ZWO 2600 MC review after one year

#arcticastronomy #astrophotographyinthecold
Zwo 2600 MC review after using it a one year! The AZO ASI 2600 MC Pro was my first dedicated astrocamera that replaced my Canon EOS 60D. How has it worked during the year I have used it and did it cope with the arctic cold in Swedish Lapland?
This is probably the most adventurous astrophoto channel on KZbin! Follow me out to wonderful remote dark locations near the Arctic Circle in Swedish Lapland.
The polar winter is harsh and extremely cold, but the dark skies are among the best globally, and nature is spectacular. But most of all, this is my home, where I do this wonderful hobby!
If you like my videos, please subscribe and join me out in the harsh polar night!

[@fiorenzomanganiello2853]

Hello, good video and nice shot of M31.

[@NorthernPanorama]

Thank you! I'm pleased with the M31 image. This winter I will it even more time (this was only 2 hours).

[@JVRost]

An excellent overview based on the practice of use, nothing superfluous, succinct and understandable. I am sure that the vast majority of novice astro photographers would start with astro cameras, no one argues about their advantages over household DSLR cameras, but DSLR cameras will not leave the horizon in astro photography for a long time, due to their affordability, especially in stock market. Agree $ 80-100 against $ 2000 there is a serious argument in favor of mirror Canon)))

[@NorthernPanorama]

Thank you! Yes, a used DSLR is cheap so there is an economical argument. But sometimes it's argued that DSLRs are easier to use, and I do not agree with that. For me that made me a little afraid to buy a dedicated astrocamera from the beginning. When I then bought the 2600MC I discovered that it was actually a lot more easy to use!

[@vrruiz]

But ASI2600MC is not the only option, the ASI533MC is half the price and ASI183MC is even a little bit cheaper. DSLRs are great for Milky Way photos taken with photo lenses. But for larger focal lengths and faint objects, the noise of DSLRs are much higher than cooled cameras and makes the experience quite challenging. I completely agree with David that using cooled astrocameras makes collecting photons and processing images much easier. And when managed with ASIAIR... even better!

[@JVRost]

@@vrruiz You are absolutely right, but no one bothers to make effective cooling of the DSLR, for example, I did this and my Canon 550D has a guaranteed delta of -27 ° C, of course it is not -35 or -42 ° as in astro chambers, but it is better than no way. However, no DSLR has the same quantum efficiency and electron well filling as the budget astrocamera.

[@Zealor365]

This is a well rounded review. Perhaps a good choice for the majority of hobbyists.

[@NorthernPanorama]

Thank you! Yes, I think its a great camera! Easy to use and gives great results!

[@briankotak403]

Nice review David. I tried some astrophotography with an unmodified dslr and was not too happy. For some people it works well but I found the dark current too much. I bought a 2600 MC Pro and love it. The sensor, built in dew heater and cooler works wonders. I have only been doing this for a couple of months now but am totally hooked! That is thanks in part to great KZbin channels like yours. I enjoy your videos and seeing your beautiful countryside. Clear skies and warm clothing my friend. Dr B from Manitoba, 🇨🇦

[@NorthernPanorama]

Thank you for your kind words! It's the interaction with astrophotographers all over the globe that makes it fun to create these small videos! Now I hold my thumbs for some clear weather soon, so I can get out again! And I agree about the camera.. this camera made astrophotography fun! A lot easier to get good results!

[@glennschiffer1742]

beautiful shot of m31

[@tullyfisher]

Thank you for another great video. At the moment I do some research about dedicated astro cams (will buy one in the near future)... So your explanations were very helpful for me. Thank you and congratulations to this exceptional picture of M31. 👍🏼 :)

[@AstroCrescentDIY]

Very nice and honest review. Quite comprehensive details 👍🏼. Thanks. Subscribed 😊

[@YneGrwr]

Good review David. I have had this camera for about one year now and I am extremely happy with it. Like you I have not had issues with the grease leakage even though it has sat outside under a cover in very hot conditions. I shoot from my backyard in Northern California so I do not experience the weather extremes you do, but it is comforting to know how durable this camera really is. Good to see you back after your short summer nights and look forward to your future reports.

[@NorthernPanorama]

Thank you! Yes, the camera has been very durable! No problems at all even when it was below -30°C. Hope the weather will clear soon, so I can get out on new remote adventures! This Monday looks promising! :)

[@mr.d.8121]

👏👏👏 Nice review. I bought the ASI2600MC several weeks ago and love it, when the clouds clear. I never thought to create a darks library as I previously used a DSLR. 🤯. My next project.

[@NorthernPanorama]

Thank you! Yes to be able to shoot at controlled temperatures and use darks from a library has made it a lot more easy!

[@keithhanssen7413]

👍🏻👍🏻

[@NorthernPanorama]

Thanks for watching and your thumbs Keith!

[@SimonsAstro]

Good review David, I have this camera too and it’s been great! I also started with a Canon 60Da, like you said, it was a big step up! The cooling ability was a great time saver. I will probably go to a mono next one day!

[@NorthernPanorama]

Thank you! Yes it's a great camera and it will be very interesting to compare it with what I get from the 1600MM

[@bluecough]

Thanks, David. I also have not had grease leakage on my 2600mc either.

[@NorthernPanorama]

Thank you for watching! My guess is that the leakage issue was in some early batches. Or maybe if you shoot in very hot conditions? I don't have that problem. 😀

[@tullyfisher]

The ultimate harsh environment test for this camera! ("I have a library with... seconds at -20 and -30°C..")

[@THICKSPICK]

Thank u for your time and input Dave. One day I hope to save up for this Camera … for now I use your guide scope as my Astrograph … the Evoguide 50 with Flattener and ASI 183 mc non cool camera is a nice little setup for the wide field riding on a AZ GTI and ASI Air Pro … any plans Dave on a Mosaic shot with the new Tele??

[@NorthernPanorama]

Thank you for watching! Late answer, I probably will try to do a mosaic. I tried a little last spring and learned how to put them together in Astro Pixel Processor!

[@kayasper6081]

Nice video, thanks. You say you don't bring a computer in the field, because of the climate, right? I am very interested in that, since that is exactly what holds me back from buying a real astro camera like the ZWO you have (still using only my old DSLR). So, if you don't use a computer in the field, on what device you store the data you capture? Is there a way to not bring a computer?

[@romanargentina]

A very good review video. Could you please tell which telescope you use along with the ZWO 2600 MC? Thanks!

[@NorthernPanorama]

Thank you, I have used it with the SW Evostar 80ED Ds-pro and te SW 190 Maksutov-Newton. And also with a 85 f/1.8 DSLR-lens.

[@magedsyehia]

Hello David. I wanted to ask you if you ever came across any power issues with the ASI2600MC PRO using ASIAIR ? Mine is giving me exposure failure error messages and sometimes reading the images to the ASIAIR is taking too long the freezing! Can you please explain how you connect your camera to the ASIAIR both electricity and data? Thx

[@astrodad656]

Good review. It seems that many imagers using the 2600mc are not using darks at all, just bias and flats. Cloudy night posts are also referencing difficulty processing flats. Curious how you take you flats. Your thoughts??

[@NorthernPanorama]

Thank you! The noise is so low so you probably not win a lot with darks, but I use to use them anyway as they are easy to add when stacking. I have not had any problems shooting flats, so I don't really know what the problem could be. I use the auto-function in ASIAir and my tablet with a white screen as a light source. Have to read on Cloudy Nights and see what the issue is.

[@astrodad656]

@@NorthernPanorama CN ZWO ASI2600mc Pro Flats cause issues 9.29.20.

[@NorthernPanorama]

@@astrodad656 Now I have read the thread and I can't really relate to those issues. Nothing that I have experienced. I do flats after every session, and my experience is that it's easy but I have used the flat auto function in the ASIAir (and before that I set the exposure manually). Ususally pretty short times, but that depends on the light source. It seems that they use other software, NINA for an example. I have also only used AstroPixelProcessor for stacking (mainly becaus I use Mac). It's probably not a camera issue, but a software/method issue but that is only a guess.

[@devilmastah]

I was wondering if your cooler even gets used at all up there :'-)

[@NorthernPanorama]

😅Yeah, but its really most to be able to shoot at specified temperatures!

[@astrodad656]

@@NorthernPanorama ZWO ASI2600MC Pro Flats Cause issues on Cloudy nights 9/28/20 is one.

[@newforestobservatory9322]

Do you use the cooler to warm the camera or do you actually go below ambient?

[@NorthernPanorama]

I use to cool it, a few degree at least. Even when its -20°C the camera could be quite "warm". The main reason Is to shoot at defined temperatures though, to make it more easy to use darks. A few times the ambient temp has been to cold to "cool" the camera to -20° though, then I cool it to -30°C. It was the case when I shot M42 for an example. The ambient temp was below -30-31°C that night.

[@gunnarjensen5910]

Tried my ASIair plus, Zwo533 and William Optics Z81 for the first time last night. Polar alignment, perfect, guiding good. ZWO533 total crap. unusable pictures.. Like pictures from a 2 pixel toy camera.. Is ZWO/Sony a fraud ? Back to my DSLR's