The ASI294MM Monochrome Astronomy Camera from ZWO!
The highly sensitive monochrome Sony sensor provides the ASI294MM with incredible qualities such as a high QE value, low read out noise, and a large dynamic range. These incredible specs paired with the useful additions within the camera body itself delivers a feature packed planetary camera sure to take your lunar, solar, or planetary astrophotography to the next level!
This camera utilizes the 11.69MP Sony IMX492 sensor and adopts a back illuminated design for superb sensitivity. As compared to its color counterpart, the ASI294MC, the monochrome design of the ASI294MM offers even more sensitivity by utilizing every pixel available in the absence of a Bayer filter. When imaging the Sun, Moon, or planets, high speed imaging is primarily used into order to capture the sharpest frames where the seeing is steady for brief moments in time. Understanding this, ZWO has crafted the ASI294MM with a USB3.0 for fast, reliable transmission of data, letting you stack the best frames for the clearest images! Also included is the option for Bin 1 mode, which decreases the pixel size and raises the resolution to 47MP for images with heightened detail. Whether imaging in Bin 1 mode or its standard Bin 2 mode, the large resolution, high peak QE of 90%, and low readout noise of 1.2e, the ASI294MM offers beautiful images of our solar system neighbors!
A High Performance, Professional Camera for Astrophotography
Let’s Dig into the Data!
What sets one astrophotography camera apart from another? How is performance measured? Camera and sensor manufacturers provide certain interconnected specifications that give insight into the performance of a camera. These measurements include quantum efficiency, read noise, full well depth, gain, dark current, and dynamic range. While the graphs provided by the manufacturer may be confusing or intimidating, don’t fret! Our team has put together a breakdown of these complicated topics to help you make sense of them. Take a look at the article here: Understanding ZWO Camera Charts and Graphs, and feel more confident making the right choice for your astrophotography needs!
Sony IMX492 CMOS Sensor
Producing exceptional clarity and sensitivity is the onboard 11.69MP monochrome Sony IMX492 sensor. By providing enough pixels through its large 4144×2822 resolution, this 4/3 type sensor fully supports 4K output. The high full well capacity of 66Ke and 14bit ADC result in 13 stops of dynamic range, and the monochrome design and back illumination of the sensor offers a camera with remarkable sensitivity. Its high peak QE value of 90% paired with the low readout noise of 1.2e delivers a high signal to noise ratio within the frames captured. This ZWO camera allows for a fast frame rate of 16.3FPS and has a pixel size of 4.63um for stunning details on our Moon, our Sun, and the planets within our solar system!
Electronic Highlights
In typical CMOS cameras, the higher the gain value, the lower the readout noise becomes, though unfortunately, the lower the dynamic range becomes as well. In order to preserve the dynamic range while still taking advantage of the lower readout noise, ZWO has integrated the High Conversion Gain (HCG) mode within their cameras. This mode automatically kicks in at a gain value of 120 for the ASI294MM, where the read noise drops below 2e and the dynamic range is retained at 13 stops, offering sharper images filled with incredible signal collection! By taking feedback from customers, ZWO has crafted the ASI294MM with a switchable pixel size. You can now increase the resolution from 11.69MP to 47MP by changing your pixel size from 4.63um to 2.3um through your astrophotography software. This Bin 1 mode decreases the dynamic range to 12.5 stops, though with the increase in resolution and reduction in pixel size, the details captured are greatly enhanced.
USB 3.0 and ST4 Guide Port
The two means of connection on the ASI294MM camera body offers great versatility. The USB3.0 provides a large bandwidth of 5Gb for incredible transfer speed, even when imaging at a fast 16.3FPS in full resolution! Not only does this camera perform incredibly well for astrophotography, its great sensitivity makes it a high performance guide camera as well! The ASI294MM can be utilized as a guide camera either through the USB3.0 port, or through the onboard ST4 port. Utilize the included USB3.0 cable or ST4 cable for immediate use.
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