ZWO ASI183 Cameras: Can They Compete in 2024 and Beyond?

[@AstroBlender]

I tried hard to keep this video under 10 minutes for once! I had to omit some information about read noise, gain, dark-current, etc. However, you can find the graphs for these specifications on ZWO's website: astronomy-imaging-camera.com/product/asi183mm-pro-mono/ I hope you enjoyed the video! If so, make sure to subscribe and check out my other astronomy and astrophotography videos. Clear skies!

[@hael8680]

Great video! At what gain do you use the color 183MC for broadband?

[@craiglowery4427]

Thanks Cody. Welcome back Iove your style. Have you done a PixInsight tutorial?

[@trw4753]

Hi, my problem with this cooled OSC 183 is the strong horizontal banding clearly visible on the photos after the usual calibration with flats, darks and DF. What could be possibly go wrong ?

[@tomferguson5254]

Nice video. I have enjoyed my 183MC Pro so I bought the mono version last fall. I did a narrowband shot of the Heart Nebula last fall and noticed a grid pattern. I think it may be from the Ha and SII flats. Have you noticed this at all and if so what can be done to minimize this? Thanks, Tom

[@B-Mike]

I started taking interest in astrophotography and started with the barndoor tracker and a dslr and started watching astrophotography videos and soon found out that you need a million dollars in funds to get all these cameras, telescopes, mounts etc. look at the number of telescopes you have in the background, each costing a few thousand. One guy comes out about eyepieces and, vow, each recommendation is over $1000.00. What kind of a job you work where you can afford all this equipment? Even credit cards will max out. I am terribly frustrated. I want to move ahead in this field but the enormous expenses pull me back. Just letting my steam out. Keep doing what you can do and afford.

[@wdavis6814]

Idk, I started in the same spot you did, but I've been saving and buying kit slowly. Now I have a few thousand dollars worth of gear for astrophotography and visual astronomy individually. Unless you're rich, it takes time and checking your local astronomy club, eBay, or Facebook for deals.

[@KevinRudd-w8s]

I tend to use Altair Cameras but as they use the same Sony sensors as ZWO I don't actually think theres that much difference. I have a 183 size camera which I use mostly with a Red Cat 51 and the only issue I have is the Amp Glow, which can normally be removed with dark frames but occasionally some artifacts remain. Here in the UK both the ZWO and the Altair 183 and the similar 533 cameras are probably the cheapest cooled cameras available. The 533 has the advantage of zero amp glow. I like using both of these cameras.

[@AstroBlender]

Yeah, the amp glow on the 183 can be nasty, but darks usually takes care of it. I like the 533 as well, great camera!

[@photogazer]

I use a ZWO ASI183MC PRO, and I have no intentions on stopping. It works well with my Celestron 9.25, with and without Hyperstar. It will stay in my case with all of my other cameras for well into the future.

[@AstroBlender]

Yeah, it’s a great camera and pretty affordable too!

[@jimwoods3575]

My 183MC recently stopped cooling.... the fan just will not run. With all of the options available and newer tech, I am still considering picking up the MM version as I have yet to go the monochrome route. Thanks for the video and for reassuring me that this is a quality astro camera in 2024.

[@AstroDanno]

So, do you think that the 183 is still a viable option in 2024? I almost bought one during the sale to pair with my smaller scopes, but I’m hoping that some new cameras may be in the works at ZWO.

[@AstroBlender]

Yeah, I like mine and you can find them for a great price! Sensor tech seems to change pretty fast though, so waiting also isn’t a bad idea.

[@eduardorubio100]

Hi I'm learning about astrophotography, and want to make my next step, Now I have a AVX EQ mount and Celestron 9.25 EdgeHD. what dedicated camera can I use to start? Tk.

[@aemiliusaugustus7814]

I am currently using the 183MC paired with a redcat51 but I am thinking of getting an f/7, 800mm fl refractor. Any thoughts if this camera will work well with this slightly longer fl and slower scope? Thanks for the video!

[@hael8680]

I'd go for the IMX571 sensor with that scope.

[@blayzer8871]

Thank you for this video! Maybe you can help me :D At the moment Im using a 115/805 LZOS Apo with an IMX533 color sensor. Its a really big and heavy scope and you have have to deal with backfocus. I just bought a Redcat 91 with an IMX571 mono camera and this setup is really good. Light scope with no backfocus issues. I noticed that when Im using an IMX183 or 585 sensor with the Redcat 91 I get a similar FOV and also the resolution er pixel is pretty much the same. So Im thinking of buying a mono IMX183 or 585 so I dont have to use the LZOS anymore, I would use it for visual instead and sell my 80mm apo. What do you think. 585 or 183? The 183 has a better resolution per pixel value and a slightly bigger sensor. The 585 has no ampglow and is more sensitive. Also the 585 is cheaper when I buy the cam new. Used they will be pretty much the same. Hard question for me :D

[@kano2297]

Hi Astro blender ,,, Which cameras are better Schmid Gasserin? Please answer: Do you own an HD 11 Celestron?

[@Milkybar882]

I’m new, got the hd 9:25 what camera should I go for ?

[@sjpp71]

Thanks for this video. Some people dismiss this camera due to the amp glow, but it's something that can be calibrated out with proper darks/flats/dark flats. I have mine and not thinking on replacing it any time soon. Clear skies!

[@AstroBlender]

Agreed, calibration frames are always key.

[@desbarry8414]

If only manufacturers could release a 16bit apsc version with 2.4 micron pixels, i have a Altair 26C with the Sony 571 sensor but the pixels are 3.76microns, just wanted added resolution for my hyperstar. I had a 183 but the amp glow bugged the hell out of me.

[@LGTV-wb9lv]

Dynamic range depends on the photosites' well capacity (especially depth), and not on the bit depth of the ADC converter. Just think how you can have a regular 8bit jpg. Its bit depth does not determine the captured visual dynamic range. 😊

[@exif6839]

Is the 183MC useable on a long refractor like the TS 102/11 SDP-APO. This is an apocromat with 102mm opening and 1150mm focal length. Main target: planetary imaging, moon, sun with Herschel prism.

[@sjpp71]

I have one (the QHY version) and use it mainly for DSO. For planetary and solar, it doesn't have a fast frame rate, so not ideal, but you can still reduce the region of interest drastically and this (along with trying different exposure and gain values) will help increase the fps.

[@exif6839]

@@sjpp71 for planetary imaging I’m using now my Olympus OM-1. Up to 120 fps.

[@grandmasteryoda9893]

i think camera got unfair rep. the most importent thing is the end result. and feel many see stats and amp glow and blow it up be much worse problem than it is. i seen great photos from 183

[@4sapphireb]

It’s just that one exposure of the amp glow……..

[@AmatureAstronomer]

I have a ZWO asi294 cooled. I just bought a HyperStar 6 v4. According to the Astronomy Tools channel, the asi294 seriously under samples. The asi183 works better. I am thinking of buying one.

[@AstroBlender]

I have both of these cameras - my ASI294MC Pro is quite undersampled on my low focal length scopes. I get some square stars in the Celestron RASA using the 294, and many square stars using the 294 with the William Optics RedCat 51. However, the ASI183 cameras don't give me noticeable sampling issues because of the small pixels. Good luck on your decision. Clear skies!

[@davebillybish]

It is said that the ASI294mm pro sampling issue with short refractors is overcome by using it in bin x1 .

[@AstroBlender]

That would certainly help, but I’m not sure the color version can be “unlocked” to decrease the pixel size, but I could be wrong.

[@hael8680]

Funny that ZWO claims a much better QE for the color version. The values on their graph are much higher for all 3 colors.

[@AstroBlender]

ZWO publishes a “relative response” graph, rather than an actual quantum efficiency graph for the 183. Basically, it’s saying if you assume the 84% green is “1”, what is blue and red compared to one? I don’t find the relative response graph helpful because I want to know the actual quantum efficiency not how they relate to each other.

[@hael8680]

@@AstroBlender I see , I missed the "relative"... where did you find your graph? I would be very interested in comparing with the actual QE for the IMX571.

[@AstroBlender]

Yeah, the relative response graphs are pretty useless in my opinion, because if you don’t know what the baseline QE is to assign the initial peak value, than you don’t know the comparisons either. For the Sony IMX571, I do believe that Player One Astronomy has a QE graph for the monochrome sensor peaking at 91% QE. player-one-astronomy.com/product/poseidon-m-pro-imx571-usb3-0-mono-cooled-camera/

[@markwelsh9068]

The one thing which stops me buying one is the amp glow.

[@AstroBlender]

Amp glow is pretty significant, but a good set of darks eliminates it.