ZWO ASI294MM Pro / Cooled Monochrome-Astro-Camera - CMOS - Sensor D=23,2 mm

ZWO SW Astro Camera ASI294MM Pro cooled - Sony Sensor D=23,2 mm
The cooled MONO PRO camera from ZWO has the modern SONY IMX294CJK sensor built in - high sensitivity astro camera for deep sky photography.
♦ Sensor: Sony 4/3" CMOS mono sensor IMX294CJK - "Back illuminated" sensor.

♦ Sensor diagonal 23.2 mm

♦ Pixel: 4.63 µm pixel size - 4144 x 2822 pixels

♦ Powerful Peltier cooling up to 35 °C below ambient temperature

♦ Short download time due to USB 3.0 - can also be used with USB 2.0

♦ AR protection filter built in - full transmission even in infrared

♦ Connectors: T2, 1.25" and 2" available

♦ Extra screwed front panel now the camera housing can not be screwed on by mistake anymore

♦ Extremely high sensitivity, the QE up to about 90%. Already after 30 seconds you have imaged faint galaxies and nebulae.

♦ USB2.0 port for filter wheels, autoguider or USB focuser.

♦ Full Well Capacity 66 ke / 14Bit - even bright stars won't burn out anymore.

♦ DDR Memory Buffer 256 MB - buffer for a more stable data transport - also minimizes the amplifier glow with USB2.0 (characteristic of the new PRO versions)

ZWO ASI294MM Pro - cooled SW-CMOS camera for astrophotography
ASI cameras stand for very good workmanship and have modern CMOS sensors built in. This camera uses the modern "back-illuminated" Sony IMX294CJK sensor.

Sony itself states a sensor diagonal of 21.63 mm. However, due to a modification by ZWO, the real diagonal is now 23.2 mm. The 4.3-µm pixels of the ZWO ASI294MC make this camera an all-rounder with highest sensitivity for short exposure times.

Advantages and product features of the ASI MC294MMPro Color Camera:

♦ USB 3.0 for a fast download - can also be operated with USB 2.0.
♦ DDR3 memory buffer for stable data transfer with USB2.0 - minimizes amplifier glow caused by slower data transfer with USB2.0.
♦ Powerful Peltier cooling up to 35 °C below ambient.
♦ Sensitive CMOS sensor with 23.2 mm diagonal - 11.7 megapixels
♦ Good resolution due to 4.63-µm pixels
♦ Supplied with AR clear glass filter - full transmission even in the infrared. If the IR is to be blocked, an IR blocking filter is required.
♦ Distance T2 connection thread (female thread) to camera sensor: 17.5 mm.
♦ Very high sensitivity - QE above 75 % - ideal astronomy camera for low-light objects.
♦ 14bit ADC
♦ HCG mode - when gain (preamplification) is higher than 120 (12 dB), readout noise is reduced below 2 e-. Result: despite extremely high sensitivity, you get low-noise images.
♦ Full Well Capacity 63700e - even bright stars no longer burn out, they get a better signal-to-noise ratio.

Camera application areas:

♦ Deep-sky imaging (nebulae and galaxies): Due to the high sensitivity, nebulae and galaxies are imaged after only a few seconds. The camera can be cooled to up to 35 °C below ambient. This further reduces the already low noise. By turning up the GAIN (comparable to the ISO setting on digital SLR cameras), you can reduce exposure times to under 30 seconds. Effects due to air turbulence or inaccuracies of the tracking are thus eliminated.

♦ Moon and planetary images: Extremely short exposure times due to high sensitivity freeze air turbulence. Due to the high resolution of the sensor, many details can be imaged even with a shorter telescope focal length. Video astronomy is also possible.



Practical tip from TS: Integration of 2" filters, 360° rotation and quick coupling
Often the camera is used on correctors that do not offer a filter thread. In addition, the filters should always be used as close as possible to the camera. Here we offer you a solution that can do much more.

♦ 2" filter holder directly in front of the camera
♦ 360° rotation for the correct selection of the image section
♦ Quick-release coupling - you can remove the camera from the remote ear at any time without screwing and thus tangling the cables.

The adaptation is very simple, the 21 mm T2 extension is replaced by:

♦ 1x TSROTT2-T2 and 2x T2AbstimmA1.

One tuning ring goes on the camera side, one tuning ring goes on the telescope side of the rotator. Then screw on the M42-M48 adapter with 16.5 mm overall length and you are at the right distance with the camera.

Downloads, Drivers
ZW Optical provides software and drivers online for free download:

Sensor: 4/3 MONO CMOS Sony IMX294CJK - back illuminated
Resolution: 11,7 Megapixel, 4144*2822
Pixel size: 4.63 µm
Sensor size: 23.2 mm diagonal
Exposure time: 32 µs to 2000 s
Maximum frame rate at full resolution: 16.3 fps
Sensor protection: AR protection glass
Cooling: Peltier cooling up to 35 °C below ambient
Software requirement: USB 3.0 and USB 2.0
Bit rate: 14 bit output
Telescope connector: T2, 2" and 1.25"
Distance T2 thread to sensor: 17.5 mm (6.5 mm without adapter)
Size: 78 mm diameter and 86 mm length
Weight: 410 grams
♦ ASI camera cooled
♦ T2 extension (21 mm long)
♦ Adapter to 1.25" with filter thread and cap
♦ Flat adapter T2 to 1.25" filter thread
♦ T2-M48 adapter extension (16.5 mm long, T2 external thread and M48 internal thread)
♦ T2-M48 thread adapter
♦ 2 spacer rings
♦ Quick reference guide
♦ USB3.0 cable, long
♦ 2 USB2.0 cables, short
♦ Camera bag