TS ToupTek 183MA Monochrome Camera with IMX183 Sensor - Diagonal 15.9 mm, Air Cooling

TS 183CA Monochrome Astro Camera

The camera with the powerful Sony IMX183 sensor allows astrophotography on a very high level. This modern sensor can be used for many areas of astrophotography. The 2.4 µm pixels provide an extremely high resolution, which makes very good use of the imaging quality of fast telescopes of very high quality.

Another advantage is the sensational light sensitivity. The QE of 84% by the BACK ILLUMINATION technology and the very low amplifier glow make the camera not only very suitable for imaging solar system objects, but also suitable for deep sky astrophotography.

Due to the absence of the Bayer mask, the monochrome camera is more sensitive than the color version. With L-RGB filters, you can nonetheless create fascinating color images of the universe. We recommend bW cameras especially for light-polluted skies, for example close to towns. With suitable filters, like nebula filters, you can select the light of deep-sky objects very well. Suitable filter wheels can be found in the accessories section.

Back-illumination technology:

Sony´s back-illuminated CMOS imaging sensor improves sensitivity and noise reduction - key factors in improving image quality - by changing the basic pixel structure from front- to back-illuminated. The advantages of CMOS image sensors, such as low power consumption and high operating speed, have been retained.

The back illumination improves the light acquisition and increases the amount of light at the same time. This makes significantly shorter exposure times possible and leads to an improved quantum efficiency of 84%.

Sony has developed a unique photodiode structure and on-chip lens optimized for backside-exposed structures, this results in higher sensitivity and lower random noise without light by reducing noise, dark current and defective pixels compared to the conventional front-side-illuminated structure.

Optimal support before and after purchase through Teleskop-Service

Through many years of experience, we can offer you optimal advice and also a very good after-sales service. We can perform almost all services at our premises. For a professional service we have among other things also a clean cabinet, where we can carry out repairs, cleaning etc. under dust exclusion.

Connection to correctors with M48 thread and 55 mm working distance with filter change

Most coma correctors or field flatteners for refractors have 55 mm working distance and an M48x0.75 thread on the camera side. Here you will find an interesting suggestion for the connection. The camera has a back focus of 17.5 mm from the T2 female thread. The adapters are from the camera to the corrector:

1. TSFSLM48T2 - filter drawer with T2 connection on the camera side and M48 thread on the telescope side.
2. TSVF220 - 20 mm M48 extension.
Total 55.5 mm flange focal distance - the 0.5 mm compensates well for the glass travel of the filter - spot landing!!!

The manufacturer of the camera is ToupTek

As one of the largest manufacturers of professional cameras for digital photography, ToupTek brings the necessary knowledge for cameras that just work. Teleskop Service receives the cameras directly from the manufacturer, we are in direct contact with ToupTek to provide you with first class service.

Product video

Teleskop-Service has made an overview video for ToupTek´s cameras:

Quick Guide

For installation you only need a quick start guide, it can be found here.

Driver and Software

TS provides drivers and software for this camera, you can download them from the following links:

Windows XP/Vista/7/8/10 (32 and 64 bit)

Software TSSKY, does not need drivers

DirectShow Drivers

ASCOM Drivers

Apple MacOS

Disk Image with MacOS Drivers and Software

Linux

Software for x64 systems

Software for x86 system

Question:
Can the TS183 be recommended for solar photography?

Answer from Teleskop-Service:
Some users have experienced that when shooting the sun in H-alpha light, a regular light-dark pattern overlaps the images of the IMX183 sensor. In most cases it is sufficient to calibrate the images with a flatframe.
As an alternative to the TS183, the ASI1600 and the ASI174 monochrome cameras are recommended because the pattern does not occur with these.