How to use ZWO ASI290mm Mini

[Mark.Tanner (Mark)]

My very kind uncle gifted me a ZWO ASI290mm Mini camera. How do I use this to take photos? Just about everything I see online just talks about using this for auto guiding, which is beyond me for now.

[sunslayr (David)]

Not much too it, just pop it in to a 1.25" eyepiece holder, download the drivers from zwo and grab the ASIstudio software while you're at it and away you go. I'd start with the moon, it's big and bright, can't miss it. It will give you an easy target to focus on, you might find that you need to rack the focuser out or add an extension depending on your setup.

[Tulloch (Andrew)]

What are you thinking of imaging with it - planets or DSOs?

[Mark.Tanner (Mark)]

Thanks! And sorry for the delayed reply, life got crazy...

I'm thinking of photographing planetary objects for now and deep sky once I'm capable with planetary objects.

So I need to connect it to my laptop, and have associated drivers downloaded onto the laptop?

[Mark.Tanner (Mark)]

I think I've got it figured out. Just need to wait for some darkness!

[Nikolas (Nik)]

be aware it is a mono camera not colour

[Mark.Tanner (Mark)]

Thanks. I'd much prefer a colour camera but it was free so I'm not complaining!