ZW Optical ASI120MC Unboxing and eventually First Light.

[StuW]

Hi all

I recently started looking around for a new camera for guiding and Planetary / Lunar but couldn't afford the current favorite, the DMK. Researching around various forums and good old Google I came across the cameras from ZW Optical. Their current most sensitive they have (reportedly ~75%QE) are the ASI120MM and ASI 120MC being Mono and 12bit Colour respectively both being $298 or £188 with current exchange rates.

I chose the the colour version as I didn't want to need to buy colour filters at a later date. I ordered on 9th Nov and the package was delivered to day on the 15th Nov, so great service considering the distance it had to travel.

The package came by DHL Express.

inside was another grey bag with some Asian writing on.

Inside that bag was a box with an image of the camer on.

Inside the box was the camera itself in a flawless anodized red with an already fitted 150 degree lens , A 1.8m USB lead, an M42 -> 1.25" nosepiece and a 1.25" IR filter.

A closer look at the camera and lens itself.

I thought I'd been very lucky not to get customs charges until I looked at the copy of the export invoice.

Well, that;s the unboxing, all I need now is a clear night when I'm not working for first light....

[ronin]

Post updates on the camera, I saw them a few months back and wondered what they were like.

Their web site is a bit strange.

Yours by their naming convention should be 1.2 mega pixels,

The page for it under their Online Shop say 2 mega pixels:

http://www.aliexpress.com/store/product/ZWO-Astronomy-Camera-ASI120MM-Free-shipping/311206_647449237.html

Under the ZO Optical page it says Max Resolution 0.35 mega pixels under the heading Specification:

http://www.zwoptical.com/Eng/Cameras/ASI120/index.asp

Hope you get images like Saturn and Jupiter as on the first link.

[StuW]

Well, managed to get first light tonight on M57 and Jupiter.

M57, no guiding, no polar alignment, 10x20sec, 9 darks stacked in Registax 6, curves and stuff in CS6

Jupiter with Ganymede on the limb of the disk Io further out and the GRS.

2xbarlow, 1min of 21fps, best 40% stacked in Registax and colour boosted a tad in CS6

[JamesF]

That's a nice image of Jupiter.

James

[astrofox]

Thats a cracking start. Well done

[StuW]

Thanks Fredrick and James. The camera is a serious competitor to the DFK/DMK cameras for less £. I'm very happy.

[JamesF]

You do appear to have bought the only colour one they had, though

James

[bus_ter]

These Micro CMOS sensors are starting to popup all over the place. The new neximage 5 (£250 to buy here) uses a slightly higher end model than this.

[michael.h.f.wilkinson]

Interesting stuff. I was having a look at these (or the mono 130) myself for solar work (1/2" chip). They are very cheap indeed compared to the DMKs

[StuW]

A bit more processing... maybe a little too much??

[themos]

Cross reference a discussion on the ASI 130MM

[bus_ter]

Lots of detail. Would be good to see a direct comparison with one of the popular cameras. It could be the perfect step up from a Webcam without having to spend hundreds!

[Hairycamel]

_{I like what I have seen with yours, and what I have read about them so I have taken the plunge and ordered one this morning! (Hope I have the same customs dec !)}

[zakkhogan]

Stu, hpw much was the customs in the end, if you dont mind me asking

[michael.h.f.wilkinson]

Mine should arrive tomorrow. Fingers crossed.

[StuW]

Stu, hpw much was the customs in the end, if you dont mind me asking

Nothing, They put it down as a $15 webcam.

Sent from my HTC One X using Tapatalk 2

[michael.h.f.wilkinson]

My 130MM just arrived without extra charges as well.

[jambouk]

I'm thinking about this camera. Damian Peach is now using one, but the mono version.

James

[alcol620]

Hi Guys

Long time since your posts, are these webcams still in use and are they to be recommended?

[JamesF]

Lots of people are using the cameras, yes.  I don't think there's much to compete with them for the money.

James

[alcol620]

Thanks everyone for input. This is my next buy, after a bit more practice with the imager I currently have. V good price especially if it comes duty free!

[tekkydave]

Here's an image of Jupiter I took with mine on my 127Mak.

[Robertt]

Just a word of warning I bought an ASI 120MC from the site in hong kong ordered it on friday came monday very qiuck but a whopping £73.00 VAT and Import duty to pay before delivery.

But still pleased with the camera. but a lot poorer!!

[northcanadian]

Hi all:

I ordered the mono ZWO, complete with filters and filter wheel.  Should be arriving in the next week or two hopefully.  I believe the total was $591.00 Canadian (with taxes). 

Cheers

Roger

[Joseki]

I just got mine - ASI120MM with filter wheel & filters (unexpected loss of webcam prompted an early upgrade).  Also got a large import tax bill to pay - about £73 I think, which I wasn't expecting.  Perhaps it's because 365 are stocking them?  Nice kit though, I can't wait to try it out (if the weather ever improves).