I recently completed my full review of the 2600MC Air, which you can read on my website (linked below). We'll take a look at the sensor heat, WiFi range, user experience, and whether this camera is a smart investment or not. Once ZWO release the official firmware update for the app and camera, I'll create a video review as well. www.peterzelinka.com/blog/2024/9/asi-2600mc-air-review
So, what happens if i want to swap out my sensors with a newer model? Does that mean i will have to pay premium for the built in ASAIR every time i want to change sensors? (not that it's gonna happen often, but when it does.. i end up with a bunch of ASAIRs (so to speak)
As someone who likes to connect an ethernet cable to the ASIAIR, the absence of such a port on this device would make me unlikely to want to buy one. Not to mention the worry that if something goes wrong with the camera, or the “air” portion of it, that’s your whole setup put out of action.
True but this is meant for travel setups where you’re not going to need an Ethernet cable most likely. I plan on taking this, a redcat 51, and an AM3 to the Atacama desert. The perfect travel arrangement
I think this is a wonderful leap forward when it comes to simplicity and portability of an astro rig. My biggest concern though is if one part breaks… either the ASIair part, the guide camera part, or the main camera part… the whole thing is bricked. In this case modularity comes in handy.
i just cant get on board with this due to how terrible their software update track record has been on the asiair. its fix a bug introduce 2 new bugs type progress. once i was forced to explore other control like NINA i dont think i can ever see myself using the ASIAIR again. i agree about the asi2600, its my fav camera in my arsenal. i do enjoy some ZWO products but im not a fan of the limited use equipment like the ASIAIR only working with other ZWO products. now, put a built in rotator on the camera, and i will immediately drop a wad of cash to buy 3 new cameras to replace the ones i have :D
Start the AA without the thumb key in. Then put the thumb key in and it'll ask if you want to switch to the thumb key and hit no. Then you go to the internal files and you can select them and then there is an option to transfer to your thumb key. I'm doing this from memory so...
I have a question. Is it possible to connect the camera in a PC with NINA? Cause it's a good option if one wants to bring it to travel (using asiair) or at home with NINA. Otherwise, the camera is exclusively for the internal asiair
My issue? When something breaks on it what's the point? it will be a very expensive paperweight I'm not a fan of all in one with sensitive equipment like this, great concept but also planned obsolescence
Gimmick for my needs. I have multiple scopes, cameras, mounts… I have a couple AsiAir + I can move around supporting different configurations. I can see it as an attractive option starting out but as your kit grows, it’s going to become less useful.
Using the ZWO ecosystem has been helpful for me. I have 2 rigs set up and it sure is better than having two laptops out there! I also tried a mini PC with Nina and it was cumbersome and difficult. The only thing I don't like is the inability for the AA to set focus offsets for mono imaging filters.
Great video. Thanks, Peter. Do you think you could get higher transfer speeds if you used Station Mode? I routinely get 10 or more MB/s with my ASIAir Plus's when using Station mode, whereas connecting to the ASIAir directly I used to get about 2-3 MB/s. (Assuming, of course, you have WiFi set up in your home. Best of luck with it, BTW! It looks beautiful.)
I love how innovative ZWO has become! The ASI air has been a game changer for me, so I can only imagine how amazing it would be to have an all-in-one camera like this. I shoot with a RASA though so I don't know if this version would be usable for me. It'd be amazing if they could somehow do away with the antenna at some point.
I personally don't understand the desire to operate a telescope from your phone, where you're working on a small screen and are at the mercy of your phone battery capacity to remain connected.
Great video Peter! This new ASI2600MC Air and the new AM5 mount seems like they work really well together; may I ask which telescope is that in the video?
Why is it a good idea to be trapped into the ZWO ecosystem? I would not be saying this if there was a fast way to connect to this camera not using ASIAir. That one limitation worries me, but thankfully there seems to be healthy competition right now. Awesome product no doubt, but trapping people into your ecosystem is never cool. I like my Duo, and I'm not trapped.
Then don’t buy it. The benefit of ZWO is the ecosystem. Some of us don’t want an overly complicated mess of equipment of random manufacturers that may or may not work together seamlessly. We just want the scope to work and be accurate and simple.
So you are starting a new hobby, buy this smart cam and soon find out that the built in AsiAir has its limitations. You look around and want to switch to N.I.N.A. Then you find out that you need another camera. Great! (not)
I have nothing to base this on aside from conjecture, but my bet would be that is you power it up and plug a USB cable into it, the camera and guide camera can be seen completely independent of the Air app. It would be nice to know if this theory is true though.
I see this argument all the time from astro-nerds that probably have many mounts, telescopes, cameras (including "DLSR's") and lenses. 😊 I do not think anyone starting out with ZWO would consider N.I.N.A or anything else based on "Open Source". Unless they like to to waste valuable imaging time on software and configure different hardware with a more or less intuitive GUI.
@@TL1000S97 maybe you see this argument all the time because it’s valid. When I started with this hobby I replaced my asiair within one year, because of its limitations. That would have been costly if I was lured into this camera. We’re flooded with reviews of this cam and no one mentions this (probably afraid they will not get to review the next ZWO device).
