MLAstro SAL-33 Harmonic Mount

The MLAstro SAL-33 Harmonic Mount is a powerhouse of features for less than half of the competitors' mounts, plus if offers larger capacity and better integration with more tripods. You'll just have to read on to hear more about this amazing mount!

Introduction

The MLAstro SAL-33 Harmonic Mount can be had - if you're lucky - directly from the manufacturer in Viet Nam. You can click that link to see the specs, so I'm not going to reproduce them here. What I will say is that this mount is amazing. I say you have to be lucky because the "pre-release" Batch units, all 50 of them, sold out in 11 minutes and 13 seconds. I was lucky enough to get #17. I wish it had a serial number etched on it somewhere, but I know it was #17 and so in my head, that makes me happy. Batch 2 sold out in a day. All orders placed after 16 Dec 2025 are now placed in Batch 3 with shipping expected in late March-early April of 2026. Here's some quick reasons why you should get into Batch 3. Or 4. Or 5.

Key Specifications

• Brand & Model: ML Astro SAL-33
• Type: Harmonic Astrophotography Mount
• Price Range: About US$1000
• Key Features:
  • Seriously beefy 15kg capacity without counterweight, or 20kg with 5kg weight
  • OnStepX controller is open source, upgradable, replaceable, and provides ASCOM/INDI drivers
  • The MLAstro Zero-Shift Alt-Az base is a true innovation in the world of astrophotography mounts
  • Custom gears, parts, and more CNC manufactured with amazing precision
• Best For: Anyone who wants to have a small or portable mount that can still handle a 30 pound photographic load

Design & Build Quality

• Just holding this thing is like holding some sort of magical egg from edge of space
• The build-quality is amazing and the finish is excellent
• Physical RA and DEC brakes ensure that your scope won't drop when the power gets turned off
• Internal memory picks up where you left off and remembers all its settings
• The silver finish is more than nice to look at, it's reflective so if you're a solar imager, it reflects back some of those hot solar rays

Performance & Features

If you just want a cheap, lightweight, effective mount to put in a suitcase and take with you when you travel, this is the mount for you. If you want more than that, and want to stick it on top of a permanent pier and load it up with all your favorite astrophotography equipment, this is also the mount for you. It's a bit of a chameleon in that it really can be just about everything for everyone. Minh from MLAstro - the brains behind the MLAstro SHG-700 Spectroheliograph and the SAL-33 - is also the most responsive business owner I've ever met. I don't know how he has time to design equipment, make videos, update the web site, check production, and respond to every single email, but he does. The world needs more people like him, and the world of astrophotography is lucky he picked this hobby!

You've got three mounts in one!

In case your SAL-33 needs some work, its components are user-serviceable. Burn out a stepper driver? Swap in an off-the-shelf replacement. Motor failure? Unbolt and replace in minutes. For rare issues that can be solved directly by end users, there are forwarding warehouses in the US, UK, EU, and Australia, which dramatically reduces shipping costs to get repairs and replacements. Competitors don't have this level of service, this level of engineering, this level of support, or this level of awesomeness and I'm trying to do everything I can to help MLAstro succeed. I'm sure even more great products will be coming from them in the future.

Ease of Use

• There is (currently) no manual. So if you want to know how it works and what the settings are, you have to watch Minh do some Youtube videos. That's not the worst thing, but it's difficult if you just want to check on one thing and can't remember which video it's discussed in. I expect a more traditional user manual is coming soon, but I'm effectively creating my own as well and will link to it when I'm done.
• Once you've got it set up and the serial port driver installed, it's as easy as "turn on and go." If you get the optional hand controller, which I strongly recommend, you don't even need a computer to use this thing. Just follow along with the instructions from the OnStepX author, and you'll be good.
• If you do want to use this as a traditional, computer-controlled mount, just plug it in with the OnStepX ASCOM drivers and use it like you would any other mount.
• One amazing thing about the SAL-33 is that you can switch it from EQ mode to fork-mount mode and even to Alt-Az mode, which mean you've got three mounts in one!

Pros & Cons

Pros

• The price/performance curve on this mount is amazing! I know of no other astronomical mount that you can buy at this price that provides so many features with this level of quality.
• Open source software, replacable components, and an open architecture means that I can easily see addons and mods made in the community for this thing that will blow away anything designed for similar harmonic mounts.
• The Zero-Shift Alt-Az adjusment really lets you hone in on that perfect polar alignment without having to realign after every little movement. This is brilliant!

Cons

• Like many mounts in this class, it uses a USB 2.0 Type B connector type that was invented in 1996. I hate these connectors.
• Make sure to use Edge or Chrome, not Firefox. Some things in the web interface are flaky with Firefox and you can't do the firmware upgrades using it.
• Make sure to turn off tracking when you first power up the mount unless you need it to be on.
• Reading is easier for me to learn than videos, so I'm looking forward to an actual manual instead of YouTube videos.

Who Should Buy This?

• Ideal for anyone that wants to put a telescope into a tripod and doesn't want to spend thousands of dollars to do it
• Best suited for travel or lightweight rigs, but can easily handle permanent pier placement or mounting in a SkyShed POD

Final Verdict

If you are in the market for a lightweight mount that can be set up in minutes, travel with you on a plane, be set up on a pier or permanent tripod, and need to put up to 30 pounds of equipment on top of it, then you should buy this mount.

Having said everything I've said though, I have yet to actually use it in real life. I know, I know - but it's winter where I live as I write this and when winter comes, we pretty much have clouds until April. So I've been going through setup, firmware upgrades, and so forth with the SAL-33 and I'm very impressed with what it can do inside. I can't imagine that taking it outside will change any of that. In the meantime, keep checking back to see when my next update is, and if you can get in on Batch 3 (or 4) you should do it!

Where to Buy

• Currently, only direct from MLAstro

Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links, which help support our work at no extra cost to you.

FAQs

• Q: Will it work with my ASIAir?
  A: Yes. It has OnStepX ASCOM/INDI capabilities, and the ASIAir will work with it. Be sure to watch MLAstro's SAL-33/ASIAir YouTube video.

• Q: Is it good for visual astronomy?
  A: It is if you flip it to Alt-Az mode. I haven't fully played with this mode yet, but it is a pretty powerful addition to the standard EQ mode.

• Q: Can it work without a USB cable?
  A: You can connect via BlueTooth or Wifi and control it with the OnStepX app or the web page. Both options have GoTo capabilities as well. Check out the OnStepX page for more information.

Until next time, clear skies and I'll see you in the dark! Connnect with me quickly at BlueSky! Want more content? Please subscribe to my YouTube channel. Or you can (usually) watch live sessions on Twitch. Or even better, help support me in creating new content, getting new equipment to test, and to gain access to all of my digital imaging raw data! All content is copyright 2025 by astropotamus.com