[Last update: All the cameras were posted this morning except the two for local pick up, please comfirm with me when you receive it. I forgot to ask for receipts because I spent more than two hours to find the location to pick up them during my trip and left in hurry....Sorry about this So I wrote down the date (2013.1.1) on the box for two years warranty which are accepted by ZWO, no worries to contact them (contact details on their website) if there is any problem. I would also be happly to help if needed].
Cheers
Guodong
I have no idea whether it’s proper to post here, please DELETE if NOT.
I plan to update my guiding/imaging webcam to ASI120MM and have a chance to visit the company during Christmas holiday. As there is no agent in Aus, I would like bring back some the week after Christmas and post in Aus if anyone is interested (couldn’t be too many), so please PM me or reply if anyone wants. I bargained a small discount for 280$. This price is for local pick up only or about 290$ including postage in Aus.
ASI120MM is a mono USB2 camera (CMOS).
Sensor: 1/3 inch Aptina AR0130CS/MT9M034
Exposure time:64µs-1000s
Pixel Size: 3.75um x 3.75um square
Active pixels: 1280X960@30FPS BIN2X2 640X480@30FPS
1280X720@40FPS
1024X768@35FPS
1024X600@55FPS
1024X400@80FPS
800X640@50FPS
800X512@60FPS
800X400@80FPS
800X320@100FPS
640X560@60FPS
640X480@70FPS
512X400@80FPS
480X320@100FPS
320X240@130FPS
Compatible with the Guiding softwares: GuideMaster （not in win7）, PHDGuiding, MaxIM-DL, MetaGuide
There is also coloured type (called ASI120MC, C means coloured one), but less sensitive, because of the built in RGB filter. With the mono one can get the color image with extra RGB filter and filter wheel (more complex and expensive). Myself will use it for guiding most of time and mostly image moon and sun, so I prefer the more sensitive mono one. But the color one is also a choice.
Thanks for the tip! I had no idea about this company or these cameras prior to your post.
Quick question - is this the same product as what the manufacturer is listing for sale on Alibaba? It's apparently $298 USD including EMS shipping to Aus and a 150 degree wide angle lens.
Hi, Dave
Yes, the link is the manufacture ZWO who developed ASI webcam. The gold one is 130MM, which is less sensitive than 120MM. Anyone could buy directly from the link (better to contact them first), but their website says the free shipping to the end of 2012. I didn’t introduce much because I’m not the agent, and it is like an advertisement…
Both ZWO and QHY are Chinese companies, started by amateur astronomers. QHY has longer experience, which might start around 2003 and focused on cooled CCD. Of course, the guider QHY5 is very successful and has extensive users. ZWO started last year, initially focused on reflector telescopes and then moved to ASI webcam. I think both ASI120MM and QHY5L-II used the same COMS from their introductions, MT9M034. http://www.iceinspace.com.au/forum/showthread.php?t=100350
Actually, ASI120MM appeared a little bit earlier on Chinese market, about in May, so I paid more attention to it, and QHY5L-II was about in Sep. But QHY must release the new product in Aus by the agent (QHY5L-II might come soon). To my needs, ASI120MM is better because it can be used to monitor the weather for a remote observatory by its wide angle lens (My final dream is to build a remote control system at my hometown in China and I can control it here in Aus, long way to go...). And during my trip, I will visit the city for academic issue where ZWO is, so I contact them and arranged the visit.
Cheers,
Quote:
Originally Posted by naskies
Thanks for the tip! I had no idea about this company or these cameras prior to your post.
Quick question - is this the same product as what the manufacturer is listing for sale on Alibaba? It's apparently $298 USD including EMS shipping to Aus and a 150 degree wide angle lens.
It shows the previous ASI130MM, the newest version works for 120MM.
FireCapture is also OK.
Cheers,
Guodong
Guodong
Will you be able to supply these cameras with the USB cable, wide angle (150 degree) lens, M42-1.25" T adapter and IR-CUT filter as offered by ZWO astronomy?
Allan
You are right, including all you mentioned. Actually it's offered by ZWO. Seems like I introduced this camera. No matter to buy from their link directly. Because most don't know this camera and don't know how to buy, so I don't mind to bring some during my visit. My role is just to have a name list who is interested and wants me to help, then I pay first and bring back, posted in Aus. It's offered by ZWO, no doubt under its warranty or any service.
Cheers
Guodong
Quote:
Originally Posted by allan gould
Guodong
Will you be able to supply these cameras with the USB cable, wide angle (150 degree) lens, M42-1.25" T adapter and IR-CUT filter as offered by ZWO astronomy?
Allan
[update]
As some PMs concern, I contacted ZWO again and clear some points:
1. ASI120 cameras have two types, mono (120MM) and colour (120MC). Mono one is more sensitive than colour one. Because we buy as a group-purchase, ZWO would like to offer a further discount to incent more potential users. That is 270$ for 120MM and 250$ for 120MC (You have to pay for postage in Aus or local pick from Wollongong). So who have ordered please PM me which one you want, mono or colour one.
Anyone could also buy from their website directly, they will charge shipping from next year (20 days left for free shipping) http://www.zwoptical.com/Eng/index.asp
2. The whole set includes camera, USB cable, wide angle (150 degree) lens, M42-1.25" T adapter and IR-CUT filter. Driver and imaging software via download from their website. And they offer two years warranty.
Besides the functions of imaging and guiding, the wide angle lens could be used to monitor the weather for a remote observatory or capture meteors, etc http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bZJnRMWtR0c http://v.youku.com/v_show/id_XNDQ5NjkxMTgw.html http://v.youku.com/v_show/id_XNDMzMTY3Nzgw.html
3. I have never used ASI120 cameras, only kept an eye for months and read some posts on internet, so no user experience from me. But pics could be found through websites.
Cheers
Guodong
For those who have ordered, in order to save time, please PM me your post address and name these days. I can also check the postage. Local pick up is welcomed.
Thanks - my camera arrived this morning, and I have already connected it up with the existing lens. Also the Sharpcap that is available from ZWOptical is a later version (slightly) than is available on the Sharpcap website.
I had an idea - this could be the makings of a good all sky camera with the existing 150deg lens, although a 180deg lens would be better, but not essential since who has a good view of the horizon in Sydney?
I haven't even tried my one...And I don't keep a guiding mount in hand here to test its guiding performance
Hope see such experiences from all of you guys, imaging (planetary and deep sky), guiding, or monitor sky\weather, etc
I'll try my one for lunar and solar images (or big comet) first with a small telescope and then the wide angle lens for mikyway or meteor. I might leave this post for a while, but after all of you receive the cameras, it will be changed to [Sold] and thrown into Archives.
So later the tests and discussions might be posted in equipment part.
Cheers
Guodong
Quote:
Originally Posted by John0z
Guodong,
Thanks - my camera arrived this morning, and I have already connected it up with the existing lens. Also the Sharpcap that is available from ZWOptical is a later version (slightly) than is available on the Sharpcap website.
I had an idea - this could be the makings of a good all sky camera with the existing 150deg lens, although a 180deg lens would be better, but not essential since who has a good view of the horizon in Sydney?
So I wrote down the date (2013.1.1) on the box for two years warranty which are accepted by ZWO, no worries to contact them (contact details on their website) if there is any problem. I would also be happly to help if needed].
. Please be patient for 4 weeks, only because I have to post here first before my trip next week.
...). And during my trip, I will visit the city for academic issue where ZWO is, so I contact them and arranged the visit.
. No matter to buy from their link directly. Because most don't know this camera and don't know how to buy, so I don't mind to bring some during my visit. My role is just to have a name list who is interested and wants me to help, then I pay first and bring back, posted in Aus. It's offered by ZWO, no doubt under its warranty or any service.
