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The new all-in-one device ASI2600MC Air ZWO ASIAIR · Luca Bartek · ... · 7 · 346 · 0

the_space_koala 1.20
Luca Bartek
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I purchased and tried out the new all-in-one ASI2600MC Air:

As long as you wish to use it as it's meant to be used - what ZWO calls a "smart camera" - it works like a charm, including bluetooth-based wireless connectivity to the mount.

As soon as you want to do anything ever so slightly different from that, it's very painful. They claim compatibility with AsiStudio as well as anything ASCOM based, but it's truly a struggle to make it work, and even when you make it work, it's practically unusable for imaging.

What do you all think? Is this the direction we're going in? I think this may be the product that bridges the gap between the SeeStar and traditional rigs. I welcome any innovation that brings more people into the hobby so I fully support this product, but they need to tone down the "ascom compatibility" marketing because it's just not usable at all.

My full test and review: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=acLhjlrSIgE&t=509s
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gilghana 5.72
Gilmour Dickson
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Good job Luca.  I don't think it is the direction we are going in.  I think it is a bit misguided even for ZWO…  I could sort of understand it with a 585 or 533, but with a APS-C sensor. No.  It makes no sense to me.  Okay, a few people with specific mobile cases might like it, but when an asiair mini exists (and a couple of cables) that is a bit bigger than a box of matches and doesn't restrict your camera in this way, well.  No.  It just doesn't fulfil any need I have or even can imagine.
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the_space_koala 1.20
Luca Bartek
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Gilmour Dickson:
I could sort of understand it with a 585 or 533


I wouldn't be surprised if a 533 air came out next year. Whoever is super into new stuff and can, will buy the 2600 now, and next year if they make a 533MC Air, a bunch more people will buy that one for half the price. I think there must have been a similar idea behind releasing the more expensive AM5 before a smaller AM3. Had they released the small version first, they would've missed out on a lot of sales to people who could buy the am5 but didn't necessarily need the higher weight capacity. It must be a similar approach here.
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jimmythechicken 19.44
Charles Hagen
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I truly hope this isn't the direction that the industry is moving towards, but there is too much of a financial incentive for companies not to. The locked down ecosystem of the ASIAir and ZWO products is very detrimental in my view, and packaging even more things into that ecosystem will only make that worse. I wouldn't be one bit surprised if ZWO stopped selling standalone cameras entirely and made the default version of their cooled cameras "Air" models. Definitely not something I am excited for. I have loved the fact that so much of the software we use is open source and community built, NINA for example is fantastic and has grown at an incredible pace. Its a real shame to see the closed off corporate stuff creeping in. Ive definitely personally decided I wont be buying ZWO hardware anymore as I do not want to support their vision.
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Gondola 8.11
Tony Gondola
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Well, it's marketing so I get it. In a way, us hard-core astro-imagers really isn't the dream market for them. The more attractive they can make things to the general public the better. I mean, look at it. Anyone with a small amount of experience and a heavy wallet can buy a complete ZWO setup and start doing somewhat advanced imaging right away. I really think that's the market ZWO wants, we just happen to benefit. I'm happy to buy ZWO cameras as long as the price/performance calculation is there. On the other hand, I would never buy an ASI-AIR.
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1.20
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tochiro 0.00
Joe
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I think ZWO should first create a proper pier tripod for the AM5 that doesn’t interfere with the telescope.
and If they are going to release an all-in-one package like this, I would have preferred them to prioritize a successor to the asi294 without amp glow first.
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the_space_koala 1.20
Luca Bartek
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Joe:
I would have preferred them to prioritize a successor to the asi294 without amp glow first


They are just releasing cameras based on whatever sensor is available on the market - I have the same thoughts about a "2400 mono". I wish they had a full frame camera with larger pixels. As long as Sony doesn't do it, it won't happen!
Speaking of a proper pier, it should include the option of a built-in rechargeable battery, that could be cool!
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