ZWO ASI 224 versus eVscope - Photo Comparison

Introduction | Quick-and-Dirty Comparison with the Original eVscope | First Conclusions | Links

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On this page I contrast photos of the same DSO taken with my ZWO ASI224MC camera at my PS 72/432 refractor and with my original eVscope. These photos are processed.

Note: I bought a ZWO ASI294MC camera in the beginning of April 2022 in order to get more resolution and field of view, and I thus, sold my ZWO ASI224MC camera in mid-April 2022. I therefore can no longer report any further experiences with this camera here. Furthermore, I sold my original eVscope in mid-March 2022.

Introduction

The ZWO ASI224MC* camera and my original eVscope** have the same sensor (Sony IMX 224/225), but operate it in different modes, which does not make much difference, though. Differences arise on the one hand from the telescope tubes used, and the different processing by the applications used.

*) No longer in my prossession, sold in mid-April 2022; **) no longer in my prossession, sold in mid-March 2022.

More details on the pages (and related pages):

One reason to look into the ZWO ASI224MC was that this camera uses the same sensor chip Sony IMX224/5 as the original eVscope (albeit in a slightly different mode). In this respect, it appealed to me to make a comparison between the eVscope and the ASI224MC, especially since I was not really satisfied with the initial image quality of the eVscope: The photos looked too much like "brushed" for my taste and showed too few details. Photo comparisons of other amateur astronomers confirmed this. Over time, Unistellar kept making changes to the eVscope's image processing that were more or less noticeable. Finally, with the app version 1.3, a more comprehensive change was made, in which on the one hand the image format was enlarged, but on the other hand (not only) improvements were made in the details as well. I made before-after comparisons of eVscope photos, which clearly demonstrate the improvements. However, it also showed that I was able to change older photos towards the new state - you just have to know which "screws" to turn.

Quick-and-Dirty Comparison with the Original eVscope

In the following I would like to present a selection of DSO photos, which were taken with both the ASI224MC (with the PS 72/432 refractor) and the eVscope. Where possible, I use photos taken with the "new" image processing on the eVscope, but scale them down to 1280 pixels wide for an easier comparison with the ASI224 photos.

ASI224MC with PS 72/432		Original eVscope

M 11 - Sep 2, 2021, 60frames, 5sec, gain300, with UV/IR cut filter		M 11 - Oct 7, 2021, processed und sharpened

M 13 - Sep 2, 2021, 61frames, 5sec, gain300, processed, with UV/IR cut filter		M 13 - Oct 16, 2021, processed und sharpened

M 27 Sep 2, 2021, 85frames, 5sec, gain300, processed		M 27 - Oct 7, 2021, processed

M 42/43 - Apr 8, 2021, 21 frames, 10 s, gain 134, processed		M 42 - Nov 17, 2020, processed

M 51 - Apr 13, 2021 - 50 frames, 10 s, gain 134, processed		M 51 - Mar 6, 2021, processed

M 51 - Apr 13, 2021 - 76 frames, 10 s, gain 134, processed		M 51 - Jul 17, 2021, processed

M 57 - Sep 2, 2021, 72frames, 5sec, gain300, processed		M 57 - Oct 7, 2021, processed

M 65 & M 66 - Apr 13, 2021 - 31 frames, 10 s, gain 0, processed		M 65 & M 66 - Mar 8, 2021, processed

M 78 - Apr 8, 2021 - 30 frames, 10 s, gain 300, processed		M 78 - Mar 7, 2021, processed

M 92 - Sep 2, 2021, stacked from single frames, processed		M 92 - Sep 15, 2020, processed und sharpened

M 95 - Apr 13, 2021 - 13 frames, 10 s, gain 300, processed		M 95 - Mar 8, 2021, processed

M 96 - Apr 8, 2021 - 30 frames, 10 s, gain 300, processed		M 96 - Mar 8, 2021, processed

M 105 (+ NGC 3384 und NGC 3389) - Apr 13, 2021 - 17 frames, 10 s, gain 300, processed		M 105 (+ NGC 3384 and NGC 3389) - Mar 8, 2021, processed

NGC 2024 - Apr 8, 2021 - 30 frames, 10 s, gain 300, processed		NGC 2024 - Feb 17, 2021, processed

NGC 3628 - Apr 13, 2021 - 48 frames, 10 s, gain 134, processed		NGC 3628 - Mar 7, 2021, processed

First Conclusions

At first glance, the eVscope photos look much better. However, if you look more closely, the eVscope photos often look far too contrasty and trimmed for "effect". Also, I had little experience editing photos in ASILive (or SharpCap). I think that with a little more effort and knowledge, photos equivalent in quality to the eVscope photos can be created with the ASI224MC.

What is noticeable in the ASI224 photos, is the stronger amplifier glow. This is partly because I did not take any dark frames with it, and partly because the new image processing of the eVscope produces a considerably darker sky compared to the old processing - and thus also reduces the amplifier glow.

ZWO ASI 224 versus eVscope - Photo Comparison

Introduction

Quick-and-Dirty Comparison with the Original eVscope

ASI224MC with PS 72/432

Original eVscope

First Conclusions

Links