Any Reviews of the ASI290MC Camera?

russm

Hi,

I'm new to the ZWO user's group. But I wanted to ask is anyone knows of a review of the new ASI290MC camera. I've just ordered one for May delivery. I presently have an Imaging Source DMK21AU04.AS. I'm looking forward to color imaging of the Moon and planets.

Best Regards,

Russ

riklaunim

It's a new camera so most people will get it just like you. It should be similar to ASI224MC so it will be way better than old DMK21AU04. The end result will also depend on telescope, seeing, and object altitude, filter used etc. ;)

russm

Thanks for the reply!

I'm really looking forward to getting that new camera. From what I've seen of the ASI224MC it should do a good job. If the ASI290MC is better than the DMK camera, I'll be quite happy. The larger sensor and smaller pixels will make centering the subject planet much easier. I will just be using whatever filter comes with the camera. Most often I'll be using a Celestron-11 @ 2900 mm (without Barlow). The small pixels of the 290 camera gives a nice 1.9X sampling. If I experience excellent seeing (which is very rare), a Barlow would up that to 3.9X.

With the old mono camera, I never got into the use of filters for color imaging. Here's the best I was able to do:

http://www.dpreview.com/forums/post/57490708

I'm hoping the color camera won't be too inferior to what a mono camera could produce. The one shot color method has improved over the years. So I'm looking forward to seeing what results.

Thanks again for getting back to me.

Best Regards,

Russ

riklaunim

ASI290MC and ASI224MC don't have IR/UV cut built in so you will need that for visual light imaging. For Uranus/Neptune (and some lunar) you can use infrared passing filter - to get some detail.

As for optimal f/ratio - 2,9 pixels will be maxed out somewhere around f/16-f/23.

russm

riklaunim wrote:
ASI290MC and ASI224MC don't have IR/UV cut built in so you will need that for visual light imaging. For Uranus/Neptune (and some lunar) you can use infrared passing filter - to get some detail.

As for optimal f/ratio - 2,9 pixels will be maxed out somewhere around f/16-f/23.

Thanks for the information. I'll include an IR/UV filter in my order. I do want something over the sensor that's easier to clean.

russm

riklaunim wrote:
ASI290MC and ASI224MC don't have IR/UV cut built in so you will need that for visual light imaging. For Uranus/Neptune (and some lunar) you can use infrared passing filter - to get some detail.

As for optimal f/ratio - 2,9 pixels will be maxed out somewhere around f/16-f/23.

I just got some good news from ZWO Optics in China. They have shipped my new ASI290MC color video camera and UV/IR cut filter. It should be here within a week. I just ordered the filter tonight with a note to ship it with the camera. Almost immediately I got a message from Vanessa at ZWO saying they had a few units of the new camera ready for shipment, and I would be getting one. I'm excited. Now if I can just get my mitts on one of ZWO's atmospheric dispersion correctors.... That one is supposed to ship before the end of this month from High Point Scientific. I had better get on the ball and start learning how to use Firecapture camera control software and Autostakkert!2 processing software. Will the weather cooperate?

bigappleskies

RussM wrote:
Hi,

I'm new to the ZWO user's group. But I wanted to ask is anyone knows of a review of the new ASI290MC camera. I've just ordered one for May delivery. I presently have an Imaging Source DMK21AU04.AS. I'm looking forward to color imaging of the Moon and planets.

Best Regards,

Russ

There is a recent review of the 290MM here: http://www.cloudynights.com/topic/533121-asi-290mcmm-yet-another-new-camera-from-zwo/?p=7193133