ZWO driver used with MGEN3 autofocusser

Moorefam

I use MGEN3 autofocusser by means of the MGEN.APP in conjunction with Sharpcap 32 bit version to provide dithering with my ZWO ASI2600MM and ZWO ASI2600MC cameras. The ZWO driver however only allows up to a maximum gain of 100 but the cameras have a maximum gain of 650. This means that I am unable to plate solve or auto focus as I need the higher gain with corresponding short exposure times to make these functions practical. Someone at ZWO needs to amend the driver to reset the maximum gain to 650. This will make the use of MGEN3 in conjunction with Sharpcap much more useful. This is more of a request to ZWO than anything else.

Tech@ZWO

Moorefam We limit the gain range to 0-100. When Gain=100, the readout noise will drop a lot but the dynamic range will still be in a high standard, but with the increase of gain, the readout noise will not drop significantly, but the dynamic range will drop dramatically, so we limit the gain to 100.

w7ay

Moorefam I use MGEN3 autofocusser

You might ask the folks at SharpCap to see what they can do.

The ASI2600 is capable of a larger gain range on INDIGO -- this is a view of the INDIGO dashboard, with an INDIGO Sky [Raspberry Pi 4] server connected to the ASI2600MC:

The max gain appears to be 700. When I try to set the gain to higher than 700, INDIGO changes the gain to 700. That being said, even 600 (equals to 60 dB or a voltage gain of 1000) is already a huge amount of gain.

It is possible that SharpCap is reluctant to push the gain higher than 100 because the hot pixels become too obvious (both of my ASI2600 are already pretty bad at gain of 100).

Other camera manufacturers use the industrial grade version of the IMX571 which may tolerate higher gains, depending on how Sony sorts their devices. As far as I can tell, ZWO is using the commercial grade of the IMX571 sensor in the ASI2600.

Chen

w7ay

@tech@zwo#54369 with the increase of gain, the readout noise will not drop significantly

Please read his request again. Moorefam@ is not asking for lower read noise, he wants to use short exposures. To use short exposures, he needs higher gain.

Chen

Moorefam

Basically I need higher gain for narrrow band imaging and for auto focussing which needs exposure lengths of about 1 sec for practical use therefore higher gain. Also it would really help to be able to adjust RGB colour intensities as I can with Sharpcap as otherwise I am getting green images. I am on the point of thinking of selling MGEN as it isn't much use with astronomical cameras only with DSLR's and Lacerta tell me they have no influence with ZWO to get the drivers undated. It is most frustrating as also I can only dither using MGEN on any gain setting of 100 or less and this is another serious issue.

w7ay

Moorefam I am on the point of thinking of selling MGEN

Why not sell the ASI2600 instead?

Chen

Moorefam

Because I have a 2600MC and a 2600MM that cost a lot of money. I haven't had them long.