New ASI 385 uncooled camera test report

xs_man

Hi all,

Hi Sam, ;)

I've received the new gem from ZWO, the ASI 385 camera with new IMX385 Sony

sensor. It's an uncooled version. IMX385 is the big brother of IMX224,

nearly same sensitivity but a greater field of view. Resolution is 1936x1096

(2.1 Mpixels), size 3.75 microns.

1- Presentation :

In the white carton box are included the classical ZWO accessories :

–Camera Body

–2 m long ST4 guider cable

–1.25″ Cover

–M42-1.25″ T-Mount

–2 m long USB3.0 cable

–Driver & Extra Software CD (Mac, PC&Linux Compatible)

My testing camera was equiped with an Ir-cut filter in front of sensor.

Cool for the classical RVB use but not adequate if we want to add the

Infra-red part of spectrum or use the sensor as a monochrome sensor

with an Ir-pass filter. So I've replaced it with the clear window coming

from my ASI 224.

2- Software :

Now only Firecapture v 2.6 Beta is able to fully support ASI 385.

During my first tests I have 1 or 2 crashes but all camera features seems

to work fine : frame rate, camera settting, SER video recording. So I guess

there's little bugs to fix for Firecapture.

SharCap 3.0 supports only the use with ASCOM protocol. Enough for autoguiding

but not complete for planetary/lunar/ DSO imaging. I hope that SharpCap

will be soon updated.

3- Compared field of view :

Here is the main strength of IMX 385 sensor compared to IMX 224 : a larger

filed of view. Here is a comparison between 3 sensor based on same technology

(3.75 micron FSI Exmor) but different generations :

IMX185 : 1945x1225 (2.4 Mpix)

IMX224 : 1305x977 (1.3 Mpix)

IMX385 : 1936x1096 (2.1 Mpix)

IMX 385 is 16/9e format size like IMX 290. You love or you hate ! Here I use

a view with Saturn and its main moons. Made with my 300 mm telescope and ASI

185. Even if "old" IMX 185 has the larger field of view, IMX385 losts

only a few part of the field compared to IMX224. So IMX385 will be a great

sensor for Jupiter/Saturn with Moons "familly pictures". Moreover for

lunar or large DSO targets, a larger field of view is always a good news,

believe me !

4- Maximum frame rate :

Here I choose cameras with same sensors (IMX385/IMX224/IMX185) for comparison :

Even if ASI 224 keeps it's leadership for framerate, ASI 385 shows

an excellent level, a little better than ASI 185. Considering the minimum

image sampling necessary in planetary high resolution imaging applied to a

color sensor, these values are easily operable and well staged, to my opinion.

I previously use ASI 185 for Jupiter/Saturn imaging and I was satisfied

with the available framerates. Even for Mars, 267 fps with 640x480 ROI

was enough !

5- Readout Noise :

On the paper, readout noise of IMX385 is close to IMX224.

I apologize, I tried to extract noise informations from Offset/Flats/Darks but

I do not succeed. The results are not correct, values are too low. I don't

understand, I use the great ISIS software and I previously have obtained correct

values for IMX174. But for an IMX174 monochrome sensor, not a color one...

So I guess I made a mistake when testing ASI 385 color, but I don't know what ?

6- Amp Glow :

Here is the main strength of IMX385 compared to IMX185. For IMX185, "heavy" Amp

Glow signal was impossible to manage efficiently. QHYCCD works to reduce it and

find a solution that remove a part of it. But the remainder was not enough

reduced to be easily managed for faint DSO targets imaging.

Now, on new ASI 385, an efficient anti-amp glow system is implemented. Amp Glow

is greatly reduced and the preview images are very clean. Remainder is very low,

even without using darks in short exposure DSO.

Here is a comparison with ASI 224, I have the old version, without the anti-amp

glow system. On ASI 385, the circuit is switched on at 1 second exposure.

Now a very quick test on NGC 7331 with 5 sec exposure :

7- First test :

I received the camera 3 days ago and I only have few minutes to make a test

"on sky" because clouds quickly "win the battle". Result is not up to it. I will

wait for a decent night and decent images.

My first impression is that image is very clean and that even in DSO imaging, we

may forget the darks. But I have to perform further testing to be sure, especially

for faint DSO objects.

First conclusions :

This is only a quick review but in my opinion, ASI 385 is very convincing

synthesis between ASI 224 and ASI 185. For sure a great multipurpose camera :

planetary / lunar / DSO short exposure imaging. For sure I will keep ASI 385

and sell ASI 224 for my own use. It's more suitable with my 300/400 mm telescopes

and the anti-amp glow circuit is key feature for DSO imaging.

I only find too little drawbacks :

- Ir-cut window to be replaced by clear window. Easy to change.

- I'm a perfectionist but my wish would be to reduce a little bit the 1 second

threshold to activate amp glow circuit. In a perfect world, I would choose

500 ms. More adequate value for the bright planetary nebulas. I don't

know if it's possible or not and easy to implement ?

a - LONG EXPOSURE DARKS AT LOW GAIN :

b - SHORT/MEDIUM EXPOSURE DARKS AT HIGH GAIN :

Now I wait for clear skies... wink.gif

FIRST IMAGES WITH ASI 385 :

http://zwoug.org/viewtopic.php?f=22&t=7575

http://zwoug.org/viewtopic.php?f=24&t=7540

~~Albéric~~

Sam@ZWO

nice review, we will try to activate the anti-amp-glow circuit at 500ms

xs_man

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tareqphoto

How do you compare this camera to ASI290?

xs_man

TareqPhoto wrote:
How do you compare this camera to ASI290?

Hi,

I have a QHY5III 290 M but it's a mono camera so comparison with color ASI 385 will not be useful.

Considering lower readout noise of IMX385 compared to IMX 290 color sensor, I will choose

IMX385 because, now, the anti-amp glow remove main part of the parasitic glow. It was before

the main advantage of IMX 290 BSI sensor when used in short exposure DSO.

Albéric

xs_man

First image with ASI 385 :

http://zwoug.org/viewtopic.php?f=22&t=7535

Albéric

tareqphoto

I was meaning the color version of ASI290 , and i wanted the comparison for planetary imaging, not for DSO astrophotography.

xs_man

First test on Moon :

http://zwoug.org/viewtopic.php?f=24&t=7540&p=15308#p15308

Albéric

tareqphoto

So when this camera hits the markets? i feel i want to buy one and i don't want to wait anymore tests, i will use it for planets not DSO, so i won't have much judgement about quality or noise, the test is already good.

xs_man

New test with 5 seconds exposures on NGC7331 galaxy, here :

https://zwoug.org/viewtopic.php?f=22&t=7553

TareqPhoto wrote:
So when this camera hits the markets? i feel i want to buy one and i don't want to wait anymore

tests, i will use it for planets not DSO, so i won't have much judgement about quality or noise, the test is already good.

Only Sam can answer to this question ?

Albéric

tareqphoto

In all cases i can't get this camera this year, so i will wait until next year, in all cases i will buy a planetary scope next year, so no need to rush about this camera, i was planning to buy 224MC and 290MC for planetary, but with this camera i think i don't need both, this camera will be like a combination of both i hope.

xs_man

TareqPhoto wrote:
In all cases i can't get this camera this year, so i will wait until next year, in all cases i will buy a planetary scope next year, so no need to rush about this camera, i was planning to buy 224MC and 290MC for planetary, but with this camera i think i don't need both, this camera will be like a combination of both i hope.

Here it is :

https://fr-fr.facebook.com/commerce/products/1719644261440430/?fref=mentions

https://fr-fr.facebook.com/commerce/products/1601295129927194/?fref=mentions

Albéric

tareqphoto

XS_MAN wrote:
TareqPhoto wrote:In all cases i can't get this camera this year, so i will wait until next year, in all cases i will buy a planetary scope next year, so no need to rush about this camera, i was planning to buy 224MC and 290MC for planetary, but with this camera i think i don't need both, this camera will be like a combination of both i hope.

Here it is :

https://fr-fr.facebook.com/commerce/products/1719644261440430/?fref=mentions

https://fr-fr.facebook.com/commerce/products/1601295129927194/?fref=mentions

Albéric

Thank you very much!

xs_man

New test : planetary nebula NGC 6905 ;)

http://zwoug.org/viewtopic.php?f=22&t=7565

Albéric

xs_man

Better version of NGC6905 : ;)

http://zwoug.org/viewtopic.php?f=22&t=7575

Albéric

tareqphoto

Pity, i wanted to see planets images from this camera, but i only see DSO images :(

privateer

I just purchased this camera Dec 5 2017. I want to use it along side my ASI290MM and also use it to align my ADC. Mars is going to be super close this summer and I hope this camera works well with my C11. Thoughts?

Ben

xs_man

Weather conditions are very bad and impossible to go on with further tests.

Here I added an "old" picture of Janssen with ASI 385 :

privateer wrote:
I just purchased this camera Dec 5 2017. I want to use it along side my ASI290MM and also use it to align my ADC. Mars is going to be super close this summer and I hope this camera works well with my C11. Thoughts?

Ben

Hello Ben,

Of course ASI 385 will be perfect for Mars. Use ROI (Region of Interest) to reduce the size of image and increase the frame rate. Mars is a shiny planet and supports 250 to 300 fps with F/D ratio 20 to 25 and a high gain.

Albéric

tareqphoto

XS_MAN wrote:
Weather conditions are very bad and impossible to go on with further tests.

Here I added an "old" picture of Janssen with ASI 385 :

privateer wrote:I just purchased this camera Dec 5 2017. I want to use it along side my ASI290MM and also use it to align my ADC. Mars is going to be super close this summer and I hope this camera works well with my C11. Thoughts?

Ben

Hello Ben,

Of course ASI 385 will be perfect for Mars. Use ROI (Region of Interest) to reduce the size of image and increase the frame rate. Mars is a shiny planet and supports 250 to 300 fps with F/D ratio 20 to 25 and a high gain.

Albéric

Nice result!

What about another planets such as Jupiter and Saturn and Venus? Uranus maybe? is this camera much capable than 290 and 224 for those?

I don't care much about its noise performance as i won't use this camera or alike for DSO, i want only planetary or Solar/Lunar camera, i mean Solar system, sure if it is a big brother of 224 then it is capable for that, but how much better is what i think about.

xs_man

Nice result!

What about another planets such as Jupiter and Saturn and Venus? Uranus maybe? is this camera much capable than 290 and 224 for those?

I don't care much about its noise performance as i won't use this camera or alike for DSO, i want only planetary or Solar/Lunar camera, i mean Solar system, sure if it is a big brother of 224 then it is capable for that, but how much better is what i think about.

Hi Tareq,

One night, I planned to test ASI 385 on Uranus and Neptune but clouds

came quickly and session was finished !

From my experience on both ASI 185 and ASI 224 plus these tests on Moon/bright DSO,

I'm sure that ASI 385 will be a great choice for planetary use. Both for RVB color

images or for Infra-Red imaging with an Ir-pass filter. And good for all planets as it's

possible to chose between large field (Jupiter and Saturn with their moons) or very

close field (using ROI for Mars, Venus, Uranus, Nepture).

Albéric

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