First Light review of the ZWO ASI2600mm Pro (with Antlia filters & ZWO EFW)
ฝัง
- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 28 ส.ค. 2024
- Exciting news! I’ve moved to mono from my one shot colour camera.
In the video I’ll take you through the gear I’ve purchased for this new chapter in my astro journey. I’ll also share the results of some test shots and the first image I’ve captured.
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My Equipment:
- 📸 ZWO ASI 2600MM Pro (+ Antlia Sii, Ha, Oiii & LRGB-V Pro Filters)
- 📸 ZWO ASI 662MC
- 🔭 William Optics Zenithstar 81 + Sky-Watcher HEQ5 Pro
- 🧭 William Optics 50mm Slide-base Uniguide Scope + ZWO ASI 120mm Mini
- 💻 ZWO ASIAir Pro
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Follow me:
Instagram: / thatastrochap
Great video! You did an awesome job of covering all of the things a mew mono user needs to consider when planning to make the transition. I do think you have made an incorrect assumption about increasing your image quality though. I have been using a ASI2600MM for the last two years and an ASI2600MC for about 18 months. With proper dithering they produce the EXACT same image quality for the amount of time spent gathering images. I agree with what you said about the mono pixel array 3 to 4 times the green or blue or red and any given time, but then you need to go and do it 3 different times. For the equivalent amount of time with an OSC sensor you end up with the exact same resolution and data density. In certain LRGB situations where you are gathering much more luminance there can be a small time advantage for mono but narrowband there is not. Ultimately with mono you end up having a lot more control over your final product and that is why most mono users love it. Just found your channel and look forward to more videos!
Thank you for your kind words and support - really appreciate it. Also thanks for point out the resolution aspect - very good catch!
Lovely image mate well done
Thanks!
I much prefer imagining in mono with narrow band filters but I am currently using OSC cameras for my galaxy season imaging. As I use a camera with a183 sized sensor for my mono imaging I can get away with 1.25" filters, though the camera is prone to some serious amp glow so a good set of dark frames are necessary.
I actually captured the same target the other night but haven't processed it yet. If it turns out half as good as yours I will be very happy.
Sounds great! Galaxy imaging with a OSC camera is definitely an appealing option, certainly takes some of the strain out of the whole process haha. Hope your image turns out nicely - thank you for your kind words about mine! Clear skies
Congrats on the 2600MM. I’ve had mine for almost a year now and loving it!
Great to hear!
Thank for sharing. I am on the fence. I do have ZWO294MCPro and want to uprade. Dont want to spend a lot of money on color and then regret it. Will see how you like yours.
It’s a big decision - hope my future videos will help you make your decision one way or the other. Clear skies!
I have also upgraded to the 2600MM and 36mm Antlia filters/ZWO 7 position filter wheel. Will not go back. The images are easier to process and have much more pop. Dust issue the only issue I need to fight with and hope to better seal my filter wheel. You can be proud of your M81/M82 image. well done!
Thanks! Pleased to hear you’re happy with the 2600MM & antlia filters combination too - very reassuring 👍🏻
I used a bit of black electrical tape to seal up a few areas on the filter wheel to help prevent light leaks and dust which worked well so far. Maybe that could help in your case too?
Clear skies!
Excellent final image! I'd love to go mono, just to need to a bit more to the piggybank first though 😂 bit of a random question - what monitor do you use? I'm looking to get a wide curved monitor and yours looks decent.
Thank you! Haha yeah, astro gear isn’t cheap, that’s for sure 😂.
In terms of monitor I use a dell 40 inch ultra sharp thunderbolt hub. The resolution is really good on it so it’s great for image processing. The extra space makes using PixInsight a bit of a dream too!
Clear skies!
Subscribed - as I am considering going mono so I wan to see your content - good luck !
Thank you for your support! Hope the future videos help you with your decision 🤞🏻
Just starting my mono journey coming from 2600mc and 533mc. Ordered 2600mm and filter wheel still deciding on filter set big choice
Super exciting! Hopefully you’ll be as delighted as I am with mine.
The filter set is a really tough decision to make - such a variation in price across the different brands. For reference this is the set I went with (although I had to buy them individually since the set wasn’t in stock): www.firstlightoptics.com/rgb-filters-filter-sets/antlia-lrgb-v-pro-3nm-narrowband-astronomy-filter-sets.html
Good luck with your mono adventure & clear skies!
I chose the Antlia SHO 3nm filters when I started doing mono. Very happy with them. I chose them in the basis of quality - including low to no halo on Oiii in particular, and price. For LRGB I chose the ZWO set as they are all par focal and optimised for the ASI 1600mm which I’m using for mono. And for which 1.25” filters are OK!
It is night & day different between OSC and mono. But also more effort. It’s worth it.
I am looking to move to a bigger sensor and expanded dynamic range for mono. Your video here has been helpful in that regard - I may well follow your path!
Cheers & clear skies!
Really pleased that you’re happy with the filters - gives me even more confidence it was a good call!
Glad you found the video helpful too. Thanks so much for watching, I really do appreciate it.
Good luck with your Astro journey & hope your move to a larger sensor brings great results! Clear skies
To echo what the others said, the Antlia 3nm is a really good set
The picture looks realy good.
I just bought a OSC IMX571 for my widefield setup.
I have a second setup with an OSC IMX533. This one I want to upgrade to a mono IMX533 to test it out.
The cam and also the filters are cheap because I can use 1,25" filters. I hope they bring a IMX585 cam in mono for a good price like the color one. That would be realy nice.
Did you make the flats after each filter was done or did you make the flats after the session for each filter?
Very nice! Picking a new camera is always such a tough decision and a big commitment. Hope you find a mono cam that fits the bill!
As for flats, I did my full imaging run across LRGB, then the following morning before tearing everything down I did a run of LRGB flats followed by LRGB dark flats (with matching exposures per filter/flat combination).
Great stuff Astro chap! What size filters did you go with?
Thank you! I went with the 36mm unmounted filters. Was toying with the idea of the 2” mounted ones for ease of installation but there would be little benefit for the camera sensor I now use and the added cost.
No ragrets here with the same loadout 🙂
Seems like a really solid combination! Very reassuring to hear you’re happy with the same setup as well 👍🏻. Clear skies!