Has anyone tried the new ZWO ASI 294MM camera?

[thesmiths]

The newest solar planetary / solar system camera from ZWO is the ASI 294MM. It is positioned as the successor to the venerable ASI1600MM. There is of course also a cooled version, which is also positioned as the successor to the ASI1600MM for "mid-size" (4/3") deep sky imaging.

One advantage of this camera supposed to be the the unlocking of 1x1 binning with a 2.3 micron pixel size. The default 2x2 binning gives effective 4.63 micron pixels, versus the 3.8 microns for the ASI1600MM. The quantum efficiency is around 1.5 times greater and the resolution and dynamic range are also greater.

Christian Buil has done a thorough technical analysis (dated March 2021), although his focus is mainly spectroscopy:
http://www.astrosurf.com/buil/asi294mm.html

There are quite a few reviews on the cooled version for deep sky imaging but I have not seen any other reviews of the uncooled version.

[thesmiths]

I did a search on this website for "ASI294MM" and found two members who have posted images with this new camera. You know who you are. Are you able to give any feedback on the camera?

[marktownley]

It's not me!

[thesmiths]

I will try again to ask the question. This time to ammonthenephite and sulcis2000. What do you guys think of new ASI 294MM camera? Good for solar? Do you also use it for other astro applications?

[marktownley]

Maybe drop them a PM? Not everybody checks all sections all the time...

[hopskipson]

The newest solar planetary / solar system camera from ZWO is the ASI 294MM. It is positioned as the successor to the venerable ASI1600MM. There is of course also a cooled version, which is also positioned as the successor to the ASI1600MM for "mid-size" (4/3") deep sky imaging.

One advantage of this camera supposed to be the the unlocking of 1x1 binning with a 2.3 micron pixel size. The default 2x2 binning gives effective 4.63 micron pixels, versus the 3.8 microns for the ASI1600MM. The quantum efficiency is around 1.5 times greater and the resolution and dynamic range are also greater.

Christian Buil has done a thorough technical analysis (dated March 2021), although his focus is mainly spectroscopy:
http://www.astrosurf.com/buil/asi294mm.html

There are quite a few reviews on the cooled version for deep sky imaging but I have not seen any other reviews of the uncooled version.

Would unlocking the binning slow the capture rate? The frame rate is already pretty slow at 16.3 fps. I guess for full disks it would be fine although a bit large for most amateur sized scopes.

[hopskipson]

ammonthenephite posted this on CN

https://www.cloudynights.com/topic/7658 ... ry11023935