The ASI 294MC is the first camera with the latest Sony IMX294CJK sensor: the ideal astro camera for every conceivable application!
The "back-illuminated" Sony CMOS sensor ensures maximum sensitivity and therefore short exposure times. With just 30 seconds of exposure time and subsequent stacking, you'll be able to capture faint nebulae and galaxies with this camera - without any active cooling!
The main advantages of the camera at a glance:
- USB 3.0 for a fast download - can also be operated with USB 2.0
- Very sensitive CMOS sensor: quantum efficiency in the maximum over 75% (about 530nm)
- Good resolution due to relatively small pixels
- Supplied with AR clear glass filter, which means full passage also in the infrared. If the IR is to be blocked, an IR cut filter is needed.
- HCG mode - if Gain (pre-amplification) is higher than 120 (12 db), the readout noise will be reduced below 2e - Result: Despite extremely high sensitivity, you will obtain low-noise images.
- High full-well capacity: even bright stars do not burn anymore, they get a better signal-to-noise ratio.
- Big scope of delivery: adapters, cables and more
ZWO ASI Pro Features:
The ASI Pro cameras include a 256MB DDR3 memory buffer to help improve data transfer reliability. Additionally, the use of a memory buffer minimizes amp-glow, which is caused by the slow transfer speeds when the camera is used with a USB 2.0 port.
ZWO ASI Pro cameras have an improved casing. There are four screws that seal the sensor chamber. Our camera design has been extensively tested and is very stable. Even when used in higher humidity environments, The camera will still work fine without dew problems.
ZWO ASI Pro cameras also contain a 2-stage TEC cooling system that enables deep cooling (40°C-45°C below ambient Temperature). This reduces sensor noise considerably and allowes you to take breathtaking astrophotos.
Cooled ZWO ASI cameras need a 12V power supply, If you don’t have one, please check the recommended accessories for a suitable power adapter.
Colour or mono? Black and white cameras have the advantage of higher sensitivity and resolution than colour cameras. However, more effort is required to obtain a colour image. You also need colour filters and a filter wheel
Our expert comment:
Astro-cameras with the IMX294 color sensor are perfectly suited for RGB-imaging of deep-sky-objects. However, the bayer matrix of this color sensor causes artifacts in the H-alpha wavelength. These are very hard to remove in post-processing. Hence, this camera isn't suited for photography with H-alpha narrowband filters (or respective multi-narrowband filters, like Triad, etc).
Elias Erdnüß
