Using Unsupported Cameras on the ASIAIR

[@marcusa3177]

We've been badgering ZWO for an 'intervalometer' option for the main camera that uses that damn port for a long time. Of course when you use that a lot of options would be shut off (eg PA, preview, live stacking, a lot of stuff in planning, EAF, etc etc) but at least you can set the usual intervalometer options (delay, bulb length, interval per shot, number of shots) and a dither every x shot value. That's it. That's not too much to ask, right?

[@TheNarrowbandChannel]

I know right! The intervalometer though would be great for piggy back astrophotography.

[@qwmjml]

This would be an amazing feature to have! Then I wouldn’t have to ditch my modified dslr, and get a new ZWO main camera JUST to use the asiair. I could instead rely on their cheap guide cam for PA, plate solving, guiding and dithering.

[@AstroEscape]

Haha, that's an awesome workaround. Well done! Turning on that port would open it up to pretty much any DSLR, and, here's an odd thought, point and shoots that have intervalometer ports. Not that it would be necessary for wide shots like that, but it could happen.

[@TheNarrowbandChannel]

Thanks Dalen. Great videos on your channel by the way.

[@theyreallnamedgeorge6997]

DUDE !!!! so helpful, thank you. I have a new Sony FX3 full frame that id like to use. This camera has a built in fan for recording long videos so it might be great for astro as well. Thanks again

[@TheNarrowbandChannel]

Awesome man. Glad to help. Hope ZWO makes this easier in the future.

[@allenbaylus3378]

I haven't has the chance to use the ASIAIR Plus with my Sony A7R III, but I assumed that the DSLR port was active - so that if you set it up with no main camera, you could still program it and run it that way. I have an intervalometer which I was using with my Star Adventurer to take pictures longer then 30 seconds and I guess that I will be using this with my new setup - but the point which you made at the end of the video is amazing - the DSLR port has no function which is active, which is a curiosity. Why design and build this into every version of the ASIAIR but never implement any function for it. Hopefully this will change. I can run my laptop with PHD2 for all the function that I am getting from the ASIAIR. My budget currently does not have me purchasing a new scope and ASI imaging device in the near future. This is upsetting to know that this simple function is not working.

[@TheNarrowbandChannel]

Yes I agree. If they would open this up it would allow us to use a lot of legacy cameras and new cameras not yet supported. Email them and let them know you want it. I have. More voices is better.

[@DanCopelandphotography]

I have ben doing a similar work around using a canon T2i camera as the main camera then when plate solved I switch it out with an Olympus em1-2 or Mallincam using my mini PC for the image captures and focusing

[@TheNarrowbandChannel]

They really need to open it up. It takes them more work to keep it closed to other brands.

[@jster91]

Great video. I'll be doing the same with my Pentax K70. I'm sure Pentax is last on their list after Sony was just added and probably Olympus and Fuji are next.

[@benc7102]

G’day Ben Great work around very clever & fantastic hat! Cheers mate

[@TheNarrowbandChannel]

Thank you! Ya I am a hat collector.

[@AntonioPena1]

I like your workaround. Thanks

[@TheNarrowbandChannel]

Thank you!

[@messianicmuse]

Excellent video. Thanks for producing it. I've been waiting for Sony drivers which were released in 2020. Can I ask the scope model attached to the Olympus? Thinking of changing from ZWO cameras.

[@TheNarrowbandChannel]

Thans. I would not hold my breath for driver support any time soon. I think ZWO has tabled that. The scope I reviewed here. kzbin.info/www/bejne/oWTFkmqdjdKcY68

[@jimcollins1922]

I've got a Fuji X-T3 and I sure want the shutter release port. It seems to me that it should't be too much to define a generic camera that could only use the shutter release port. It sure doesn't make much sense not to do so, especially from a marketing and sales point of view. I would like to know if you know what capabilities exist when the main camera is set to none?? If you have an unsupported main camera that is what you are suppose to choose, but I can't see anywhere how you can then get even just basic guiding. It also seems somewhat strange to me that if you have a guide scope that you can't use it for PA and I'm guessing plate solving?

[@TheNarrowbandChannel]

Yes I use the guid scope for the plate solving. Basically switching back and forth. Its a pain but its the only way to do it. Email Zwo and let them know we want that port to be active. Would open a ton of consumer cameras to be usable with it.

[@jimcollins1922]

@@TheNarrowbandChannel FWIW, I did contact ZWO support on that issue and they told me that a later release this year would do that. I sure hope so.

[@AlpacoFilms]

Dude, you’re a genius!

[@CM-2000]

Hi Ben, thank you very much for your great video and you're so right! I try to connect my Nikon D750 to the AA+ and it does NOT succeed. This 2.2mm jack socket does not work! I am at a loss. Unfortunately, I don't have your equipment to find a solution. But I agree with your wish. Thx Helmet

[@TheNarrowbandChannel]

It would be awesome if they opened it up to work. Others have mentioned it too so I am not allone.

[@lcoronelp]

Hi Ben! I have the same trouble, but i have some small question, how do you trigger the real camera? you sync the intervalometer config of the "fake" main camera in Asiair app with the remote intervalometer connected to the real camera? Also, to add some info, i read that Asiair will be supporting some (not what nor when info) Sony cameras in 2.1 version, i'm waiting for that! I'm very dissapointed with asiair, i can't connect with ssh, i can't add more drivers, i can't activate the DSLR port (as you say at the final part of the video) without a camera... I have a Canon 60D and a Canon 450D camera an i tried to reproduce the @Excessus1978 hack, but if i connect the DSLR port only to my Sony (unsupported) camera and activate the option to trigger by the DSLR port in the Asiair, then it only triggers the Sony, not the Canon, then after two photos the system stops saying that "no exposure" or something like that. It's frustrating!

[@TheNarrowbandChannel]

What I have been doing is using another piece of software connected to a laptop trough USB. The ASIAIR can still provide other equipment with plenty of power. I would not hold your breath for Sony support. They have promised this for years and it's just never happened.

[@lcoronelp]

@@TheNarrowbandChannel Finally i did a Frankenstein monster, using the idea of @Excessus1978 i used my old canon 450D as dummy camera and I soldered a triple wire, - 2.5 jack from Asiair - 2.5 jack to canon (important, add two commuted diodes like 1N4148 to avoid getting the signal from the Canon shutter and focus to the Sony) - Privative microUSB extended to sony camera (also I put two diodes just in case for shutter and focus) Works perfectly for intervalometer and dithering, the Asiair recognizes the Canon as main camera and if I activate the "DSLR output", the Asiair triggers both cameras at same time, BUT because the Canon is actually being shot, the Asiair can get the last photo (probably of the floor xD) and think that all is OK and I stay happy with the Sony photos. Sure you can try (and probably make some video, you are much better at explaining things than me) PD: The next step i will try is to create an Arduino or something else that simulates a Canon camera and returns a picture of a happy face xD

[@TheNarrowbandChannel]

@@lcoronelp Funny when I posted this on ZWO forums there were very angry about this video. They said they did not want anyone hacking their gear.

[@lcoronelp]

@The Narrowband Channel Hello again! The version 2.1 is here (as beta) and is compatible (confirmed by me) with Sony A6600 and Sony A7II. Still has some issues (disconnections) if you change the ISO or the exposure directly in the camera, but other than that it works in preview and autorun modes! Unfortunately today it is cloudy here in the north of Portugal, but if I can, tomorrow I will test the change in the dither stabilization algorithm (because I only have guidance on the RA axis and in version 2.0, Asiair was trying to calculate the stabilization on both axes). I'm very excited about this version, I can finally put my Canon to rest in peace :P (or not, maybe I can remove the IR filter... who knows...) Also, thanks for your responses and happy astrophoto captures!

[@evemitchellanderson]

Wow thanks man

[@zachary4225]

Will this work with the svbony 305?

[@TheNarrowbandChannel]

Yes it would. It's tricky sometimes though.

[@petelopez5826]

Will the asiar work the svbony sv305 pro. The sv305 pro supports phd and ASCOM. I already have these cameras and do not want to buy cameras if I already have them. Zwo is a little pricey. Trying to stay in a budget.

[@TheNarrowbandChannel]

It will not.

[@eduardfrades6972]

I will try it with my Sony a7III . Thanks

[@TheNarrowbandChannel]

Hope it works for you. I have had a lot of good success with it.

[@lordphilip]

I just got my ASiair Plus and want to use it with my Canon EOS 6D. Can someone please tell me the DSLR cable part # I need for my Canon EOS 6D? I could not find a video on this.

[@TheNarrowbandChannel]

Just look up what cord is needed for tethering with that camera. It will be the same thing. By the way it is almost certainly the USB cord that came with the camera for updates.

[@lordphilip]

@@TheNarrowbandChannel ALL IS OK NOW...Thanks

[@Excessus1978]

Do not remove that intervalometer port! I use it to be able to triggar my Sony cameras and be able to dither. I dont have to Throw away any subs like you do. Just buy or get a very old dslr camera that is supported!

[@TheNarrowbandChannel]

Ya I am not advocating for that. However I would like to know how you get your Air to trigger your Sony camera through there. If you can with yours then it would work with my Oly cameras too as they both use the same protocol.

[@erikahrend]

Yeah, I would also love to know how you do it....

[@Excessus1978]

@@erikahrend I use a Canon 200D which I got for free. Getting a second one for $20 to trigger my second setup. The best part is that I do not have to use any intervalometer or through away the subs. I dither every image with about 5px. Basically I do exactly as Benjamin do in his video, but instead of hooking a guidecame into the ASIAir and set it as main camera, I attach the Canon 200D instead via USB Then I tell ASIAir to use the DSLR trigger port and I take that cord to my real main camera which is a Sony mirrorless camera. This way, ASIAir will trigger the Sony when the guidecamera has settled after dithering. I will then be able to use the Autorun to set any time I want. I will still have all problems with meridian flip so I acually do exactly as he does, wait or choose another target.

[@earlteigrob9211]

If this works then I could use my Olympus system including the 300F4. I am going to pick up a cheep canon just to try this out. Has anyone else got this to work? I've got a eq6-r mount so weight is not an issue. Thank you!!!

[@anettejohansson1994]

Hi Ben. I have sent you a Messenger pm.

[@TheNarrowbandChannel]

Thanks. I responded.