Asi 2600mm

lazjen (Chris) · #1 28-02-2021, 11:43 AM

It's arrived! A lot sooner than I expected - I ordered earlier in Feb. I got the ZWO OAG to got with it (M68) and am waiting on the new 7x36mm FW to arrive so I can bolt them together.

I've cobbled a setup for it using my current gear while I wait, but I haven't had any clear weather to do any testing as yet.

Anyone else got theirs yet? What filters are you going to use? What settings are you going to try?

Camelopardalis (Dunk) · #2 28-02-2021, 06:29 PM

Oooh nice one Chris, look forward to seeing how you get on

lazjen (Chris) · #3 28-02-2021, 06:35 PM

I suspect I'll show up the inadequacies of my Baader 7nm filters first, then maybe one of the scopes.

Camelopardalis (Dunk) · #4 28-02-2021, 06:37 PM

Ha ha maybe

Gotta get rid of the cloud first...

Ken · #5 08-03-2021, 05:48 PM

Hi I received my 2600mm a couple of weeks ago from Bintel was not expecting the delivery as it was marked out of stock. With the sensor 11.5mm further back from my 1600 and a bigger filter wheel I had to remove my sxlao unit and change the oag position with the coma corrector. As I am using a Newtonian I had no back focus left a lot of messing about just to change to a different camera. Had a few nights with it so far the jury is still out if I like it.
Clear skies Ken.

lazjen (Chris) · #6 08-03-2021, 07:11 PM

Sounds a bit too painful for backfocus. I haven't got any real problems with that.

Still waiting on the EFW, but I've cobbled together something with my current gear. Not much time has been available for testing, so I haven't progressed far at all.

Ken · #7 09-03-2021, 04:50 PM

I am using sharpcap pro with ascom drivers not sure if this has all the features to suit the camera, has warnings about some features may not be available under ascom. Using a gain of 50 out of 100 image seems a bit faint even after a histo stretch, using 2x2 bin, the hardware binning button available for the asi 1600mm is no longer on the software, but a debayer button is available. Maybe they use the same software as the color camera.
Clear Skies Ken.

lazjen (Chris) · #8 10-03-2021, 06:05 PM

Got a notification my EFW is on the way - might have it by the end of the week. Still no joy with the weather though.

AdamJL · #9 10-03-2021, 08:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ken

I am using sharpcap pro with ascom drivers not sure if this has all the features to suit the camera, has warnings about some features may not be available under ascom. Using a gain of 50 out of 100 image seems a bit faint even after a histo stretch, using 2x2 bin, the hardware binning button available for the asi 1600mm is no longer on the software, but a debayer button is available. Maybe they use the same software as the color camera.
Clear Skies Ken.

Not sure what the MM is like compared to the MC, but lots of people settle on Gain 100 for that camera, for most targets.

The_bluester (Paul) · #10 10-03-2021, 09:04 PM

If you are talking about the 2600, I actually went the other way with my 2600MC. I use gain 0 for the extended full well. When I have a HA filter in front of it I may try gain 100 so long as I don't just get loads of saturated stars. Probably I would work the same way with a 2600MM when I manage to get the budget together for that.

jahnpahwa (JP) · #11 10-03-2021, 09:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ken

I am using sharpcap pro with ascom drivers not sure if this has all the features to suit the camera, has warnings about some features may not be available under ascom.

Hi Ken, when was the last time you updated sharpcap? I only mention this because recently there was new update to download, and under improvements it listed better support for ZWO, QHY and some other new camera features.. .or something like that anyway. It may be worth checking if you've not updated in a while

Startrek (Martin) · #12 10-03-2021, 09:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AdamJL

Not sure what the MM is like compared to the MC, but lots of people settle on Gain 100 for that camera, for most targets.

My 2600MC is always set for Highest Dynamic Range ( Gain 0 ) so utilising almost full well 50,000e at the expense of slightly higher read noise
This setting has worked well for me since August last year on all different objects and under Sydney Bortle 8 polluted skies and South Coadt NSW Bortle 3 dark skies
I’ve tried ( Gain 100 ) but I prefer to push this camera to its design capabilities irrespective of conditions (dark current is almost zero, I take darks but hardly ever use them )
The 2600MM will be a game changer , I’m sure of that ........

The_bluester (Paul) · #13 10-03-2021, 09:54 PM

I have been keeping an eye out and there are some really nice 2600MM images starting to appear on Astrobin.

These two stand out the most to me (Same user funny enough)

https://www.astrobin.com/full/jctajd/0/
https://www.astrobin.com/full/ltxgh4/0/

gregbradley · #14 12-03-2021, 04:41 PM

That galaxy shot is particularly good. Its very deep for only 5.7 hours of data.

I am treating my QHY600m much the same as a CCD in terms of exposure time etc.

I think the main things to watch with these cameras are:

1. Running at high enough gain so the background horizontal banding does not cause an issue.

2. Watching full well depth so you don't get all white stars with no colour.

Greg.

The_bluester (Paul) · #15 12-03-2021, 09:31 PM

All going well I am going to pull the trigger in a 2600MM within 24 hours.

gregbradley · #16 12-03-2021, 11:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by The_bluester

All going well I am going to pull the trigger in a 2600MM within 24 hours.

Very exciting.

It seems like an excellent camera.

Greg.

lazjen (Chris) · #17 12-03-2021, 11:28 PM

My EFW arrived yesterday, and tonight I assembled everything. Putting the filters into the wheel is fiddly (definitely not as good as the Xagyl setup). However as you can see from the pics, it's solidly bolted together.

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Skippysky suggests I might have a chance at partial clear skies tomorrow night. However, I've got to sort out the spacers from the above to the TSFlat2.5 on the scope. The above uses 50mm (I think) and I need another 45mm. I suspect I won't the right amount of M68 spacers to connect correctly. Tomorrow's task to determine.

The_bluester (Paul) · #18 13-03-2021, 09:15 AM

I ordered mine this morning along with the M68 OAG, I have the FW already on my 2600MC though I have not been able to test it yet as I have not had a clear night since it arrived. Not a lot of point anyway as I am waiting for a HA filter. A bit fruitless to put RGB filters in front of a bayer matrix, unless it is just to test if it separates the colours better.

Now I just need to track down an M54 tilt plate to make connecting to my existing train easy, or maybe I will should just do careful measurements and go to M68 all the way to the OAG. Less risk in the M54 as I already have spare parts to tweak the spacing as required and I would need to get some M68 spacer rings if I went that way. Perhaps best to throw $50 to the wind and go M54 until I am happy that the spacing is spot on then change to M68 with a custom adapter to match the final spacing.

lazjen (Chris) · #19 13-03-2021, 09:23 AM

I probably should clarify here that the EFW I got is the new 36mm version that bolts on to the camera (remove the tilt plate on the camera). The M68 OAG then bolts to this camera.

The_bluester (Paul) · #20 13-03-2021, 09:58 AM

Yep, I bought the same EFW. I had been holding off as I was not keen on the threaded arrangement of the old one. I nearly ramped my filter costs up by buying a 2" one to get the better attachment method.