Why Purchase from All-Star Telescope?
Free Expert Support
Whether you are a first timer needing help with setting up or an enthusiast that can't quite make that one thing work, our expert staff are ready to support your needs. With decades of knowledge and first hand experience we've been there and we can help you through it!
Stress Free, Secure Transactions
You can trust purchasing and delivery with All-Star Telescope. All of our transactions are 100% secure and Level 1 PCI DSS compliant thanks to Shopify's ShopPay platform. For additional protection, we insure 100% of the value of every shipment we make. If it get's lost during shipment, we replace it. If it gets damaged during shipment, we replace it. We make sure your product arrives exactly as you would expect it to; we promise.
We also ensure privacy protection. We never keep any of your credit card information on file and any of your personal data is stored according to our policies.
30 Day Return Policy
Buy with confidence knowing that we accept returns up to 30 days after purchase. We want you to have something you will actually use and we are confident that we keep good quality products in our store with No Junk.
Price Match Promise
Shipping around for the best price is tough, we make it easier by offering the best pricing in the market. But if you find a better price on an in-store item somewhere else we will match it!
Product Description
QHY168C uses an APS-C format, 16 Megapixel, 14-bit CMOS sensor, the Sony IMX071. The SONY Exmor IMX071 sensor has 4.8um pixels and has 3.2e- read noise at lowest gain and 2.3e- read noise at unity gain (system gain = 1e/ADU), and zero amplifier glow. This sensor was used in the Nikon D5100 DSLR camera. It. The QHY168C also has a nice dynamic range close to 14 stops. With read noise this low, it is easier to detect a dim target against of the background noise.
Features
TRUE RAW Data
In the DSLR implementation there is a RAW image output, but typically it is not completely RAW. Some evidence of noise reduction and hot pixel removal is still visible on close inspection. This can have a negative effect on the image for astronomy such as the “star eater” effect. However, QHY Cameras offer TRUE RAW IMAGE OUTPUT and produces an image comprised of the original signal only, thereby maintaining the maximum flexibility for post-acquisition astronomical image processing programs and other scientific imaging applications.
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 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.
Specifications
| CMOS Sensor | Sony IMX071 |
| Mono/Color | Color |
| FSI/BSI | FSI |
| Pixel Size | 4.8um*4.8um |
| Effective Pixel Area | 4952*3288 |
| Effective Pixels | 16MP |
| Sensor Size | APS-C |
| Fullwell | 46ke- |
| AD Sample Depth | 14bit |
| Full Frame Rate | 10FPS |
| Readout Noise | 2.3e- to 3.2e- |
| Dark Current | 0.0007e/pixel/sec @ -15C |
| Exposure Time Range | 30us-3600sec |
| Unity Gain | 10 |
| Amp Glow | Zero Amp |
| Shutter Type | Electric Rolling Shutter |
| Computer Interface | USB3.0 |
| Built-in Image Buffer | 128MB DDR2 Memory |
| Cooling System | Dual Stage TEC cooler (about -40 below ambient) Note: Test temperature +20° |
| Optic Window Type | AR+AR High Quality Multi-Layer Anti-Reflection Coating (For color camera user need to add a UV/IR filter in the light path) |
| Anti-Dew Heater | Yes |
| Telescope Interface | M54/0.75 |
| Back Focal Length | 17.5mm |
| Weight | 700g |
Additional Articles, Videos, and Links
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Astrophotography for Beginners Step 1: Using the Star Adventurer Tracker
By far the most economical and easiest way to capture beautiful images of the Milky Way and large deep-sky objects like the Andromeda Galaxy (shown here) is to use a star tracker. Here are steps an...
Astrophotography for Beginners Step 2: How to Shoot the Moon
Close-ups of the Moon are rewarding, and an easy way to learn to shoot through your telescope. While good results are possible with a phone camera clamped to an eyepiece (as shown below), this tuto...