Saving to invest in Mono camera - Forums

Topic starter

Apr 28, 2023

Hey

I am currently imaging with an old EOS 50D and am saving money for a Mono camera.
I have my eye set on the ASI 2600MM Pro.

Currently, I use the SkyWatcher Explorer 200 DPS F5 telescope.

I might have the option to go for the ASI 6200MM Pro instead, but I am not sure it would be worth the additional investment.

Any advice or pros/cons on above?

Arun H

Apr 28, 2023

At a pixel level, both cameras have identical properties, the only difference is FOV. Be aware that the 6200 will need larger filters, more computational power to process the images, and depending on how picky you are about your images, will place more exacting demands on things like tilt and backspacing. So it comes down to how much more you care about the FOV. If you are saving up, make sure to also save up for the added costs above - these will be considerable.

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David Moore

Apr 28, 2023

I have a 200PDS F5 and both ASI2600MM and 2600MC. I have also used a full frame DSLR the Sony A7III and with that I had problems with getting the corner stars round due to the greater FOV. When I got the APS-C format these problems went away. I had less experience than I do now but I do echo the comments above. I am very pleased with the 2600MM and 2600MM cameras.

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Vladimir González

Apr 28, 2023

Hi, I´m using ASI 071 ( APS ) and full frame 6200MM and 6200MC , definitely depend of your FOV and your optics
I recommend you APS format ( 2600 ) . Only if your telescope delivers an image with a diameter greater than 43mm and you use 2-inch filters, would the full-frame 6200 be useful to you. A camera of this size is more demanding on your optics, and coma and tilt will be more noticeable. Of course , full frame image is beautiful.
Every Image bin 1x1 ASI 6200 mono : aprox 120 MB ( very important )

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Rafael Amarins

Apr 28, 2023

You'll get vigneting with a 6200. Even an APS-C will cause some vigneting. I would not consider a full frame sensor. APS-C is much more adequate.

Richard

Apr 28, 2023

Don't forget to factor in the cost of a filterwheel and filters! The 2600MM will use 36mm filters whereas the 6200MM will use 2" filters. There is a marked increase in filter cost between these sizes! The money saved on the camera could be put towards nicer / tighter bandpass 36mm filters.

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Joe Linington

Apr 29, 2023

Everything mentioned above but the hidden costs have to be considered too. New 2tb ssd for processing, new 4-8tb HDD for storage, if you haven’t bought software yet APP or PI make mono life much more bearable. That’s another several hundred. À focuser if you haven’t got one is handy, to refocus every filter change. Of course an imaging computer is needed with the new camera. New cables and power supply etc.

I recently switched from an SLR to mono and the $900 used camera cost me $2500+ when it was all said and done and that’s mostly used for a smaller camera. I’m enjoy the switch but it’s a big one and a new learning cliff to climb.

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Christian Bennich

Topic starter

Apr 29, 2023

Joe Linington:
Everything mentioned above but the hidden costs have to be considered too. New 2tb ssd for processing, new 4-8tb HDD for storage, if you haven’t bought software yet APP or PI make mono life much more bearable. That’s another several hundred. À focuser if you haven’t got one is handy, to refocus every filter change. Of course an imaging computer is needed with the new camera. New cables and power supply etc.

I recently switched from an SLR to mono and the $900 used camera cost me $2500+ when it was all said and done and that’s mostly used for a smaller camera. I’m enjoy the switch but it’s a big one and a new learning cliff to climb.

That does make sense 👍
I do, however, have the ASIAIR plus, EAF and guidescope etc. in place and a full setup on the soft-/hard-ware side in place.
So those money have already vaporised 🤣🤣
I am just a mono cam + filters short of a really nice rig now 😉

Morian

Apr 29, 2023

Hej Christian.
Du kan godt bruge FF sensor men din 200PDS F5, Minor axis secondary mirror er kun 58 mm i diameter og det er flaskehalsen ved FF 6200 du skal min op i 70-80 mm størrelse men du må forvendte afrundet stjerner ude i kanterne.
Men hvis du har et object der er centreret i midten ville du sagtens kunne imaging med FF sensor men du kommer til at skulle beskære en del af billedet.
Alt i alt så hold dig til ASI 2600 som har crop sensor.
Skriv endelig hvis andet.
CS.
Morten

Christian Bennich

Topic starter

Apr 29, 2023

Hej Christian.
Du kan godt bruge FF sensor men din 200PDS F5, Minor axis secondary mirror er kun 58 mm i diameter og det er flaskehalsen ved FF 6200 du skal min op i 70-80 mm størrelse men du må forvendte afrundet stjerner ude i kanterne.
Men hvis du har et object der er centreret i midten ville du sagtens kunne imaging med FF sensor men du kommer til at skulle beskære en del af billedet.
Alt i alt så hold dig til ASI 2600 som har crop sensor.
Skriv endelig hvis andet.
CS.
Morten

Takker Morten 👍🙏
god info vedr. secondary mirror størrelsen

Georg N. Nyman

Apr 29, 2023 · Edited: Apr 29, 2023

From my own experience I can only advise you to go for the APS format since working in full 24x36mm format is not very easy if you want to get really good results - sharp und round stars also in the corners for example.

You need at least 48mm filters, better 50mm filters - all more expensive than the smaller ones and - most important - you shall see all optical shortcomings of your telescope/flattener/comacorrector etc. combination.

A 6200 camera is absolutely non-forgiving but if every aspect is set to perfection, it is phantastic.

Another aspect is the size of the imaged field - not all optics combinations allow full frame imaging without significant vignetting - be careful, even if the specs tell you that the FOV is ok for full frame, it does not mean that it is really good for full frame.

So my strong suggestion would be to go for APS format, that is much easier to manage and to work with - and the files are also much smaller, which you would see in the shorter time for processing and stacking..

CS,
Georg

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Vladimir González

Apr 29, 2023

Georg N. Nyman:
From my own experience I can only advise you to go for the APS format since working in full 24x36mm format is not very easy if you want to get really good results - sharp und round stars also in the corners for example.

You need at least 48mm filters, better 50mm filters - all more expensive than the smaller ones and - most important - you shall see all optical shortcomings of your telescope/flattener/comacorrector etc. combination.

A 6200 camera is absolutely non-forgiving but if every aspect is set to perfection, it is phantastic.

Another aspect is the size of the imaged field - not all optics combinations allow full frame imaging without significant vignetting - be careful, even if the specs tell you that the FOV is ok for full frame, it does not mean that it is really good for full frame.

So my strong suggestion would be to go for APS format, that is much easier to manage and to work with - and the files are also much smaller, which you would see in the shorter time for processing and stacking..

CS,
Georg

the best explanation and the best advice

Christian Bennich

Topic starter

Apr 29, 2023

Thank you all for your input. I will stick to the 2600MM.
Can’t wait 😃

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