7 replies to this topic

[Dav85]

Hey everyone!
I would like to buy a new monochrome camera for deep sky imaging and could really use some advice. Right now, I’m torn between the ZWO ASI2600MM and similar models from Player One, Touptek, etc.

Has anyone here used these cameras side by side? I’d love to hear about your experiences with image quality, build, software compatibility, or any quirks I should be aware of. I’m especially interested in performance for narrowband imaging.

Any recommendations or comparisons would be super helpful! Thanks in advance!

[pyrasanth]

The sensors are the same. It ultimately boils down to hardware guarantees, support and quality of software- all cameras will probably produce similar results in the consumer versions. The old adage- you make you choice & pay the money......

 

The more expensive versions may offer guarantees of sensor orthogonality like QHY and improved buffering being typical enhancements- so I suggest reading the specifications and drawing up a feature matrix. 

[AstroFromHome]

I have the OSC versions of the ZWO 2600 and the Touptek ATR2600.

As a monochrome version I have the Player One Poseidon.

 

Sure the monochrome beats the two OSC cameras but in terms of drivers and build quality the monochrome versions are the same.

 

All of them run flawless. The drivers are well built and there is not any issue with all three of them.

 

In terms ob build quality the ZWO feels the cheapest. The Touptek in the middle (still Gen.1) and the P1 is best build quality.

The Touptek has the best cooler. It cools down the quickest, largest delta-T and therefore is drawing a bit less energy.

The P1 has USB-C connectors. A big plus on connector size as I do not have much space at the back of the telescope. But you can connect just one device to it without adding a USB hub.

 

As I also have a current build version from Touptek in form of a 585M I can say that Touptek got increased on the build quality and is almost onmpar with the Player One.

Additionally the cooler on the Touptek was even enhanced. The 585 cools in less than a minute from +20 to -10 Celsius. My old Touptek 2600 needs about 2 minutes what should also be improved in newer versions.

The ZWO cools the slowest and the P1 is in the middle spot.

The ZWO also has the most noisy fan which I exchanged already. P1 is also relatively noisy but still OK. The Touptek is the most silent one.

 

For all three there are tilt plates. But I never needed to use any. Whereas the P1 can be set in four instead of three axis while the camera is connected.

 

So each camera make has its pros and cons. With any of these you do not make any mistakes.

What I find astonishing is that all three makers have differences of pixels per axis. The order from most to least is P1-> ZWO -> Touptek. I could be that Touptek increase the pixels per axis in the meantime. But from the biggest to smallest we talk 28 pixels horizontally and 4 pixels vertically. So nothing that anyone would see on an image.

 

Customer support P1 is amazing, Touptek, too. ZWO are not prime standard in terms of Customer Service.

 

I am happy with any of them.

 

Why did I choose the P1 over the other two when going monochrome?

The USB-C is nice for my but just a connector for one additional delivery is bad.

The decision was driven fully dependent on the price. When I have purchased mine there have been the Black Week Sales going on. The package from P1 including filter wheel and OAG had by far the best price. For me it was about 200 Euro cheaper than the Touptek offer and about 600 Euro cheaper than putting everything together at the ZWO shop.

 

I am happy with my choise but the same I would have been with any other of the two cameras for the same price.

If you are running your rig in regions where temp drop to -20 degrees or cooler the P1 filter wheel might not be for you.

I also have next to the P1 filter wheel a Touptek FW. The Touptek seems to run a bit smoother than the P1.

 

So you see all have their downsides and pluses. I think for the regular price the Touptek is the cheapest one. They have a package for $3k for camera, FW plus 36mm LRGBSHO filters.

I use the 36mm filters too. The filters are a blast.

If you want to go with an OAG the P1 is the cheapest when also going with the LRGBSHO filters from Touptek.

 

If I would choose today, I would go with the package offered by Touptek as the second USB is worth a lot and as I have a spare OAG.

Anyway I am very happy with my P1 Poseidon-M. 

Edited by AstroFromHome, 19 April 2025 - 05:11 AM.

[Jeff_Richards]

The sensors are the same. It ultimately boils down to hardware guarantees, support and quality of software- all cameras will probably produce similar results in the consumer versions. The old adage- you make you choice & pay the money......

 

The more expensive versions may offer guarantees of sensor orthogonality like QHY and improved buffering being typical enhancements- so I suggest reading the specifications and drawing up a feature matrix. 

Has ZWO switched to industrial sensors? I know the P1 (and QHY) use them unless you get the "lite" version from QHY.

[DevilDog68]

When I decided to move from the IMX533 (ASI533MC Pro) sensor to the IMX571 sensor, I went with an Ogma AP26MC. I think the Ogma is a Touptek build but I am not 100% certain.

The Ogma is sold and supported in the US (North Carolina). Juan is very responsive and helpful even when it's a cockpit error (I've had at least three cockpit errors). His selection isn't large but I will continue to support his business and recommend others do so. I currently have the aforementioned AP26MC, the M48 OAG, and 7 x 36 mm EFW.

 

Regards,

Edited by DevilDog68, 19 April 2025 - 07:27 AM.

[Dav85]

I have the OSC versions of the ZWO 2600 and the Touptek ATR2600.
As a monochrome version I have the Player One Poseidon.

Sure the monochrome beats the two OSC cameras but in terms of drivers and build quality the monochrome versions are the same.

All of them run flawless. The drivers are well built and there is not any issue with all three of them.

In terms ob build quality the ZWO feels the cheapest. The Touptek in the middle (still Gen.1) and the P1 is best build quality.
The Touptek has the best cooler. It cools down the quickest, largest delta-T and therefore is drawing a bit less energy.
The P1 has USB-C connectors. A big plus on connector size as I do not have much space at the back of the telescope. But you can connect just one device to it without adding a USB hub.

As I also have a current build version from Touptek in form of a 585M I can say that Touptek got increased on the build quality and is almost onmpar with the Player One.
Additionally the cooler on the Touptek was even enhanced. The 585 cools in less than a minute from +20 to -10 Celsius. My old Touptek 2600 needs about 2 minutes what should also be improved in newer versions.
The ZWO cools the slowest and the P1 is in the middle spot.
The ZWO also has the most noisy fan which I exchanged already. P1 is also relatively noisy but still OK. The Touptek is the most silent one.

For all three there are tilt plates. But I never needed to use any. Whereas the P1 can be set in four instead of three axis while the camera is connected.

So each camera make has its pros and cons. With any of these you do not make any mistakes.
What I find astonishing is that all three makers have differences of pixels per axis. The order from most to least is P1-> ZWO -> Touptek. I could be that Touptek increase the pixels per axis in the meantime. But from the biggest to smallest we talk 28 pixels horizontally and 4 pixels vertically. So nothing that anyone would see on an image.

Customer support P1 is amazing, Touptek, too. ZWO are not prime standard in terms of Customer Service.

I am happy with any of them.

Why did I choose the P1 over the other two when going monochrome?
The USB-C is nice for my but just a connector for one additional delivery is bad.
The decision was driven fully dependent on the price. When I have purchased mine there have been the Black Week Sales going on. The package from P1 including filter wheel and OAG had by far the best price. For me it was about 200 Euro cheaper than the Touptek offer and about 600 Euro cheaper than putting everything together at the ZWO shop.

I am happy with my choise but the same I would have been with any other of the two cameras for the same price.
If you are running your rig in regions where temp drop to -20 degrees or cooler the P1 filter wheel might not be for you.
I also have next to the P1 filter wheel a Touptek FW. The Touptek seems to run a bit smoother than the P1.

So you see all have their downsides and pluses. I think for the regular price the Touptek is the cheapest one. They have a package for $3k for camera, FW plus 36mm LRGBSHO filters.
I use the 36mm filters too. The filters are a blast.
If you want to go with an OAG the P1 is the cheapest when also going with the LRGBSHO filters from Touptek.

If I would choose today, I would go with the package offered by Touptek as the second USB is worth a lot and as I have a spare OAG.
Anyway I am very happy with my P1 Poseidon-M.

This is what I was looking for, someone that test all these brands! Thank you for your feedback!

[AstroFromHome]

 

This is what I was looking for, someone that test all these brands! Thank you for your feedback!

Thank you for the appreciation! 

I have the privilege to own three cameras with IMX571 sensor. Sure image quality between monochrome and OSC is not comparable but the cameras should be a 1:1 match with their monochrome brothers and sisters.

 

The Ogma is a Touptek of the latest generation. My Touptek is also a rebranded one as a few years back Touptek was also not active as a brand in Europe.

Their stuff is absolutely great.

If you are in the US and you prefer support from the brand owning company then go with Ogma.

The king of filters in my opinion are Touptek 36mm filters. If you take price and result/band pass into consideration.  3.5 and 4 nm band passes for 1/3 of the price of Antlia filters is not too bad.

 

In case I would afford another IMX571 monochrome setup I think I would choose the Touptek ATR2600M if there is no super special deal of any other brand.

 

I unfortunately mounted my filters in the wrong orientation in the beginning so that they produced halos but the results were still stunning.

 

That's an image I took with the Touptek 36mm filter mounted the wrong orientation. I would still call that result "acceptable".  On monochrome sensors the filters make the image.

 

[Dav85]

Thank you for the appreciation!
I have the privilege to own three cameras with IMX571 sensor. Sure image quality between monochrome and OSC is not comparable but the cameras should be a 1:1 match with their monochrome brothers and sisters.

The Ogma is a Touptek of the latest generation. My Touptek is also a rebranded one as a few years back Touptek was also not active as a brand in Europe.
Their stuff is absolutely great.
If you are in the US and you prefer support from the brand owning company then go with Ogma.
The king of filters in my opinion are Touptek 36mm filters. If you take price and result/band pass into consideration. 3.5 and 4 nm band passes for 1/3 of the price of Antlia filters is not too bad.

In case I would afford another IMX571 monochrome setup I think I would choose the Touptek ATR2600M if there is no super special deal of any other brand.

I unfortunately mounted my filters in the wrong orientation in the beginning so that they produced halos but the results were still stunning.

That's an image I took with the Touptek 36mm filter mounted the wrong orientation. I would still call that result "acceptable". On monochrome sensors the filters make the image.

That’s a great result, after few research I was looking for p1, and about filters I own Antlia edge 4nm but I’ll take a look on touptek as you suggested.