I don't think you can be accused of missing anything out Ruz, and you've clearly spent time getting to know the camera well before giving your thoughts, good stuff mate :)
Have the colour version of this and, yup, everything was spot on. From the amp glow to the dew/frost on the sensor window (making that aftermarket heater almost a necessity in certain high humidity locations like mine). Still, wouldn't trade it for the world. A fantastic camera, overall.
This camera has really held its value. The 183mm still go for nearly the new price. The 1600mm by contrast goes for almost 600$ less than the new price. I have the 178mm Pro version of it. It's basically a cropped version of the 183mm. I wish Zwo would make some more smaller sensor cameras with lower prices for introductory imagers. And yes as usual they do not come with a power bricks lol.
Great review! I have the colour version and it works great with the WO Zenithstar 61 - always amazed with the detail it brings out. I tend to stick with 2min exposures and the amp glow disappears with 25 darks (which are also easy to do the following day due to the cooling!).
Great review Ruz! - I had QHY's version of this, and the colour one too many moons ago, lovely cameras to use if you're willing to live with the quirks you mention! :-) Good to see you back dude, I hope you are doing well!
Great review. I really like how your reviews in general feel truly independent, with a healthy amount of criticism and clear, informed explanations of what to expect in practice. The manufacturer's QE chart is relative though. The 100% means 84% actual and 0.84x0.6 is just above 50% in the Ha band. A very old KAF-3200ME such as the one used in the SBIG ST10 XME camera had around 65% absolute QE in Ha. ZWO indirectly recognizes this when they state "no less than 50% QE in the visible spectrum". OFC, in terms of read noise and convenience, CMOS has won the market.
I own several asi cooled cameras. The 183mm pro is a great camera if you don't push it too hard. Using 7nm or 3nm narrowband filters is what you really need for this camera. I can manage 10-15minute exposures great with this camera. Using broadband filters I never go past 5minutes. Amp glow calibrates out 100% with DSS, don't use bias frames.
Great review!..it may be of interest, but I use the 183MC Pro with V4 Hyperstar and it rocks!! Short exposure as I’m shooting at f/2 - so 2 to 3 mins is longest exposures so far. But it’s all you need with what I’ve looked at to date. It’s a Great camera for this set up I think! Anyway- I have an ED80 too now, so looking at your videos more carefully to learn from your experiences. Nice to discover you! Cheers Brenton
I have the 183 colour version and 100% with amp glow, and DSS stacking issues some of the time. Its party piece is its fantastic with the Samyang 135mm F2 and my copy of the lens is great at F2, so can bang out a nights worth of images in half a night, especially as weather is always s##t in southern england
Thank you again for the excellent video! Could you perhaps make a video on your preference of the off axis guiding ? Your older set up had a guide scope. Can you expound on the transition from one to the other and what integration obstacles you hit on the way if any? Thanks!
Hi Ruz, I use the Altair version of this camera. Your review is spot on, my 183mm is coupled with a GT71 with a .8 reducer this gives a really nice fov I think. Can I also add that the image scale of the camera is quite tight and good guiding is required for tight stars. I think it’s 1.5 arc secs per pixel on my rig and even smaller without the reducer. It does produce some great images but my processing skills do not do it justice
Astrophotographer from the UK. Me "how in the hell is that even possible". I'm over here in the central US beating my head against the wall dealing with weather limitation. I can't even imagine your level of frustration.
Hello, tell me how quickly the camera should be defrosted after cooling to minus 10 degrees? After all, with a sharp change in temperature, it can leak? What will lead to its breakdown. Maybe 2-3 degrees per minute or 5 degrees per minute? How right?
I don't think you can be accused of missing anything out Ruz, and you've clearly spent time getting to know the camera well before giving your thoughts, good stuff mate :)
Have the colour version of this and, yup, everything was spot on. From the amp glow to the dew/frost on the sensor window (making that aftermarket heater almost a necessity in certain high humidity locations like mine). Still, wouldn't trade it for the world. A fantastic camera, overall.
I love how stellaris plays in background
This camera has really held its value. The 183mm still go for nearly the new price. The 1600mm by contrast goes for almost 600$ less than the new price.
I have the 178mm Pro version of it. It's basically a cropped version of the 183mm. I wish Zwo would make some more smaller sensor cameras with lower prices for introductory imagers.
And yes as usual they do not come with a power bricks lol.
Great review! I have the colour version and it works great with the WO Zenithstar 61 - always amazed with the detail it brings out. I tend to stick with 2min exposures and the amp glow disappears with 25 darks (which are also easy to do the following day due to the cooling!).
Great review Ruz! - I had QHY's version of this, and the colour one too many moons ago, lovely cameras to use if you're willing to live with the quirks you mention! :-)
Good to see you back dude, I hope you are doing well!
Absolutely LOVE your honest reviews Ruz.. one of the reasons you are always on Notifications! Rock on !
I just bought a ZWO ASI183mc planetary camera. I like it. I use it for EAA with an 80mm f/5 optical tube for 30 second exposures in SharpCap.
Great review. I really like how your reviews in general feel truly independent, with a healthy amount of criticism and clear, informed explanations of what to expect in practice.
The manufacturer's QE chart is relative though. The 100% means 84% actual and 0.84x0.6 is just above 50% in the Ha band. A very old KAF-3200ME such as the one used in the SBIG ST10 XME camera had around 65% absolute QE in Ha. ZWO indirectly recognizes this when they state "no less than 50% QE in the visible spectrum". OFC, in terms of read noise and convenience, CMOS has won the market.
I own several asi cooled cameras. The 183mm pro is a great camera if you don't push it too hard. Using 7nm or 3nm narrowband filters is what you really need for this camera. I can manage 10-15minute exposures great with this camera. Using broadband filters I never go past 5minutes. Amp glow calibrates out 100% with DSS, don't use bias frames.
Great review!..it may be of interest, but I use the 183MC Pro with V4 Hyperstar and it rocks!! Short exposure as I’m shooting at f/2 - so 2 to 3 mins is longest exposures so far. But it’s all you need with what I’ve looked at to date. It’s a Great camera for this set up I think! Anyway- I have an ED80 too now, so looking at your videos more carefully to learn from your experiences. Nice to discover you! Cheers Brenton
I have the 183 colour version and 100% with amp glow, and DSS stacking issues some of the time. Its party piece is its fantastic with the Samyang 135mm F2 and my copy of the lens is great at F2, so can bang out a nights worth of images in half a night, especially as weather is always s##t in southern england
Great Review Man!! This Camera is On my Possible List, Given that Its Affordable! Thanks so much For Your Informative Reviews!👌🏻
Thank you again for the excellent video! Could you perhaps make a video on your preference of the off axis guiding ? Your older set up had a guide scope. Can you expound on the transition from one to the other and what integration obstacles you hit on the way if any? Thanks!
Hi Ruz, I use the Altair version of this camera. Your review is spot on, my 183mm is coupled with a GT71 with a .8 reducer this gives a really nice fov I think. Can I also add that the image scale of the camera is quite tight and good guiding is required for tight stars. I think it’s 1.5 arc secs per pixel on my rig and even smaller without the reducer. It does produce some great images but my processing skills do not do it justice
Astrophotographer from the UK. Me "how in the hell is that even possible". I'm over here in the central US beating my head against the wall dealing with weather limitation. I can't even imagine your level of frustration.
Hello, tell me how quickly the camera should be defrosted after cooling to minus 10 degrees? After all, with a sharp change in temperature, it can leak? What will lead to its breakdown. Maybe 2-3 degrees per minute or 5 degrees per minute? How right?
I need advice on my first real astrocam, can vou also use this for guiding ?
Is a mono camera still gonna hammer a colour cam?
very good job....
I just bought one. It’s bias noise is absolutely terrible!
Just imagine lucky imaging with lucky imaging.