246 replies to this topic

[tolgagumus]

As you guys know, I do testing for ZWO. Sam sent me this prototype camera about a month ago and ask me to give my opinion. 

 

First here are some disclosures.

I don't keep the test cameras

I don't get paid for testing

 

What I do get is bunch of new toys to play with. :-)

 

Camera is based on Sony IMX071 (same sensor used in Nikon 5100 and 7000)

14 bit ADC

It's cooled

It's OSC only!!!

Has a built in USB2 hub but I did not use it

Heated front glass

 

Perhaps of my experience of using the 1600, this test went fairly easy. I did not have any USB problems after I found the right USB setting for my computer. Camera likes different speeds depending on the computer. The test was done using Maxim DL and SkyX both using the Ascom driver. I used the unity gain and offsets. 

 

All 3 were taken from 20.8 skies little to no moon with no LP filter

 

The initial test was on California. I messed up and had the camera tilted. Completely my fault. The stars in the top right corner are completely out of focus.

 

 

The second test was on M31. Since I just recently did it with my mono camera, I wanted to see what it can do with a few hours.

 

 

The last test was on Pleiades 

 

 

So here it is. I am sure there will be a lot of questions.

 

But please let's keep the post on target. 

 

What I liked

It's easy to use

Cools similar to 1600

Front glass is heated

 

 

What I didn't like

Basically file size and processing time.

 

https://landingfield...com/tag/imx071/

 

https://nikonhacker.com/wiki/IMX071

Attached Thumbnails

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Edited by tolgagumus, 21 October 2016 - 01:02 PM.

[telfish]

Do you have the specs? especially sensor details.

 

Heated front window?

 

Hub?

 

Pictures.

Edited by telfish, 21 October 2016 - 12:44 PM.

[AdrianoMS]

Nice images of the California nebula, M31 and M45. Show us a picture of the camera.

[Jon Rista]

I love your observatory site! Looks awesome there! 

[Stelios]

I love your observatory site! Looks awesome there! 

Tolga is living the dream...

[tolgagumus]

Nice images of the California nebula, M31 and M45. Show us a picture of the camera.

Attached Thumbnails

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[AdrianoMS]

Thank you for posting pictures of the camera.

[SteveGR]

Very interesting...  That M31 is really nice for just under 3 hours, on an AVX no less!  On a tangent, how were you guiding?

[tolgagumus]

Very interesting...  That M31 is really nice for just under 3 hours, on an AVX no less!  On a tangent, how were you guiding?

Thank you, 

 

I used Orion multi purpose finder with QHY5LII

[SteveGR]

You said it cools similar to the 1600.  I'm guessing you mean both in method (power level setting) and actual thermal performance?  Does it seem like they used the same cooler?

Edited by SteveGR, 21 October 2016 - 02:56 PM.

[tolgagumus]

You said it cools similar to the 1600.  I'm guessing you mean both in method (power level setting) and actual thermal performance?  Does it seem like they used the same cooler?

You know Steve, I don't know that much into details of hardware. All I can see is how it works in software. I was able to get it down to -10C when it was 20C outside but I did not push it to see how far it can go. 

[wargrafix]

What's the differences with it and 1600?

[tolgagumus]

What's the differences with it and 1600?

It's one shot color only
It has higher dynamic range
Bigger pixels
APS-C size vs 4/3 (bigger chip)
14 bit vs 12
Heated front glass

Edited by tolgagumus, 22 October 2016 - 10:40 AM.

[entilza]

Thanks Tolga! Nice review.

Do you know if the read noise is as low as the ASI1600?

Could you share a couple frames of M31 and M45?

[darkstar3d]

Nice review!

 

Why was the file size a con for you?

[entilza]

Nice review!

 

Why was the file size a con for you?

 

More pixels the more processing time.  (registration, integration, everything just takes longer especially with a lot of frames)

[wargrafix]

Is it better than the 224mc?

[tolgagumus]

Is it better than the 224mc?

I would not compare the two. This senor is probably 4 times the size.

[tolgagumus]

Nice review!

Why was the file size a con for you?

More pixels the more processing time. (registration, integration, everything just takes longer especially with a lot of frames)

Exactly. Each file is 32 MBs x 100 frames +calibration +registration +debayer you are looking at multiple gigabytes

[tolgagumus]

Thanks Tolga! Nice review.

Do you know if the read noise is as low as the ASI1600?

Could you share a couple frames of M31 and M45?

Hi Martin thank you

 

I attached sample fits files on the bottom of each image on my website

 

http://www.tolgaastr...m/pleiades.html

 

http://www.tolgaastr...osc-camera.html

[Jon Rista]

 

 

Nice review!

Why was the file size a con for you?

More pixels the more processing time. (registration, integration, everything just takes longer especially with a lot of frames)

Exactly. Each file is 32 MBs x 100 frames +calibration +registration +debayer you are looking at multiple gigabytes

 

To expound upon this a bit. The original FITS files from the camera are 32MB each. However if you process them with PI, and save as 32-bit float, each calibrated file becomes 64MB each. Once you demosaic, you end up with three full color channels in each FIT file, the size skyrockets to over 190MB per demosaiced FIT file (basically 64*3)!  If you then run SubframeSelector and and Registration, each of those produce another set of 190MB files.

 

This was similar to the problem I had with my 5D III. My 5D III demosaiced files were around 240MB each, and I would have several sets produced throughout the pre-processing flow. I've been backing up my data for two months now. I literally have terrabytes of data from my 5D III (and a bit from my ASI1600, although not even a small fraction of what I have from the 5D III) backed up onto BluRay discs. 

 

The usage patterns for the camera Tolga is testing might be different than with the ASI1600, though. Being OSC, 14-bit and apparently not having any amp glow, it should be possible to use it at lower gain settings with longer exposures. Should help keep disk space usage down. However, expect for there to be some large files, and plan to have plenty of disk space on hand for processing. 

[darkstar3d]

I didn't see this as a problem as this is what I've dealt with for imaging since I purchased PI. Huge amounts of disk space taken up as I'm imaging with a Canon 7D. More pixels, less depth, nevertheless, gigantic files.

[tolgagumus]

I didn't see this as a problem as this is what I've dealt with for imaging since I purchased PI. Huge amounts of disk space taken up as I'm imaging with a Canon 7D. More pixels, less depth, nevertheless, gigantic files.

Yes so someone who wants to upgrade from a dslr but still wants to use a color camera, this maybe a good choice

[XS_Man]

Many thanks for these first images of the new baby. Seems promising.

 

But there's something I don't understand : is it USB 2.0 or USB 3.0 port on camera ?

For multipurpose use, only USB 3.0 is interesting.

 

Please, could you post us a picture of the back of the camera ?

 

Many thanks.

Best.

 

Albric

[chonum]

Thanks for the feedback. Any idea of the backfocus ?

 

Frédéric.