ZWO ASI294MC Pro USB3.0 Cooled Color Astronomy Camera - ASI294MC-P

ZWO ASI294MC Pro Color Cooled Camera

Sony IMX492 Pregius Color Sensor

The ZWO ASI294MC Pro is the first camera in the world equipped with the latest Sony sensor IMX294CJK. This is one of the top-selling cameras from ZWO, and if you look at the specifications and comparatively low price, it is easy to see why. Some of the highlights of the ASI294MC Pro include:

• Back-illuminated sensor – improving sensitivity and reducing noise
• 4/3” format with 4.63 um pixel size – ideal for many types of telescopes
• 14-bit ADC– giving high dynamic range of 13 stops
• An impressive 7ke- full well capacity- helping to reduce the issue of, for example, saturated stars.

On top of this, the ASI294MC Pro also has a very high QE-value with a peak of over 75%. If you are looking for a small-format OSC camera for astrophotography, you can’t go wrong with the ASI294MC Pro.

Back-Illumination

Sony’s back-illuminated CMOS image sensor improves the sensitivity and noise reduction – the key factors to enhancing image quality. It does this by radically realigning the fundamental pixel structure from front-illumination to back-illumination, while still retaining the advantages of CMOS image sensors such as low power consumption and high-speed operation.

With a conventional front-illumination structure, the metal wiring and transistors on the surface of the silicon substrate that form the sensor’s light-sensitive area (photo-diode), impede photon-gathering carried out by the on-chip lens. A back-illuminated structure minimizes the degradation of sensitivity to the optical angle response, while also increasing the amount of light that enters each pixel due to the lack of obstacles such as metal wiring and transistors. These components have been moved to the back-side of the silicon substrate.

USB3.0 & DDR3 Buffer

With features like USB 3.0 and 256MB DDR3 buffer, the ASI294MMCPro provides stable and secure data transmission that can effectively avoid frame-dropping issues during long exposures and reduce the glow effect caused by slow reading speed.

Large well depth capacity, low read-out noise & high dynamic range

The full well capacity of 63700e of ASI294MC Pro is near the top of all ASI DSO cameras. It ensures a very high dynamic range of up to 13 stops that will greatly reduce the issue of overexposed images and also help to collect richer color information.

HCG (high conversion gain) mode, which reduces read noise to even lower levels at higher gain without loss to dynamic range, is automatically enabled when the gain setting is 120 or higher. Read noise will drop under 2e-, while dynamic range will remain at 13 stops.

Cooling & Dew

Thanks to two-stage TEC cooling, the ASI294MC-P can lower the CMOS sensor temperature to 35-40 degrees Celsius below ambient temperature, which can greatly reduce dark current generation and sensor noise even during extended exposure times.

*The Delta T 35℃-40ºC is tested at 30℃ ambient temperature. It might get down when the cooling system is working for a long time. Also, as the ambient temperature falls, the Delta T would decrease.

Please Note: External power supplies are needed for all ASI cooled cameras.  ZWO recommends you use a 12V@3A DC Adapter with a 5.5*2.1mm center pole positive or a lithium battery with 11-15V to power the camera.  Do not use a power supply that goes out of this recommended voltage range or irreparable damage to the camera may occur.

Specifications

Sensor: 4/3″ SONY IMX294 CMOS
Diagonal: 23.2mm
Resolution: 11.7Mega Pixels 4144X2822
Pixel Size: 4.63µm
Bayer Pattern: RGGB
Shutter:Rolling shutter
Exposure Range: 32µs-2000s
ROI: Supported
Read Noise: 1.2-7.3e
QE peak: Over 75%
Full well: 63.7ke
ADC:14bit
DDRIII Buffer: 256MB
Non-volatile memory/On camera storage: Build-in total 192K byte user-accessible space(image size up to 480X320)
Interface: USB3.0/USB2.0
Adaptor: M42X0.75
Protect window: AR
Dimensions: 78mm Diameter
Weight: 410g
Back Focus Distance: 6.5mm
Cooling: Regulated Two Stage TEC
Delta T: 35°C-40°C below ambient
Camera Power consumption: 650mA at 5V
Cooler Power consumption: 12V at 3A Max
Working Temperature: -5°C—45°C
Storage Temperature: -20°C—60°C
Working Relative Humidity: 20%—80%
Storage Relative Humidity: 20%—95%
Max FPS at full resolution:
10Bit ADC
4144×2822 19fps
14bit ADC
4144×2822 16fps

Resolution USB 3.0 Raw16
4144×2822 16.3fps
4096×2160 21.1fps
3840×2160 21.1fps
1920×1080 40.9fps
1280×720 59.7fps
640×480 85.9fps
320×240 153.4fps

Resolution USB 3.0 Raw8& HighSpeed
4144×2822 19.0fps
4096×2160 24.7fps
3840×2160 24.7fps
1920×1080 47.9fps
1280×720 69.8fps
640×480 100.5fps
320×240 179.3fps