Jump to content

SkySurveyBanner.jpg.21855908fce40597655603b6c9af720d.jpg

New ZWO mono camera on the way?


Spongey

Recommended Posts

2 hours ago, tomato said:

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.😉

This month I have sold an ATIK460Ex mono CCD and bought my second ASI2600MC CMOS OSC. It took me half a year to find a buyer for the CCD while I could only find one company that had the CMOS in stock......

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Has anyone gone for the pre-order of the QHY268M yet? How long does the pre-order price last? The UK price for pre-order price from Astrograph.net (1799 GBP) seems much better than what I can see on EU sites like TS. Is it only Astrograph.net selling it in the UK? Never bought anything from them. Are they OK? I assume no one has seen the ASI2600MM on pre-order yet. Maybe I am getting tempted.......

Link to comment
Share on other sites

6 minutes ago, gorann said:

Has anyone gone for the pre-order of the QHY268M yet? How long does the pre-order price last? The UK price for pre-order price from Astrograph.net (1799 GBP) seems much better than what I can see on EU sites like TS. Is it only Astrograph.net selling it in the UK? Never bought anything from them. Are they OK? I assume no one has seen the ASI2600MM on pre-order yet. Maybe I am getting tempted.......

I have been discussing with Bernard from Modern Astronomy, and have a place in line for the 268M. I've yet to actually part with the funds, as it is yet to be put on the website.

I believe Astrograph and Modern Astronomy are the only UK based QHY vendors.

The pre order price is valid until January 31st. 

I've yet to see the 2600MM available to pre-order in the UK (TS have it on their website but it looks incredibly expensive!).

It is a very tempting camera... :D

Edited by Spongey
  • Thanks 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

I have a pre-order in from Astrograph, even before it went up on the site. The kit I've bought from Rupert is worth a small car. Actually more than a small car. Would trust them completely.

  • Thanks 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

I Clicked on the link to the Astrograph site last week and ended up buying a discounted 163M that they had on offer with a free filter wheel instead! (only 1 at that price, assume it was a customer return)

I will get in touch with Bernard and express my interest as well.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Now listed on ModernAstronomy's website.

It states that stock will be arriving every week so looks like production of this camera is ramping up!

EDIT: Looks like Sam got there just before me ;) 

Edited by Spongey
Link to comment
Share on other sites

I'm tempted to buy the QHY268M but I don't know enough about Mono, I've got no idea how to set up filter wheels etc. and do flats for each filter etc. as well as what to get / then there's added costs involved buying the filters and filter wheel. But I am very tempted to just go for it, I could dip my toes in by just doing mono imaging for a while until I can figure everything out and buy what I need to do colour imaging at a later date. 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

You can certainly get a single threaded filter to start with, probably Ha or Luminance, and do without the filter wheel initially - you could combine this with colour data from a DLSR, although you really should jump in and get a wheel as well.

The QHY cameras don't come with the spacers required out of the box, so that's another added expense.

There is a fairly big step up from using a DSLR, once you add a filter wheel you will need to refocus for each filter, so an autofocuser becomes essential, and then the post processing gets more complicated. Well worth it, I wouldn't go back :)

Link to comment
Share on other sites

2 minutes ago, SamAndrew said:

The QHY cameras don't come with the spacers required out of the box

The QHY268M will be shipped with all adapters necessary to reach 55mm backfocus, when using one of the QHY filter wheels (source). 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Assumes: a) that you need 55mm BF, b) that you are using the QHY wheel, c) you need 48mm thread.

My 130mm apo needs 88mm with the TS flattener, but 74mm with the APM-Riccardi reducer, while my 80mm f/4.4 needs a very precise 73mm from the built in flattener. And only the adaptor for the APM reducer is 48mm, the TS flattener is 69mm (Yes, NOT 68mm), and the 80mm f/4.4 is 68mm. Plus I want to use the spare SX wheel I have kicking around.

I'm still trying to work out exactly what I will need.

Edited by DaveS
Link to comment
Share on other sites

2 minutes ago, DaveS said:

Assumes: a) that you need 55mm BF, b) that you are using the QHY wheel, c) you need 48mm thread.

This is true, and I apologise if I didn't make those assumptions clear in my comment.

It sounds like you have a more specialised case though, and may require custom adapters :undecided:

Link to comment
Share on other sites

TS (If they are delivering to the UK) do an adaptor from 69mm to 68mm, plus 68mm to 54mm. I can get 54 and 48mm plates for the SX wheel. They also have a "Massive Variable" 48mm extension, plus Astrograph have several 48mm and 68mm extenders.

It's a matter of working out the correct combination. I may end up putting a QHY268C on the little 'scope with a filter holder, for which I already have spacings worked out. I had been thinking the QHY268M would have the same dovetail ring as the colour version, which has thrown my calculations into the bin.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

10 minutes ago, DaveS said:

I had been thinking the QHY268M would have the same dovetail ring as the colour version, which has thrown my calculations into the bin.

That is a fair assumption and understandably frustrating in your circumstances.

However, I think it is a positive design decision as the additional backfocus will certainly help some people with their systems, and also allows the filters to be placed closer to the sensor, allowing e.g. the use of 36mm filters for moderately fast optics.

Edited by Spongey
Link to comment
Share on other sites

1 minute ago, Spongey said:

However, I think it is a positive design decision as the additional backfocus will certainly help some people with their systems, and also allows the filters to be placed closer to the sensor, allowing e.g. the use of 36mm filters for moderately fast systems.

That is true, and has me considering if I want to stump up the difference for a QHY wheel. Given that I will need to order a couple of 54mm plates as well as a 36mm wheel for the SX, it might not be enough of a saving as might be thought. Plus I may need a 48mm plate if I cannot get a stuck ring off the one I already have.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

would any of this be easier with the 2600M ? I only ask because afaik the 2600C comes with the correct spacing out of the box whereas the colour 268 doesn't ? 

Just wondering if the 2600 M would be easier re spacing etc.?

Link to comment
Share on other sites

2 minutes ago, smr said:

would any of this be easier with the 2600M ? I only ask because afaik the 2600C comes with the correct spacing out of the box whereas the colour 268 doesn't ? 

Just wondering if the 2600 M would be easier re spacing etc.?

It comes down to what 'correct' spacing is for you and your set up. As I linked above QHY provide spacers for M48 55mm backfocus systems. I'm unsure of what is included with the ZWO camera. 

Each circumstance is different and every setup has different requirements. The best course of action would be to figure out what you need, and then look at the options and who provides what. 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

What I do not understand is why the price for the ASI version is so very much higher,  2895 Euro = 2620 GBP on pre-order from TS with delivery 15 March.  That is more expensive than the colour version at TS (2486 Euro). By contrast, the British dealers sell the QHY mono version even cheaper than the colour version, and for nearly 900 pounds less than the ASI at TS.

Maybe someone at FLO @FLO can enlighten us what is going on and when they will start taking pre-orders for the ASI2600MM and what the UK price will be.

To add to the price confusion, OPT in San Diego sells the QHY268M for $2,095 and the ASI2600MM for $2,280, so less than 200 GBP difference

Edited by gorann
Link to comment
Share on other sites

55 minutes ago, gorann said:

What I do not understand is why the price for the ASI version is so very much higher,  2895 Euro = 2620 GBP on pre-order from TS with delivery 15 March.  That is more expensive than the colour version at TS (2486 Euro). By contrast, the British dealers sell the QHY mono version even cheaper than the colour version, and for nearly 900 pounds less than the ASI at TS.

Maybe someone at FLO @FLO can enlighten us what is going on and when they will start taking pre-orders for the ASI2600MM and what the UK price will be.

To add to the price confusion, OPT in San Diego sells the QHY268M for $2,095 and the ASI2600MM for $2,280, so less than 200 GBP difference

I think it would safer to remove taxes from any price comparison between countries :)  2895 € includes 19% of German VAT. 20% for the UK. As for US prices, they generally do not display any sales tax at all, so not comparable to EU prices!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

8 minutes ago, Space Oddities said:

I think it would safer to remove taxes from any price comparison between countries :)  2895 € includes 19% of German VAT. 20% for the UK. As for US prices, they generally do not display any sales tax at all, so not comparable to EU prices!

German and UK tax are essentially the same. My US comparison was just to compare the two brands under the same tax.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

On the Astrograph site they list the normal prices of the colour version as £2069, and the mono as £2099, so only slightly higher. Both are currently on offer. I would not be surprised to see the colour version match the mono after the offer. Astrograph are now mainly QHY dealers.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now
  • Recently Browsing   0 members

    • No registered users viewing this page.
×
×
  • Create New...

Important Information

We have placed cookies on your device to help make this website better. You can adjust your cookie settings, otherwise we'll assume you're okay to continue. By using this site, you agree to our Terms of Use.