ASI071MC Pro color camera

With 28.4 mm sensor diameter and 4.74 µm pixels, the ASI071MC Pro color camera offers a very high detail resolution with a large image field at the same time. The sensor has a similar diameter as the one of APS-C format DSLR cameras, but it is far more powerful.

With this, you can photograph an entire galaxy cluster and show details of the single galaxies at the same time. The camera is especially suitable for fast, high-resolution optics like apochromats or FastStar systems. Even with shorter focal distances, outstanding astro images are generated.

Large sensors with rather fine pixels require good adjustment to avoid tilt between sensor plane and image plane. For this, the ASI071MC-Cool has an adjustable connection plate which makes an additional adjustment flange with its optical path obsolete.

The "single shot" color camera offers more comfort, compared with MONO cameras. Not everyone wants to follow through the laborious L-RGB technique for beautiful colored nebula images. The color cameras offer a possibility to get beautiful images without changing filters. However, good broadband nebula filter (see accessory recommendation) reduce stray light and enhance contrast without the necessity of being changed or coloring the image too much.

Advantages and features of the ASI 071 PRO camera:

♦ USB 3.0 for a fast download - can also be used with USB 2.0

♦ 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.

♦ Powerful Peltier cooling up to 40 °C below ambient temperature

♦ Sensitive modern SONY IMX071 CMOS sensor with 28.4 mm diameter - 16 megapixels

♦ High resolution through 4.78 µm pixels

♦ Shutter: Rolling Shutter

♦ Distance from T2 connection thread to camera sensor: 17.5 mm

♦ Adjustable connection plate - locked against unintended unscrewing

♦ Comes with AR-coated clear glass window - full transmission even in infrared. If IR should be blocked, an IR blocking filter is necessary.

♦ Anti-dew heating integrated against icing (feature of the new PRO series)

Application ranges of the camera:

♦ Deep sky images (nebulae and galaxies): Due to the high sensitivity, nebulae and galaxies are captured after only a few seconds. By cooling down the camera up to 40 °C below ambient, the already low noise can be further reduced. By increasing gain (like the ISO setting of DSLR cameras), you can reduce exposure times below 30 seconds. Effects from seeing or inaccuracies of the drive are eliminated.

♦ Lunar and planetary images: extremely short exposure times (due to high sensitivity) freeze the seeing. Through the high resolution of the sensor, many details can be reproduced even at shorter focal length. Video astronomy is also possible.