Manufacturer: ASI - ZWO
Product number: ASI174MINI

EUR 539,00


incl. 19 % VAT (DE)  
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rating: 5.0 of 5
  • Details..
  • Technical data..
  • In the box..
  • Reviews..
ZW Optical ASI174 Mono ultra-compact Astro Camera and Autoguider
The ASI174 is the ultimate autoguider and much more. The modern Sony IMX174LLJ MONO sensor convinces with an outstanding QE of approx. 77%. This high sensitivity, the moderately sized 5.86 µm pixels and the large sensor area of 11.3 x 5.86 mm make this camera also very interesting for astrophotography.

The advantages of the ASI174 Mini as astro camera
Highly sensitive sensor combined with high resolution for ultimate moon and planet photographs.
Large sensor area and maximum sensitivity for photographing nebulae and galaxies. Due to the excellent noise performance, short exposure times down to "lucky imaging" are possible. Cooling is not absolutely necessary anymore.
The camera fits into any 1.25" focuser. Lock the camera like an eyepiece, focus and start with astrophotography.
The camera is equipped with a clear glass window which is transparent also in the infrared rage. Thus the exciting infrared photography becomes possible.


The advantages of the ASI174 Mini as autoguider
You always find a guide star, even with an off-axis guider - guaranteed!
The practical 1.25" housing makes adaption easy. Push the camera into the 1.25" receptacle, focus and get started with guiding.
Only 8.5 mm working distance from the front surface to the sensor - you can reach focus even with short maximum distances.
With only 60 grams weight, the focuser is almost not loaded.
Of course, ST4 cable and ST4 port are supplied. Connect the camera directly to the autoguiding port of the mount.


The autoguider software is not included in the scope of delivery. Among others, the camera is suitable for PHD Guiding, Guidedog, Metaguide, Guidemaster (Freeware) or AstroArt, MaxIm DL (commercial software).

Link to more information and Download to Open PHD Guiding

Link to more information and download for GuideDog Guiding

A tip: with the ASIAIR, the ASI174Mini and your smartphone turn into a fine autoguider which also works without computer, with higher sensitivity and resolution than the previous "stand-alone" autoguiders ... for really little money - simply calculate and compare.

Spectral sensitivity

The sensor convinces not only with high sensitivity, but also with a broad spectral range. The sensitivity stays high even deep in the infrared. That means more stars for guiding, and the exciting field of infrared photography (Venus, Mars, ...) become accessible.



The ASI174 MINI camera is this compact:

Compared to other astro cameras, the ASI174 Mini has smaller dimensions, less weight, and it has its focal plane at the same place as an eyepiece.



What is included in the scope of delivery?

The packaging of the ASI Mini camera contains all necessary cables, drivers, adapters and also a manual.



Further information:


ASI Mini Cameras
The mini cameras ASI174 and ASI290 have a nice look, small dimensions, low weight, even these are already attractive features. But the cameras convince with further advances:

High sensitivity - important for finding a guide star
Sensitivity is the first thing which ZWO has considered with these cameras. It is very important to look for a guide star. So at the beginning, ZWO has considered only a monochrome sensor for the use in their guiding cameras, as a monochrome sensor has a significantly higher sensitivity than a colour sensor. After that, the manufacturer carefully compared the sensitivities of the available sensors. At last, ZWO decided to use the mono sensors 290 and 174. As we know, 290 and 174 mono sensor have about 80% QE peak, can detect more stars in view. In this way, the exposure time can be shortened when guiding, too.

Precise guiding

The ASI290 mini is designed for precise guiding. With 2.9 µm pixel size, the resolution (in arc seconds) is higher than the one of other autoguiders. That means that, at the same guide scope, the 290Mini can detect slighter movement of stars. The ASI290 Mini has, for example compared to the Lodestar, a significantly better guiding accuracy.



Focus like an eyepiece

ASI mini camera and eyepiece can reach focus at same position. You can focus with an eyepiece and put ASI mini camera into the 1.25″ holder.



Works on OAG

The ZWO Mini Cameras are well suited for guiding with an OAG, they have a much larger focus range than normal ASI cameras. You never have to worry again that the guide cam cannot be focused at the same time as the main camera.



Downloads
The newest versions of drivers and software can be downloaded from the manufacturer´s website.

Drivers and Software

Frequently Asked Questions about ZWO Cameras:
The FAQ section is constantly updated by ZWO, here you can find the answers to many questions.

FAQ about ZWO cameras

Manuals for ZWO products:
The manuals page is constantly updated by ZWO, here you can find user guides for ZWO products.

Link to the manuals

Astrophotographic results obtained with this camera on Astrobin
Here you can find some astrophotographs made with this camera model: Link to Astrobin
Sensor:1/1.2" CMOS IMX174LLJ / IMX174LQJ
Resolution:2.3 mega pixels, 1936x1216
Pixel size:5.86 µm
Sensor size:11.3 mm x 7.1 mm
QE (peak):77%
Read noise:3.5 e-
Exposure Rage:32 µs - 300 s
ROI:Supported
Interface:USB2.0
Software requirements:must support USB 2.0
Bit rate:12bit output (12bit ADC)
Adaptor:1.25" / M28.5x0.6
Dimension:⌀36 mm X 61 mm
Weight:60 g
Working Temperature:-5 °C - 45 °C
Storage Temperature:-20 °C - 60 °C
Working Relative Humidity:20% - 80%
Storage Relative Humidity:20% - 95%
Max. Resolution:1936 X 1216 (@ 18.4 FPS)
1.25" cover
Camera body
Quick guide
0.5 m USB2.0 cable
2 m USB2.0 cable
ST4 cable
M28.5-CS adapter
1.25" extender




Astrophotographic results obtained with this camera on Astrobin
Here you can find some astrophotographs made with this camera model: Link to Astrobin

Testimonial from a customer
Our customer Dane Vetter from Germany (www.linsenschuss.de) has written an informative review:

"So far, I have worked with the popular ZWO ASI 120MM Mini and the ZWO ASI 290MM Mini in the ZWO OAG, which provide excellent services in off-axis guiders as well as in guidescopes. Over time, longer focal lengths came into my house via a 10" ONTC Newtonian, CF-APO 155 mm as well as a Celestron C11 EdgeHD. At 1200 mm or even more, depending on the region, it is sometimes difficult to find sufficiently bright guide stars via the small sensors of the 120s and 290s.

Order in the photo: ASI 120MM Mini, ASI 1290MM Mini, ASI 174MM Mini




That´s why I decided to get the ZWO ASI 174MM Mini with the significantly larger sensor. This gives me a much wider field of view in the OAG and allows me to pick up more guide stars for guiding. For the visual representation I have taken a photo with the 290 and the 174 at the same telescope of the same sky section in each case. I then inserted the photo with the narrower section of the 290 into the photo of the 174. I have chosen a sky section which shows more stars. Through the stars I could insert the photo of the 290 exactly in identical position. As you can see in the practical comparison, the section of the 174 is clearly larger. In a section with significantly fewer stars, this increases the chance of guide star considerably. With my C11 EdgeHD with 2800 mm this is almost mandatory, especially if you then want to work with a multistar guiding.

Both photos were exposed with 2 seconds on a f/8 telescope. The 174 at gain 240, the 290 at gain 300. The larger prism of the OAG-L as well as the larger sensor of the 174 take up a little more light, so you can also lower the gain a little.




Compared to a guidescope, you have to consider the illumination of the large sensor of the 174. Normal OAGs like the one from ZWO cannot illuminate the sensor sufficiently due to the small aperture of the prism. There are supposedly users who drill out this opening further so that larger sensors can be illuminated. However, I decided to purchase the ZWO OAG-L, which is designed for large sensors. In addition, the much larger prism of the OAG-L can also collect more light. The large sensor must be rotated correctly in the OAG-L because the aperture in the prism is square, otherwise there will be vignetting in the corners.

The OAG-L must also, like the normal OAG, first be adjusted to fit the sensor. The height of the prism must be shifted. The position in the delivery state already causes a concise vignettin with an APS-C sensor, which is why an adjustment is absolutely necessary. The correct position can be found out by creating flats. This adjustment can also be done during the day without any problems. Using the flats, you can see the vignetting very well and adjust the prism upwards until there is no more vignetting.




It is also nice that a helical focuser for the guidingcam is already integrated here. This makes it possible to finely adjust the focus and, if necessary, also easily readjust it. For example, if you are working with a filter drawer between the camera and the OAG and you need to change the focus distance of the imaging camera there depending on the use of different filters with different glass thicknesses, you also need to make an adjustment to the guiding camera in the OAG here. Focusing the Guidecam is also an activity that is best done during the day with a distant target.

With regard to mounting the OAG, it should be noted that, compared to the normal OAG, it has an opening with four holes for screws on the edge instead of a thread on one side. The OAG-L is normally screwed onto a filter wheel. But there is an adapter from ZWO with which you can use it without a filter wheel. For my color camera, I had a shorter adapter made especially for screwing it onto a Baader UFC filter drawer.




In summary, I am very satisfied with the 174 and am already planning to buy a second one. The possibility to find more guide stars at longer focal lengths is something I would not want to miss. At shorter focal lengths, such as 600 mm or less, I don´t see any advantage of a 174, and there I also like to use my 290 or 120. However, when the focal length reaches four digits, the advantage becomes clear."

We thank Mr. Vetter very much for this great testimonial!


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Reviews

Written by Claus Hüttinger
on 2023-10-19

"Super Kamera"

Written by Marc Simonetta
on 2023-07-04

"Sehr gut"

Written by Bert Wilde
on 2023-06-26

"I purchased this camera to replace my previous guiding camera (ASI120 Mini mono). The ASI174 outperforms the asi120 significantly. The sensitivity and guiding success rate/guiding availability is top. I use this with an OAG and 200mm guide scope."

Written by Philip Stehning
on 2023-03-23

"Funktioniert super "

Written by Martin Weiß
on 2022-04-18

"Kamera wie beschrieben ..."

Written by Wouter Cazaux
on 2022-03-16

"Perfect wide-field camera for guiding"

Written by Wouter Cazaux
on 2021-08-12

"Perfect guide camera for deep field OAG guiding with high focal length"

Written by Josef Müller
on 2020-08-06

"Qualität einwandfrei. Für die Anwendung mit dem ZWO OAG ist der Chip zu gross, da muss die Auflösung verkleinert werden, für ein Guide Scope für die Nachführung super."