It's Here! ZWO ASI2600MM Duo - The Monochrome Duo you've been waiting for!

The ASI 2600 Duo caused quite a stir when it was announced at NEAF last year and we are pleased to bring you news of the next evolution of the Duo series! The new monochrome version - ASI2600MM Duo
You asked for it and its been in development for a while and I was lucky enough to be part of the initial alpha test and I can tell you that if you like the colour version of the ASI2600 Duo you will love the mono version!
Astroworkz presenter Simon Lewis takes a look at the new ASI2600MM Duo - a monochrome IMX571 APS-C camera with a unique built in guide camera.
We'll take a look at:
What does the monochrome version offer?
How will I integrate Duo into my system?
Will Duo guide with short exposures ?
How big an image circle do I need?
Will mono Duo guide with narrowband filters?
Well we answer all these and a lot more!
There are some new updated features for the ASI2600MM Duo too, so check out the video and see what makes it an attractive combination.
Its ultra convenient .. warning! Use it and you might never want to go back to using a guide scope or Off Axis Guider again!
All will be revealed in todays video!
Get your ASI2600MM Duo from Agena Astro - An Astroworkz Afiliate
agenaastro.com/zwo-asi2600mm-...
ASI2600MC Duo Review
• Introducing Duo: ZWO's...
ZWO Cooled Cameras
www.zwoastro.com/product-cate...
00.00 Introduction
02.20 What is Duo?
03.28 Best Setups for Duo?
04.00 Monochrome Duo Specifications
08.35 Integrating Duo into your system
12.15 Duo & Filter performance
13.00 Test Approch and Results
16.35 Test Recap and Roundup
18.10 Price and Availability
19.00 Final test image

[@TheNarrowbandChannel]

I knew this was inevitable. Can't wait to see how it all pans out.

[@TeamAstroworkz]

so far so good :)

[@flyingdockp]

Great review! Especially the info on filters is great!

[@TeamAstroworkz]

thanks - now we are edging to winter it will be in use a lot more here as well - summer time sunset comes far too late this far south!

[@TeamAstroworkz]

Hope you enjoy todays video ... more fun news coming in the next week - stay tuned :)

[@Masoch1st]

rotator finally coming?

[@joshharris3040]

Now hopefully ZWO will start making duo versions of their smaller sensor pro cameras as well.

[@TeamAstroworkz]

good idea!

[@GediAstro]

Awesome! Was waiting for this one :)

[@TeamAstroworkz]

me too! :) took a bit of persuading but they will be on sale soon :)

[@stevenv9726]

I have the color Duo. I have no problem guiding with the Optolong Ultimate NB filter with about 50 hours of data gathered to date using 90mm refractor at f/5.5. I do need to carefully focus the guide camera.

[@allenbaylus3378]

just got my 2600MC Duo but havn't set it up yet. We had a few good nights to do so but the cold weather prevented me from doing so - it didn't bother me 2 years ago but now I can not imagine spending an hour getting the focus right on both cameras. late March can not come soon enough. Enjoyed this video...

[@TeamAstroworkz]

Have fun! and thanks for the comments

[@amp2amp800]

Dont worry you can probably pre-focus in daylight through an open window and then forget about it. I've only used the guide focus knob once ín 6 months - its easy to use, it holds focus well, and doesn't need to be perfect.

[@PhotonReceiverAstrophotography]

I'm curious how using a filter wheel in front of the guide camera effects guiding

[@DrunkferretKG]

ZWO should make some 533 DUO cameras!

[@TeamAstroworkz]

I will pass that on :)

[@LogansAstro]

Nice run through of what to expect of the mono duo, Simon. Had been wondering when this was due and if it would be a good match for my Askar 65PHQ but it is f/6.5 and I currently have 3nm narrowband filters with that, so it will be interesting to see how it goes with the ZWO range of scopes as they are pretty much identical to the Askar PHQ series. Finally getting some clear skies up northland way but it's been a long time coming.

[@TeamAstroworkz]

we had 50mm of rain over night from a southerly but we needed it been so windy and dry - yeah the 3nm on F/6.5 would be a problem ... I'm eyeing up a RASA 11 or a 9.25 / Hyperstar i think next ! Going wider on filters was the option I had a look at ,,the 4.5nm Antlias did ok

[@RobWalker_R023]

Yeah. Also on 3nm. Great proposition but filters I have are too good to replace

[@blanejnasveschuk6351]

Very leery about quality of guidance when using spectrum of 3nm narrow band filters. That data would be helpful relative to value of such monochrome arrangement.

[@sreeshab4093]

Hello Simon, thank you for this video. Since I did not get your response on the MC Duo thread, am posting it again here. Need your help and response. I have Edge 8, and a 0.7x reducer - making image circle 26mm. Am not sure if this expected to work well, but am struggling to get guiding stars (sometimes I have only one blurry star), specially when I image galaxies such as Whirlpool, Bode's, Cigars etc. By not using the 0.7x reducer, the image circle becomes 44mm, however since focal length is high (2032mm), the Field of view narrows down, and hence reduces guiding stars, leaving me on the same problem as above. I have finetuned the silver focus knob on DUO, increased gain and exposure enough under clear skies, but no luck. Please advise.

[@baz_astra]

How long were you using for the guide exposure on the 3nm filters?

[@TeamAstroworkz]

3s - I'll restest on the little askar 400 which is f3.6 with the reducer when I get a clear patch its been too windy recently - cler night but you can't stand up outside!

[@peterleveillee1321]

I have an SVX102T and these are the specs: with 3" Focuser and SFFX-1: 43 mm with 3" Focuser and .74X Reducer/Flattener: About 40 mm. Am I good? I already bought the Duo.

[@user-zb9vn9no6u]

Nice video. Any plans to release a smaller sized duo camera? Something like a 294 or 533 duo?

[@TeamAstroworkz]

not aware of any - but I have passed the interest in that back onto the team :)

[@l.m2517]

Now my question is : how can we guide a harmonic mount such as the AM5/3 that requires a 1 s exposure with this guidecam with a 5nm filter ( you also mentioned the Antlia 4.5 edge wich I also have)? I haven’t test the mono version of the duo but I own the color version for few months now and I can say that it doesn’t work well with my AM5 + f4 scope + Antlia ALP 5nm. It works at exp 3s but not at 1s that’s for sure. So if you want to guide sub-second as recommended with this kind of mount and with a narrower filter you will probably put the guide scope back on the tube, at least this what I did.

[@TeamAstroworkz]

I have not encountered any issue guiding 1s using the duo and NB filters - at 1s the edge 4.5 show enough stars with the gain of the guide camera set correct - sub second you will start to need wider filters or faster scopes like RASA's for sure ... its a bit of a balancing act

[@srikanthmeg]

I am wondering how the cooling fan affects guide cam wrt shaking

[@TeamAstroworkz]

never seen any such effect - actually what we did find in beta testing was how accurate guiding was against a normal guide scope - we found we get improved guiding number when using Duo and the fan didnt see to affect guiding at all

[@AshA-ww8hc]

How does this pair with a harmonic drive mount like the AM5 that requires 1s exposures? I'd imagine with a 3nm narrowband filter that's not really going to work.

[@TeamAstroworkz]

well as I said in the video ... a lot depends on the speed of your scope ... a fast lens or refractor, or RASA/Hyperstar and you'd get away with it ok .. just my slower refractors are not quite fast enough for 3nm filters :)

[@billsunflowers]

1s guide exposures? I'm getting great housing with my AM5 doing 3s exposures. I think it was Cuiv that suggested that exposure.

[@AncalimeNL]

I did not know the ASIAir comes with a sensor, and an SC 2210 at that..... what do you mean Simon?

[@stevenv9726]

Simon is describing that the Duo Camera comes with two sensors; one for guiding and one for imaging.

[@ballashoes]

Any news on any other ZWO cameras?

[@TeamAstroworkz]

just posted a new video on the ASI 585 MC Pro :)

[@JeffFishman]

Hi there from the Los Angeles area. I'm a newer backyard astronomer getting into imaging. Working with a friend Mike Selby in Thailand who operates the largest hosting facility in Chile. He's helping me build my first imaging rig utilizing my Tele Vue TV 85 with Flattener/Reducer. He's recommending the camera in your video. He's nudging me towards a mono camera over color. I'm a simple guy and want a simple setup for DSO's. Think this is a good fit? Thanks Simon

[@TeamAstroworkz]

if you have a slower refractor you would be limited to wider filters to get enough light through the filters and it also depends on the mount - if you have a mount that does not need faster guiding or something like a AP that has modeling and needs little guiding you might get away with it

[@JeffFishman]

Hi, is an f5.6 considered slow? I use scope and Model TRF-2008 0.8x Reducer/Flattener converts TV-85 to 480mm f/5.6 @@TeamAstroworkz

[@TeamAstroworkz]

well slower - my Tak is 5.5 so that would give you a baseline - I think with wider filters like 7nm or 4.5-5 nm you'd be ok ... 3nm nope

[@raqueltuban6858]

Hello sir, is this available already at the market ? Thanks

[@TeamAstroworkz]

Yes, it is - agena is just waiting on stock

[@raqueltuban6858]

@@TeamAstroworkz thank you

[@jimwaters304]

One thing that's not made clear is that unless your imaging setup can FULLY illuminate the guide sensor with clean stars you will not be able to guide.

[@TeamAstroworkz]

I haven't found that need to be clean stars - my old ES127 guides ok and it has less than perfect stars at the edges

[@velaastro904]

You don’t need perfectly round and focused stars to guide , if anything , slightly defocused stars have proven better for programs like PhD2 , the sky x and skyguard

[@abhisheknamdeo]

Do we know when this camera may arrive?

[@TeamAstroworkz]

I checked today ... in a few weeks - delays due to material delays ... wont be long now by sounds of it

[@abhisheknamdeo]

@@TeamAstroworkzthank you!!

[@nikaxstrophotography]

Will it work with 3nm filters?

[@TeamAstroworkz]

on a fast scope yes ... my f/5 tak wasn't quite fast enough ... a faster refrac like f3.6 sure .... RASA / Hyperstar yup

[@nikaxstrophotography]

@@TeamAstroworkz ok then both my scopes are refractors one at f5 the other at f7 reduced to f5.6 so no good. cheers

[@migukaje]

I have a Redcat 51 and it has an extremely hard time guiding on a 3nm dual filter in Bortle 7+.. So much that I had to just switch back to the 120mm guide scope when I shoot at home.

[@alexanderwagner9524]

Watching you wave around this camera gives me anxiety issues ;)

[@Nick-we7lf]

Thats the concern. The duo will not perform with the various filters. A more thourogh test is required with the MM and ALL of the filters, LRGB and Narrow band. I suscpect the Duo will not perform well.

[@TeamAstroworkz]

Having tested Duo MC and MM - I can say that it performs fine with any LRGB filters - thats not the issue - the issue is narrow band filters with tight bandwidths combined with slower scopes - RASA for example would not be an issue - the limit for me was f/5 or slower and 3nm filters - 4.5nm was fine and wider - a faster scope would be fine but I don't own a RASA - but the the other admins do and tested fine

[@Nick-we7lf]

@@TeamAstroworkz so for an F7 scope or an Edge HD what would you say ? yes to the Duo or stick with the ASI174 on an OAG ?

[@TeamAstroworkz]

@@Nick-we7lf depends on filters f/7 guided ok with 5nm or wider ... if you have OAG /174mm its reasonable to stick with that

[@hawkesworth1712]

Good review as usual .............................but, After having bought a ZWO FF130 scope, ZWO filter wheel and 3nm Antlia SHO filters all I need to do to adapt it to my rig is buy a faster scope, new filter wheel and 2" SHO filters. No problem - I'll get right on it. If you hear of a bank robbery on the Mid North Coast of NSW it's just me getting cashed up.

[@TeamAstroworkz]

hahaha you'll have to ... and I am running out of kidneys!

[@hawkesworth1712]

@@TeamAstroworkz . A good selling point for the MM version for people like me who wouldn't be able to use it for guiding is that it could possibly make a good planetary setup through a spare position on the filter wheel. The reason why I don't do planetary imaging anymore is because I hate to screw around with the setup and having to do new calibration frames after putting the ASI294MM back on.. Maybe you should do some planetary imaging through something like a slow ZWO FF130 with the guide camera as the main imaging camera. I would probably have to give more thought to buying one if I knew that my FF130 was also a good planetary rig.