Product Description
Astrophotography Performance
ASI224MC has a 1/3″ and 1.2M pixels sensor IMX224 with SONY Exmor and NIR Technology. It has extremely low read noise and high sensitivity, especially in IR range of the spectrum. Read Noise of ASI224 is less than 1e which can compare with sCMOS or EMCCD sensors. This camera is very suitable for astronomy planetary and small DSO imaging.
High QE
Regarding the relative QE Curve, we estimate the Peak Value should between 75%-80%.
PCB Version1.3 (include Anti-amp glow function)
Most sensors will have amp-glow problem only if you do long-time exposure capture, such as longer than 1s.
We apply “amp glow reduction technology” to our ASI224MC and ASI224MC-C camera, it is a hardware modification to reduce the amp-glow of the sensor. Not every sensor can benefit from this modification, but it is beneficial for ASI224MC, so this upgrade is specifically implemented for ASI224MC and ASI224MC-C.
We made this change since April 2016, which means the current unit s(ASI224MC and ASI224MC-C) that we produce, are all equipped with the newest PCB version —V1.3.
USB 3.0 Port & ST4 Port
USB 3.0 Port: Can provide 5Gb bandwidth to let ASI224 run at 64fps (12bit, normal mode) or 150 fps (10bit, high speed mode) at full resolution(1.2Mega).
ST4 Port: Can be used connect with auto guide port of mount, for guiding.
Mechanical Diagram
What is in the box?
Reference Images:
Camera technical details
Sensor: 1/3” CMOS IMX224/IMX225
Resolution: 1.2Mega Pixels 1304X976
Pixel Size: 3.75µm
Sensor Size: 4.8mm*3.6mm
Diagonal: 6.09mm
Exposure Range: 32µs-1000s
ROI: Supported
Non-volatile memory/On camera storage: Build-in total 192K byte user-accessible space(image size up to 480X320)
Interface: USB3.0/USB2.0
Binning: 2×2 binning supported
Focus Distance to Sensor: 12.5mm
Shutter Type: Rolling Shutter
Protect window: AR coated window
Operating System Compatibility: Mac, Windows, Linux
Interface: USB3.0/USB2.0
Bit rate: 12bit output(12bit ADC)
Adaptor: 2″ / 1.25″ / M42X0.75
Dimensions: 62 mm Diameter
Weight:100g
Working Temperature: -5°C—45°C
Storage Temperature: -20°C—60°C
Working Relative Humidity: 20%—80%
Storage Relative Humidity: 20%—95%
Supported resolution
10bit ADC / 12bit ADC
1304×976 150fps / 64fps
1280×960 152.4fps / 65fps
800×600 241.2fps / 102.9fps
640×480 299.4fps / 127.6fps
320×240 577.9fps / 256.4fps
More resolutions can be user defined
Our website is continuously updated with the most recent camera drivers as well as software for DSO and planetary imaging. Please make sure the most recent Driver and software have been installed before you start shooting:
It is also recommended to read the Manuals first before shooting.
Shipping & Delivery
Fast Shipping: we will choose DHL, UPS, FedEx etc to deliver it. Usually you will get your package within 15-20 days.
- Fast Shipping(amount ≧ 199USD) for free
- Fast Shipping(amount < 199USD) : $30.00 (We do not provide free shipping from now on.)
Introduction
- It will take around 60-90 days for shipment via ePacket/China Post Registered Air Mail/EMS, which can’t be guaranteed due to force majeure. If you can’t get the air mail package after 2months, please let us know ASAP: info@zwoptical.com
- Customers from Brazil and Chile should leave a message to provide your CPF or CNPJ as your custom needs it.
- Customers from Russia need to provide the complete English name with three words as well as the English shipping address.
Tracking site
DGM: http://webtrack.dhlglobalmail.com/?locale=en-US
China air mail: http://www.17track.net/en
Tax
- The price list on our website is USD without tax.
- Please note that buyers are liable to pay tax involved, such as Import tax, VAT , customs handling fee, etc. The additional fees may be collected at time of delivery by courier.
- For best local service we advise customers buy our cameras from local dealers.
Warranty & Return
1. ZWO hereby declares that it will provide customers with a warranty period of 2 years for ZWO branded products (excluding APO), as per this policy. APO products will be covered by a 1-year free warranty service, starting from the day following the receipt of the product by the customer. For ASIAIR Plus users, the warranty period will commence from the day of device activation.
2. If a User encounters the following Dead on Arrival (DOA) and contacts ZWO within the corresponding time limit to issue the Product purchase invoice and relevant evidence, ZWO will provide door-to-door pick-up service and, as appropriate, after-sale replacement (or partial replacement), repair or return (or partial return) service for the following Products:
1) Product quality problem
Provided that a User detects a quality problem and contacts ZWO within 30 days after receipt of the Products, and ZWO support team confirms that the Products indeed have a quality problem or defect after their inspection, ZWO will provide free replacement service towards such Products;
2) Product transportation problem
Provided that a User finds obvious signs of bubbling, serious overstocking, or deformation on the outer package of the Products upon receipt of the Products, and provides ZWO with pictures of the outer package and proof of receipt within 3 days after receipt of such Products, ZWO support team will verify the actual shipper and determine the responsible party for such transportation problem. In the event that ZWO is the actual shipper, ZWO will be responsible for providing the relevant return or replacement service, however, if the Products are directly sold or transported to the User by an agent of ZWO, the agent will be responsible for providing the relevant return or replacement service.
3. If the Products are under the following circumstances, they are not within the scope of warranty service, ZWO may provide maintenance services to the Users:
1) The Warranty Period of the Products has expired; or
2) The Products are injected into liquid or affected by moisture or corrosion; or
3) The Products are damaged by an external force (such as the broken of the camera protection window glass, the deformation of the product shell, the broken of the USB port, etc.); or
4) Disassembling, repairing by a third party, refurbishment of the Products (such as downloading erroneous firmware) without the written authorization of ZWO; or
5) The product system is modified, or the maintenance notice is lost or changed; or
6) Product quality problem caused by installation not following the requirements or instructions for the Products; or
7) Physical damage or failure of the Products caused by the force majeure (such as strong vibration or extrusion such as flood, fire, earthquake, or thunder stroke); or
8)Damage caused by the improper User operation during the period of shooting or use, such as using without the equipment protection or direct shooting of the sun; or
9) No valid purchase invoice or warranty certificate; or
10) The Products are second-hand products.
Any quality problem with the accessories or other parts of the Products is not a condition for the return or change of the Products, and the User may solely request to replace the accessories with new ones, which shall be handled after verification by ZWO support team.
If the issue with your ZWO product was caused by certain damage (such as severe damage not covered by the 2-year warranty), you might have to pay the replacement value.
4. For the normal repair or replacement of the Products during the Warranty Period, the User will bear the return cost. When returning the Products, Users shall specify the actual reasons for the damage to the Products, and shall provide the corresponding valid certificates, such as pictures or videos, etc.
For the Products that need to be replaced after being confirmed by ZWO in writing, the User shall return the Products with the complete package, together with all accessories, manuals, etc., to the address designated by ZWO.
By sending back the product to ZWO, the User agrees to pay out-of-warranty fees that may arise during the repair process of the product. ZWO will send back the product after charging.
5. If a User encounters any problem during the use of ZWO Products, you may at any time contact ZWO for technical support via ZWO Support.
For the Products that need to be returned for after-sales service, ZWO will provide the corresponding RMA code for reference.
ZWO will not accept any products having no RMA code that have been returned privately without ZWO written confirmation.
6. If a User purchases the ZWO Products from a ZWO agent, the User may contact the ZWO agent directly for the relevant after-sales service.
slawek – :
This was just general question how to veryfi PCB version on asi224mc. I bought a new camera and want to make sure my version is up to date. thank you
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Katherine Tsai – :
You could open the camera cover and find the version number on your PCB board.
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Sławomir Maślisz – :
How to veryfi PCB version on asi224mc?Thanks
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Katherine Tsai – :
Hi,
What happened to your camera?
Maybe we could help you.
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rocco liverano – :
Hello. I have ASI 224 MC, for PIXINSIGHT (Subframe selector ) I need to know the value of subframe scale. Can you help me.
Thank you
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Sean Wang – :
Not sure, I didn’t use that function yet.
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Thomas – :
I am looking at the ASI 224 imager to do live view astronomy and may be some imaging also considering the revolution R2 will the 224 work well for live view.
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Sean Wang – :
Yes, it is.
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akihiko yamada – :
I own 224mc, I ve tried to download ASIdrivers from the web, but rejected..Message told 404error.
I’m using a SurfacePro,win19 ,64bit.
Can I download it from another web?
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Sean Wang – :
https://astronomy-imaging-camera.com/software/ZWO_ASI_Camera_Driver.exe
Try this link.
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Russ – :
When was the 1.3 version released? The 1.2 version of documentation is still on your document site: https://astronomy-imaging-camera.com/manuals-guides. I’m looking at the one on Amazon because I have gift cards but I can’t tell what version it is because it looks like they have the wrong image anyway (even if that would help)
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Sean Wang – :
The document version is different with camera version. camera version is hardware version, document version is about how many times we modified the document.
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Michael Hettrick – :
My comment does not need “approval” – it simply needs to be answered.
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Sean Wang – :
Already answered your questions! 😀
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Michael Hettrick – :
What is the Bayer pattern for the ASI224MC ? I tried every permutation (including RGGB) during debayering in PixInsight, but nothing seems to work !
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Sean Wang – :
It’s RGGB. I think you should do BackgroundNautralization after debayer.
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Aadi – :
Do you recommend the asi120 or the asi224 for planetary imaging? I have an 8in SCT 2000 mm focal length with a 2.5x barlow. Do you think the $100 jump worth it?
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Sean Wang – :
Yes, it is worth to own a asi224 camera.
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del russel – :
Hi,
I have the SW 80mm x 600 apo refractor, would this camera be ok on that for DSO and planetary, more towards DSO….Thanks in advance…
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Sean Wang – :
Lucky imaging? yes. long exposure? better to choose a cooled camera.
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Brook – :
Will this work on Windows 10
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Sean Wang – :
Yes, it is!
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Steven Hill – :
Hi
I have the latest ASI224MC and unscrewed the front and the rubber ring and clear window fell out, does the rubber ring go around the sensor and then the clear window placed on top ? Thank you
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Sean Wang – :
Yes, The rubber ring is down, protective glass is on top.
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Greg – :
I have an older lap top with windows 7. will ASi224 work on this Lap Top?I
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Sean Wang – :
Yes, 224 will works fine.
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Steve G – :
ASI 224MC spec says working temperature minimum is -5C. Surely it can work at a lower temperature than that. What happens below that temperature?
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Sam Wen – :
just use it if it works
sometimes camera cannot be stared at very low temperature
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D Abdullah – :
Hi, I have a Celestron Powerseeker 80EQ. Will this model be compatible with the camera?
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Sam Wen – :
yes, of course
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Ernie – :
I have a 8″ Dob (f5.9) with a EQ platform. Looking to get into astrophotography. Guys at my club like the 224. For my set up what do you recommend? 185, 224, or 290? With my setup I assume I will mostly be doing planetary and lunar. Possibly some DSO. Thanks for your recommendation.
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Sean Wang – :
We recommand 224mc and 290mm+EFWmini, 224mc is easy to use, 290mm is have better performance and high price. It’s all suitable for you.
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Aivar – :
Hi. I have a celestron c8 advanced vx and want camera for dso and planetary images. What camera can you recomand from all your cameras? 224mc 174mm-cool or 290mm-cool. Thanks for your perfect job!
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Sean Wang – :
Hi Aivar
We saw may users using C8 or c11 to do DSO lucky imaging( using short time and stack more) . So we suggest using 224mc as the most economical method.
If you want better result, I think 290mm-cool will be better.
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Sam Wen – :
we would recommend ASI1600 for DSO imaging
maybe 290mm-cool is good if you prefer one of them
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Phurich – :
How to use UV IR Cut Filter?
Just attach the filter to the nosepiece? OR replace the AR window with UV IR cut filter?
which way is better?
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Sean Wang – :
Hi Phurich
Best way is attach it on the nosepiece.
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Brian Jones – :
Will this cam work on 2011 MacBook pro? I can use thunderbolt to usb 3 connection if I need to but MacBook has usb 2 wondering what camera will work with MacBook pro 2011 with USB 2 or do I need to but thunderbolt to USB 3 adapter?
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Sam Wen – :
yes, it can work when you connect though USB2.0
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Steve (verified owner) – :
Hi. The camera only has an AR window so lets in unwanted IR light. Does this cause much of a problem? Can the user replace the AR protect filter for an IR cut filter (ZWO D21) or does this change have to be done by ZWO? I will be connecting the camera on the T-threads so can’t add in the IR cut filter as a 1.25-inch mounted filter.
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Sam Wen – :
you can do it by yourself to replace the AR window
camera can provide one better color image at daytime if you add one IR CUT window
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