New ZWO mono camera on the way?

[Spongey]

4 minutes ago, DaveS said:

Though I'm now a little confused as to the back focus

The backfocus of the 268M is 12.5mm. There is only one version (source).

There is an attached drawing on the astrograph page that only refers to the 600M and 17.5mm, if that is what is confusing you?

More info on adapters can be found on this page.

[DaveS]

No, what's confusing me is that in our emails Rupert said the BF was 23.5 with the QHY dovetail adaptor, which adds 6 mm to the nominal BF. I see that the colour version is 17.5mm. If the BF of the mono is 12.5mm, then I would be expecting 18.5mm with the adaptor. This will mean recalculating the spacers I will need.

If the 12.5 mm BF camera can be bolted directly to the FW (As the diagrams seem to imply) that will considerably reduce the possibility of vignetting with 36mm filters.

[Spongey]

The camera does not appear to have any dovetail adapter, as is present in the colour version. No photos I've seen of the camera seem to imply that there is. 

The camera can be bolted directly to the filter wheel, as seen in some of the above linked connection diagrams, similarly to the QHY600. 

With the QHYCFW3M-US (17.5mm thick), this gives a sensor to filter distance of 21.25mm, assuming the filter is centred in the filter wheel.

 

Edited January 11, 2021 by Spongey

[DaveS]

Well yes, but I was hoping to use my spare SX filter wheel with a 54mm adaptor plate. If the mono can only be used with a QHY FW that adds £300 to the cost, wiping out the pre-order saving.

[Spongey]

The 268M does ship with a bolt on M54 to M48 adapter as shown below.

This could be bolted to the front of the camera instead, but would take up an additional 5mm backfocus. Not sure if that helps you at all.

[DaveS]

It's not immediately obvious that the piece you've ringed can connect to the camera rather than the FW. I've left a question on the FB page you've linked to. Not everyone is using a MPCC with 48mm thread and 55mm BF.

But it's OK, as I'm in no raging hurry, quite prepared to look at the thing when it turns up and work out what I need then.

[Deeko]

I an hoping to be able to attach it directly to my ZWO 7x36mm FW.

[DaveS]

In any case I'm wondering if there's any longer any point in buying astro kit with this permacloud. UK amateur astronomy might be a thing of the past. Unless you can afford remote hosting.

[Deeko]

5 minutes ago, DaveS said:

In any case I'm wondering if there's any longer any point in buying astro kit with this permacloud. UK amateur astronomy might be a thing of the past. Unless you can afford remote hosting.

Yes, it has been very poor for the last year, I even thought about giving it up as the costs : enjoyment ratio were rock bottom last year, esp if you bought new kit! I have resolved to give it another year, if the climate and cloud cover is going down the trajectory of 2020 I will need to take up knitting or something else useful. 

[SamAndrew]

First half of the year was decent, but since then I've only managed 4 short sessions since June; it has been exceptionally bad and we are well overdue a good clear spell.

I will order a 268M, but closer to the end of the offer period as I don't mind getting one from a subsequent batch, assuming they may have discovered and resolved a few bugs in the interim.

[Starflyer]

Any rumors circulating about when ZWO will release their version?  I won't be an early adopter and I'm happy to wait a while and make the right purchase.

It's going to mean a new FW, filters and OAG so I'd rather get it right first time, there's also the fact that barely anything is available from stock these days.

[Spongey]

5 hours ago, Starflyer said:

Any rumors circulating about when ZWO will release their version?  I won't be an early adopter and I'm happy to wait a while and make the right purchase.

It's going to mean a new FW, filters and OAG so I'd rather get it right first time, there's also the fact that barely anything is available from stock these days.

They said in a Facebook post that the first units may ship in Feb, but without placing a pre-order you're not likely to get your hands on one until March / April I expect 

[Starflyer]

1 hour ago, Spongey said:

They said in a Facebook post that the first units may ship in Feb, but without placing a pre-order you're not likely to get your hands on one until March / April I expect 

Thanks for that.

Any opinions on quality, ZWO Vs QHY?  I had a QHY guide camera years ago, the camera was fine but the quality of the drivers left a lot to be desired.  I guess for them to still be around they must have upped their game significantly.

[Spongey]

8 minutes ago, Starflyer said:

Thanks for that.

Any opinions on quality, ZWO Vs QHY?  I had a QHY guide camera years ago, the camera was fine but the quality of the drivers left a lot to be desired.  I guess for them to still be around they must have upped their game significantly.

In recent days they seem to be very similar in terms of quality.

QHY are known for generally having better hardware and build quality, whereas ZWO are typically cheaper, but also have better customer support. This is possibly down to QHY being more scientifically oriented, and ZWO being firmly in the consumer market. 

The gap has certainly narrowed recently, and with this camera, QHY are in fact cheaper. Driver issues with QHY are pretty much a thing of the past from what I have heard.

[tooth_dr]

8 minutes ago, Starflyer said:

Thanks for that.

Any opinions on quality, ZWO Vs QHY?  I had a QHY guide camera years ago, the camera was fine but the quality of the drivers left a lot to be desired.  I guess for them to still be around they must have upped their game significantly.

I dont see any significant differences in either brand from my own personal experiences.   However given the discounts being offered now, I dont see any benefit to waiting another 2-3 months.

[Davey-T]

1 hour ago, tooth_dr said:

I dont see any significant differences in either brand from my own personal experiences.   However given the discounts being offered now, I dont see any benefit to waiting another 2-3 months.

Looking at the spec's of some colour cameras the QHY ones had deeper well depth than the equivalent ZWO versions.

Dave

[Spongey]

20 minutes ago, Davey-T said:

Looking at the spec's of some colour cameras the QHY ones had deeper well depth than the equivalent ZWO versions.

Dave

That is a good point.

In the latest crop of sensors (IMX455 and IMX571), QHY offer four different read modes compared to ZWO, who offer one. How useful these are depends entirely on your circumstances. If you image from dark skies you might benefit from the extended full well modes on offer.

[tooth_dr]

35 minutes ago, Spongey said:

That is a good point.

In the latest crop of sensors (IMX455 and IMX571), QHY offer four different read modes compared to ZWO, who offer one. How useful these are depends entirely on your circumstances. If you image from dark skies you might benefit from the extended full well modes on offer.

I don’t know how much of a difference if makes on reality. Check out Richard Sweeneys HH from 8 hours of data in the south of Ireland with a 2600MC - phenomenal 

[tomato]

38 minutes ago, tooth_dr said:

I don’t know how much of a difference if makes on reality. Check out Richard Sweeneys HH from 8 hours of data in the south of Ireland with a 2600MC - phenomenal 

Wow, that is indeed a breathtaking image. How much better can the mono camera be? I await the outcome with interest.

[gorann]

15 minutes ago, tomato said:

Wow, that is indeed a breathtaking image. How much better can the mono camera be? I await the outcome with interest.

Maybe not better all, also waiting to see..... Meanwhile I just unboxed a second ASI2600MC.

[tooth_dr]

17 minutes ago, gorann said:

Maybe not better all

Do you really think it will be no better at all?

[tomato]

17 minutes ago, tooth_dr said:

Do you really think it will be no better at all?

Experience and the science tell us it will be better, but by how much and at what cost re convenience and available imaging time? I suspect this one will run for a long time.

I want one of each.😊

 

[Davey-T]

1 hour ago, tomato said:

I want one of each.😊

That's just greedy, great talk BTW one of the best yet IMHO.

Dave

Edited January 11, 2021 by Davey-T

[gorann]

8 hours ago, tomato said:

Experience and the science tell us it will be better, but by how much and at what cost re convenience and available imaging time? I suspect this one will run for a long time.

I want one of each.😊

 

You should get one of each Steve so we all can find out if it is worth the trouble with filter wheels and dusty filters😉

[tomato]

24 minutes ago, gorann said:

You should get one of each Steve so we all can find out if it is worth the trouble with filter wheels and dusty filters😉

I would put the mono on one Esprit to take L all night long and the OSC on the other for RGB. Maybe I could sell a FW or even my Moravian 8300 to raise the funds?
Selling a CCD to buy a CMOS camera, could be the next chapter in DSO Astrophotography: Then and Now.😉