Altair Hypercam 294C PRO Color Astro Camera Peltier cooled Sony Sensor D=23.2 mm

Altair Hypercam 294C PRO Peltier Cooled Color Astro Camera

This camera is an alternative to the DSLR camera. It is the next step to ultimative astrophotos.

This camera uses the SONY IMX294 4/3" CMOS sensor. The chip has a diagonal of 23.2 mm and is equipped with the latest technology like "Back Illumination" and EXMOR-R. Due to the very low amplifier glow, the camera is ideally suited for long-term exposure. The moderate pixel size of 4.3 µm makes the camera a good choice for telescopes and telephoto lenses with a medium aperture ratio between f/4 and f/7. You will be able to achieve the telescope resolution well.

The main advantages of the PRO version:

Temperature sensor with real-time data output

ROI (Region of Interest) for cropping and therefore faster photography of sun, moon and planets

4K mode (cropped!)

Binning

Reduction of the amplifier noise

One-year license for SharpCap PRO free!

Includes ultra-precise pole alignment help, CMOS exposure time optimization wizard for deep-sky objects, live stacking for EAA/video astronomy, live subtraction for dark frames and flats. Just download the latest SharpCap, plug in your camera, register it when the ad pops up and confirm your free license.

Simpler than a DSLR, it doesn´t need "astromodification".

The Hypercam is much easier to use and focus than a DSLR thanks to the live preview with the standard software AltairCapture and SharpCap. You will see a weak star clearly and in real time, as there is no video compression in between. You also don´t need to modify the Hypercam to capture details in the red hydrogen light, because there is no filter blocking this area in the way. There are no heavy and unwieldy power connections that could easily loosen and no mirror that could cause vibrations, but an output with real RAW mode. You get exactly what the Sony sensor "sees".

Low readout noise.

The Sony IMX294 CMOS sensor has very low readout noise, wide dynamic range and high sensitivity. In addition, the IMX294 ExmorR back-illuminated sensor has a low dark current, no smear effect and excellent anti-blooming properties. The BSI technology shifts the sensor electronics behind the pixels, thus not blocking part of the light, which increases quantum efficiency compared to CCD sensors and conventional CMOS chips.

4 GB DDR3 Buffer RAM - USB3.0 speed and USB2.0 reliability:

USB3.0 and memory buffering directly on the board result in much higher transfer speeds than with USB2.0 cameras, but if you, like many photographers, prefer longer and more flexible USB2.0 cables because they work more reliably on a USB2.0 hub, that´s no problem! The Hypercam is fully compatible with the USB2.0 protocol. Just install the software and get started!

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.

Quality software and drivers included:

AltairCapture: Unlike the manufacturers of cheaper cameras, Altair Astro has spent a lot of time improving the AltairCapture software with its many features and intuitive operation, it can be downloaded from Altair Astro Customer Support. AltairCapture is a robust 64-bit Windows application that provides full control of the camera in video or still mode. It contains many automatic functions and supports all important file formats for astrophotography and professional scientific image acquisition in 16bit, 12bit or 8bit modes. The popular programs PHD Guiding and SharpCap are also natively supported. ASCOM drivers are available for download at Altair Astro Customer Support, where you can also get regular driver updates. The installation is very simple and, unlike cheaper cameras, you don´t have to waste time optimizing .DLL files just to make the camera work as expected.

Firecapture runs only patched!

Firecapture does not yet support Altair´s Hypercams in general, but there is a patched version that offers most features. The only thing you have to do without is white balance. The download link is here. After the start the error message "System seems to be read-only. No setup will be stored" might be shown, which can be confirmed by clicking on "ok".

SharpCap PRO:

Altair Astro has been working closely with SharpCap developer Robin Glover since 2015 to fully integrate Altair cameras into SharpCap from the ground up. Now Sharpcap PRO, together with this camera, enables even more functions, such as software-supported polar alignment (more accurate than most other methods), live flat removal and live dark frame removal. The fast, accurate pole alignment function in SharpCap PRO is a lifesaver for photography that saves set-up time.

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.

Astrophotographic results obtained with this camera on Astrobin

Here you can find some astrophotographs made with this camera model: Link to Astrobin

Astrophotographic results obtained with this camera on Astrobin

Here you can find some astrophotographs made with this camera model: Link to Astrobin

Safety informations: PDF Download