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ASI482 vs ASI178

Equipment Planetary Camera Buying Advice
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ASI178 vs ASI482
Multiple choice poll 11 votes
36% (4 votes)
18% (2 votes)
9% (1 vote)
18% (2 votes)
18% (2 votes)
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Gaetano avatar
Gaetano avatar
Hi! I need some advise. I would purchase a camera for my telescope. I have a skywatcher skymaz 127. Do you think is best buy a zwo asi 482 or an asi 178? (If you have other alternatives it's fine too). I wuold like to take photo of planets but I'd like to try something in the deep sky. I know a mak on an azimuth mount is not the best, but I want to learn and try before get any more equipment!
Thanks a lot!
Oscar avatar
Oscar avatar
The ASI482MC is a better choice, I would get that one. The ASI178mm gives black and white images, so you will need red, green, blue filters to make a color image, it will be harder especially for deep sky.

The 482 is color, so it's much easier, it also seems more sensitive and less noisy in exchange for lower resolution which is a good bargain.

What mount do you have? I think we should go from there.
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Wim van Berlo avatar
Wim van Berlo avatar
Aren't you comparing apples and oranges? The sensors in both cameras are very different, particularly regarding pixel- and sensor size.
You can do a direct comparison between cameras on ZWO web site.
https://www.zwoastro.com/mobile/buying-guide

cs,
Wim
Gaetano avatar
Gaetano avatar
Now I am using the az-s goto with a maksutov 127 mm, but i think I will buy an exos-2 goto or something similar, so I prefer something useful with both mounts and even with deep sky object, not only planetary. After some research and some advices, I think I will buy an ASI585. Do you know something better at the same price? Thanks a lot anyway!
dkamen avatar
dkamen avatar
Hi, 

I have both ASI482MC and ASI178 (color and mono versions) and in my opinion the 178 is better. I don't have the 485 but I believe it is better than both others.

Superficially the sensor IMX482 is just a quad-bayered version of the 485, but 482 has a 10-bit ADC (which is translated to 12 bit by ZWO with a simple multiplication) while the 485 has 12 bit. The 178 has 14 bit. For planetary smaller bit depth is preferable because it results in higher frame rate, but for deep sky  it matters a great deal and 10 bit is simply not acceptable. But then you have to consider that for planetary smaller pixels are better (better detail) and 485 or 178 both win compared to 482. And if you really want the bigger pixels you can just bin the 485.

Why do I think 485 is better than 178? Because it is a much newer and larger sensor with less noise and less amp glow.

Putting it all together, the 485 is a better all-rounder AND a better planetary camera, followed by the 178. I see little use for the 485, because it is "hardwired" for planetary imaging but has awkwardly large pixels.

I have no opinion about the other two cameras.
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Wim van Berlo avatar
Wim van Berlo avatar
Gaetano:
Now I am using the az-s goto with a maksutov 127 mm, but i think I will buy an exos-2 goto or something similar, so I prefer something useful with both mounts and even with deep sky object, not only planetary. After some research and some advices, I think I will buy an ASI585. Do you know something better at the same price? Thanks a lot anyway!

If you want to do deep sky imaging, you should definitely consider a cooled camera. They are more expensive and heavier, but they allow you to take repeatable images and calibration frames. If ZWO cameras are too expensive, consider other brands. Just google deep sky cameras.

cs,
Wim
astropical avatar
astropical avatar
The ASI585MC is an all-rounder, good for the moon, planets and deepsky, including EAA.
CheersRobert
Ed Dixon avatar
Ed Dixon avatar
Planetary and deep sky are very different.  Planetary usually involves a small sensor and a barlow for higher magnification.  Usually a video of many hundreds of images in SER format.  DSO (deep sky) is usually best with a cooled camera with a wider field where long exposures are common (2 to 10 minute exposures are fairly normal).

I have a ASI224MC and a ASI662MC and 2.5X barlow for planets.  I use an ASI294MC Pro and ASI2600MC Pro for DSO targets.
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