ZWO ASI6200MM/MC Pro

ASI6200MC Pro uses Sony’s latest back-illuminated IMX455 Full Frame format native 16-bit ADC sensor. It has3.76µm, ultra-low 1.2e readout noise and an innovative breakthrough resulting in zero amp-glow.

The new ASI6200MC Pro camera is the colour version of the ASI6200MM Pro. It combines an optimal set of characteristics for you to be able to take amazing images. Its huge sensor and full-frame format will let you capture detailed, large images. If you feel that a one-shot-camera is preferred over a monochrome camera (which requires dedicated equipment and exposures using different filters), then this camera is for you. Some of the highlights include:

• Sony IMX455 full-frame format sensor – giving a great field of view
• True 16-bit ADC – giving a high dynamic range of up to 14 stops!
• 62-megapixel sensor with a pixel size of 76um – huge sensor and relatively small pixel size to capture amazing detail across a large field-of-view
• A large well depth of4ke- – no need to worry about saturating stars
• Ultra-low readout noise of 1.2 e- – bringing out more details in your images with improved dynamic range
• Zero amp-glow – even during long exposures, which means one thing less to worry about in post-processing

Amazing Craftsmanship, Lightweight body, Solid image quality:

We have been working hard to reduce the weight of the camera while still improving the overall performance. After years of technical accumulation and repeated mass-reduction experiments by ZWO engineers, ZWO finally got the weight of the ASI6200 down to just 700 grams.

Full Frame format:

The ASI6200MMC Pro uses a full-frame format. The sensor length and width are 36mm * 24mm respectively, and the diagonal is 43.3mm. This is a 62MP camera with a small pixel size of 3.76um that can accommodate a large well depth of 51.4ke.

Native 16bit ADC:

ASI6200MC Pro is our first batch of CMOS astronomy cameras with true 16-bit ADC. It is not a CCD-style 16-bit ADC – it really can achieve a dynamic range output of 14 stops. This significantly improves the image sharpness and contrast, and the contrast gradients are smoother and more natural-looking.

IMX455 backlit sensor:

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.

Camera Performance:

The ASI6200MC Pro has excellent performance with a dynamic range of up to 14 stops that will greatly reduce the issue of overexposed images, and make colour gradients look smoother and more natural-looking.

When the gain value is set to 100, the HCG high gain mode is turned on. We’re not saying it’s magic…but we’d like to think it is pretty close. With the HCG-mode turned on, the readout noise is greatly reduced, and the dynamic range is basically unchanged.

Zero Amp Glow:

Traditional CMOS sensors produce a weak infrared light source during operation quite often seen in the corner of uncalibrated images as the tell tale signs of ‘amp glow’. As the ASI6200MC Pro uses zero amp glow circuitry, you won’t have to worry about amp glow even when using high gain, long exposure imaging.

With amp glow – exposure 300 second exposure

ASI6200 frame with no amp glow – Exposure 300 seconds

Anti-dew

ASI6200MC Pro comes with the polyimide heater that can avoid any dew problems.

The anti-dew heater  which completely fit the  protective window will heat it to avoid any dew problems.

The heat anti-dew heater power is around 5W and can be turn off  in software to save power.

QE value:

The QE peak value of the ASI6200MC Pro is 91%.

Two-stage TEC cooling, ultra-low dark current:

Thanks to the two stage TEC cooling, ASI6200MC Pro can lower the CMOS sensor temperature to more than 35 degrees Celsius below ambient temperature, which can greatly reduce dark current generation and sensor noise even during extended exposure times.

The unique dark current suppression technology can further reduce dark current noise. At a cooling temperature of 0 °, the dark current noise is only 0.003e/s/pixel. This means a 300s exposure will only cause a dark current noise of 0.9e-, which is completely negligible!

Please notice that the camera needs to be connected to an external 11-15v power supply to implement the cooling function. We recommend you use 12V@3A DC adapter (5.5*2.1mm, center pole positive) or lithium battery with 11-15V to power the camera. If you don’t have one, please click here to buy a 12V power adapter. There are 4 different standard for different countries, please make sure you selected the correct adapter when placing the order.

USB3.0 & 256M DDR3 Memory:

The ASI6200MC Pro is equipped with a USB 3.0 transmission interface and a built-in 256MB DDR3 cache to ensure stable and secure data transmission. Under long exposure, it effectively avoids frame dropping and greatly reduces the glow effect caused by slow reading speed.

Mechanical Diagram:

What is in the box?

The best solution of 55mm back focus length:

We know that connecting new equipment can be daunting at first, so to help you out we have made a tutorial on detailed connection methods of ASI6200. So if you want more details than the above images, just click the link below:

https://astronomy-imaging-camera.com/tutorials/5-connection-methods-to-get-55mm-back-focus-length.html

Connecting Diagram:

1. Nikon-M54 adapter
2. EOS-M54 adapter
3. Nikon lens
4. Canon lens