AP130 Version 2.0: Moving to a Next Generation Astro Camera…
Dates: May 10, 2021 - Now
Version 2.0 of the AP130 Platform, sporting it’s new ZWO ASI2600MM-Pro Camera.
Table of Contents Show (Click on lines to navigate)
A Video Tour of the Updated Platform
New Capability
There has been a lot of buzz in the astrophotographic community around the ASI2600 camera. It has a larger sensor - but not so large that its cost is completely out of reach. Higher resolution, full 16-bit a/d conversion, deeper full well capability, low read noise, virtually no amp glow - what’s not to love?
Well - lots of people put early orders in for one of these cameras - I know I did months ago and there was really in of on how long you were going to have to wait until you actually get it. Then, one of my Astro friends looked at AgenaAstro.com, and was shocked to see that not only were they in stock - they had 10 of them! He sent an email out with a heads up and I placed an order in record time. Those 10 units would probably only last minutes! Well - they lasted hours actually. My guess is that everyone that wanted one put a pre-order in - knew they had a big wait - and stopped looking. Not my friend Gary. Thanks to him we both got one fairly early.
A bigger sensor means other issues…
The APS-C sensor on this camera was much larger than the sensor in the ASI1600MM-Pro camera that I had before. This could cause some issues. I did not have a field flattener on the AP130, but there was some concern that the larger sensor would take more light from the edge of the optical field - causing stat distortion. This scope is an f/8.35 - so my guess is that I would be OK (No so if it was a lower f/Ration system).
ZWO ASI2600MM-Pro camera is a next generation APC-C sized sensor offering.
Here is the new filter wheel - all opened up so that I can mount the new filters
The other problem was filters. The 1.25” filters that I had before were too small for the new sensor. I would need both bigger filters and a new filter wheel to hold them. My calculations suggested that a 7x36mm wheel with unmounted 36mm filters would work. So that was the direction I took. Of course, this filter wheel was a new product that had not yet been released…. so let’s wait some more….
I finally got the filter wheel and then needed to get the filters. I went with the ZWO 36mm unmounted LRGB filters - as they had performed well for me in the past and they were very affordable. But I went with Astronomiks 6nm cut Narrowband filters for Ha, OIII, and SII. I had had a problem before with haloes on the OIII and I did not want to de with that again,.
Side view of the camera and filter wheel.
Another side view…
latest configuration and improved cabling.
Current Configuration
So here was where the AP130 Platform is at now:
Scope: Astro-Physics 130mm F/8.35 Starfire APO built in 2003
Guide Scope: Televue TV76 F/6.3 480mm APO Dublet
Main Fous: Pegasus Astro Focus Cube 2
Guide Fous: Pegasus Astro Focus Cube 2
Mount: IOptron CEM60 - new
Tripod: IOptron Tri-Pier with column extension - new
Main Camera: ZWO ASI2600MM-Pro - new
Filter Wheel: ZWO EFW 7x36 - new
Filters: ZWO 36mm unmounted Gen II LRGB filters - new
Astronomiks 36mm unmounted 6nm Ha, OIII, & SII filters - new
Rotator: Pegasus Astro Falcon Camera Rotator
Guide Camera: ZWO ASI290MM-Mini
Power Dist: Pegasus Astro Pocket Powerbox
USB Dist: Startech 7 slot USB 3.0 Hub
