Product Description
Alternative Product
ASI185MC has a 1/1.9″ and 2.3M pixels sensor IMX185 with SONY Exmor and NIR Technology.
Extremely low read noise (3.3 e) and high sensitivity especially in IR range.
ASI185MC has the same pixel size of ASI224MC but larger chip size.
Come with a 2.5mm all sky lens which can provide a nearly 170° view of the sky.
Relative QE Curve, we estimate the Peak Value should between 75%-80%
Super Low Read Noise which can compare with sCMOS or EMCCD sensors
What`s in the box?
Mechanical Drawing
Camera technical details
Sensor: 1/1.9” CMOS IMX185
Resolution: 2.3 Mega Pixels 1944*1224
Pixel Size: 3.75µm
Sensor Size: 7.3mm*4.6mm
Diagonal: 8.58mm
Exposure Range: 32µs-1000s
ROI: Supported
ST4 Guider Port: Yes
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
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/12bit ADC
1944×1224 108 / 54
1920*1080 120 / 60
1024×768 170.5 / 85.2
800×800 163.8 / 81.9
640×480 268.4 / 134.2
320×240 515.3 / 257.6
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.
Jaeong – :
What is the best choice for all sky camera between ASI185MC and ASI224MC?
ASI185MC has higher resolution but higher read noise than ASI224MC I think.
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Sean Wang – :
178 or 290 mc will be good. higher resolution than 224mc, read noise is good too.
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Jim – :
Is the 185MC as good as the 224MC at Planetary imaging? Also, what do you consider to be your BEST overall color camera for Planetary imaging?
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Sam Wen – :
185 is very close to 224 for planetary imaging
there will come one new camera ASI385 soon which supposed to be the best color camera for Planetary imaging
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Frank Feger – :
The problem: INDI is not available as RPM (Red Hat, openSUSE) package, except a special version for Fedora, and the Linux programs without using INDI are also not stored in this format. Using the sources has never been successful for me, so I can rule out that way.
And sometimes, INDI cannot be installed completely …
And even when using
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Sam Wen – :
you may need to use our SDK if INDI doesnot work
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Frank Feger – :
Hi,
it should be able to use the ASI185MC under Linux without drivers, but I have tried it with two programmes (wxcam, cheese) with little or no result. Which software do you recommend?
My computer runs on openSUSE 42.2 Leap (RPM packages), but Knoppix is also available and I might have to use Linux Mint, so software which comes in RPM files and in DEB files at the same time is necessary.
Thanks
Frank
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Sam Wen – :
please read our software manual
https://astronomy-imaging-camera.com/manuals/ASI%20Cameras%20software%20Manual%20Linux%20OSX%20EN.pdf
only supported program can run it
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David Bower – :
I recently purchased the ASI185MC and it seems to work fine with the CS lens but when I put on the M42-1.25″ T-Mount and install it in my Celestron 8SCT all I get is a black screen.
Does this camera need any extension tubes or what and I doing wrong?
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Sam Wen – :
please read our quick start guide
https://astronomy-imaging-camera.com/manuals/QuickGuide.pdf
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Bob – :
What do I need to do to get the ASI185MC to focus in a Coronado PST?
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Sam Wen – :
you need this adapter
https://astronomy-imaging-camera.com/products/accessories/asi-1-25-low-profile-cover/
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Luca – :
what bayer matrix i have to select in Firecapture? And what is the best gain value to set? 148? thanks
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Sam Wen – :
the bayer pattern is RGGB, newest FC should select the correct one itself
the gain setting is different from different target
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Chris Stevenson – :
Hi Sam,
I’ve had good success with using the ASI224 as a detector for VIS-NIR longslit spectroscopy – the low readnoise and high near-infrared QE are great. The “amp-glow” issue actually turns out to be the limiting factor, even at -20C (I have the uncooled camera but testing was done in the winter and in a deep freezer)
I would like more pixels and have been seriously considering the ASI185(cooled), but the amp-glow issue would need to be solved, first. Any progress? QHY seems able to control it for the IMX224.
Thanks
Chris
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Sam Wen – :
the amp-glow issue is worse than 224
you’d better try ASI290MC which is far better with amp-glow
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Prem K – :
Hi,
Which is more sensitive for autoguiding? 185MC or 224MC? I see resolution and sensor size is higher for 185MC, but how about sensitivity? Planning to use for off-axis guiding with 8″ SCT.
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Sam Wen – :
sensitivity is very close to each other
so for guiding, I think 185 is better for providing a larger FOV
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Philip Ware – :
I have a Surface Pro 4 and bought the ASI185MC
SharpCap 2.8 seems to drop every frame for many 10’s of seconds, then captures about 5 frames and then goes on to drop every frame for another 30-40 seconds….
I have tried USB 3.0 Cable (Supplied) and a USB 2.0 cable, both do the same dropped frames issue.
At the moment the camera is unusable with this setup.
(SharpCap 2.8 works fine with the built in camera so the software is working.)
I have downloaded the latest drivers from ZWO…
please help??
thanks,
Phil.
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Sam Wen – :
we will reply you in email
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andrea – :
So asi178 has the lowest sensitivity (425mV) against 2350 mV of ASI224. And also it has the lowest gain possible. But also low read noise. I’m so confused about the right factor to consider for EAA. Better to have high sensitivity? Or low read noise? Or high gain possible?
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Sam Wen – :
compare sensitivity in mv is not correct, because the pixel size is different
the QE is very close with each other actually
I think 178 or 174 is the best for EAA
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andrea – :
Thks, Sam.
So you said that amp glow is important for EAA. But sensitivity? Read noise? Do you consider these two factor more important than amp glow for EAA?
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Sam Wen – :
read noise and sensitivity is more important for short exposure
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andrea – :
I have read every aspects of your cameras: search photos, setups similar to mine, read a ton of topics also very technician topics regarding QE, read noise, stacking, electrons, SNR and so on.
I’d like to do a simple and quick EAA, that is: Short subs (under 60 sec, better under 30s), mainly live stacking, live little histogram strecthing and no more (no long post processing, etc….). Occasionally try a longer exposure.
8″ SCT, various focal reducers.
Now my 2 choices, all color version not cooled, are (in order of importance):
– ASI224 (55%) very popular, many images, many users, famous in the EAA world and very, very capable, very sensitive and lowest read noise
– ASI185 (45%) big brother of the ASI224 but nobody uses, no info, no review, few images (just moon and sun, not DSO), less sensitive than ASI224 and noiser than it. But more resolution
I’m so undecided….
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Sam Wen – :
I think amp-glow is very important for EAA, so I think maybe 178 or 174 is better for you
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denischoquet1 – :
Hi,
I hesitate between ASI185MC and ASI178MC for my future purchase.
I shall like taking photos of the moon, the Saturne and jupiter that as well as objects of the deep sky with short pose.
My current configuration is sky 150/750 on frame neq5 GOTO
Which will be on drugs would be the most optimal with regard to(compared with) my objective.
Thank you in advance
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Sam Wen – :
both should be OK, but the pixel size of 178 is smaller
anyway, you can binning
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Garry Cartlidge – :
Hi
What advantages are there to this model compared to the 1224 ? Im after my first camera and dont know which would be best as they are very similiar in price. I want to do planetry and lunar work and dabble in dso as I do own a dslr as well for dso work . Im using a skywatcher 150p with eq 3-2 motor driven mount.
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Sam Wen – :
ASI185 has the same QE of ASI224 but bigger size and higher read noise
so you can choose ASI185 if you more like lunar solar or DSO imaging
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