ZWO ASI2600MM Pro Review & Sample Images

In this video I review the ZWO ASI2600MM Pro monochrome astrophotography camera which I have recently purchased and 'used in anger' and show some sample images. I normally do tutorial videos, so this is a bit different for me, so if you like this video and would like me to do more reviews, please do let me know in the comments. Similarly, if you'd prefer I stuck to tutorials, do let me know that too! I will be guided by the majority of viewer feedback I receive. Clear Skies!

[@SlimLineHouse]

Great video Martin👍. I would certainly like to see more reviews on the channel 😀. Keep up the good work.

[@martinsastrophotography]

Thanks for the comment. Feedback much appreciated. Clear Skies.

[@OutlandishJourneys]

Great upload, Martin and yes, definitely would love to see more gear reviews...but your tutorials are marvellous too! Have been using the 2600MC for a month now and LOVE IT! Great to see the mono version in action too though!

[@martinsastrophotography]

Thanks for that. I’m thinking to mix it up and do some tutorials and some reviews. Are you using filters of some kind with the colour version?

[@OutlandishJourneys]

@@martinsastrophotography Hey Martin, yes I'm using the L-Extreme and its been working great (done some wide-field with the 2600 and a Samyang f/2 135mm, on my Newtonians and Refractors)...obviously the details on your mono version are a bit more defined, but like yours the colour version gives great results for such short integrations...darn our UK weather, eh?! Lol! I also note that you're using the 8" Quattro? How are you getting on with it, especially in terms of it holding collimation? I've heard mixed reports, but would value your input, if you don't mind? I've got a 130PDS and am looking for something a bit quicker, so was looking at the Quattro? Thanks for your time and keep up the excellent vids! :)

[@martinsastrophotography]

@@OutlandishJourneys Sounds good. The Quattro 8CF has been excellent and holds collimation very well. I have made a few mods to it in the 4 years I have had it: Added a primary mirror fan and added heaters to primary and secondary mirrors. It’s great value for money in my opinion.

[@OutlandishJourneys]

@@martinsastrophotography Thanks so much, Martin! Your tutorials have been invaluable, especially the detailed videos on mount control...been key to my AZ EQ6 GT Pro remote setups, so thanks for that! Great news on the Quattro...think the 10 inch might be pushing my mount a tad, but lovely to hear that the 8 inch has been working well for you...your excellent images are testament to that! Anyway, enjoy the rest of the weekend and best wishes from north of the border! Cheers! :)

[@martinsastrophotography]

@@OutlandishJourneys That’s great to hear. Thanks. I was in Fort William for a week recently with my wife, enjoying your neck of the woods. We loved it! Clear Skies.

[@AZ4Runner]

Great review on the 2600MM.. Looking to get into mono, this is what I'm thinking I'd like to try.. Nice image for such a short amount of integration.

[@martinsastrophotography]

Thanks! Mono is awesome, especially when the moon is up and you shoot narrowband. Yeah that image is surprising for such a short amount of exposure time. I’m pleased with it.

[@paulmckeown5672]

Thanks for the unboxing, very informative although due to the price, I don't think I can afford one any time soon!

[@martinsastrophotography]

Cheers Paul. Yes, it is quite expensive, but also very good. Clear Skies.

[@DSOImager]

That's the camera to get! Would be quite an investment for me though.. I'd need a new scope and of coarse, the filters are pretty expensive too. Nice shot of the Elephant trunk.. just 36 mins... impressive! :)

[@martinsastrophotography]

Yeah, it can be an expensive hobby if you're after better and better results! My wallet is ALWAYS empty!! Clear Skies.

[@randyhammons9707]

Amazing! I know you mentioned the OTA used in the dialog but I couldn’t make out what you said. Would you mind sharing that here?

[@martinsastrophotography]

Thanks Randy. Sure…the OTA was an 8” Newtonian (Skywatcher Quattro 8CF) with a matching coma corrector fitted. I used 31mm filters in a ZWO EFW8 filter wheel.

[@1specialk8900]

Loved the review can you a video on photoshop how you processed the image, you made seem easier than expected.

[@martinsastrophotography]

Hi Keshia. I already did! :-) Here’s the link: Hubble Palette Processing in Photoshop kzbin.info/www/bejne/nmWpZ2qve7Z_fpo The star removal and replacement is covered separately in another video which covers the use of StarXTerminator in Photoshop. Go to my channel page to see all my videos. Clear skies!!

[@4500Timer]

Nice video Martin, I recently purchased the ASi294MM and have been getting good results from that but I think the 2600 is a step up. I'd be very interested in the detail of how you produced the Hubble Palette image in Photoshop. Keep the videos coming great work!

[@martinsastrophotography]

Thanks Danny. I have added the Hubble Palette processing to my list of videos to make. Clear Skies!

[@martinsastrophotography]

Hi again Danny. Hubble palette processing video will be released later today…..just for you! ;-) Clear Skies.

[@4500Timer]

@@martinsastrophotography Ah you're a star many thanks. I'm currently using APP for stacking and creating a Hubble Palette image, but very keen to compare how to do this in Photoshop.

[@rimski7265]

Hi Martin. Many thanks for the review, very interesting and informative as usual and the images were stunning. Your channel has helped me immensely in learning astronomy and astrophotography so I personally don’t mind reviews or tutorials, it’s all good for learning from! I was wondering if for a future tutorial you could perhaps do something to help increase the accuracy of polar alignment, troubleshooting tips etc? I have the HEQ5 pro mount like yourself with the Skywatcher 200mm PDS and find it very difficult to get it to track accurately beyond a couple of minutes when shooting prime focus with my Canon dslr, despite it being balanced and ‘on target’ with Polaris. Limitations of the mount perhaps? I’m not sure. Kind regards, Paul

[@martinsastrophotography]

Thanks Paul. Really glad to hear my channel has helped you, and thanks so much for the feedback. Interpreting PHD2 graphs would certainly make a great tutorial, although I wouldn’t say I always know what’s wrong when I have guiding problems. I have learned quite a bit though and will have a think about doing a tutorial on this. Thanks for the great suggestion. In the meantime if you would like to describe what you see on your PHD2 graph when it misbehaves I can try to determine what’s wrong.

[@rimski7265]

@@martinsastrophotography Will do Martin, I’ll have a ponder on it and get back to you, many thanks 👍

[@manjul1966]

Hi Martin. Love your Videos. Thank you...may I ask which Mount & Telescope did you use this Camera with? Beautiful Image. Cheers

[@martinsastrophotography]

Thank you Manjul. I used the Sky-Watcher HEQ5 Pro Synscan GOTO mount and the Sky-Watcher Quattro 8CF Newtonian telescope. Clear Skies!

[@paulholdsworth2502]

Hi Martin really informative video and certainly looks a great camera. Can I ask you what narrowband filters you used and what nm they are .....thank you

[@martinsastrophotography]

Hi Paul. Thanks for that. I used the Baader 2” mounted 7nm narrowband filters.

[@AstroRef68]

I wish I can buy that camera That’s real beautiful and short on Time Question are you using light room on any tutorials for finding?

[@miguelmorales9667]

I am planning to purchase this camera as soon as they become available again, but I am concerned about light fall off when using 36mm filters. Can You please tell us the filter size you used and how much fall off you experienced. Thanks, Miguel 8-)

[@martinsastrophotography]

Hi Miguel. I use 2” filters. The sensor diagonal is 28.26mm so 36mm should be OK, as you have 4mm overhang at the corners, but I decided to buy 2” filters so that I have the filters I need if/when I buy a full frame sensor in the future.

[@Luftbubblan]

Very Nice. All my attempts of capturing such targets have failed. I use a camera with same sensor. No filters tho. Not sure what i do wrong. I expected to get more data than i do. I also run an 8" but about 4.5f. I intend to buy filters eventually but cant afford filters/efw/ef/new ota right now. And no matter what i buy of those i cant use any of it right now none The less haha.(well, maybe ef)

[@martinsastrophotography]

Hard to say what you are doing wrong. The filters are very important though with a monochrome sensor.