Yes lots of people having the same issue which is a shame. It’s not that bad to solve, just a little daunting opening up the camera. Thanks for watching Luke 👍
The Dumpy Dalek Observatory 1 day ago Sorry for pasting my message from my other account but it seems to get flagged as spam on some channels for some reason; Not good at all regarding quality control there glad you got it sorted out Russell clear skies & look forward to seeing your next video.
Thanks for the comment, it seems that a lot of comments are flagged as spam on my account for some reason, sorry about that. No it is not good in terms of quality control. It seems that it is an extremely common issue as well unfortunately. Clear skies 👍
Wow. May have to consider QHY for future camera purchase. The 2600 was one that I had my eyes on. Now knowing that ZWO acknowledges the issue but does not offer anything more than cleaning instructions (a free cleaning kit sent in the mail would have been a nice simple customer relations gesture) makes me think they are just punching out their products with slack QC. I wonder what happens to the person who is unsuccessful at getting the sensor clean? Opening that camera during warranty period would surely void that warranty, IMO. What position does this put the dealers in? Does ZWO tell the dealers to clean any 2600's which are returned from customers experiencing this issue?
Lots of very good questions…I have no answers to any of these unfortunately. The camera seems to be working fine now, it it was scary to have to open it up and expose the sensor. The camera was under warranty, purchased directly from them, however, they just said to clean it. No offer of a cleaning service or free kit. The kit was cheap (£9.99) but that’s still £9.99 out ofy pocket. I would hope that opening the camera wouldn’t void the warranty as they have instructed me to do that! If that’s the case, I would be furious Having said all that, the camera is fantastic and the images that are produced have some much detail. I am very happy with it apart from this issue 👍
Great vid. Especially since Im getting one of these. Any way you could provide the name of those swab "things" and the liquid used for the cleaning please?
Thank you, glad you enjoyed it. Congrats on the new camera, it is fantastic (oil leaks aside). I hope you don’t experience this issue. The swans were called UES sensor cleaning swabs. There are numbers different brands available. These were the ones I ordered UES APSC-16 DSLR or SLR Digital Camera Sensor Cleaning Swabs for APS-C Type Sensors www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B01B0TX6UA/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_glt_fabc_67RJV21T7BBMM1XKWYJS?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1
Hey Russell, thank you for sharing this procedure. Seems like everything went smoothly without any issues. Did you already try shooting with the cleaned sensor? I think for SUCH s premium, high-price ZWO camera ZWO should do that for you as a free service imho. - By the way: Did also clean the inside of the glass as well (and cut it for the YT video)? - Thanks for this helpful video & cs.
I did shoot after cleaning the sensor yes and all was good. The data looked really clean...unfortunately the leak did return. I did clean the outside of the glass, but not the inside. I think that was one thing I overlooked. Thanks for watching, I really appreciate it 👍
Thanks John, I hope you don’t have to do this. I didn’t clean the inside of the glass actually…maybe I should have 😂 it all seems pretty clean and the new flats seem good, so hopefully I got away with that oversight 👍
In my opinion yes, I absolutely love mono imaging and I think the detail you can get from the MM over the MC is fantastic. Obviously, you require more equipment (filters, filter wheel etc) and it takes much longer, but I think the images it produces are fantastic. I hope this helps.
Well I DEFINITELY will not purchase any ZWO camera now! Going for QHY instead. This is totally Nuts. What a horrible company, the way they treat their customers.
I was disappointed with them as well. I think this leak issue is putting a lot of people of ZWO. They have finally provided a solution where there are replacing the defected (leaking) thermal pad, but that took a long time to get an answer from them...I hope the solution works. Clear skies, thanks for watching 👍
Hi. Isn’t this a manufacturing fault? If so isn’t it up to Zwo to fix at their cost if less than a year old? I’m not sure I would be too happy to clean it myself if less than a year old, especially as the contaminant is oil. And nothing I’d done to it to make it that way.
Yes it definitely is a manufacturing fault / issue. It seems to be a very common one. I contacted them as it is still under warranty and they just told me to clean the sensor. I put their response up on screen around the 2 minute mark. Pretty poor customer service in my opinion, it seems their stock response from what I've heard online. Thankfully, it seems to have solved the problem, I just hope I do not experience it again
That’s complete BS…the manufacturer should ship a new corrected replacement unit and then you ship the old back…all under warranty…shoddy customer service 😠
Glad to see your cleaning went smoothly. Sensor looked good at the nd. Now I will sit here nervously waiting for this to happen to my 2600mm but at least I have you video and Nick's video to follow if required.
Disappointing problem give the steep price of the camera. I have the 2600 MC Pro. Only a few months old and no problems so far. It is a beautifully capable camera. Hope this fixed your problem permanently. Dr B from Manitoba, 🇨🇦
Yes very disappointing, especially given the price. I had the camera for about 8 months before I experienced the leak. I hope you don't experience the same issue 👍
You would think it was yes. I was hoping they would replace it under warranty, but I think there have been so many people who have experienced the leaks that they can not afford to replace them. They have finally provided me with a solution to replace the defected thermal pad, I hope this solves the issue.
Yeah it was a bit if a nightmare, but the cleaning wasn’t as bad as I thought. I had the camera for about 7 months before it happened. Then it literally happened between subs, one sub was good, the next had a huge black mark 😱
@@RussellsAstrophotography Wow, that's a shame, but you did a fantastic job fixing it! :) I've got the 2600MC Pro myself, so will watch out for this! Have a great weekend! :)
Hi Russell! Good job on your astronomy videos! My ASI2600-MC has now done the 'oil on the sensor' 4 times now! I'm seriously getting tired of cleaning it off. Although I can do it, it is very tricky to do correctly without inadvertantly getting significant dust inside the sensor chamber. I use a bright led light source to show dust which helps but there seems to also be a luck factor involved. Also if the PCB board is loosened like ZWO recommends it can change the tilt of the sensor causing star shape variations on one side while imaging. I needed to carefully measure at the 4 corners of the sensor afterwards with a special micrometer relative to the mounting face... So I quit loosening the PCB board and just clean the sensor. I didn't see clearly exactly where the oil was coming from unless it's from the heat-sink patch behind being super saturated. I suspect there is significant sensor-heat that draws it up and over to the face of the sensor when turning off the cooling after imaging.
Hi James, thank you I’m glad you like the videos. Sorry to hear about your 2600mc pro, I know that it’s incredibly frustrating. I actually have a video that is going to be released tonight about a permanent solution (or what I hope is a permanent solution). I sent my camera to a ZWO partner in the UK who replaced the thermal pad. ZWO paid for the repair. I don’t think they are advertising this solution as it must be costing them a lot of money, but just so you know the option is available. I lots patients with their poor communication and requests for me to clean the sensor myself! I hope you’ve managed to solve the issue. Check out my video later tonight, it might be of interest. Clear skies 👍
Hi Russell Very good video of how to clean the oil problem. I have just purchased this camera as of April 2022 and have only just been made aware of these potential problems? The assurance from RVO, who I bought the camera from, that there was a 2 year warranty with the camera. I personally would have been more inclined to send the camera back for them to do the repair under warranty? I am not sure that I am skilled to do such repairs - never mind voiding the warranty if you make a mistake? Do you think there is any legitimate reason for people to do these repairs by them self? Apologies if this sounds negative, thanks for the information in - case I have to do a repair myself Regards
Hi Keith, The new cameras produced by ZWO will not have this issue, so if you purchased the camera new in 2022 you should be fine. This is an issue which only affects the older generation of 2600 cameras. ZWO have since changed production methods/materials and this should not affect the newer cameras. At the time of publishing the video, cleaning the camera myself was the only option ZWO gave me. They would not replace the camera. Since this video, they now no longer suggest the "self clean" as they have realised it is not an affective fix. They now offer to replace any camera that has the leak with a new one...which they should have done from the begging IMO. I would not suggest anyone clean their own sensor as the issue is likely to return. ZWO will replace for new if anyone experiences the issue now. Thanks for watching, I hope this makes sense. Russell
The same thing happened to my 2600 MC. I'm quite disappointed in ZWO's response. I have tons of their stuff $$$, but I decided not to get the ASIAir Plus, as a direct result. I'm not sure how much more ZWO stuff I want to buy. They should partner with North American & European camera service centers to deal with this properly in a clean room for no charge to owners, including shipping. The defective oil impregnated thermal pads need to be replaced with better ones & the sensor PCBA needs a thorough immersion cleaning to remove the oil. I'm also concerned about sensor tilt getting induced by the kitchen table surgery. At an embarrassingly bare minimum, they should send a free sensor cleaning kit and good quality replacement thermal pads that won't ooze more oil & make it happen again.
It is so frustrating when it happens...and it has just happened for a second time on my camera. I have emailed ZWO again but have not heard back. Yes, I agree it is very disappointing from ZWO and they should offer a free cleaning kit. Thanks for watching.
Bit disappointing Russell, maybe I'm in for this down the track. I really hope it doesn't continue to reoccur and yes that generic email is also a bit average to say the least.
Yeah pretty disappointed really, especially as it’s not a cheap camera! Their response was poor as well! Hopefully it doesn’t reoccur and also hopefully it doesn’t happen to you. I know lots of people have experienced it, but hopefully you get lucky 🤞
I have the asi1600mm cool I have had this issue .I also have the asi071MC Pro same thing .Plus the microlensing issue on the 1600 .My next purchase is going to be QHY
Thanks Russell, well explained! I have the 2600 mc pro, hopefully no problems yet🤞 but you made it look easy! Think I can cope with that if it comes to it! Hope it works ok again! Clear skies👍
Thanks Simon, I hope you don’t have experience this 🤞 but if you do It’s daily straightforward…a bit nerve wracking, but pretty easy! Make sure you check out Nicks video if you do get the leak!
Sorry to see the leak Russell. Glad you sorted it out, I’ll defo bookmark this just in case my 2600MC suffers the same. I’m in two minds now about getting a 2600MM as my 2nd cam. great video and well put over.
Im glad you found it useful and thanks for watching. I will say that the 2600mm really is a fantastic camera and I’m really happy with it. Just be wary that this could very well happen if you do buy it 👍
Where does the oil originate from? Is it from silicon grease contamination during assembly, or is there a gasket issue causing this to contaminate the sensor? (Sorry, did a quick search and didn't really see this answer). Great Video, Thanks!
Yes its from the thermal pad. This was the full response I had from ZWO support: Hi Russell, We are so sorry about the trouble. We have looked into this problem and found this is the silicone grease from the Thermal Pad, this can be cleaned and it won't happen again after the cleaning. Please follow this guide to clean the camera. astronomy-imaging-camera.com/manuals/How_to_clean_ASI_camera_and_redry_the_desiccants_EN_V1.2.pdf
Yikes. Resolution seemed easy enough, but unfortunate you had to do it in the first place. Good luck on the Bat and Squid! Not one I've targeted yet. Be prepared to put in at least 20 hours on O3 alone. Then again, that camera's so good, maybe you'll see details in the first sub LOL
Thanks Jonny 👍 haha I definitely didn’t see anything in the single subs!! I was worried I wasn’t pointing in the right place 😂 I’ve got about 10 hours of oiii so far and can see the squid which is a relief!
It is a fantastic camera and the solution wasn’t as bad as it seems…just make sure you’re happy to clean the sensor if you do order one or maybe ask the retailer if they would clean it for you if it does happen? It might never happen, but there’s always the possibility.
I had the same issue with my 2600MC, literally 3 weeks after i brought it.. which i wasn;t too happy about.. Luckily, i guess i had the same problem with an older canon eos camera a few years ago. So i guess ive got some experience on cleaning sensors.
Sorry you had the same issue. My leak has returned twice now, however, I have been offered to have the thermal pad (where the oil is leaking from) replaced by a local retailer with ZWO covering the cost. It might be worth looking into this option.
Sorry you’ve had the issue, thankfully the cleaning process isn’t that tricky. I just hope your leak doesn’t return! It is very frustrating! Good luck with the sensor clean
There were loads of kits available on Amazon. I just went for one that had the highest ratings. This was the one that I used. I hope you don’t need the 🤞 UES APSC-16 DSLR or SLR Digital Camera Sensor Cleaning Swabs for APS-C Type Sensors www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B01B0TX6UA/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_glt_fabc_67RJV21T7BBMM1XKWYJS?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1
Great video! Thank you as I have just purchased this camera 1 week ago and should be getting it next week. About how many hours did you get before the oil showed up? I'm a Nikon guy and my D7100 camera had a oil leak problem that I had to clear the sensor so I'm lucky that I have all of the required tools to do the job.
Thank you, congrats on the new camera, it is fantastic. I hope you don’t have this issue. I had the camera for about 7-8 months with thousands of house of use before I experienced the leak.
Just had this issue occur. I've ordered the cleaning swabs and will tackle the job in a few days. There is a video from High Point Scientific on this topic where they unscrew the sensor plate and swab the thermal pad behind the sensor to remove the excess thermal oil that's causing the issue. I'm going to go with this step as well so I hopefully only have to do it once.
Thanks for watching Olly, I had it for about 7-8 months before it happened. Then it literally happened between subs. One sub was clean, the next there was a big black mark 😱
@@RussellsAstrophotography Thanks for getting back, I guess it’s fingers crossed for me but at least I know what to do if it happens… love what you are doing on TH-cam 👍🏻
Terrifying indeed! Did ZWO or whichever supplier you purchased the camera from not offer to fix it? I have both the mm and mc versions of the camera. Imagine your video might come in very handy at some point. Many thanks, Des
I purchased it directly from ZWO when they were offering the pre-order discount. They didn’t offer to replace it even thought it’s under warranty. They just sent a two line email saying clean it and attached a pdf with instructions
@@RussellsAstrophotography That’s shocking. I’ll make sure never to buy directly from them. Hope the fix worked. Do we understand where the oil is leaking from and does it keep occurring on the same camera? It would be helpful to have the link to the cleaning kit you used please. Cheers, Des
@@desmcmorrow2978 I think because it’s happened so regularly on the 2600 cameras, they have stopped accepting returns etc. they just said that it’s “silicone grease from the Thermal Pad”. They said that it shouldn’t happen again after the first leak, however I’ve seen online a few people have had the issue more than once 😞…at least I know how to clean it now
I picked them up from Amazon. There are loads of similar ones available, I just went with a set that had good reviews. These were the ones I ordered: www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B01B0TX6UA/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o06_s00?ie=UTF8&th=1
It just says on a medium heat for two minutes. These were the instructions I followed astronomy-imaging-camera.com/manuals/How_to_clean_ASI_camera_and_redry_the_desiccants_EN_V1.2.pdf
@@RussellsAstrophotography you might want to store it vertically (on its back, sensor pointing up). Gravity will keep any other oil from getting over the sensor.
Oh no, sorry to hear that. It is incredibly frustrating, I feel your pain. This week, I have finally got somewhere with ZWO. They didn’t respond to any email or submission on their website, however, they finally replied via Facebook and I think they have finally offered a solution. They have told me to ship the camera to 365astronomy (their uk partner) who will clean the sensor and replace the faulty parts. Apparently, they are replacing the thermal pad and one other part (I’m not sure what). It seems like they have finally realized they have to do more than just telling customers to keep cleaning their sensors. I posted my camera two days ago, so I’ll keep you posted, I hope it solves the issue. Hopefully you can also get this agreed with ZWO.
@@RussellsAstrophotography Worthwhile to actually look at those flats carefully to see how well your cleaning worked (or if there are any remaining shadows)
Oh.... I am now going to keep checking mine as I went to the 2600mm a few months back
It is a great camera, so this is problem is shame. I hope you don't get the same issue. clear skies 👍
Yes Russell, unfortunately I hear this a lot when it comes to the 2600. Good luck with it. Clear Skies & a clean sensor!
Yes lots of people having the same issue which is a shame. It’s not that bad to solve, just a little daunting opening up the camera. Thanks for watching Luke 👍
The Dumpy Dalek Observatory
1 day ago
Sorry for pasting my message from my other account but it seems to get flagged as spam on some channels for some reason;
Not good at all regarding quality control there glad you got it sorted out Russell clear skies & look forward to seeing your next video.
Thanks for the comment, it seems that a lot of comments are flagged as spam on my account for some reason, sorry about that. No it is not good in terms of quality control. It seems that it is an extremely common issue as well unfortunately. Clear skies 👍
No problem it might be because the channel is quite new, looking forward to the next video 👍
Mr Russell… I should think the company would be willing to fix the problem at no cost to you?
Wow. May have to consider QHY for future camera purchase. The 2600 was one that I had my eyes on. Now knowing that ZWO acknowledges the issue but does not offer anything more than cleaning instructions (a free cleaning kit sent in the mail would have been a nice simple customer relations gesture) makes me think they are just punching out their products with slack QC. I wonder what happens to the person who is unsuccessful at getting the sensor clean? Opening that camera during warranty period would surely void that warranty, IMO. What position does this put the dealers in? Does ZWO tell the dealers to clean any 2600's which are returned from customers experiencing this issue?
Lots of very good questions…I have no answers to any of these unfortunately. The camera seems to be working fine now, it it was scary to have to open it up and expose the sensor. The camera was under warranty, purchased directly from them, however, they just said to clean it. No offer of a cleaning service or free kit. The kit was cheap (£9.99) but that’s still £9.99 out ofy pocket. I would hope that opening the camera wouldn’t void the warranty as they have instructed me to do that! If that’s the case, I would be furious
Having said all that, the camera is fantastic and the images that are produced have some much detail. I am very happy with it apart from this issue 👍
@@RussellsAstrophotography Great to hear that the camera is such a great performer. It is a very pricey device here in Canada 🇨🇦
Great vid. Especially since Im getting one of these. Any way you could provide the name of those swab "things" and the liquid used for the cleaning please?
Thank you, glad you enjoyed it. Congrats on the new camera, it is fantastic (oil leaks aside). I hope you don’t experience this issue. The swans were called UES sensor cleaning swabs. There are numbers different brands available. These were the ones I ordered UES APSC-16 DSLR or SLR Digital Camera Sensor Cleaning Swabs for APS-C Type Sensors www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B01B0TX6UA/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_glt_fabc_67RJV21T7BBMM1XKWYJS?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1
Swabs* not swans…no swans were harmed in the making if this video 👍
Hey Russell, thank you for sharing this procedure. Seems like everything went smoothly without any issues. Did you already try shooting with the cleaned sensor? I think for SUCH s premium, high-price ZWO camera ZWO should do that for you as a free service imho. - By the way: Did also clean the inside of the glass as well (and cut it for the YT video)? - Thanks for this helpful video & cs.
I did shoot after cleaning the sensor yes and all was good. The data looked really clean...unfortunately the leak did return. I did clean the outside of the glass, but not the inside. I think that was one thing I overlooked. Thanks for watching, I really appreciate it 👍
@@RussellsAstrophotography Can you please give me instructions on how to clean inside the sensor?
Thanks Russel. Not looking forward to this job. Did you also clean the inside of the AR glass :)?
Thanks John, I hope you don’t have to do this. I didn’t clean the inside of the glass actually…maybe I should have 😂 it all seems pretty clean and the new flats seem good, so hopefully I got away with that oversight 👍
Well done Russell, I am fortunate so far that neither of my 2600MC are showing any issues (yet!). At least it is an easy fix if it happens.
Thanks Dave, I hope it stays that way and you don’t experience this 🤞
Is the MM version worth the extra work and money ??
In my opinion yes, I absolutely love mono imaging and I think the detail you can get from the MM over the MC is fantastic. Obviously, you require more equipment (filters, filter wheel etc) and it takes much longer, but I think the images it produces are fantastic. I hope this helps.
Well done Russell very nice job. Let me have your address so I know where to send my cameras for repair …. 😉
Thanks mate, haha I was nervous enough when it was my camera...not something I'd be keen to do again 😂
Well I DEFINITELY will not purchase any ZWO camera now! Going for QHY instead. This is totally Nuts. What a horrible company, the way they treat their customers.
I was disappointed with them as well. I think this leak issue is putting a lot of people of ZWO. They have finally provided a solution where there are replacing the defected (leaking) thermal pad, but that took a long time to get an answer from them...I hope the solution works. Clear skies, thanks for watching 👍
Hi. Isn’t this a manufacturing fault? If so isn’t it up to Zwo to fix at their cost if less than a year old? I’m not sure I would be too happy to clean it myself if less than a year old, especially as the contaminant is oil. And nothing I’d done to it to make it that way.
Yes it definitely is a manufacturing fault / issue. It seems to be a very common one. I contacted them as it is still under warranty and they just told me to clean the sensor. I put their response up on screen around the 2 minute mark. Pretty poor customer service in my opinion, it seems their stock response from what I've heard online. Thankfully, it seems to have solved the problem, I just hope I do not experience it again
That’s complete BS…the manufacturer should ship a new corrected replacement unit and then you ship the old back…all under warranty…shoddy customer service 😠
Glad to see your cleaning went smoothly. Sensor looked good at the nd. Now I will sit here nervously waiting for this to happen to my 2600mm but at least I have you video and Nick's video to follow if required.
Thanks for watching Logan. I hope you don’t have the same issue 🤞if you do, it’s annoying and a bit nerve wracking but a fairly simple fix.
Russell, thanks so much for the shout-out! Wow that was a big leak you had! Congrats on the successful cleaning!
You’re welcome Nick, thank you for the tutorial, it was just what I was looking for 👍
Disappointing problem give the steep price of the camera. I have the 2600 MC Pro. Only a few months old and no problems so far. It is a beautifully capable camera. Hope this fixed your problem permanently. Dr B from Manitoba, 🇨🇦
Yes very disappointing, especially given the price. I had the camera for about 8 months before I experienced the leak. I hope you don't experience the same issue 👍
They haven’t made a new automobile in the last fifty years that hasn’t had at least one recall, what the big deal?
Why is this not a warranty issue?
You would think it was yes. I was hoping they would replace it under warranty, but I think there have been so many people who have experienced the leaks that they can not afford to replace them. They have finally provided me with a solution to replace the defected thermal pad, I hope this solves the issue.
Eeeek! Nightmare, Russell! How long did you have the 2600 before you noticed it? :(
Yeah it was a bit if a nightmare, but the cleaning wasn’t as bad as I thought. I had the camera for about 7 months before it happened. Then it literally happened between subs, one sub was good, the next had a huge black mark 😱
@@RussellsAstrophotography Wow, that's a shame, but you did a fantastic job fixing it! :) I've got the 2600MC Pro myself, so will watch out for this! Have a great weekend! :)
Hi Russell! Good job on your astronomy videos! My ASI2600-MC has now done the 'oil on the sensor' 4 times now! I'm seriously getting tired of cleaning it off. Although I can do it, it is very tricky to do correctly without inadvertantly getting significant dust inside the sensor chamber. I use a bright led light source to show dust which helps but there seems to also be a luck factor involved. Also if the PCB board is loosened like ZWO recommends it can change the tilt of the sensor causing star shape variations on one side while imaging. I needed to carefully measure at the 4 corners of the sensor afterwards with a special micrometer relative to the mounting face... So I quit loosening the PCB board and just clean the sensor. I didn't see clearly exactly where the oil was coming from unless it's from the heat-sink patch behind being super saturated. I suspect there is significant sensor-heat that draws it up and over to the face of the sensor when turning off the cooling after imaging.
Hi James, thank you I’m glad you like the videos. Sorry to hear about your 2600mc pro, I know that it’s incredibly frustrating. I actually have a video that is going to be released tonight about a permanent solution (or what I hope is a permanent solution). I sent my camera to a ZWO partner in the UK who replaced the thermal pad. ZWO paid for the repair. I don’t think they are advertising this solution as it must be costing them a lot of money, but just so you know the option is available. I lots patients with their poor communication and requests for me to clean the sensor myself!
I hope you’ve managed to solve the issue. Check out my video later tonight, it might be of interest. Clear skies 👍
Hi Russell
Very good video of how to clean the oil problem.
I have just purchased this camera as of April 2022 and have only just been made aware of these potential problems?
The assurance from RVO, who I bought the camera from, that there was a 2 year warranty with the camera.
I personally would have been more inclined to send the camera back for them to do the repair under warranty?
I am not sure that I am skilled to do such repairs - never mind voiding the warranty if you make a mistake?
Do you think there is any legitimate reason for people to do these repairs by them self?
Apologies if this sounds negative, thanks for the information in - case I have to do a repair myself
Regards
Hi Keith,
The new cameras produced by ZWO will not have this issue, so if you purchased the camera new in 2022 you should be fine. This is an issue which only affects the older generation of 2600 cameras. ZWO have since changed production methods/materials and this should not affect the newer cameras.
At the time of publishing the video, cleaning the camera myself was the only option ZWO gave me. They would not replace the camera. Since this video, they now no longer suggest the "self clean" as they have realised it is not an affective fix. They now offer to replace any camera that has the leak with a new one...which they should have done from the begging IMO. I would not suggest anyone clean their own sensor as the issue is likely to return. ZWO will replace for new if anyone experiences the issue now.
Thanks for watching, I hope this makes sense.
Russell
Frustrating that astro companies can get away with this kind of treatment of customers
The same thing happened to my 2600 MC. I'm quite disappointed in ZWO's response. I have tons of their stuff $$$, but I decided not to get the ASIAir Plus, as a direct result. I'm not sure how much more ZWO stuff I want to buy. They should partner with North American & European camera service centers to deal with this properly in a clean room for no charge to owners, including shipping. The defective oil impregnated thermal pads need to be replaced with better ones & the sensor PCBA needs a thorough immersion cleaning to remove the oil. I'm also concerned about sensor tilt getting induced by the kitchen table surgery. At an embarrassingly bare minimum, they should send a free sensor cleaning kit and good quality replacement thermal pads that won't ooze more oil & make it happen again.
It is so frustrating when it happens...and it has just happened for a second time on my camera. I have emailed ZWO again but have not heard back. Yes, I agree it is very disappointing from ZWO and they should offer a free cleaning kit. Thanks for watching.
Bit disappointing Russell, maybe I'm in for this down the track. I really hope it doesn't continue to reoccur and yes that generic email is also a bit average to say the least.
Yeah pretty disappointed really, especially as it’s not a cheap camera! Their response was poor as well! Hopefully it doesn’t reoccur and also hopefully it doesn’t happen to you. I know lots of people have experienced it, but hopefully you get lucky 🤞
I have the asi1600mm cool I have had this issue .I also have the asi071MC Pro same thing .Plus the microlensing issue on the 1600 .My next purchase is going to be QHY
It is very poor from ZWO and very frustrating. I'm not surprised it's putting people off buying them
Thanks Russell, well explained! I have the 2600 mc pro, hopefully no problems yet🤞 but you made it look easy! Think I can cope with that if it comes to it! Hope it works ok again! Clear skies👍
Thanks Simon, I hope you don’t have experience this 🤞 but if you do It’s daily straightforward…a bit nerve wracking, but pretty easy! Make sure you check out Nicks video if you do get the leak!
Sorry to see the leak Russell. Glad you sorted it out, I’ll defo bookmark this just in case my 2600MC suffers the same. I’m in two minds now about getting a 2600MM as my 2nd cam.
great video and well put over.
Im glad you found it useful and thanks for watching. I will say that the 2600mm really is a fantastic camera and I’m really happy with it. Just be wary that this could very well happen if you do buy it 👍
Where does the oil originate from? Is it from silicon grease contamination during assembly, or is there a gasket issue causing this to contaminate the sensor? (Sorry, did a quick search and didn't really see this answer). Great Video, Thanks!
Yes its from the thermal pad. This was the full response I had from ZWO support:
Hi Russell,
We are so sorry about the trouble. We have looked into this problem and found this is the silicone grease from the Thermal Pad, this can be cleaned and it won't happen again after the cleaning. Please follow this guide to clean the camera.
astronomy-imaging-camera.com/manuals/How_to_clean_ASI_camera_and_redry_the_desiccants_EN_V1.2.pdf
Yikes. Resolution seemed easy enough, but unfortunate you had to do it in the first place. Good luck on the Bat and Squid! Not one I've targeted yet. Be prepared to put in at least 20 hours on O3 alone. Then again, that camera's so good, maybe you'll see details in the first sub LOL
Thanks Jonny 👍 haha I definitely didn’t see anything in the single subs!! I was worried I wasn’t pointing in the right place 😂 I’ve got about 10 hours of oiii so far and can see the squid which is a relief!
makes me second guess buying a 2600mm.. at least there is a solution for the issue.
It is a fantastic camera and the solution wasn’t as bad as it seems…just make sure you’re happy to clean the sensor if you do order one or maybe ask the retailer if they would clean it for you if it does happen? It might never happen, but there’s always the possibility.
I had the same issue with my 2600MC, literally 3 weeks after i brought it.. which i wasn;t too happy about.. Luckily, i guess i had the same problem with an older canon eos camera a few years ago. So i guess ive got some experience on cleaning sensors.
Sorry you had the same issue. My leak has returned twice now, however, I have been offered to have the thermal pad (where the oil is leaking from) replaced by a local retailer with ZWO covering the cost. It might be worth looking into this option.
Thanks for sharing!. I noticed last night that I have the same issue with my 1600 mm pro. In my case the problem ocure after three years.
Sorry you’ve had the issue, thankfully the cleaning process isn’t that tricky. I just hope your leak doesn’t return! It is very frustrating! Good luck with the sensor clean
Do you have the link to this product on Amazon? Going to prepare for this possibility. Thanks!
There were loads of kits available on Amazon. I just went for one that had the highest ratings. This was the one that I used. I hope you don’t need the 🤞
UES APSC-16 DSLR or SLR Digital Camera Sensor Cleaning Swabs for APS-C Type Sensors www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B01B0TX6UA/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_glt_fabc_67RJV21T7BBMM1XKWYJS?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1
Very informative video Russell and really glad you were able to take care of it!
Thanks Joe, I was about nervous, but it wasn’t as bad as I had thought
Great video! Thank you as I have just purchased this camera 1 week ago and should be getting it next week. About how many hours did you get before the oil showed up? I'm a Nikon guy and my D7100 camera had a oil leak problem that I had to clear the sensor so I'm lucky that I have all of the required tools to do the job.
Thank you, congrats on the new camera, it is fantastic. I hope you don’t have this issue. I had the camera for about 7-8 months with thousands of house of use before I experienced the leak.
Great video Russell, did you find out where the oil is coming from
Thanks Anthony. Zwo said “silicone grease from the Thermal Pad”. Seems like a very common issue for the 2600 series.
Just had this issue occur. I've ordered the cleaning swabs and will tackle the job in a few days. There is a video from High Point Scientific on this topic where they unscrew the sensor plate and swab the thermal pad behind the sensor to remove the excess thermal oil that's causing the issue. I'm going to go with this step as well so I hopefully only have to do it once.
Hi Russell, thanks for posting this, how long did you have your 2600mm pro before this happened ❓
Thanks for watching Olly, I had it for about 7-8 months before it happened. Then it literally happened between subs. One sub was clean, the next there was a big black mark 😱
@@RussellsAstrophotography Thanks for getting back, I guess it’s fingers crossed for me but at least I know what to do if it happens… love what you are doing on TH-cam 👍🏻
Terrifying indeed! Did ZWO or whichever supplier you purchased the camera from not offer to fix it? I have both the mm and mc versions of the camera. Imagine your video might come in very handy at some point. Many thanks, Des
I purchased it directly from ZWO when they were offering the pre-order discount. They didn’t offer to replace it even thought it’s under warranty. They just sent a two line email saying clean it and attached a pdf with instructions
@@RussellsAstrophotography That’s shocking. I’ll make sure never to buy directly from them. Hope the fix worked. Do we understand where the oil is leaking from and does it keep occurring on the same camera? It would be helpful to have the link to the cleaning kit you used please. Cheers, Des
@@desmcmorrow2978 I think because it’s happened so regularly on the 2600 cameras, they have stopped accepting returns etc. they just said that it’s “silicone grease from the Thermal Pad”. They said that it shouldn’t happen again after the first leak, however I’ve seen online a few people have had the issue more than once 😞…at least I know how to clean it now
Where di you pick up the cleaning pads?
I picked them up from Amazon. There are loads of similar ones available, I just went with a set that had good reviews. These were the ones I ordered: www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B01B0TX6UA/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o06_s00?ie=UTF8&th=1
The desiccant tablets how many watts in the microwave and how many minutes?
It just says on a medium heat for two minutes. These were the instructions I followed
astronomy-imaging-camera.com/manuals/How_to_clean_ASI_camera_and_redry_the_desiccants_EN_V1.2.pdf
@@RussellsAstrophotography thank you 😉
Thank you for the video. How do you store the camera between use?
You're welcome, thanks for watching. When it is not in use I store it inside in a plastic / dust proof box, inside the camera's carry case.
@@RussellsAstrophotography you might want to store it vertically (on its back, sensor pointing up). Gravity will keep any other oil from getting over the sensor.
Just had the the same issue the first time I used the camera :o(
Oh no, sorry to hear that. It is incredibly frustrating, I feel your pain. This week, I have finally got somewhere with ZWO. They didn’t respond to any email or submission on their website, however, they finally replied via Facebook and I think they have finally offered a solution.
They have told me to ship the camera to 365astronomy (their uk partner) who will clean the sensor and replace the faulty parts. Apparently, they are replacing the thermal pad and one other part (I’m not sure what). It seems like they have finally realized they have to do more than just telling customers to keep cleaning their sensors. I posted my camera two days ago, so I’ll keep you posted, I hope it solves the issue. Hopefully you can also get this agreed with ZWO.
@@RussellsAstrophotography Thanks for the update Russell, much appreciated. Steve
Don't forget to redo your flats.
Will do, thanks for watching 👍
@@RussellsAstrophotography Worthwhile to actually look at those flats carefully to see how well your cleaning worked (or if there are any remaining shadows)