At just over 4 inches in diameter and a few inches thick (IMX585), the new miniCAM8 is a compact, high-resolution, high-performance, cooled imaging system capable of exceptional, high-quality deep space images as well as high-quality, high-resolution planetary images.
So often, compactness in astro-imaging is achieved at the expense of some other critical feature found in multi-component cooled systems, such as sensor quality or thermoelectric cooling, etc. Such is not the case with the new miniCAM8. Based on Sony’s IMX585 8 MP sensor, the miniCAM8 includes full TE cooling capable of reaching a delta of -45℃ from ambient along with a built-in 8-position filter wheel for complete LRGB and narrowband imaging.
High Near-Infrared Sensitivity
The IMX585 is a Sony Starvis II processor that enables high sensitivity and high dynamic range (HDR). It also improves sensitivity in the near-infrared range by approximately 1.7 times* compared to the IMX485. The new camera miniCAM8 has a maximum quantum efficiency of 60% in the near-infrared band and 92% in the visible wavelength band.
*This data is officially provided by Sony: https://www.sony-semicon.com/cn/news/2021/2021062901.html
BSI
One benefit of the back-illuminated CMOS structure is improved full-well capacity. This is particularly helpful for sensors with small pixels. In a typical front-illuminated sensor, photons from the target entering the photosensitive layer of the sensor must first pass through the metal wiring that is embedded just above the photosensitive layer. The wiring structure reflects some of the photons and reduces the efficiency of the sensor.
In the back-illuminated sensor, the light is allowed to enter the photosensitive surface from the reverse side. In this case, the sensor’s embedded wiring structure is below the photosensitive layer. As a result, more incoming photons strike the photosensitive layer, and more electrons are generated and captured in the pixel well. This ratio of photon to electron production is called quantum efficiency. The higher the quantum efficiency, the more efficient the sensor is at converting photons to electrons, and hence the more sensitive the sensor is to capturing an image of something dim.
Zero Amplify Glow
miniCAM8 is also a zero amplifer glow camera.
Anti-Dew Technology
Based on almost 20-year cooled camera design experience, the QHY cooled camera has implemented the fully dew control solutions. The optic window has a built-in dew heater, and the chamber is protected from internal humidity condensation. An electric heating board for the chamber window can prevent the formation of dew, and the sensor itself is kept dry with our silicon gel tube socket design for control of humidity within the sensor chamber.
Cooling
In addition to dual-stage TE cooling, QHYCCD implements proprietary technology in hardware to control the dark current noise.
Variants
MiniCAM8M Deep Sky Combo -
The astronomical filters included with the miniCAM8 deepsky combo are custom-designed to match the specific characteristics of the cameras. The size is 19 mm * 12 mm * 1.1 mm. The LRGB and SHO narrowband filters for the miniCAM8M deepsky combo are customized by XiMei Filters. The LRGB filters have an optical density (OD) value of 3, while the narrowband filters have an OD value of 5.
MiniCAM8M Planetary Combo -
Includes: miniCAM8M x1; LRGB filter set x1; 20nm Methane filter x1; 40nm UV filter x1; 10nm Na filter x1
MiniCAM8M Photometric Combo -
Includes: miniCAM8M x1; u’, g’, r’, i’, z’ sloan filter set x1
| Model |
miniCAM8 |
| CMOS Sensor |
Sony IMX585 |
| Mono/Color |
Both Available |
| BSI/FSI |
BSI |
| Sensor Size |
1/1.2inch |
| Pixel Size |
2.9μm*2.9μm |
| Total Pixel Area |
3856*2180 |
| Effective Pixels |
8 MP |
| Full Well Capacity |
54ke-
Linearity HDR Mode: 46ke-
|
| Readout Noise |
0.76 – 7.8 e-
Linearity HDR Mode: 1.0e-
|
| Peak QE |
M: 92%
C: R: 82%; G: 87%; B: 75%
|
| Dynamic Range |
Linearity HDR mode: The dynamic range reaches up to 46,300:1, equivalent to 93 dB or 15.5 stops. |
| A/D |
Dual 12-bit (output as 16-bit) |
| Full Frame Rates |
Full Resolution: 41.5FPS@8bit，23.5FPS @16bit |
| ROI Frame Rates |
Full Resolution 1080Lines, 82FPS@8bit, 47FPS@16bit；640Lines, 177FPS@8bit, 105FPS@16bit |
| Exposure Time Range |
11μs-900sec |
| Shutter Type |
Electronic Rolling Shutter |
| Built-in Image Buffer |
512MB DDR3 |
| Computer Interface |
USB3.0 |
| Telescope Interface |
1.25 inch |
| Optic Window Type |
AR+AR |
| Filter Wheel |
Built-in 8-Position Carousel |
| Back Focal Length |
17.5mm |
| Cooling System |
Dual Stage TEC cooler:
Long exposures (> 1 second) typically -45℃ below ambient
|
| Weight |
480g |
Available to order
Delivery time: Typically 3 weeks from order
