Altair Hypercam 183C PRO Color Astro Camera Peltier cooled Sony Sensor D=15.9 mm

Altair Hypercam 183C PRO TEC COOLED Color CMOS Astro Camera

The Hypercam 183C PRO TEC Cooled camera is the next step when it comes to astro-imaging, with the 20mp Sony IMX183 sensor, amp glow reduction and high sensitivity, for extremely smooth, detailed images.

The IMX183 is one of the most sensitive Back Side Illuminated BSI sensors available, with very low read noise, suitable for both deepsky and solar system imaging with ROI.

The PRO TEC COOLED Version has the following features:

20 mp resolution SONY Exmor R Back Side Illuminated IMX183 CMOS sensor

5440 x 3648 active pixels in a 13 mm x 9 mm / 16mm diagonal array (16.05 mm x 12.61 mm physical sensor size).

Extremely low read noise enabling deep-sky lucky imaging and very smooth image quality.

Amp glow reduction technology onboard reduces amp glow, reduces noise, and increases contrast.

High Dynamic Range with 12 bit ADC to 16bit output .FITS files in RAW mode, for beautiful deep-sky images.

Up to 17.5 frames per second video in full 20 mp resolution. (You will need a computer with high USB bandwidth to achieve these speeds, preferably with Intel or Via hardware USB controller on the motherboard).

4GB DDR3 RAM Memory Buffer for smoothest performance with mini-PCs

Thermoelectric Cooling (TEC) max -45C below ambient temperature*

Temperature sensor, with data available in realtime.

Heated optical window to prevent dewing and fogging.

Internal, replaceable, rechargeable dessicant cartridge, plus one spare.

Two extra USB2.0 ports and internal USB2.0 hub to connect filter wheel and guide camera.

ROI (Region of Interest) for cropped higher speed solar, lunar and planetary imaging.

4K Mode (cropped).

Binning.

SPECIAL OFFER! FREE 1 YEAR SharpCap PRO License! Includes ultra-accurate polar alignment assist, deepsky CMOS exposure time optimisation assist, live stacking for EAA/Video astronomy, live darkframe and flat frame subtration.

SharpCap PRO:

Altair Astro have worked closely with SharpCap developer Robin Glover since 2015, to fully integrate Altair cameras with SharpCap at a basic level. Now, Sharpcap PRO enables even more features with this camera, such as software driven polar alignment (more accurate than any other method we know of), live flat-frame subtraction and live darkframe subtraction. The fast, accurate polar alignment feature in SharpCap PRO is a life-saver for imaging, minimising setup time.

In general, software and drivers can be downloaded starting from Altair Astro Customer Support.

Important: Windows PC Hardware Requirements for best performance

Minimum CPU: Equal to i5 or higher

Minimum Memory: 8GB or More

USB port: USB2.0 High-speed Port or USB3.0 High-speed Port (best performance)

Please note: Some laptops and touchscreen notebooks may not have adequate USB throughput.

TEC cooling:

Cooling reduces random thermal noise during long exposure imaging. The internal Thermoelectric cooling system (TEC) unit is controlled with your imaging apps, allowing you to set the temperature (which is recorded in the .FITs file header). The Hypercam is designed for consistent, reliable deepsky imaging at up to -45 °C below ambient temperature. For the IMX183 Sensor, the most appropriate cooling temperature at gain 400 is approx. ?10/15 °C absolute, beyond which, no real gains are made.

Anti-fogging heated optical window. Every precaution has been taken to address the most common issues with cooled cameras. The optical window is warmed by special heaters to stop fogging and condensation at low temperatures. To inhibit sensor-frosting, the sensor chamber is sealed, and dry air purged during assembly in a special atmosphere. The sensor chamber has a replaceable stainless steel desiccant cartridge with spare. The dessicant cartridge can be recharged by placing it in an oven at 120 °C for a couple of hours after removing the mini O-ring.

Practical tip from TS: Storage of cameras and accessories

Especially in our latitudes, the nights are often very humid. This humidity condenses on your camera, eyepiece or filter when they come into the warm interior of the apartment. Especially cooled cameras are affected by this. Quickly a photo session is over because the sensor ices up.

Good storage is an important prevention against dew and also extends the life span.

After use, put the camera immediately into the TS Protect Case and add some silica gel. During storage, the silica gel will suck the moisture out of the camera. At the same time, the penetration of humid room air is prevented. Dry storage even allows the small dry tablets in cooled cameras to partially regenerate. Your camera or accessories are always ready for you in optimal condition. You can find the silica gel and the case in our product recommendations.

The cameras are not airtight, so if the camera remains on the telescope, it is exposed to moisture. The small amount of desiccant in the camera can protect the sensor and the inside of the protective glass from moisture for the duration of the exposure, but not for days on end. Moisture problems can be the result. A simple trick is to stretch a plastic bag around the focuser to which the camera is attached so that no air can get in. Silica gel is placed in a small cloth bag inside the plastic bag. This will also create a "dry climate zone" for the camera on the telescope. This allows you to leave the camera on the telescope for a few days for an imaging session lasting several days.

In the medium and long term, however, this is no substitute for proper storage in an airtight case with silica gel.

Safety informations: PDF Download