ZWO CAA Review - Amazing, BUT be careful!! (NEAR MISS!)

Check out my review of the fantastic CAA! - huge thanks to anyone who uses my links for this great product (but as I say, be careful!)
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#astrophotography #space #stars #nebula #pixinsight #seestar #zwo #asiair

[@lukomatico]

Check out my mate Cuiv's video here! - kzbin.info/www/bejne/aIDFhWObpLmYfNksi=ewqzg7dmVOy6AS0b

[@deep_space_dave]

Thanks for the review! I am happy to see ZWO actually release an affordable rotator!

[@KevinRudd-w8s]

Decent review Luke, I will be getting one of these primarily for use with my Red Cat 51 and 81GT scopes when used with 583 and 183 cameras, as you say, its not really necessary when using a 533 camera.

[@achimschultze1634]

Nice review! I echo the concerns about cable management. I just got my CAA delivered today and installed it on my main rig and immediately realized that I need to run cables differently to accommodate the rotation of the filter wheel and camera. It took a few attempts but ultimately I got it to a point where I can rotate a full 360 degree without running into any cable snags. One tip that might be useful: I used tape over the "bottom" of the filter wheel. There are corners, and the USB cable runs out of the back, which could cause trouble. I tugged the filter wheel USB cable under the tape and straight up to the camera. And the other cables (power cable, camera and CAA USB cables) glide across the top of the tape without any problems.

[@lukomatico]

Thanks mate!! I could use some longer cables I think to give me the freedom to rotate further, having a 360 range like you sounds great! 👍👍

[@Wheeljack678]

Rotator is such a QoL improvement and is precisely the kind of luxury you didn't think you needed until you tried it. I've been using a Pegasus Rotator for a couple of years now, and the ability to program different targets with different framings and rotations (APS-C sensor) is a blessing. I've set up mine with a mechanical range of 180 degrees, since NINA calculates the rotation angles anyway.

[@lukomatico]

That's so true mate, it's kinda like an EAF or similar, I went years without one, then when I finally got one... There's no going back!!

[@amp2amp800]

Thanks Luko. Very good to hear the confirmation about flats and the FF80. I figured that would be true for well behaved refractor designs, and was counting on that.

[@lukomatico]

Glad to help mate!!

[@simonwilson6333]

Excellent video as always Luke, I have two of these on order from FLO. I'm surprised ZWO haven't incorporated a max rotation of 180 degrees with the ASIAir, as after all this is all that is needed to cover all angles. I've seen from the review on Martin's Astrophotography YT channel that this feature is configurable within a NINA integration.

[@lukomatico]

Thanks so much mate! - I agree 180 would have basically done it, but having the extra freedom is nice still (but dangerous too, ahah!)

[@CameronGillis]

Another great review, thank you Lukomatico 👍 That said, I really look forward to ZWO hopefully moving towards developing a comprehensive "Alt-Az mode" with their ASI ecosystem that can be adapted for either large Dobsonians or super portable rigs. For example, this CAA could be used to compensate for field rotation when coupled with a Guide Scope and an ASI Air operating in Alt-Az mode where the Ephemerus solver would adjust the PHD pulse based on the Alt-Az scope direction. As an "Influencer", hope you can help convince ZWO and NINA developers to develope the Alt-Az imaging ecosystem which would benefit our hobby immensely. Keep looking up and enjoying the journey ✨️ Cheers! Cameron

[@lukomatico]

Thanks Cameron! - I agree that a derotation feature would be really cool for alt-az systems, that's a good idea :-)

[@viewintospace]

Great review - you kind of convinced me to order one too!

[@lukomatico]

Thanks so much mate! - I feel pretty spoiled by it haha, it's almost the same feeling as when I first got autofocus working! Hope you are well :-D Clear skies!

[@astrophoto16]

excellent! thanks for the info! and what's great is that YT translated your video into several languages! that's great!!

[@lukomatico]

Thank you for watching! - I hope the translations were effective, it seems to be a pretty hit or miss feature haha :-D Clear skies!

[@yomichee]

Maybe a follow up regarding the added processing complexity of additional flats …. for a well rounded experience review

[@larrycable984]

after bending the power in jack on my ASIAir I now use "coiled" cables on all that may move relative to each other - keeps things tidy and introduces a "margin of safety" when things get stretched... another issue to consider is availability of USB sockets ... ASIAir has 4, of which I use 1 for camera, 1 for guider and 1 for mount and one for external flash, this basically means you must use both USB on camera for EAF and CAA no problem until you add a filter wheel

[@lukomatico]

That's a great idea Larry!! Coiled cables would really save the day 👍👍

[@johnadastra1754]

A rotator will also help match the rotation of new light frames to those from previous sessions where the gear may have had a slightly different orientation between teardowns.

[@lukomatico]

True yeah!! The more I use it, the more I like the advantages it offers 👍

[@scottnoel5330]

I have the Wanderer Astro M54 rotator and I love it. The ZWO CAA is priced really competitively. Might look at it for a 2nd rig, but we'll see.

[@Fat-totoro-cat]

I have the WA rotator as well and really like it. One cool feature it has is the ability to do de rotation if you have an ALT-AZ mount.

[@Mike-li3ni]

what is the optical thickness on the Wanderer ?

[@scottnoel5330]

@@Mike-li3ni it's 10mm

[@tomcorniche3844]

Just loosen your tube rings & rotate the whole setup. I'm sure everything will be fine 😉 Stay tuned for more money saving tips 😁

[@johnathonhandley6477]

i don't use flats for my work, but the lenses on refactor and the field flatterer are on the none rotating side of CAA so this would effect flats

[@lukomatico]

As long as your scope has a well centered image circle then it'll be no issue, it's functionally the same as what I'm using now - the scope lenses and corrector elements are Infront of the rotator, and the filters and sensor cover glass behind it 👍 only those close elements will show dust notes, everything else is too far away from the focal plane to show motes

[@josephluciani5531]

Hey Luke, best to you and the family. Thanks for this video (new toys are always exciting!!) I think my Askar 600 + OAG + filter Wheel could be a challenge to mount this. And since I don’t mind manually orienting my targets, guess this isn’t for me. One question I have is how much does camera orientation matter when WBPP seems to do a good enough job matching data taken not only on different nights, but on different years? After all, the software works with meridian flips, right? Anyway, please give Felix a hug.

[@lukomatico]

Thanks so much Joe! - we're all doing well, hope you guys are keeping well too! :-D RE: rotation, it's not so much to aid the stackability of the data (but it would help still in that regard), instead it's more for ease of framing and having more choice with how to spend any given evening :-) Hope that explains the rationale behind these!

[@haiderbhogadia4829]

Excellent advice. Thank you Luke. Still waiting for mine😢

[@lukomatico]

Hope it arrives very soon for you my friend! :-D Clear skies!

[@barneyrubble9309]

You can set a 180 degree limit. Cuiv shows it won't go beyond 180.

[@lukomatico]

Ah yeah in NINA you can do that! 👍

[@adam.astrofoto]

Luck, two questions: - After all, at the rotator, the mirror or lens in the telescope does not rotate. So how does dirt on the mirror or lens not affect artifacts when making flats? - Why do you need a white clamp by the camera?

[@lukomatico]

Hey mate! Only dirt that is very close to the sensor can be seen in flats, everything else is too far away from the focal plane to cause any issues, Re: the white circle, it's just a pair of pull-ties, they just act as a collar for the cables to stop them tangling up etc

[@adam.astrofoto]

@lukomatico Thanks a lot for the answer

[@wolfgangkuechle9085]

If you have a lightweight setup rotating by hand can screw up polar alignment. In addition it may make sense even with the 533 sensor. When using 533 in combination with a RedCat M31 just fits onto the diagonal of the sensor. For other targets there is still the topic of image composition which may suggest some rotation. To me it's a very tempting device. On the other hand given the weather conditions over the last months I'm wondering whether I'll get any further opportunities at all to take some images ...

[@lukomatico]

Great points mate! Clear skies :-D

[@paulsmaglik5063]

Hello Mate! I hope you and your family doing well. I want to get the rotator from ZWO, nice review!

[@lukomatico]

Thanks so much mate, we're doing good!! Hope you and yours are well too 👍👍

[@siegfriednoet]

Nice review Luke, I really don't understand how they can sell this so cheap, I have one on order since last year to put it on the little Esprit 80, I guess it will arrive this week or the next ... Pity though that ZWO didn't go bigger than M54, but for that price it's obvious why not, also that there is no security measurement for cable snags. Question though, isn't there a possibility to reduce the backlash in the rotator ?

[@lukomatico]

Hey Siegfried! Hope you are well, I'd imagine careful management of the cables will make the snag issue a non-issue, re: the backlash, there's no way to alter it as far as I know mate, I'm not sure it can be disassembled and adjusted etc, it could be inside the stepper gearbox itself (like on an eaf etc) Cheers!

[@siegfriednoet]

@@lukomatico Interesting Luke to hear there is no possibility to reduce backlash. I saw in Quiv his video that he also had backlash and not a bit. Will be the first thing for me to see if I can solve that.

[@Mike-li3ni]

this definitely going to solve a problem for me. Currently I'm using the Primalucelab rotator unfortunately it is 20mm thick + the adapters adds another 6.7 to 7.2mm so really 26.7 or 28.2mm. For a system with flattener/reducer and strict 55mm backfocus I found it impossible to have both a EFW7 filter wheel and the rotator (found a flattener that had larger backfocus for now). So I think I will be swapping out for the ZWO and moving the primalucelab rotator to my EdgeHD11 system where backfocus has much more room, just need to check with the OAG on that rig. Always backfocus/backfocus/backfocus. Even on a Quintuplet where backfocus is technically not an issue sometimes (depending on specific brand/version) available focus travel is still a concern if you get too far away from 55mm

[@GrundleStiltSkin]

wandererastro mini v2, lite v2 are 12mm, the pro is 16.5

[@gabewrsewell]

what’s keeping you from putting the rotator before the flattener/reduce in this case?

[@Mike-li3ni]

@@gabewrsewell so you mean camera, filter wheel, than flattener/reducer, than rotator. The issue then becomes not enough focus travel (the rack and pinion is not long enough in the direction required).

[@gabewrsewell]

@ the filter wheel should be as close to the sensor as possible, i’m talking telescope > rotator > reducer/corrector > 55mm backfocus for OAG+EFW > camera. that’ll be my plan when i get a rotator for my newtonian, put the corrector threaded to the camera side of the rotator

[@Mike-li3ni]

@@gabewrsewell okay you started at the telescope side. I started at the camera side in list but the telescope does not have enough focus range with the rotator before or after the flattener. Also not sure the flattener is valid with this added length difference to the primary. Either way I can't get focus. My solution was to find a 1x flattener with longer backfocus distance

[@stresspro4085]

Thank you! Very helpful.

[@lukomatico]

Glad it was helpful! Clear skies mate :-D

[@seanod42]

Hi Luke great video mate i will add it to my ever growing wishlist 💷 question will it interfere with the qhy minicam 8

[@lukomatico]

It shouldn't interfere with the minicam my friend, nope! They'll work well :-)

[@seanod42]

@@lukomatico I thought so just wanted to check before i will order them thanks mate

[@peterschmitz4308]

I've never plate solved after a meridian flip. Didn't know I need to 🤣

[@lukomatico]

I guess i should have been more specific, my bad!! - you should be plate solving after a flip if you're staying on the same target :-D (otherwise how do you get back on target accurately after a flip!)

[@peterschmitz4308]

@@lukomatico I guess the ASIAIR does this automatically cause it aligns to the target and resumes the lights sequence.

[@sarahjanereilly9335]

@@peterschmitz4308I also assume this with the Air, I have never plate solved after a flip, on same target, no problems observed.

[@SimonsAstro]

Hi Luke, excellent review there mate! This looks like a great piece of kit! As you will know being a previous owner of the Esprit, how awkward it is to rotate it, so it should make it a lot easier, I have been thinking about getting a rotator, so this may just be it😀 Cheers Luke, appreciated 👍 Clear skies!

[@dadwhitsett]

Correct. I have the Esprit 120 and rotation is such a pain...that I have never used it!!

[@lukomatico]

Oh mate the Esprit was such a PITA to rotate!! beautiful scope but what a crazy design choice on that part, haha! The rotator is a fine bit of kit! :-) Hope you are well my friend

[@nikaxstrophotography]

I ordered it boxing day direct from zwo and it still hasnt arrived. Yet reviewers seem to have them.? Great review mate looking forward to when mine finally arrives. I even have the hand of God image in their calendar this year so bonus.

[@lukomatico]

Hey mate! It's a cracking device, I'm sure you'll be really happy, I think they are having major trouble keeping up with orders currently! I'd been waiting since November for this one, so not to worry - I've probably not queue jumped haha :-D Clear skies mate!

[@dadwhitsett]

I got on the wait list mid December with High Point USA ...and so far not a word. Fortunately the weather is cooperating [clouds/rain/snow, etc] 🤣

[@l0nemonk100]

So far I like it but I am only shooting 2 targets a night while home so it was easy to just test rotation in sequence for those 2 targets and no worries about the cable snag possibility but I did use a little usb hub from the Asiair to attach all of my other equipment (FW, EAF and so on) so only 2 cables to the camera hub. Good review

[@lukomatico]

Thanks Kasei! - Hope you are doing well my friend :-)

[@l0nemonk100]

@@lukomatico Excellent. I just need more clear and windless nights

[@dumpydalekobservatory]

Looks a nice bit of kit & a decent form factor too as there's a lot of rotators out there that seem to be massive, if only someone could come up with one for a Hyperstar? Hope you & your family are well? Clear skies

[@lukomatico]

Thanks mate!! I may have to try it on the Hyperstar and just see how it works anyway, haha! :-D Clear skies!

[@RobPauza]

Thanks for the review. I ordered two super early but am still waiting. ☹️ One question I haven’t seen addressed anywhere… if you have an autorun programmed with a second target at a different rotation, does the ASI Air recalibrate guiding after the second target rotation? I’m guessing yes, but haven’t heard for sure. Thanks!

[@lukomatico]

Hey there mate! - in the asiair you'll have a tickbox when you connect to the CAA, if you use a guider that is linked to the main camera rotation (e.g off-axis guider, or dual-sensor camera like 2600air) then you tell it to rotate calibration data with camera rotation, - it works great! :-)

[@RobPauza]

@ Awesome. Thanks so much. Can’t wait to try mine out.

[@CDigata]

one worg here.. RASA lol - nice review Luke look as nice bit of kit

[@lukomatico]

Thanks mate!! :-D

[@EstebanVINAIXA]

Good review, thanks but we wonder if this accessory really exists..... Apparently this item is very rare. Shipments are done at random!!! ZWO really not serious!!!!

[@synquanon2987]

Love you Luke! With all due respect, there’s no such thing as a “near miss”. Think about it: it means you got hit! The correct expression is “near hit”. It’s a very common misconception.

[@paulwood6729]

Near miss vs wide of the mark. Both are misses.

[@synquanon2987]

@ Think again, Paul!

[@paulwood6729]

@@synquanon2987 You've over-thought it! For example Trump had a near-miss (close but did not hit) and a grazing shot, the person behind him was hit 👍

[@lukomatico]

Thanks mate, love you too! :-D having a 'near miss' is a really common phrase in British English and makes good sense to me, ("it was near, but thankfully missed") perhaps it's a translational issue making it sound odd? :-D interesting either way!

[@Jcorban08]

Although the expression “near miss” is a seeming contradiction, it is widely accepted and understood, in both everyday language and professional settings, to mean a close call where no actual impact occurred.

[@jrs77]

Now we need a ASI2600MM Air to make the sleekest remote controlled mono-setup possible.

[@lukomatico]

That would be pretty darn good! :-D

[@tommyozzy317]

Im holding out for a camera with a circular sensor. 😂. I paid for the whole telescope, i want every photon from that telescope. Plus no need for a rotator.

[@lukomatico]

Can't argue there haha!! that'd be awesome :-)

[@astrophotography-sky]

on your FF i can't get mine to fit in the train due to OAG and using a Reducer, i would have to lose filter drawer, tried to thread filter in to the CAA then I could make it work have you tried to do this with a reducer / OAG / Or combination of such?

[@samuelandrew4500]

ZWO doing what they do best and bringing the price of gear down. Pegasus astro and others are going to have to update their prices to compete.

[@arthurwiegman5512]

The ZWO strainwave mounts are expensive if you compare it with iOptron and Sky Watcher, for example AM 3 cost 1985,-- euro, AM5N cost 2715,-- euro, HEM 15 cost 1595,-- euro, HAE 18C cost 1800,-- euro, Wave 100i cost 1890,-- euro Wave 150i cost 2345,-- euro. I live in the Netherlands.

[@samuelandrew4500]

@ ZWO were first to market with the strainwave mounts, everyone else has had to price cheaper to compete.

[@arthurwiegman5512]

@@samuelandrew4500 Yes but ZWO could bring their prizes down, to high prizes could bring them out of the market which could result in less sales?

[@martinvillamayor5354]

Can this be used to rotate the field on a alt az mount like a dobsonian to not get star trails?

[@Fat-totoro-cat]

I dont think so. The Wanderastro one does.

[@dadwhitsett]

nope

[@lukomatico]

Unfortunately it's not currently setup for derotation, but I think it would be possible? Good question!

[@martinvillamayor5354]

@@lukomatico thx for the answer, you know that we dobsonian guys will buy everything but an eq mount

[@AstroCloudGenerator]

That backlash, just isn’t good enough. There’s no reason to accept that when other similar products have none.

[@lukomatico]

I hear you mate, I do - I feel it's ultimately a non-issue though as you'll be re-solving in any situation where it may be a problem (meridian flip)

[@AstroCloudGenerator]

@ you’re right to point out that it may be a non issue. It’s easy to obsess over these things. And I appreciate that you didn’t need to mention it at all, so thanks for the properly balanced review. But for me after a while in this hobby, small improvements in image quality add up and come from attention to detail. My worry is that small vibrations (your video shows that backlash moving easily by hand) like camera cooling fans, wind over the cable loom and even mount motors will show up in that backlash leading to elongated concentric stars. As you say it would likely be nothing to worry about and BXT would sort it right out. But I would not be comfortable taking a perfectly rigid OTA and willingly adding backlash. CS

[@bigguix]

[@MazzifLOL]

I'm sure the bromance with Cuiv is lovely, but it's starting to feel like you 2 are just stoking each others channel egos. How about a shout out to maybe other up and coming astro content creators who are delivering world class content? Just a thought.

[@lukomatico]

Haha, we're just friends mate - nothing wrong with shouting out your friends. A lot of the up and coming channels I just don't know about them, or don't have time to watch them all to see if I even want to promote what they are doing, how can I in good faith promote someone I don't know, especially to a large audience like mine - it'd be irresponsible.

[@tubedude54]

I'm still waiting for circular sensors... no vignetting... no concerning yourself over sensor orientation when you change targets... true eyepiece view... no need for a $300 gadget to worry about cable management issues...