Sony DSLR Support for ASIair Pro

tobank

Is there any chance that Zwo will be adding support for Sony DSLRs? Only Canon and Nikon cameras are currently listed. Or is there a workaround?

PMTeam@ZWO

tobank wrote:

Is there any chance that Zwo will be adding support for Sony DSLRs? Only Canon and Nikon cameras are currently listed. Or is there a workaround?

Hello Sir, added to the todos, thank you.

balimester

Hi,
I just got my Asiair in shipment with a 120mm mini. Can't wait to try it. I'm using a MILC camera, the Sony A7iii. Do you think control features for Sony MILC cameras can be expected somewhen in the near future? Is there a timeframe?
Thanks!

Anima420

@asiair@zwo#36651 It has been 18 months since the initial request. Any update on when we will receive an update that will support Sony cameras? Or if we will ever receive one at all?
Sony is the second-largest shareholder of cameras with nearly 21%. While it isn't nearly as much as Canon (with 45%), you still support Nikon which has only 18% of the market share?
I just don't get why it's taking so long.
User "dougforpres" made an Ascom compatible driver already. Maybe he can help you guys out?
This community is all about helping each other and I am sure that he will be likely to help you guys out since a lot of people would benefit from it. GitHub for the Sony driver https://github.com/dougforpres/ASCOMSonyCameraDriver/wiki
The Sony Imaging Edge Remote works fine with all the cameras. And his driver is based on that software.
PLEASE keep us posted, I really want to use the Sony a7II after all this time.

PMTeam@ZWO

Sir, we'll always pay attention to Sony.

peter491

I just bought an ASIAIR PRO and wanted to use it with my Sony a7iii and now I find it won't connect because you don't support it. Please explain why? Your advertising states, "allows you to control all ASI USB 3.0 cameras, ASI Mini series cameras, and Mainstream DSLR cameras". If it doesn't support Sony, this is false and misleading. Or are you asserting Sony is not mainstream? In your ZWO cameras, you use Sony components, so please explain to us all why you have excluded Sony? I think it's time you make good, because you can't sell products using false advertising. Maybe Sony should stop supplying you components until you make good.

wvreeven

peter491 Support for DSLR cameras is complicated since most manufacturers do not open their software for third party developers. If one camera of a vendor, say Sony, is supported then it doesn’t automatically mean that ALL cameras of that vendor are supported since the software on a camera usually is very different from the software of other cameras, even of the same vendor and even from previous versions of cameras of the same line!

All DSLR camera support is done by GPhoto and ZWO adopts that in ASIAir. So, if GPhoto supports the Sony a7iii then ASIAir may too. In other words, try and find out if your camera is supported by GPhoto and let ZWO know. That way you actually help improving this great product.

ZWO state “most of the mainstream DSLRs” and apparently your camera doesn’t fulfill that criterium. There is no false advertising there. Just a misunderstanding on your side.

In the mean time you may want to point your wrath at Sony for not opening up their software instead.

Swizerlan

peter491 You have got to be kidding me. Did you look at the list of supported dslr’s? Peter for the sake of cringe think before you post.

Swizerlan

wvreeven all we really need is control over the dslr intervalometer port. You could plate solve and autoguide through the guide cam.

peter491

I have been in touch with Sony and ZWO. Sony have produced the SDK and made it available in 2020. Sam (the Director) of ZWO said they will try to see if they can make it work for the ASIAir range, so a win-win for Sony and ZWO consumer. I have since ordered ZWO cameras and will use my Sony as a second camera once Sam has made it available. Thank you Sam!

dagerber

I would really appreciate Sony Mirrorless camera support for my portable setup.

Manos

I am buying an asiar pro and i hope that soon Sony mirrorless cameras will be supported,

Lain402

Manos
Hope springs eternal

- Alexander Pope

grimstod

Here is a hack slash work around for getting non supported cameras to work. This is with an Olympus Camera. https://youtu.be/4Cyexn86PEo

mferrocosta

I also expect support for Sony Cameras, Sony Alfa 7sii. I am tired of workarounds. Things that are suposed to work but don't. I will buy when we have support. Celestron Skysync and Skyq do not work. APT seems an alpha software concept. I just want something easy with livestacking without having to buy redundant stuff

duardito

I just bought asiair plus, I expect to see someday support for Sony a73.

agent-orange

Any update on this?

peter491

Swizerlan As it happens, v2.1 now includes Sony because of me contacting the directors of both Sony and ZWO.

abaylus

Swizerlan This seems so simple - I can use my external intervalometer to perform this and it cost under 10% of the ASIAIR+ did. There is no reason that they can not activate the DSLR port to control cameras using the universal format. Give some of the functionality back to the end users. Use the guide camera for plate solving.

It is almost just as easy to run my Polemaster (not ASIAIR supported) and PHD 2 on my laptop then only getting half of the features on the ASIAIR.

atan

I own the Benro Polaris and it uses GPhoto library to connect cameras including the Sony A7iii.

Swizerlan

abaylus yea im not sure why this continues to receive silence. We just need one change to the camera connection screen that says intervalometer only. Then we should be able to ask that plate solving be done at the guide camera. It would then be up to the user to manually focus the dslr in live view and to manually store data on the dslr. Simple concept!

Lain402

Swizerlan
Think about this: if all DSLR could be used with the ASIAIR how many people would buy their dedicated astro-camera ? The less the ASIAIR support third party cameras the more potential buyers maybe purchasing a ZWO camera. I doubt they will change this business model anytime soon.