ZWO ASI174 USB3.0 Monochrome CMOS Camera

This NEW camera makes SONY's Pregius Global Shutter CMOS technology available for amateurs without braking the bank. It comes with a large sensor, large pixel size, high frame rate and comparatively high resolution that makes it the best choice for a beginner who want to focus on Lunar and Solar imaging and try his skills in deep sky imaging as well.

(Don't forget that you'll need a proper solar filter in front of your telescope for solar imaging if it's a SCT, Mak or Newtonian and other proper solar technology for refractor telescopes....if you are not sure, ask us for the sake of your safety.)

This camera comes with USB3.0 connection that gives you the opportunity to use it with newer laptops and is backward compatible with USB2.0. There is no USB 2.0 version of this camera as that simply won't be enough to use the camera's possible high framerate. High framerates are not a guarantee for excellent images, but certainly helpful if other circumstances are given.

It comes with an AUTOGUIDER PORT just as many other ZWO cameras, so you may use it for both imaging or guiding!

This camera will mostly be used for imaging the Sun and the Moon, but it can also be used for deep sky imaging up to a certain level as it supports up to 1000seconds exposure time. This monochrome version is recommended for L-RGB or narrow band deep sky photography if you want to get out the best data from your camera and achieve sharp, contrasty deep sky, solar or lunar images, but if you don't want the hassle or cannot spend much time and happy to go for a compromise, simply choose the colour version, the ZWO ASI174MC.

With this monochrome version, you'll also need a filter wheel and a set of L-RGB filters or H-alpha and OIII filters, and maybe even H-beta and SII filters as well for narrow band astro photography...)

Features of the ZWO ASI174MM Camera

• Recommended for the Sun, Moon and some deep sky objects
• (To image the Sun you'll have to use a proper front solar filter or Herschel wedge depending on your telescope type. Please contact us if not sure!)
• Resolution: 1936X1216 at up to 164fps (at 12bit ADC) or 128fps (at 10 bit ADC)
• Long time exposure up to 1000s!
• Autoguider Port
• Built-in RAW mode and Grey mode output support. Only about 30% storage space required compared to the Color data format!
• Peak Quantum Efficiency: 78% (this is a very high value)
• No fixed pattern noise (FPN)!
• Full aluminum housing with standard 2" interface
• M42X0.75 internal thread.
• (T-thread to C-mount adapter is not included due to the size of the sensor. It could be purchased separately, but might cause vignetting.)
• Compatible with DirectShow and ASCOM
• Compatible with MaxIm-DLSupported OS: Windows, Linux, Arm-linux, Mac OSX