully air-spaced apochromatic optical design. All four elements work together to deliver a flat imaging field without the need for an additional field flattener.
One ED (extra-low dispersion) glass element is incorporated to effectively reduce chromatic aberration, resulting in improved color correction and image clarity.
44 mm Image Circle — Full-Frame Support
With a 44 mm image circle, the FF131 APO fully supports full-frame sensors and a wide range of imaging setups.
It delivers sharp star fields with excellent edge-to-edge performance, ensuring consistent image quality across the entire frame.
Native Flat-Field Design
The FF131 APO features a native flat-field optical design, eliminating the need for an additional field flattener.
No complex back focus calculations or spacing adjustments are required—simply attach your imaging setup and start capturing once focus is achieved.
Convenient Design
Equipped with a rigid 3-inch rack-and-pinion focuser, the FF131 APO offers precise control with a 1:10 coarse & fine focus adjustment mechanism.
A built-in 360° rotator at the rear allows for smooth and accurate camera angle adjustments.
Retractable Dew Shield & Quick Release Mounting Rings
The FF131 APO features a retractable dew shield, reducing overall length for improved portability.
Precision CNC machining and a high-quality painted finish, combined with an internal anti-reflection coating, help minimize stray light and enhance image contrast.
The mounting rings are detachable, allowing for quick and easy setup or teardown of the telescope.
Photography Extension Tube
The FF131 APO is designed for seamless integration with modern imaging systems, and includes a standard four-section photographic extension tube with a 2-inch filter thread. Rear adapters in both M48x0.75 and M54x0.75 formats are also included, making it easy to connect a wide range of cameras, filters, and astrophotography accessories for a clean, flexible setup right out of the box.
Performance
Ray Tracing
Spot Diagram
Mechanical Drawing
Specifications
What's in the box?
FF Series Telescope Comparison
About the ZWO AM7N Mount...
ZWO AM7...The telescope mount that grows with you, precision that keeps you exploring
Why Choose the AM7 Harmonic Equatorial Mount？
- High capacity; with or without counterweights
Carries up to 20 kg with no counterweight. Up to 30 kg with a counterweight.
- Precision you can verify
Periodic error is controlled within plus or minus 10 arcseconds, and every mount includes its own measured PE test report.
- Cleaner setup, less mess
Built in USB C and DC power ports on the dovetail saddle help keep cables organized.
- Two modes, one mount
Equatorial mode for tracking and imaging. Alt-azimuth mode for visual observing.
- Works anywhere on Earth
Zero to 90 degrees altitude range means it can be used at any latitude worldwide.
- Control the way you like
Bluetooth, Wi Fi, or the included hand controller.
- Ready for cold nights
Rated down to minus 20 C.
- A control system built for reliability
ZWO’s in house control system is designed for stable, dependable operation.
- Portable by design
Despite its capacity, the mount weighs about 6.5 kg.
- Backed by support and a global community
ZWO mounts are widely used by astrophotographers worldwide, with a strong user community and support network.
AM7: More Capacity. More Precision.
The AM7 is ZWO's highest-capacity harmonic drive telescope mount. It is built with heavier imaging rigs in mind, such as telescopes with long focal lengths, where tracking accuracy matters most.
*Load Capacity
The AM7 supports up to 20 kg without counterweights, and up to 30 kg with counterweights installed. That gives you room to run a serious setup now and still scale up later.
Tracking and GoTo
The goal is simple. Solid tracking and reliable GoTo under real payload, so you spend less time managing limits and more time imaging and exploring the night sky.
A Mount for the Long Haul
The AM7 handles both small and heavy setups, so you can grow into bigger telescopes without outgrowing your mount.
*Weights are manually measured and may vary slightly.
Professional Grade Precision With a Custom Harmonic Drive Mount
Built out of years of ZWO development and tuned for astrophotography, the AM7's custom harmonic drive is designed for smooth, stable tracking with strong torque and consistent performance.
Every AM7 is individually tested before it ships. You get a unique periodic error curve report for your mount, so you can see the measured tracking performance of the exact unit you own.
Periodic error is controlled within plus or minus 10 arcseconds for dependable high precision tracking. (That's the thickness of a human hair viewed from about 20 meters away).
Clean Cables. Less Mess. Fast Setup.
A lot of telescope setups end up as a tangle of wires and extra adapters. The AM7 is built to keep things cleaner and simpler.
With built in USB-C and power ports on the mount, you can run power and data where you need it without cables hanging everywhere. Even if you have a custom rig with a camera, focuser, guide gear, and other accessories, the AM7 helps reduce clutter so you can set up faster and spend more time imaging the night sky.
Cable Management Made Simple
Integrated USB C and DC Power Ports
At only 6.75 kg, the AM7 is designed to be easy to carry and quick to set up. The built in dovetail plate includes a USB C port and DC power outlets, so you can route power and data through the mount instead of running a mess of cables around it. The result is cleaner cable routing and far less of the usual cable spider web.
For mount adjustments when needed, the AM7 also includes a magnetic hex wrench that stores directly on the mount body, so it stays close at hand and does not get lost in the dark.
Dual Mode Operation
One Mount for Viewing and Imaging
The AM7 supports two modes so you can use the same mount for casual observing or serious imaging. Switching modes is done with a quick hardware change to the mount's position, then you select the mode on the hand controller.
Equatorial Mode
Best for accurate sky tracking for imaging and longer sessions.
Alt Azimuth Mode
Best for visual observing with quick setup and simple pointing.
Mode Indicator Lights
Red means Equatorial Mode
Green means Alt Azimuth Mode
AM7 supports a full 0 to 90 degree altitude adjustment range, so it can be aligned and used almost anywhere on Earth, from the equator to the poles. That makes it a practical choice for travel or a permanent setup, no matter where you observe.
How two stage adjustment works
Stage one adjustment range
Use the altitude adjustment knob for 0 to 60 degrees.
Stage two adjustment range
Move the hex screw to the second position to enable 30 to 90 degrees.
User-friendly Design
Portable Control, Refined
Wi-Fi and Bluetooth Connectivity
AM7 gives you two simple ways to connect, Wi-Fi and Bluetooth, so control is always straightforward.
Bluetooth makes quick sessions easier. Open your phone, connect directly, and control the mount without a hand controller. No need to switch your device over to the mount’s Wi Fi network just to get running.
What's new in the latest version
Bluetooth control
You can turn Bluetooth on or off by holding the BT button for 10 seconds. The setting is saved, even after power off.
A cleaner indicator light
A new light guide column softens the LEDs, so the status lights are easier on your eyes at night and won't interfere with your camera's either.
AM7 Smart Hand Controller
More Than a Controller
AM7 includes a joystick style hand controller designed for comfortable, and intuitive control. It is also a built in connection hub for the mount. With its integrated Wi-Fi hotspot, you can control the mount wirelessly, manage settings through a simple web interface, and perform firmware updates for both the hand controller and the mount. This is the main path for keeping the system current.
Bluetooth When You Want It
Off When You Need It
Bluetooth control is a convenient option for direct smartphone control in the field. But some environments need tighter wireless control, like remote observatories or permanent installations where interference or policy requirements matter. For those cases, AM7 lets you easily disable Bluetooth when needed, then enable it again when it makes sense.
Hollow-knob ergonomic design
The dovetail plate tension knob and azimuth fine-tuning knob feature a hollow structure. When manual rotation is limited, you can insert a hex wrench to gain extra leverage, making adjustments easier and more reliable with less effort.
Smart Control, Easy Operation
Sky Atlas Mobile App for iOS and Android
The AM7 can be controlled wirelessly using the Sky Atlas app on iOS and Android. You get a live star map, simple object search, and quick tools like Tonight’s Best, target GoTo, and precise pointing to the objects you want to observe or image.
Works Smoothly With ASIAIR in Station Mode
AM7 also supports station mode, which makes it easy to integrate with a controller like ASIAIR. With the hand controller providing Wi-Fi, ASIAIR can connect to the mount over the network, so you can run a clean setup without a direct control cable between the AIR and the mount.
Seamless Integration With ASIAIR
ASIAIR can connect to and control the AM7 using either wireless or wired connections, so it fits cleanly into a wide range of setups.
Because AM7 and ASIAIR are part of the same ecosystem, it takes the guesswork out of driver support and compatibility. You are not stitching together software from different vendors and hoping everything plays nicely. And as ASIAIR software continues to evolve with new features, you can count on AM7 support to keep pace, with new mount capabilities integrated directly within the same system.
*The payload capacity of the AM7 equatorial mount is derived from simulation calculations as shown in the figure above:
1. Maximum payload without counterweight: 20 kg (corresponding to a maximum output torque of 40 N·m).
2. It is recommended to use a counterweight ≤ 10 kg. When using a 10 kg counterweight, please install it with a moment arm between 20 cm and 30 cm.
For other counterweight masses, the allowable installation position can be calculated as follows:
Assuming the counterweight mass is m kg, the allowable moment arm length L must satisfy:
20 N·m ≤ m * g * L ≤ 30 N·m
Where g = 9.8 m/s² (can be approximated as 10 m/s² for calculation).
For example, with a 5 kg counterweight: L ranges from 20 N·m / (5 × 10 m/s²) = 0.4 m to 30 N·m / (5 × 10 m/s²) = 0.6 m.
About the ZWO FREE TC40 Tripod...
The ZWO TC40 Tripod, made from carbon fiber, has an amazing 110 pound (50kg) weight capacity. It works great with the ZWO AM5 or AM3, but is also compatible with other mounts, such as the iOptron GEM45 & CEM40, the Sky-Watcher AZ-GTi, or the Rainbow Astro 135E.
The adjustable height of the TC40 Tripod is 470 mm to 800 mm. The legs are in two sections, with the upper section having a leg diameter of 40 mm. The lower section is just a tad smaller at 36 mm diameter. A spreader plate pushes up agains the legs as you turn the knob, increasing the stability of the legs and locking them in place.
The TC40 can be folded for transport and storage to just 500 mm long. The tripod head plate and weight bag can be removed to make the load a little lighter, but the TC40 weighs in at just over 5 pounds, or 2.3 kg.
The weight bag mentioned above attaches to the legs near the bottom of the tripod. By filling it with something heavy, you can further stabilize the tripod. A good choice would be your telescope's battery pack, but you can always add stones!
The TC40 tripod head plate offers three mounting points for a sturdy and secure connection. In its standard configuration, the tripod head plate will attach to the AM5 mount base. Turn it upside down to present a 3/8" tapped hole for mounting compatible mounts to the tripod. A lock knob is on the side of the tripod head that will reinforce the connection between the mount and the tripod.
About the ZWO FREE PE200 Pier Extension...
The ZWO 200 mm Pier Extension for the AM5 mount has a diameter of 124 mm and can handle a load capacity of more than 50 kg! The pier extension is CNC machined of aircraft grade aluminum, making it resistance to high temperatures, deformity and wear.
The PE200 is easy to install between the ZWO AM5 and the TC40 Tripod, but it is also compatible with several third party tripods, including:
-
Celestron Advanced VX Tripod with 2" legs
-
iOptron Tripods with 1.75" legs
- Sky-Watcher with 1.75" legs