ZWO ASI 678MC Camera Review - Sun, Moon & Planets!
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- Опубликовано: 2 июн 2024
- This is my review of the ZWO ASI678MC Camera. ZWO was kind enough to send me this camera for a test. In the video, I share some first-light pictures of the camera of the Sun, the Moon, and The Planets (Jupiter and Saturn). I have no connection to ZWO other than they've asked me to review the camera. All in all, I think it's a pretty decent and affordable planetary camera, but always do your own research before buying! I'm thinking about keeping this one. Hope this review and the pictures are helpful!
Clear skies!
Wido - AstroForum.
Link to ZWO ASI678MC Camera
USA/WW (OPT):
bit.ly/3MiJmbK
EU/WW (Astroshop):
bitly.ws/vgJn
Link to overview video of ZWO planetary cameras:
• Best ZWO Cameras for P...
Links to tutorial videos about capturing and processing The Planets
10 tips to capture the planets: • TOP 10 Tips to PHOTOGR...
Processing planets part 1(stacking in autostakkert!3): • Autostakkert3! How to ...
Processing planets part 2 (processing in Registax6): • Registax6: How to proc...
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The nice thing about the 678MC is the pixel size. At 2 microns, it is right in the sweet spot for the f/10 SCTs without needing any Barlow or tele-extenders.
Yep, I got some nice views of the planets without a Barlow. Detailed images of the craters on the moon are also nice.
Hi Wido, Love the channel and you are a GoTo source of information. After this video I purchased the 678 but I am struggling to get focus with my Edge 8HD have you used spacers to get to 133mm back focus? O simply how did you mount it and get focus?
comparing asi678mc to asi585mc, i have the 585 but there is more noise than i expected. And this 2 micron pixel and low noise looks interesting.
The Camera is well priced, and it really gives a good performance looking at the pictures taken. Your Post Processing also deserves credit. Well done to ZWO for making such a Camera for budget oriented Amateur Astronomers. Would be good to see how it will Capture M31, or any other Galaxy/Nebula, although not made for that purpose.
Thanks! Yes, I was actually thinking about doing some lucky imaging in color with this camera. Maybe during a new moon. Cheers!
Great review Wido. The 2 micron pixels are compelling. Do you have any videos on how WINJUPOS works to derotate planets?
Tx. Nope, but there are plenty of vids on youtube 😀
Thank you. Am considering for planetary with the larger sensor since I have difficulty keeping Jupiter on my screen with the smaller sensored ASI462. However, I am concerned about the low fps ability. What was the max fps you were able to obtain? Thanks.
Hi there, i can get over 100 fps, don't worry. The fps on websites is at max resolution. You can reduce your region of interest to only the planet and your fps will be much faster. Good luck and clear skies!
Hello, Wido! Which would be the better choice for using with a 10 inch f/4.9 Dobsonian - ASI 678 MC or ASI 585 MC? Mostly for imaging the Moon and the Solar System, but I would also like to start experimenting with DSOs in the future. Thank you!
2 x barlow and the 585 is a good start, the 585 is good for both. The 678 is more geared towards planetary only - however you could use the 678 for some deepsky stuff but the 585 is definitely more suited
I‘ve also god the ASI678MC a week ago and I really love the camera. I just started Planetary Imaging and I‘m very pleased with the result. (You can see it in my profile picture) My Setup is a 10“ Dobsonian and I used a 2x Barlow to get F/10 but I‘m thinking to maybe reach F/12,5 or F/15. What do you think, or is F/10 enough?
I think that a 2x Barlow is enough with this camera. My imaging scale at 2000mm focal length is .2 arcsec p/pixel. That's quite enough, especially since I live in the Netherlands with average seeing conditions.
Hi, good video and good images. Do you know the default gain and offset of this camera?
Unity gain is 85. It also has an HCG mode that will reduce noise beyond 182 gain. Not sure about offset.
I bought this recently. I'm looking forward to doing some basic deep sky with it. I'm not sure how well it will perform for deep sky as this was the only option within my budget.
Great! Hope you'll have a good time! Let me know how it turns out.
@Wido's AstroForum Thanks. Sure, I will share something.
Interesting Wido, I'm also getting a dedicated planetary camera but I will go for the asi 385 I guess, bigger pixels an non less important a much higher fps
But for solar or lunar the camera that you have here is also very good, what do you think ?
That's a good camera too!
Looks a great camera & the solar came out well with it to as well as the planetary images.
thanks!
Good review , thanks. What's the 2nd telescope on view? Looks like a refractor ....
Yes, it's a teleskop service 80/480mm photoline APO.
@@AstroForumSpace am looking for a refractor with good optics, used and in good condition. Can you advise ?
would this be good for a 10" skywatcher 250p f/4.7 reflector (dobsonian GOTO) for planets and deep sky? how does it compare to the ASI294MC? thank you
Watch this so you'll be able to compare them: ruclips.net/video/-O9cwyUTfT8/видео.html
Bedankt voor de review, handig! Hoe krijg je de maan zo scherp en donker? Als ik deze fotografeer, zijn de foto's erg licht. Zou top zijn als je daar instructies voor kunt posten...
Ja, er is wat photoshop nodig om het scherp en contrastrijk te krijgen.
Is this good for the skywatcher skymax 127
I'm having a terrible time with this camera. For whatever reason I can't seem to get a clear focused image with a 2x or 5x barlow. My C8 is columnated and I get a crisp image with my regular optical lenses. I've been trying to capture Jupiter over and over using the ASICAP software, then using PIPP and Autosakkert. I'm even using the celestron electronic focuser. I am definitely a newbie at all this, but its very frustrating seeing all the amazing shots people are getting with the camera. Any suggestions??? It may not be the camera...I don't know...
Don't use a Barlow with a C8. You're already at .2 arcsec per pixel without it. Just insert the camera, focus, and enjoy the views. Reduce your roi to zoom in if needed. Good luck!
I will try this!! Thank you!!!
I assume the wide field images were taken with the refractor or did you simply use the entire chip and not an ROI?
Sun images were taken with a 480mm refractor + a daystar quark with a 4.2x magnification.
How did you use the mono feature for the solar work? How is this turned on?
I used sharpcap and set the camera to mono.
Which is better 678 or 585?
How does this compare to the 585mc? I have a 120mc and looking to upgrade for dso now i have a 200p scope and eaf.
585mc is good, it has a higher dynamic range and a slightly higher pixel size (so you'll end up with a larger field of view), it is a bit more expensive. The ASI678MC is on the low end of the new planetary cameras.
@@AstroForumSpace so for DSO the 585 is a better option? I cant afford a cooled cam or filters for mono atm.
@@Cheshire_Astronomy you are right, 585mc is a better option for DSO. There are already a handful of DSO images taken by 585mc online.
@@ly8370 i went for a 183mc pro in the end
Thanks for the video! My ASI678MC is arriving today and I can't wait try using it for DSO lucky imaging with my C6 HyperStar! With the 2 micron pixels, I will get a 1.2 pixel/arc second image scale at F2! Yes I know this is not a cooled camera but winter is coming and who will need to cool when it is cold 😀. Also no amp glow, low dark current, super low noise, and cheap? So excited!
Have fun! I have used it only for solar system objects but I hope you'll be able to catch dso's! Orion nebula is the brightest object I think, and andromeda + all globular clusters and the pleiades. Should be doable with lucky imaging
Hi, is this sensor big enough to fit the full disc of the sun?
That depends on your focal length. It'll fit the Sun and moon up to at about 450mm focal length. Always use a certified solar filter.
@@AstroForumSpace Ah, I'm at 1500. Ok thanks. Any recommendations on a camera that can accommodate that?
What solar filter did you use?
I use different setups to photograph the Sun. See this video: ruclips.net/video/SMKXqFGSLUU/видео.html
Isn’t the asi678mc a color camera ? How comes the video clip in 0:31 becomes monochrome ?
It has a mono option.
@@AstroForumSpace ah i see
How do you think it compares to the 224?
The difference is 454, lol. The main difference is the pixel size.