Altair GPCAM3 178M USB3 SW mono camera - Sony sensor D=8.92 mm

Altair GPCAM3 178M USB3 SW mono camera - Sony sensor D=8.92 mm

This black and white camera is ideal for moon/planets, video astronomy and even deep-sky astrophotography thanks to the fast Sony IMX178.
♦ SONY STARVIS and EXMOR-R technology

♦ Sensor: 1/1.8" CMOS IMX178 with 6.4 megapixels resolution - pixel size 2.4 µm

♦ Sensor size: 7.4mm x 5mm - Diagonal: 8.82mm

♦ Low-noise image - good for nebulae and galaxies

♦ Large dynamic range with 14 bit ADC

♦ Autoguiding connection - ST4 level

♦ Stable USB3.0 connection

♦ 1 year SharpCap PRO license for free

♦ Clear glass filter (full IR passage) is built-in (removable)

♦ 1.25" telescope connection (with filter thread) and C-Mount connection are available

Altair GPCAM3 178M mono astro camera
The camera has built in the high quality Somy IMX178 CMOS sensor. The sensor is characterized by high sensitivity, very good resolution and extremely low readout noise. This makes the camera an exciting choice for many areas of astrophotography, such as:

Photography of the sun, moon and planets:
Thanks to the high resolution of 2.4 µm pixels and the high frame rates, you can produce high-resolution lunar and planetary images and planetary videos without using additional lenses such as Barlows or eyepiece projection. The ROI function (Region of Interest) can be used for even higher frame rates, e.g. with planets.

EAA and video astronomy:
The GPCAM3 178M is particularly attractive for electronically assisted astronomy / video astronomy as it offers a high resolution of 6.3 megapixels and high sensitivity thanks to Sony STARVIS Back-Side Illumination (BSI) and Exmor-R technology. Use the live stacking features in the free Altair Capture software or SharpCap PRO).

Deep Sky Astrophotography:
For the photography of nebulae, galaxies and star clusters you need longer exposure times. There is a slight brightening at the edge due to the amplifier glow. The camera offers effective suppression of amplifier glow via "live" dark image compensation with Altair Capture or SharpCap software. Alternatively, you can also deduct the darks as usual. The trigger mode allows you to control longer exposure times of over 5 seconds.

auto guiding:
The GPCAM3 has an ST4 autoguider port and can be plugged directly into the autoguider port of standard mounts from Skywatcher, Celestron, iOptron, Losmandy . The fast sensor will always offer a large selection of suitable guide stars.

USB3.0 and memory buffering:
USB3.0 and the integrated memory buffering enable significantly faster transmission speeds than USB2.0 cameras. Memory buffering almost completely eliminates dropped frames and corrupted video files, a common problem with USB cameras, and enables faster, smoother frame rates, even on less powerful notebooks. The quality of video recordings is improved - especially for scientific applications.

Although the GPCAM3 is a USB3.0 camera, it is also fully compatible with USB2.0 ports. For example in deep sky or video astronomy with the live stacking capabilities of AltairCapture or Sharpcap. Windows 7 to Windows 10 software is widely supported by AltairCapture in 64-bit mode.

Better control of long exposures with the trigger mode:
"Trigger mode" is fully supported for easier control of long exposures over 5 seconds. On most CMOS cameras, in normal video mode, the camera controls are "locked" during a long exposure, so you must wait for the exposure to complete before the camera will accept any commands. So you have to wait until you drop a frame when a cloud covers the view, or make routine changes such as gain (ISO), exposure duration, refocusing or reorienting to the subject. However, in "trigger mode" you can instantly stop the camera (even if you're halfway through a long 30-second exposure), change settings, and start the camera loop again. For long exposures, the "trigger mode" is essential. Of course you can use the normal video mode with up to 5 seconds exposure time for video astronomy and solar system imaging. The GPCAM3 also has upgraded circuitry to improve data transmission stability at high frame rates (dropped frame reduction) and increase compatibility with a wider range of PCs. This results in a more consistent data transfer rate across USB buses on laptop or desktop PCs.

High quality software and drivers included:
Unlike cheaper cameras, Altair Astro has put a lot of time into developing the full-featured and intuitive AltairCapture softwareware that can be downloaded from Altair Astro Customer Support. AltairCapture is a stable 64-bit Windows application that allows full control over the camera in high-speed or still mode. It offers extensive automation functions and supports all common file formats suitable for astrophotography and professional scientific photography in 14-bit or 8-bit mode. In addition, the popular PHD Guiding, SharpCap PRO, APT and NINA are also natively supported. ASCOM drivers are also available for download, where you can also get regular driver updates. The installation process is simple, and unlike cheaper cameras, you don't need to be a computer expert to get your camera working.

Valuable link:

Here you will find online operating instructions, downloads, information about software and current drivers on the Altair service page.
Sensor: SONY Exmor R BSI IMX178 mono CMOS sensor
Resolution: 6.4MP 3096x2080 pixels
Pixel size: 2.4 µm
Sensor size: 7.4 x 5 mm - diagonal 8.92 mm
Exposure time: 0.244 milliseconds to 5 seconds
Image depth: 8 bit and 14 bit (selectable)
ROI: supported
Trigger mode: supported
File formats: Avi, SER (video), JPG, PNG, TIFF, BMP, FITS
Camera Length: 73mm
Weight: only 70 grams
Distance sensor to C-mount thread: 12.5 mm
Power supply: via USB
Autoguiding connection: available

♦ Camera
♦ 1.25" connection with filter thread
♦ CS mount adapter
♦ Dust cap for sensor
♦ Clear glass filter (removable)
♦ 1.5 meter USB3.0 cable
♦ 1.5 meter ST4 cable