Altair Hypercam 183M PRO MONO astro camera air-cooled Sony sensor D=15.9 mm

Altair Hypercam 183M PRO MONO astro camera air-cooled Sony sensor D=15.9 mm


The Altair Hypercam 183M SW with active air cooling and 20MP is an alternative to DSLR cameras for astrophotography
♦ Sensor: SONY Exmor R BSI IMX183 mono CMOS sensor

♦ 5440x3648 pixels - about 20 million pixels

♦ Sensor size: approx. 13x9 mm - diagonal approx. 16 mm

♦ Pixel size 2.4 µm - very high resolution for fine details

♦ Extremely sensitive to light thanks to back illumination technology - QE 84%

♦ Cooling via fans - more stable operation and less noise without dew problems, but still advantages over the uncooled DSLR camera because the heat is actively transported away

♦ 4 GB DDR3 RAM frame buffer for more stable data transmission

♦ Equipped with USB 3.0 interface - but also runs with USB 2.0

♦ Autoguider with ST4 interface

♦ With the purchase of this camera you will receive a one-year user license for the program SharpCap PRO

Altair Hypercam 183M PRO Fan Cooled Monochrome Astrocamera
The active air cooling dissipates the heat that is generated, and the noise behavior improves. However, icing problems or increased power consumption are not an issue. The power supply works simply via USB.

The SONY Exmor R BSI IMX183 mono CMOS sensor was installed in this camera. The chip has a resolution of 5440x3648 pixels, which is almost 20 million pixels. Due to the very low amplifier glow, the camera is ideal for long exposures.

The main advantages of the PRO version:

♦ Temperature sensor with real-time data output
♦ ROI (Region of Interest) for cropping and thus faster photography when photographing the sun, moon and planets
♦ 4K mode (cropped!)
♦ Binning
♦ Reduction of amplifier noise

One year license for SharpCap PRO for free!

Contains ultra-precise polar alignment help, optimization assistant for CMOS exposure times for deep sky objects, live stacking for EAA/video astronomy, live subtraction for dark frames and flats. Simply download the latest SharpCap, connect your camera, register it when the ad pops up and confirm your free license.

Easier than a DSLR, it doesn't need "astromodification" either.
The Hypercam is much easier to use and focus than a DSLR thanks to live preview using the standard AltairCapture and SharpCap software. You see a faint star clearly and in real-time because there is no video compression in between. You also don't need to modify the Hypercam to capture detail in red hydrogen light because there's no filter in the way that blocks that area. There are no heavy and unwieldy power connectors that can easily come loose and no mirror to cause vibration, but an output with true RAW mode. You get exactly what the Sony sensor "sees".

Low read noise.
The Sony IMX183 CMOS sensor has very low read noise, wide dynamic range and high sensitivity. In addition, the IMX183 ExmorR back-illuminated sensor has small dark current, no smear and excellent anti-blooming properties. The BSI technology moves the sensor electronics behind the pixels, this does not block part of the light, which increases the quantum efficiency compared to CCD sensors and conventional CMOS chips.

4 GB DDR3 Buffer RAM - USB3.0 speed and USB2.0 reliability:
USB3.0 and on-board memory buffering results in much higher transfer speeds than USB2.0 cameras, but if, like many photographers, you prefer longer and more flexible USB2.0 cables because they connect to a USB2.0 Hub work more reliably, that's no problem either! The Hypercam is fully compatible with the USB2.0 protocol. Just install the software and get started!

Important: Windows PC hardware requirements for best performance

♦ Minimum CPU: Equal to i5 or higher
♦ Minimum memory: 8 GB or more
♦ USB port: USB2.0 high speed port or USB3.0 high speed port (best performance)
♦ Please note: some laptops and touchscreen notebooks may not have sufficient USB throughput.

Quality software and drivers included:
AltairCapture: Unlike the manufacturers of cheaper cameras, Altair Astro has spent a lot of time further improving the AltairCapture software with its many features and intuitive operation, it can be downloaded from Altair Astro Customer Support. AltairCapture is a stable 64-bit Windows application that allows full control of the camera in video or still mode. It contains many automatic functions and supports all important file formats for astrophotography and professional scientific image acquisition in 16-bit, 12-bit or 8-bit modes. Furthermore, the popular programs PHD Guiding andSharpCap also natively supported. ASCOM drivers are available for download from Altair Astro Customer Support, which also provides regular driver updates. Installation is very easy and unlike cheaper cameras, you don't have to waste time tweaking .DLL files just to get the camera to work as expected.

Firecapture only runs patched!
Firecapture does not yet generally support Altair's Hypercams, but there is a patched version that offers most of the functions. You only have to do without the white balance. The download link is here. After starting, the error message "System seems to be read-only. No setup will be stored" may appear, which you acknowledge by clicking "ok".

SharpCap PRO:
Altair Astro has been working closely with SharpCap developer Robin Glover since 2015 to fully integrate the Altair cameras with SharpCap from the ground up. Now, Sharpcap PRO enables even more features with this camera, such as software-assisted polar alignment (more accurate than most other methods), live flat subtraction, and live dark frame subtraction. The fast, accurate polar alignment feature in SharpCap PRO is a lifesaver for photography, saving set-up time.

Cooling via fans:
The Hypercam is cooled with an internal, low-vibration fan. It can be switched on or off via AltairCapture and SharpCap, but you can also set the speed with these programs. Cool air is drawn in through vents on the side of the case, past a large internal heatsink. This is connected directly to the sensor, much like a computer CPU. The air flowing freely through the housing not only cools the sensor, but also all internal electronic components. Cooling is desirable, especially for long exposures, to reduce thermal noise. Some camera bodies get uncomfortably warm during a sun photography session and the sensor can reach 60 or even 70°C. This can lead to the electronics becoming fault-prone and unreliable. The Hypercam is designed for smooth, reliable solar photography using a solar filter or Altair sun wedge (Herschel wedge). When the fan is running, the Hypercam body will stay cool at all times.

auto guiding:
The camera has an ST4 autoguider connector and can be used for autoguiding with mounts from all major manufacturers that support the ST4 format, including iOptron, Celestron and Skywatcher. The IMX183 is more than sensitive enough for autoguiding.
Sensor: SONY Exmor R BSI IMX183 MONO CMOS sensor
Sensor size: 13mm x 9mm / diagonal 16mm
Vertical resolution: 3648px
Horizontal resolution: 5440px
Pixel count: 20 million
Pixel size: 2.4x2.4 µm
Bit rate: 8/12 bits
Data transfer: USB3.0 (USB.0 possible)
Cooling: fan
Power supply: USB
Autoguiding connection: ST4
Max. exposure time: 1000 sec
Case diameter: 65mm
Connection to the telescope: T2, 2", C-Mount
Weight: 320g
Distance T2 thread to sensor: 12.5 mm

♦ Camera with 4 GB DDR3 RAM and T2 connection
♦ 1.8m USB3.0 connection cable
♦ 1.5 m ST4 autoguider cable
♦ 2" plug-in connection with filter thread
♦ C mount connection
♦ UV-IR cut filter
♦ Cover caps
♦ Hex key
♦ Software available for download from the manufacturer (altaircameras.com)