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

Altair Hypercam 294C PRO Fan Cooled Color Astro Camera

This camera is an alternative to the DSLR camera. The active air cooling removes the resulting heat and improves the noise behaviour. However, icing problems or increased power consumption are not an issue. The power supply simply works via USB.

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.

Cooling via fan:

The Hypercam is cooled with an internal, low-vibration fan. Via AltairCapture and SharpCap it can be switched on or off, but also the speed can be adjusted with these programs. Cool air is sucked in through the ventilation slots on the side of the housing, past a large internal heat sink. This is directly connected to the sensor, similar to a computer CPU. The air flowing freely through the housing cools not only the sensor, but all internal electronic components. Cooling is particularly desirable for long exposures to reduce thermal noise. Some camera housings get uncomfortably warm during a sun photography session and the sensor can reach 60 or even 70 °C. This can make the electronics susceptible to failure and unreliable. The Hypercam is designed for uniform, reliable sun photography using a sun filter or Altair sun wedge (Herschel wedge). If the fan is running, the Hypercam case will always remain cool.

Practical tip from Teleskop-Service: Storage of cameras and accessories

Especially in our latitudes, the nights are often very humid. When it cools down, however, moisture from the inside also condenses on the entrance window or sensor. Quickly a photo session is over, because the image becomes cloudy.

Good storage is an important preventive measure against dew and also prolongs the life of the camera.

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 from the inside of the camera. At the same time, it prevents the humid room air from entering. Your camera or accessories will always be ready for you in optimal condition. You can find the silica gel and the case in our product recommendations.