At just over 4 inches in diameter and a few inches thick, the new miniCAM8 is a compact, high resolution, high performance, cooled imaging system capable of exceptional, high-quality deep space images as well as high-quality, high-resolution planetary images.
So often, compactness in astroimaging is achieved at the expense of some other critical feature found in multi-component cooled systems, such sensor quality or thermoelectric cooling, etc. Such is not the case with the new miniCAM8. Based on Sony’s IMX585 8 MP sensor, the miniCAM8 includes full TE cooling capable of reaching a delta of -45℃ from ambient along with a built-in 8-position filter wheel for complete LRGB and narrowband imaging.
| (*) The IMX585 is a 1/1.2″ sensor with 8 million pixels (3840 x 2160 resolution), widely used in high-performance cooled cameras, especially in the fields of astronomical observation and low-light imaging.The monochrome version removes the Bayer filter, significantly enhancing sensitivity, making it ideal for astrophotography, scientific imaging, and photometry applications. Generally, to provide HDR (high dynamic range) imaging, multi-exposure image capture is required, and the multiple images recorded at differing exposure times are composited into a single shot. This results in issues with artefacts. The latest sensor design adopts Sony’s new proprietary “STARVIS 2” technology, which delivers both high sensitivity and HDR imaging. It allows for imaging in a single exposure, which suppresses the occurrence of artifacts, delivering 88 dB HDR, approximately 8 times that of a conventional sensor without increasing the pixel size. It also increases the sensitivity in the near infrared range by approximately 1.7 times compared to a conventional sensor. |
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High Near-Infra-red Sensitivity
The IMX585 is a Sony Starvis II processor that enables high sensitivity and high dynamic range (HDR). It also improves sensitivity in the near-infra-red range by approximately 1.7 times* compared to the IMX485. The new camera QHY miniCAM8 has a maximum quantum efficiency of 60% in the near-infra-red band and 92% in the visible wavelength band.
*Official data provided by Sony: https://www.sony-semicon.com/cn/news/2021/2021062901.html
BSI
One benefit of the back-illuminated CMOS structure is improved full-well capacity. This is particularly helpful for sensors with small pixels. In a typical front-illuminated sensor, photons from the target entering the photosensitive layer of the sensor must first pass through the metal wiring that is embedded just above the photosensitive layer. The wiring structure reflects some photons and reduces the efficiency of the sensor.
In the back-illuminated sensor, the light is allowed to enter the photosensitive surface from the reverse side. In this case, the sensor’s embedded wiring structure is below the photosensitive layer. As a result, more incoming photons strike the photosensitive layer, and more electrons are generated and captured in the pixel well. This ratio of photon to electron production is called quantum efficiency. The higher the quantum efficiency, the more efficient the sensor is at converting photons to electrons, and hence the more sensitive the sensor is to capturing an image of something dim.
Zero A
mplify Glow
QHY miniCAM8 is also a zero amplifier glow camera.
Anti-Dew Technology
Based on almost 20-year cooled camera design experience, the QHY cooled camera has implemented the fully dew control solutions. The optic window has a built-in dew heater, and the chamber is protected from internal humidity condensation. An electric heating board for the chamber window can prevent the formation of dew, and the sensor itself is kept dry with our silicon gel tube socket design for control of humidity within the sensor chamber.
Cooling
In addition to dual-stage TE cooling, QHYCCD implements proprietary technology in hardware to control the dark current noise.
The native ADC of the IMX585 sensor is 12-bit. Compared to 16-bit, the 12-bit depth offers fewer bits, resulting in a relatively narrower dynamic range, which may lead to issues such as insufficient color gradation and potential information loss. During the product development of miniCAM8, QHYCCD merged high and low gain to extend the data to 16-bit. However, since this 16-bit depth is not native, a sudden shift in linearity might occur, affecting the smooth transition in images. To address this, QHYCCD developed the “Linearity HDR” mode, which uses an algorithm-based approach to correct image linearity through software, ensuring smoother transitions and richer color representation.
Specification
| Model | QHY miniCAM8 |
| CMOS Sensor | Sony IMX585 |
| Mono/Color | Both |
| BSI/FSI | BSI |
| Sensor Size | 1/1.2inch |
| Pixel Size | 2.9μm*2.9μm |
| Total Pixel Area | 3856*2180 |
| Effective Pixels | 8 MP |
| Full Well Capacity | 54ke- |
| Readout Noise | 0.76 – 7.8 e- |
| A/D | 12bit (output as 16-bit) |
| Full Frame Rates | Full Resolution: 41.5FPS@8bit，23.5FPS @16bit |
| ROI Frame Rates | Full Resolution 1080 Lines, 82FPS@8bit, 47FPS@16bit；640Lines, 177FPS@8bit, 105FPS@16bit |
| Exposure Time Range | 11μs-900sec |
| Shutter Type | Electronic Rolling Shutter |
| Built-in Image Buffer | 512MB DDR3 |
| Computer Interface | USB3.0 |
| Telescope Interface | 1.25 inc |
| Optic Window Type | AR+AR |
| Filter Wheel | Built-in 8-Position Carousel |
| Back Focal Length | 17.5mm |
| Cooling System | Dual Stage TEC cooler: Long exposures (> 1 second) typically -45℃ below ambient |
| Weight | 480g |
Curves
Mechanical Dimensions
Accessories
| Item | Amount | Note |
| Camera | 1 | |
| 12V 5A Power Adapter | 1 | Standard Accessories |
| Power Cable | 1 | |
| 12V Self-Locking Power Cable | 1 | |
| 1.3m USB3.0 Cable | 1 | |
| 1.25-inch Extension Ring | 1 | |
| Desiccant Tube | 1 | |
| Lens Mounting Clamp | 1 | |
| Screwdriver | 1 | |
| Camera Packaging Bag | 1 | |
| Luminance (19*12*1.1 mm) | 1 | QHY miniCAM8M Combo Filters |
| Red (19*12*1.1 mm) | 1 | |
| Green (19*12*1.1 mm) | 1 | |
| Blue (19*12*1.1 mm) | 1 | |
| 7nm SII (19*12*1.1 mm) | 1 | |
| 7nm Ha (19*12*1.1 mm) | 1 | |
| 7nm OIII (19*12*1.1 mm) | 1 | |
| LPF (19*12*1.1 mm) | 1 | QHY miniCAM8C Combo Filters |
| HLP (19*12*1.1 mm) | 1 | |
| FCE (19*12*1.1 mm) | 1 | |
| UV/IR Cut (19*12*1.1 mm) | 1 |
(LPF: Light Pollution Filter; HLP: Heavy Light Pollution Filter; FCE: Four-Channel Enhancement Filter)
