ASI294MM Pro binning incorrect

[Bluebird181]

Hi Robin,

The 294 high-resolution mode (8288x5644; 2.31 micron pixels) is Bin 1. Standard resolution is (4144x2822; 4.62 micron pixels), which is Bin 2. Sharpcap incorrectly identifies Bin1 as standard resolution. This makes flats and dark frames created in Sharpcap unusable in other programs because bin and resolution aren’t properly correlated. Please fix this problem with the Sharpcap driver or allow the use of a different driver that works correctly. The Sharpcap supplied ASI camera drivers also do not provide the correct resolution.

Thank you.

[admin]

Hi,

this is correct behaviour as far as SharpCap is concerned - the switch between high and low resolution modes is handled by the 'read mode' option in SharpCap, with the binning being relative to the maximum resolution of the mode that you are in. Thus, in high res mode you get bin 1 and bin 3, and in low res mode you get bin 1 and bin 2 (bin 2 and bin 4 as far as the SDK is concerned).

Several internal features of SharpCap wouldn't work properly without this approach - most notably, the switch from high res to low res mode is *not* a simple bin 2 operation - the camera works differently internally and has a different read noise profile in low res mode compared to what you would expect from a simple bin 2 of high res mode.

Sorry not to be able to help on this one.

cheers,

Robin

[Bluebird181]

I appreciate the reply. However, according to ZWO documentation, bin1 is unlocked high-resolution mode, and bin2 is standard mode.

https://www.zwoastro.com/product/asi294/

This is how NINA, for example, designates bin and resolution.

It’s unfortunate that Sharpcap doesn’t follow established conventions in this case. I realize the 294 is an exception. I know of no other camera with dual resolution modes.

[admin]

Hi,

essentially other manufacturers approached me regarding the special nature of this camera sensor before ZWO did. Those manufacturers took the approach I have described with the 'read mode' being the difference between 11 and 47 megapixel rather than binning. Because of that SharpCap already had an established approach to this when the ZWO model came around.

cheers,

Robin

[Bluebird181]

I found a workaround. If both my 294MM Pro and 120MM mini are connected, the two ASI drivers on the list both point to the 120MM. Strange. Disconnect the 120 and an ASI driver connects to the 294 and properly assigns bin1 to high resolution mode (2.31 micron pixels) and bin 2 to regular mode(4.62 micron pixels).