The ZWO ASI224MC comes with an exciting a 1/3″ and 1.2M pixels IMX224 sensor that features SONY Exmor and NIR Technology.
The result is extremely low read noise (1.5 e) and high sensitivity especially in the near IR range.
The comparatively small sensor, extremely low read noise, high sensitivity and achievable high framerates make this new camera a very good choice for a quality-conscious planetary imager.
We hope that it will prove to become the best colour planetary imager on the market.
The ASI224MC camera comes with USB3.0 connection that gives you the opportunity to use it with newer laptops and is backward compatible with USB2.0. High framerates are not a guarantee for excellent images, but certainly helpful if other circumstances are given. 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, plus, for the same reason, we would really recommend to use it with USB3.0 compatible hardware as that's the only way to achieve very high framerates...
Due to the high IR sensitivity and the various ways that this camera can be used, IR cut-off fiter is not built in so we would also recommend to buy it separately as well.
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 planets, but it can also be used for deep sky imaging up to a certain level as it supports up to 1000seconds exposure time. This colour camera provides you with a simple imaging process, no need to worry about filters and filter wheel, so if you cannot spend much time and happy to go for a slight compromise, this is probably the best colour planetary imager today that you can buy in this price range (and it would beat many much more expensive cameras as well...)
Features of the ZWO ASI224MC Camera
Recommended for the planets and some deep sky objects
Resolution: 1304X976 at up 64fps (at 12bit ADC) or 150fps (at 10 bit ADC)
Long time exposure up to 1000s!
Autoguider Port
Very low read noise (1.5e)
High Sensitivity, especially in IR range
Full aluminum housing with standard 2" interface
M42X0.75 internal thread.
T-thread to C-mount adapter included
Specification of ZWO ASI224MC USB3.0
Sensor: 1/3” CMOS IMX224/IMX225
Resolution: 1.2Mega Pixels 1304X976
Pixel Size: 3.75µm
Sensor Size: 4.8mm*3.6mm
Diagonal: 6.09mm
Exposure Rage: 32µs-1000s
ROI: Supported
ST4 Guider Port: Yes
Focus Distance to Sensor: 12.5mm
Shutter Type: Rolling Shutter
Protect window: AR coated window
Operating System Compatibility: Mac, Windows, Linux
Interface: USB3.0/USB2.0
Bit rate: 12bit output(12bit ADC)
Adaptor: 2″ / 1.25″ / M42X0.75
Dimension: φ62mm X 36mm
Weight: 120g or 4.2 ounces (without lens)
Working Temperature: -5°C—45°C
Storage Temperature: -20°C—60°C
Working Relative Humidity: 20%—80%
Storage Relative Humidity: 20%—95%
Supported Resolutions:
10bit ADC / 12bit ADC
1304×976 150fps / 64fps
1280×960 152.4fps / 65fps
800×600 241.2fps / 102.9fps
640×480 299.4fps / 127.6fps
320×240 577.9fps / 256.4fps
More resolutions can be user defined