Description
The Hypercam 269C Colour camera has a Thermoelectric Cooling System (TEC) for extremely low noise imaging.
The 21mp Sony IMX269 is a 12bit colour 4/3rds sensor with 3.30 μm Pixels – a better replacement for the now discontinued colour Panasonic MN34230 Series for long exposure astrophotography, for those wanting similar image scale and pixel size.
The Hypercam features TEC-cooling and amp glow reduction for easier image capture and processing. A sealed chamber, and desiccant system with heated optical window make the camera ideal for harsh environments. Due to it’s low read noise, the Hypercam 269C PRO TEC camera is suitable for both deepsky and solar system imaging with ROI, as well as “frame stacking and averaging” in other applications. The TEC system can be switched off for fast exposure video imaging.
The Hypercam 269C PRO TEC camera has the following features:
- Total elimination of amp glow. We cannot detect any glows on this camera.
- TEC Cooling system – cools down to -45C below ambient.
- Temperature sensor, with data available in real time, temperature written to .FITS files for easier processing.
- Free offer armoured case.
- 12v Power supply (specify EU UK or USA cord)
- ROI (Region of Interest) for cropped higher speed solar, lunar and planetary imaging.
- Binning supported.
Easier than a DSLR and no “astro modding” required: Unlike a DSLR, there’s no need to risk modifying your camera to capture detail in red hydrogen wavelengths, because it has no “red blocking filter” in the way. Hypercam is much easier to use and focus than a DSLR, thanks to the live preview mode which shows uncompressed video at full resolution. You can see a tiny star-point clearly in real-time, because there is no video compression like with a DSLR video stream. There are no clumsy power connectors which drop out easily, no firmware to fight with your software, no mirror to lock up, and a “true” uncompressed RAW mode output. You get exactly what this Sony sensor “sees” from without alterations.
Low read noise: The Sony IMX269 CMOS sensor has very low read noise at approx. 2.6e and the usual high-sensitivity, low dark current, no smear, and excellent anti-blooming characteristics you would expect from a CMOS sensor. Unity gain is 565 in SharpCap and most other imaging applications, 5.65 in AltairCapture.
Video Astronomy/EAA Friendly. The Hypercam 296C camera is not only desirable for Deepsky Imaging – it’s also great for Video Astronomy or “EAA” Electronically Assisted Astronomy. The resolution, high sensitivity, and amp glow reduction technology are well suited to this task. What’s more, you can use the Live Stacking features in the AltairCapture software or SharpCap PRO. All-sky time-lapse imaging or video is easy with a DSLR lens and optional Hypercam Lens Adaptors (product code: CLA-EOS or CLA-NIKON).
USB3.0 gives much faster transfer speeds than USB2.0 cameras, however, if like most imagers, you prefer to use longer and more flexible USB2.0 cables for better tracking and reliability with a USB2.0 hub, no problem! The Hypercam is completely compatible with USB2.0 or USB3.0. Just plug and go!
TEC cooling:
The Hypercam has an internal Thermoelectric cooling system connected directly to the sensor. The temperature can be set and maintained at a chosen level down to -45C below ambient (though there is no real benefit going below -15-20C aside from power consumption). Cooling is especially desirable for long exposure imaging to reduce thermal noise which accumulates during long exposures. The result is visibly reduced noise per frame, easier processing, and less sub-frames required to attain a smooth noise-free image, compared to a non-cooled camera.