Product Description
Camera Sensor
Back-illuminated CMOS Image Sensor with 14bit ADC. ASI178MC has a 1/1.8″ and 6.4M pixels sensor (IMX178) with SONY STARVIS and Exmor R Technology.
Astrophotography Performance
Extremely low read noise(1.4e-2.2 e), 1.4e @27db, high sensitivity and 14bit ADC make it very suitable for astronomy and microscopy high resolution photography.
Relative QE Curve
USB 3.0 Port & ST4 Port
USB 3.0 Port: Can provide 5Gb bandwidth to let ASI178 run at 30 fps (14bit, normal mode) or 60 fps (10bit, high speed mode) at full resolution(6.4Mega).
ST4 Port: Can be used connect with auto guide port of mount, for guiding.
Mechanical Diagram
What is in the box?
Comes with a 2.5mm all-sky lens which can provide a nearly 170° view of the sky.
Camera technical details
Sensor: 1/1.8” CMOS IMX178
Resolution: 6.4 Mega Pixels 3096*2080
Pixel Size: 2.4µm
Sensor Size: 7.4mm*5mm
Diagonal: 8.92mm
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
ST4 Guider Port: Yes
Focus Distance to Sensor: 12.5mm
Shutter Type: Rolling Shutter
Protect window: IR-CUT window
Operating System Compatibility: Mac, Windows, Linux
Interface: USB3.0/USB2.0
Bit rate: 14bit output(14bit ADC)
Adaptor: 2″ / 1.25″ / M42X0.75
Dimension: φ62mm X 36mm
Weight: 120g or 4.2 ounces (without lens)
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/14bit ADC
3096×2080 60fps / 30fps
USB3.0
2560×2048 62fps / 31fps
2048×1080 116fps / 58fps
1280×960 130fps / 65fps
800×600 204.7fps / 102.3fps
640×480 253.1fps / 126.5fps
320×240 479.7fps / 239.8fps
USB2.0
3096×2080 6fps
2560×2048 8fps
2048×1080 19fps
1280×960 34fps
800×600 89.5fps
640×480 139.9fps
320×240 479.7fps
More resolutions can be defined by user
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.
Rod Macpherson – :
So the ASI178MC will work well as a guide camera and a planetary camera?
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Sam Wen – :
yes
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Rod – :
Hi,
I want to guide through a 80×400 guides open and do some planetary imaging through a 254×1000 cf Newtonian and was wondering if this is a good choice or what you would suggest. I was thinking of colour not mono and like the high res and FOV for this camera.. Can you use 2×2 binning on a colour camera and how does this work with the Bayer filter?
Thanks
Rod
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Sam Wen – :
you can also consider our ASI1600MC-Cool
bin2 in color is done by software
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simon – :
Hi,
I have this amazing camera!
Is it possible to remove the IR bloc filter in order to do IR imaging of planets?
Thanks
Simon
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Sam Wen – :
yes, you can do it yourself
you’d better exchange it with an AR one to protect the sensor
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Norman – :
How well will this camera work in a vacuum? The things to know would be how much heat is generated and can the heat be conducted away using the threaded connection on the back? Also, is there any danger from arcing inside under vacuum conditions?
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Sam Wen – :
I am not sure, we did not do such test, but I think heat won’t be a problem as the power consumption is not very high for this camera
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Nicolas doña – :
Sam Hello , I am interested in this ccd for planetary and guided with a finder opening 50mm , you think it is feasible to guide such a small opening and this ccd color or will I need more openness.
What is the quantum efficiency for each color or in general of this ccd, because not find it anywhere
Thanks
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Markus Nagelholz – :
OK, which AR protect window is compatible with this camera? The “ZWO D21 AR protect window” for $16.00 or the “ZWO D25 AR protect window” for $18.00 or the “1.25 Low profile Clear filter ASI Camera Protect window” for $20.00? The ASI178MC is not listed in the descriptions of these items.
Another question: With the AR window installed, would the IR Pass filter work with the camera or is the IR sensitivity too low compared to the Mono version (for which the IR pass filter is recommended)? Is there a big difference in the IR sensitivity of the 178MC with AR window compared to the 178MM or 224MC?
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Sam Wen – :
the D21 AR protect window can be used on ASI178MC
the NIR range of ASI178MC is no as sensetive as 224 or the mono version
but you can still use it
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Nicolas doña – :
Sam Hello , I am interested in this ccd for planetary and guided with a finder opening 50mm , you think it is feasible to guide such a small opening and this ccd color or will I need more openness.
What is the quantum efficiency for each color or in general of this ccd, because not find it anywhere
Thanks for the answers
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Sam Saeed – :
Can the IR-Cut window be replaced with AR window instead to increase IR sensitivity as in the ZWO 185 & 224 models?
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Sam Wen – :
yes, you can order the AR protect window in our site
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Markus Nagelholz – :
According to specifications this color camera is already equipped with an IR-CUT window, while the monochrome version has an AR window. However, for both cameras the IR-Pass filter and UV-IR-CUT filter are listed as recommended accessories. How does the IR-Pass filter work with the color camera if it already has an integrated IR-CUT window? Or can the window be replaced with a clear AR window?
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Sam Wen – :
the related products should be a mistake
we will fix it soon, you don’t need other IR-CUT window
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Ken Dodd – :
Does this camera need a separate IR cut filter?
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ari shinozaki – :
Is the 178MC suitable for planetary with a 1200mm scope?
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Sam Wen – :
yes, of course
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Dennis – :
I recently purchased a new ASI178mc for the main purpose of solar imaging. Is this cam as suitable for solar imaging as other ZWO cams?
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Sam Wen – :
yes, it’s very suitable for solar imaging
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Vitalii – :
Hello! When I select resolution 1280*960 – I have resize image from full resolution, or crop central area of matrix in limit 1280*960?
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Sam Wen – :
it crop the area if you change the ROI
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denischoquet1 (verified owner) – :
Hello, I received today my ASI178MC which was very well protected. A very beautiful camera.
I would like to know if I can make of the autoguide and videos at the same time?
Best Regards
Denis
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Sam Wen – :
yes, you can autoguide and take video for planets
FC can do this job very well
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mike mason – :
Hi..Will this camera fit a 1.25″ focuser on a telescope?
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Sam Wen – :
yes, there is a 1.25″ nosepiece come with the camera
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Sergio Silva – :
Hi,
Do you have any estimate of the frame-rates speed difference when connected to a USB 2.0 port?
Thank you
Sergio
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Sam Wen – :
the speed of USB2.0 port is around 40M bytes/S
and the speed of USB3.0 port is around 400M bytes/S
the max speed of 178 is around 6M*60fps=360M/s
so it definitely will drop a lot(1/9 speed of usb3.0) if you connect through USB2.0 port
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Bernd E. – :
The sensitivity graph of the ASI178MC says the full-well-depth is 14.9ke- and the minimum gain is 1/(0.229e-/ADU). It follows that the full-well-depth after the digitizer is at least (65066 + black_level) ADUs. However, the camara has 14bits resolution, which means full-scale is only 16383 ADUs. Can you resolve this contradiction?
Do you have absolute quantum efficiency numbers in (e- per photon) – not just relative?
Does the ASI178MC have an internal frame memory? If not, how are horizontal stripes avoided that occur when rolling-shutter-sensors are not read-out at absolutely constant speed? Reason for the question: while capturing, my computer has also other tasks to perform, like controlling the mount; so the computer alone can’t guarantee exactly constant readout-speeds.
Last but not least: you say that your USB3.0-cameras work also with a USB2.0 controller in the PC when used with a MacIntosh, i.e. they are backward-compatible. Is that also the case when the ASI178MC is used under WINDOWS XP? Also with ASCOM-driver? Also if full resolution is used? I am aware that the frame-rate will be significantly reduced in this case, but I hope that there are no other effects.
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Sam Wen – :
there is some misunderstanding as the GAIN(0.229e/ADU) is tested based on the 16bit output image
and only the High 14bit is useful
Sony didnot provide absolute QE, but we guess they are between 70%-80% which is the value of most SONY modern sensors
ASI178MC don’t has very small internal frame memory, so this frame will lost if the delay in host side is too long
the only difference between USB2.0 and USB3.0 is speed, no other problems
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Felipe Orduña – :
Which binning modes (other than 1×1) are supported by this ASI178MC (color) camera?
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Sam Wen – :
It support 2X2 binning
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Steve – :
Is there an estimate of when the cooled version of this camera will be released?
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Sam Wen – :
we hope next month
we already start sending cameras to testers
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J.B. Musante – :
excuse me, i have buy the wonderful ASI223, i know the sensitivity is 0,005 lux…and this camera how many lux ?
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Sam Wen – :
ASI178MC has the nearly same sensetivity
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