Cooled astronomical camera ZWO ASI2400MC-PRO color
The ASI2400MC Pro uses Sony's latest back-illuminated IMX410 full-frame format 14-bit ADC sensor. It is a 24MP camera with a large pixel size of 5.94 µm that can accommodate a super large 100ke well depth.
With ultra-low read noise of 1.1e and incredible zero amp-glow, the ASI2400MC Pro is born to be another great innovation from ZWO in the field of full-frame cooled astro OSC cameras.
Color cameras offer more convenience than monochrome cameras. Not everyone wants to go through the laborious L-RGB process to get beautiful images of colored nebulae or planets. Color cameras offer the ability to get beautiful images without changing filters. In direct comparison to the DSLR camera, the ASI camera convinces with much higher light sensitivity, a smoother image and significantly more depth. Stars do not burn out as easily.
Further advantages and product features of the ASI 2400MC Pro color camera:
- USB 3.0 for fast download; can also be used with USB 2.0
- DDR3 memory buffer for stable data transfer with USB2.0: minimizes frame drops
- no amplifier glare!
- Powerful Peltier cooling up to 35 ° C at ambient conditions
- Incorporates one of Sony's most light-sensitive CMOS sensors
- Highest full well of 5.94 µm pixels: ideal for sharp medium speed telescopes such as apochromatic, Newtonian telescopes, ...
- Distance of the T2 connection thread (female thread) to the camera sensor: 17.5 mm
- High sensitivity - QE over 80% - ideal astronomy camera for low-light objects
- 14-bit ADC ... can achieve depth almost like CCD cameras, but with much higher sensitivity.
Camera application areas:
- Deep sky imaging (nebulae and galaxies): due to the high sensitivity, nebulae and galaxies are captured after only a few seconds. The camera can be cooled down to 35 °C below ambient temperature. This further reduces the already low noise level. By increasing the GAIN (comparable to the ISO setting for digital SLR cameras), you can reduce exposure times to less than 30 seconds. This eliminates the effects of air turbulence or tracking inaccuracies.
- Lunar and planetary images: extremely short exposure times due to the high sensitivity freeze air turbulence. Due to the large sensor, the entire disk of the moon can be imaged even with a longer focal length telescope. Video astronomy is also possible.
Highlights:
Full-frame OSC camera
The ASI2400MC Pro uses full frame format, the length and width of the sensor are 36 mm * 24 mm and the diagonal is 43.3 mm. For now, only the OSC version is marketed, which is very suitable for beginner astrophotography.
IMX410 back-illuminated sensor
The back-illuminated CMOS sensor improves sensitivity and noise reduction, the key factors in improving image quality, while radically realigning its fundamental pixel structure from front-illumination to back-illumination. It retains the advantages of CMOS image sensors, such as low power consumption and high-speed operation. With a conventional front-illuminated structure, the metal wiring and transistors on the surface of the silicon substrate that form the light-sensitive area of the sensor (photodiode) prevent photon collection by the on-chip lens. A back-illuminated structure minimizes the degradation of sensitivity to optical angle response, while increasing the amount of light entering each pixel due to the lack of obstacles, such as metal wires and transistors that have moved to the backside of the silicon substrate.
High well depth capability, low read noise and high dynamic range
The well depth capability of the ASI2400MC Pro is 100ke, (which is 132% of the value of the ASI128MC Pro, another full-frame ASI camera), so the ASI2400MC Pro comes with an ultra-high dynamic range of up to 14 levels. With this, the likelihood of overexposure is reduced, with richer color gradation.
Zero amp glow
Traditional CMOS sensors produce a weak infrared light source during operation, often seen in the corner of uncalibrated images as the telltale signs of an "amp glow." Since the ASI2400MC Pro uses zero amp glow circuitry, you won't have to worry about amp glow even when using high gain and long exposure imaging.
Built-in anti-dew heater
The ASI2400MC Pro comes with the polyimide heater that helps prevent dew problems. The anti-dew heater, which fits completely inside the protective window, heats it slightly to avoid condensation problems. The power of the anti-dew heater is approx. 5 W. It can be switched off in the software to save energy.
QE value
One of the outstanding features of the ASI 2400MC Pro is its sensational light sensitivity. The 80% QE of the BACK ILLUMINATION technology and the non-existent amplifier brightness make the camera very suitable for all astronomical applications, but especially for deep sky astrophotography.
Two-stage TEC cooling: ultra-low dark current
The ASI2400MC Pro uses two-stage TEC cooling that can reduce the temperature of the CMOS sensor to more than 35°C below ambient, thereby greatly reducing dark current generation and sensor noise even with long exposure times.
The unique dark current suppression technology can further reduce dark current noise. When cooled to -20°C, current noise can be as low as 0.00035e/s/pix, which is completely negligible!
Note: The ASI2400 Pro camera requires 1A of current from the USB, if your PC cannot provide enough current, use an external 12V power supply to power the camera.
USB3.0 and 256 MB DDR3 memory
The ASI2400MC Pro is equipped with a USB 3.0 transmission interface and a built-in 256 MB (2 Gb) DDR3 cache to ensure stable and secure data transmission. With long exposure, it effectively avoids frame dropping and greatly reduces the glare effect caused by slow read speed.
Main features:
- Large well depth capability due to 5.94 µm pixels
- 14-bit ADC: high dynamic range
- No amplifier glow thanks to Zero Ampglow system
- Anti-fogging heater already installed
- Sensor type: Sony IMX410 full-frame - back-illuminated
- Sensor size: 36 mm x 24 mm
- Pixel size: 5.94 µm
- Resolution: 6072x4042 (24 MPixels)
- Spectral range: 200 ~ 1000 nm
- ADC: 14 bits
- Cooling: Powerful Peltier cooling: 35° C below ambient temperature
- Well depth: 100 ke
- Readout noise: 1.1 e - 6.4 e
- Sensitivity: Peak 80% QE
- Power consumption: 12 V, 3 A
- Telescope connection: female thread M54x0.75
- Working distance from female thread to sensor: 17.5 mm
Included in the box:
- Camera
- Case
- Adapter M48-T2 (0 mm)
- Quick operation guide
- USB 3.0 cable (2 meters)
- Adapter M54-M48 (21 mm)
- M48 extension (16.5 mm)
- 2" dust cover
- Hex key
- 2 USB 2.0 cables (0.5 meters)
Refrigerated astronomical camera ZWO ASI2400MC-PRO color
