4 replies to this topic

[michael.teer]

I am considering an ASI533MC Pro or ASI2600MC Pro for backyard EAA in a Bortle 7 site.  I plan on using an ASIAir Plus for ease of use.

 

I am concerned if I go with the larger image sensor 2600, small DSOs will be so small they are unviewable.

 

Can I zoom in on DSOs live, and in real time as the image populates?  If not, the 533 may be the better choice.

 

Thank you,

 

Michael

[BrentKnight]

 

Link to large

 

Data from Astrometry.net

Center (RA, Dec): (101.484, 60.356)
Center (RA, hms): 06h 45m 56.261s
Center (Dec, dms): +60° 21' 22.688"
Size: 1.87 x 1.87 deg
Radius: 1.325 deg
Pixel scale: 2.24 arcsec/pixel
Orientation: Up is 93.5 degrees E of N

 

This is a capture with my AT72EDII and the ASI533MC-Pro from last months EAA Challenge.  It is a capture of the live view from Sharpcap - the option to Save as Seen was chosen (the ASIair Pro should allow basically the same thing).  Zooming in on the large image linked in the post simulates what a zoom would be like while the live stack was running (you can zoom and pan all you want while doing a live stack).  The capture suffers a bit due to the compression done to it during the upload to CN, so your live view at the rig will actually look better. 

 

A larger SCT would show more details but the FOV would be smaller.  The ASI2600 has the same chip as the ASI533 with just a larger field of view.

[steveincolo]

As Brent says, they’re the same sensor except for size.  So in principle it shouldn’t make any difference.  One caveat is that the ASIAir is a closed (i.e. not open source) system, so only ZWO can give you an authoritative answer, but I’m not sure they’ll get the issue.  On an iPad (or any computer) there are algorithms that handle zooming of images, so what it would do with two images with different numbers of pixels but same pixel size is a question.  

[BrentKnight]

Another thing to note with the image above is that it was captured from a 4K monitor.  The actual image is the same, but different monitors and resolutions will display the zooms differently.

[nicknacknock]

Sigh, another important matter to address. I have a UHD monitor and will migrate to a 4K monitor as I want to get the best I can out of the views.