592 replies to this topic

[pyrasanth]

I am hot to trot for one of these. The day these go on sale at ZWO I am purchasing one.  Already have my pennies saved and ready to pull the trigger. 

 

For me the last point of research will be whether to purchase the upcoming ASI 294 Pro or the ASI 385, especially pixel size since EAA usually benefits most from 4+ µm pixel size for sensitivity (or is that CCD thinking that is no longer applicable with CMOS)? Since both will be 2+ MP I suppose it comes down to their specifications once they are released.  I am going to be about 75% EAA for Outreaches and 25% AP.

 

Thank you for sharing your beta feedback on these cameras so far!

Koinonos

I would wait for some other vendor to bring the same chip to the market. I would not buy ZWO products until they can demonstrate that they deserve to keep their customers. The service I got from them with the new ASI1071 I bought has been nothing short of abysmal and I'm going elsewhere with my hard earned money. Caveat Emptor. 

[A. Viegas]

 

I am hot to trot for one of these. The day these go on sale at ZWO I am purchasing one. Already have my pennies saved and ready to pull the trigger.

For me the last point of research will be whether to purchase the upcoming ASI 294 Pro or the ASI 385, especially pixel size since EAA usually benefits most from 4+ µm pixel size for sensitivity (or is that CCD thinking that is no longer applicable with CMOS)? Since both will be 2+ MP I suppose it comes down to their specifications once they are released. I am going to be about 75% EAA for Outreaches and 25% AP.

Thank you for sharing your beta feedback on these cameras so far!
Koinonos

I would wait for some other vendor to bring the same chip to the market. I would not buy ZWO products until they can demonstrate that they deserve to keep their customers. The service I got from them with the new ASI1071 I bought has been nothing short of abysmal and I'm going elsewhere with my hard earned money. Caveat Emptor.

It's too bad you got a bad one and I read your posts on the Imaging forum. Importantly if you scan this forum we have not been recommending the ASI071 for EAA. Rather if you notice there is wide popular positive experience with ASI cameras for EAA especially the 224/290 and 1600 and those cameras have been extensively discussed and tested. This new 294pro seems to have much potential for EAA as well and that is why we are discussing it. Although I can understand your frustration at having difficulty with your 071.

Al

[noisejammer]

Guys, please take note of the rules regarding vendor bashing - from section 1.

f. This is not the place to air grievances with vendors. Please do not attempt to use us as leverage. Take it up with the vendor off of this site.

We interpret this to mean that you may raise a negative issue once if you are objective and factual. This does not mean once per forum, it means once total.

[mega256]

IN STOCK

ASI294 in stock
https://astronomy-im...94mc-pro-color/

Im learning about this camera at CAV....it seams to like high gains over 500 ! for fast eaa....I havent had much time with it yet....but the good old infinity just keeps clicking away...
I can say the 294 is the lowest noise camera iv ever had!
Im not sure sharpcap has all the controll it can right now..
I will test this week and may get on nsn thursday night...from CAV....

[Astrojedi]

Just for kicks here are some single 0.5s unstacked exposures with a 102mm ED refractor on a manual Alt az mount running at  ~F3.5. 

 

I had completely forgotten about these. Went to the dark site a few weeks ago. Did mostly visual observing but carried the 294 with me to experiment. 

 

Cooling was off as I did not carry a power source with me. One of those nights when I just wanted a completely unplugged stargazing experience but could not resist a little experimentation.

 

These have been taken without any tracking using a 102mm ED refractor on my VersaGO II manual mount.

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Edited by Astrojedi, 17 October 2017 - 02:23 PM.

[Astrojedi]

Another one... Lagoon Nebula

 

[Astrojedi]

Last one... M31

 

[mega256]

This is from Tampa on alt/az mount no guiding 80mm F4.8
These are stacked 4-5

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Edited by mega256, 17 October 2017 - 12:16 PM.

[mega256]

one more same alt/az

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[DonBoy]

Just for kicks here are some single 0.5s unstacked exposures with a 102mm ED refractor on a manual Alt az mount running at  ~F3.5. Cooling was off as I did not carry a power source with me. One of those nights when I just wanted a completely unplugged stargazing experience but could not resist a little experimentation.

 

I had completely forgotten about these. Went to the dark site a few weeks ago. Did mostly visual observing but carried the 294 with me to experiment. 

 

These have been taken without any tracking using a 102mm ED refractor on my VersaGO II manual mount.

Looks very promising -

 

What Color Space & Binning?  -  

 

Yea, and also are you still having a warm pixel/noise? issue that you said doesn't compare to the other testers units? -

Edited by DonBoy, 17 October 2017 - 01:12 PM.

[Ain Soph Aur]

I believe I am going to place an order for one today. It should work well with the MN190 f/5.3 with .95 arcsec/px and 44.5° x 65.4° f.o.v.

 

By the way, I wasn’t able to get my Startech usb over cat extender to work with ZWO ASI224 USB3 after upgrading to Cat 6 cable as suggested by Hiten earlier in this thread, so I have already started to work on moving to a wireless setup with a laptop at the mount and controlled from the astroshack via RDC.

[Ain Soph Aur]

Just placed my order

[A. Viegas]

I believe I am going to place an order for one today. It should work well with the MN190 f/5.3 with .95 arcsec/px and 44.5° x 65.4° f.o.v.

 

By the way, I wasn’t able to get my Startech usb over cat extender to work with ZWO ASI224 USB3 after upgrading to Cat 6 cable as suggested by Hiten earlier in this thread, so I have already started to work on moving to a wireless setup with a laptop at the mount and controlled from the astroshack via RDC.

Ain -  did you have a powered hub at both ends ?  Make sure you have a powered hub or power source at both ends, if the Startech has a powered end at the CAT6 terminal end, but is unpowered as it comes inside, try plugging the inside USB end of the startech into a powered hub before you plug it into your computer

 

Al

 

P.S.  congrats on ordering the new 294pro!  I think you will like it

Edited by A. Viegas, 17 October 2017 - 02:30 PM.

[Astrojedi]

 

Just for kicks here are some single 0.5s unstacked exposures with a 102mm ED refractor on a manual Alt az mount running at  ~F3.5. Cooling was off as I did not carry a power source with me. One of those nights when I just wanted a completely unplugged stargazing experience but could not resist a little experimentation.

 

I had completely forgotten about these. Went to the dark site a few weeks ago. Did mostly visual observing but carried the 294 with me to experiment. 

 

These have been taken without any tracking using a 102mm ED refractor on my VersaGO II manual mount.

Looks very promising -

 

What Color Space & Binning?  -  

 

Yea, and also are you still having a warm pixel/noise? issue that you said doesn't compare to the other testers units? -

 

I think it was x2 bin and mono 8.

 

Yes, I am still getting hot pixels but have not had an opportunity to compare to Al and Bob's FIT files. Hope to do that soon.

[mega256]

AL
wow good job for just .5 sec....! wow..

wowo .5sec!

Edited by mega256, 18 October 2017 - 09:34 AM.

[Astrojedi]

Bob,

 

Are you referring to my captures above? : )

 

If so, note that they are 0.5s i.e. just half a second not 5s. This is because they were taken on a manual Alt Az mount. No goto or tracking.

 

Hiten

[Ain Soph Aur]

 

By the way, I wasn’t able to get my Startech usb over cat extender to work with ZWO ASI224 USB3 after upgrading to Cat 6 cable as suggested by Hiten earlier in this thread, so I have already started to work on moving to a wireless setup with a laptop at the mount and controlled from the astroshack via RDC.h

Ain -  did you have a powered hub at both ends ?  Make sure you have a powered hub or power source at both ends, if the Startech has a powered end at the CAT6 terminal end, but is unpowered as it comes inside, try plugging the inside USB end of the startech into a powered hub before you plug it into your computer

Heya Al. The Startech is powered at the telescope side and I have powered hubs on both ends. I have pretty much decided to move over to wireless by the time the 294 Pro arrives. 

 

Fingers crossed I don’t have the hot pixel issue Hiten is seeing with his.

[FrankG]

I have a 15" F4.5 dob (1,800mm reduced with MFR 3 and 5 to 10mm of spacers) to get fine results with an Atik Infinity, Lodestar X2 and various Mallincams in years past. How would the 294 camera/chip fare with this setup?

 

Many Thanks,

 

Frank

Edited by FrankG, 17 October 2017 - 05:49 PM.

[Alien Observatory]

I have a 15" F4.5 dob (1,800mm reduced with MFR 3 and 5 to 10mm of spacers) to get fine results with an Atik Infinity, Lodestar X2 and various Mallincams in years past. How would the 294 camera/chip fare with this setup?

 

Many Thanks,

 

Frank

Frank try this link and input your parameters and use the moon to start with....  Pat Utah

 

http://www.astroblog...ols/astrotools/

[FrankG]

 

I have a 15" F4.5 dob (1,800mm reduced with MFR 3 and 5 to 10mm of spacers) to get fine results with an Atik Infinity, Lodestar X2 and various Mallincams in years past. How would the 294 camera/chip fare with this setup?

 

Many Thanks,

 

Frank

Frank try this link and input your parameters and use the moon to start with....  Pat Utah

 

http://www.astroblog...ols/astrotools/

 

H Pat, thanks so much. But I'm afraid I quickly got lost trying that out. The scope is 381mm (15") 1,800 fl (4.5) with a MFR3 reducer (?). Not sure on the values to apply for the camera, although I see the posted specs on the ASI site.

Edited by FrankG, 18 October 2017 - 12:43 AM.

[A. Viegas]

Hi Frank

The 294pro is a 4:3rds sensor, 21mm diagonal.  You will not want to use any reducer with it on your fast newtonian.  In fact the MFR3 is going to be too small anyhow as its really designed for smaller (1/2") chips to begin with.  Also with your scope at native FL of 1800 you will have a 40'x30' field of view which is a very good size to begin with.   I think the more important question will be getting to focus and here I cant help because I dont have a newtonian, but maybe someone who has used a ASI 1600 can chime in on achieving focus with a fast newt and whether or not you need a coma corrector?

 

Al

[OleCuss]

Given that the IMX294 camera has a short FFD the probability of achieving prime focus if a reducer is not used - is quite high.  I agree that a reducer would be a mistake and would not recommend one be used so even though I don't know all the specifics of that scope I'm quite confident prime focus will be achieved.

 

The need for a coma corrector is dependent on one's preference/tolerance.  I hate coma so I'd definitely be using a coma corrector for a sensor of that size.

[FrankG]

Hi Frank

The 294pro is a 4:3rds sensor, 21mm diagonal.  You will not want to use any reducer with it on your fast newtonian.  In fact the MFR3 is going to be too small anyhow as its really designed for smaller (1/2") chips to begin with.  Also with your scope at native FL of 1800 you will have a 40'x30' field of view which is a very good size to begin with.   I think the more important question will be getting to focus and here I cant help because I dont have a newtonian, but maybe someone who has used a ASI 1600 can chime in on achieving focus with a fast newt and whether or not you need a coma corrector?

 

Al

Thanks Al -- the scope,a Starstructer, was made to work with cameras -- has a UTA that can be moved out - for more back focus - and in - for more in focus. I'm pretty sure it would work.

Edited by FrankG, 18 October 2017 - 11:00 AM.

[mega256]

Single 30 sec frame ASI294 AT10INTT@f4 EQ8

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•  IRUS_00001.CameraSettings.txt   627bytes   52 downloads

Edited by mega256, 18 October 2017 - 09:36 AM.

[mega256]

small stack..same setup

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