Altair GPCAM2 290C color camera for planetary imaging and guiding

Altair GPCAM2 290C color camera for planetary imaging and guiding


The GPCAM2 enables color photography of the moon, sun and planets, but also all-sky recordings. There is also an ST4 autoguider port!
♦ SONY Exmor IMX290 color CMOS sensor - 2.07 Mpixels

♦ Sensor size: 1/2.8" diagonal (5.6 mm x 3.1 mm) 1920x1080 pixels

♦ Pixel size: 2.9 µm x 2.9 µm

♦ High sensitivity, extremely low readout noise

♦ Approx. 17 fps at maximum resolution

♦ 1.25" connection with filter thread

♦ Case acts as a heat sink

♦ USB2.0 and ST4 interface

♦ Lens mount: CS mount, C mount

♦ 150° wide angle lens included for spectacular wide field shots, cloud shots and shooting star monitoring

♦ USB powered

♦ only 70 g (without lens)

An all-in-one multipurpose astronomy camera with a 2 Mpixel color CMOS sensor
Now you can enjoy cost-effective Full HD recording technology - with the quality and features you would expect from a product with sophisticated CMOS technology.

The GPCAM2 enables photography of the moon, sun and planets, but also all-sky recordings. There is also an ST4 autoguider port!

Of course, the GPCAM2 camera is ideal for autoguiding with small guide scopes! It offers low weight and a direct connection to miniguiders - like a 1.25" eyepiece. No difficulties, no hassle, no adapters.

The GPCAM2 IMX290 Color is also very good for capturing planets. The high frame rate in combination with short exposure times is helpful for "lucky imaging" to partially compensate for the influence of air turbulence. After removing the built-in UV-IR blocking filter or replacing it with a clear glass filter, you can reduce the effects of air turbulence with appropriate IR pass filters, because the sensor is (in all pixels!) very sensitive to infrared.

Sun photography with this camera is fun, not only in white light, but also in H-alpha and in the calcium line region. The GPCAM2 IMX290 has a high sensitivity here without the removable blocking filter, which keeps the exposure times short.

However, you can also attach a C(S) mount lens for wide-angle shots of the sky to "capture" shooting stars or aurora borealis - or simply create a video of the night sky with the stars passing through the field of view, thus demonstrating the rotation of the earth.

Full ROI (Region Of Interest) support is possible. This allows the frame rate to be increased to very high values by only reading out the area around a planet or a detail on the sun. With the freely downloadable AltairCapture software you can create dark frames in just a few seconds.

Practical equipment
The sensor: a specially selected 1/2.8" Sony IMX290 HD CMOS sensor with 2.9 micron pixels, high sensitivity and fast bit rate, but also the option for exposures of up to 1000 seconds.

Thanks to STARVIS, the sensor is BSI (Backside Illuminated), i.e. backlit, and is characterized by very high sensitivity and extremely low reading noise. It still delivers high color quality even in very low light - leading the way in maintaining color fidelity and low noise in low light conditions. This makes the camera a good choice for planetary photography, but also for short exposure deep sky shots. The greatly reduced amplifier glow has a positive effect here.

The Camera: Approximately the size of an eyepiece and weighing around 70 grams, the GPCAM2 offers many functions in a very small design. The sensor is protected by an optical window with anti-reflective coating on both sides. This blocks UV and IR on the color camera, allowing direct use with refractive elements such as correctors or Barlow lenses, while the window on the black and white camera is kept clear to give the user full control over what light they want to let through, for example for Narrowband photography, H-alpha solar imaging, RGB planetary imaging, or even planetary photography in the UV or IR range (which can show extreme detail).

With regard to the electronics, the new GPCAM2 is superior to the old GPCAMs in two main areas: Firstly, it has an improved frame buffer, which stabilizes the transmission of images at high image frequencies, and secondly, there is the "Trigger Mode", which allows longer recordings to be made immediately stop. You can therefore react immediately to image disturbances such as shaking, airplanes or clouds, instead of having to wait minutes for the end of the already ruined recording.

There is an ST4 autoguider interface on the back, plus 1.5m ST4 cables are included for easy connection of the autoguider to your GOTO mount. The camera is powered by the 2m USB2.0 cable, which Kcable clutter reduced.

The CNC-machined body has a standard 1.25" eyepiece barrel, so it fits almost any telescope focuser, including the Altair Miniguider 60 and 80 and the Starwave 50mm Guidescopes. A standard filter thread is available. The 1.25" -Barrel can be removed to reveal a standard CS mount thread which is compatible with most industrial and surveillance lenses and microscope adapters. The heat from the electronics is dissipated over a short distance through the housing.

The supplied 150° wide field lens: You can screw this wide field lens directly onto the camera and take spectacular shots of falling star streams or cloud movements. Or use the camera for beautiful timelapse shots - your imagination is the limit.

The Software: While no drivers or software are included, they can be easily downloaded from the manufacturer's site. The SharpCap linked there (externally) is also an interesting alternative for operating other cameras.

Minimum system requirements (according to manufacturer)

♦ Microsoft Windows Vista, 7, 8, 10 (32 + 64-bit)
♦USB2.0
♦ At least Intel Core2 2.8 GHz or comparable
♦ at least 2 GB RAM
♦ Monitor 17" or larger
Sensor type: SONY Exmor IMX290 Color CMOS Sensor with STARVIS Back Illumination Technology (BSI)
Horizontal resolution: 1920px
Vertical resolution: 1080px
Number of pixels: 2.07 Mpx
Sensor dimensions: 5.6 mm x 3.1 mm, diagonal 6.4 mm
Pixel size: 2.9 µm x 2.9 µm
Bit rate: 8 bits / 12 bits
Exposure time range video: 0.105 ms (0.000105 sec) to 5 sec
Exposure time range photo: 0.105 ms (0.000105 sec) to 1000 sec (16.66 min)
Recording method: still image and video
Region Of Interest (ROI) Support: Yes, using SharpCap or AltairCapture
Approximate maximum frame rates (8-bit mode): 1920x1080 17.5 FPS, 640x480 37.2 FPS, 320x240 56.3 FPS
Approximate maximum frame rates (12-bit mode): 50% of values for 8-bit
Readout mode: progressive scan
Shutter: electronic shutter
Spectral range: 380-650 nm with UV/IR filter
AltairCapture OS Support: Win Vista/ 7/ 8/ 10 (32 & 64 bit)
USB interface & cable: USB 2.0, 2 m cable
ST4 Port & Cable: Standard ST4 (optically isolated), 1.5m cable
Camera body length: 70mm total length with CS mount
Weight: 70 g (net)
Entrance window: anti-reflective UV/IR blocking filter, transmission 380-650 nm
Camera body shape: 1.25" body, stepped
Thread on the camera: CS mount female thread for direct connection of CS mount lenses
CS mount lens compatibility: CS mount lenses with male thread and 12.526mm back focus requirement
C-mount lens adapter: included, female thread
C-Mount Lens Compatibility: Externally threaded C-mount lenses with 17.526mm back focus needs
Adapter for astro filters: included, 1.25" internal thread
Plug size: standard astro format 1.25"
Distance sensor surface to the flat part of the C-mount adapter: 17.58 mm
Distance from the sensor surface to the flat part of the 20 mm 1.25" astro adapter: 37.58 mm
Power consumption: 0.875 W (normal operation)
Maximum operating temperature: 50 °C
Minimum operating temperature: -10 °C
Maximum rel. Humidity: 80%
Power supply: 5 V DC (via USB cable)
Minimum CPU: Corresponding to Intel Core2 2.8 GHz
Minimum memory: 2 GB
USB interface: USB2.0 high speed port
Monitor: from 17"

♦ Camera
♦ 2 m high-speed USB2.0 cable A male to B male
♦ 1.5 m ST4 autoguider cable
♦ 1.25" barrel with filter thread
♦ C-mount extension 5mm for lenses that need 17.5mm back focus
♦ CS mount adapter with UV-IR cut filter
♦ 150° wide field lens
♦ Rubber dust cap
♦ Note: No software is included. However, you can download current drivers and software free of charge.