What do I need to use the QHYCCD miniCAM8-OAG?

The miniCAM8-OAG is designed as a complete system with the QHYCCD miniCAM8 camera. In addition, you will need a separate guide camera that has a standard 1.25-inch nosepiece to insert into the guider's port.

Why is the 14x10mm prism on the miniCAM8-OAG a key feature?

The large 14x10mm prism gathers significantly more light than smaller prisms found in many other OAGs. This helps you find usable guide stars in star-poor regions of the sky. The miniCAM8's filters sit in its built-in wheel behind the OAG, so the guide camera receives unfiltered light.

How does the miniCAM8-OAG help when imaging a faint target like the Pelican Nebula (IC 5070) with a long focal length SCT?

With a long focal length telescope like an SCT, even tiny mechanical shifts (differential flexure) between a separate guidescope and the main telescope can cause elongated stars. The miniCAM8-OAG avoids this by using the main telescope's optics for guiding, so the guide camera and imaging camera see the same movement during the long exposures faint targets like IC 5070 need.

I have a corrector that requires exactly 55mm of back focus. Will the QHYCCD miniCAM8-OAG work?

Yes. The miniCAM8-OAG is specifically designed so that when it is attached to a QHYCCD miniCAM8 camera, the assembly keeps a 55mm back focal distance, so it matches correctors designed for 55mm.

QHYCCD miniCAM8 Off-Axis Guider (miniCAM8-OAG)

by QHYCCD

SKU QHY-110200

$129.00 USD - $129.00 USD

$129.00 USD

$129.00 USD - $129.00 USD

$129.00 USD

Price Match Policy!

Designed specifically for the QHYCCD miniCAM8 camera
Large 14 x 10mm prism for improved guide star brightness
Standard M48 telescope interface for wide compatibility
Maintains 55mm back focal distance with the miniCAM8
Accepts guide cameras with a 1.25-inch nosepiece

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QHYCCD miniCAM8 Off-Axis Guider (miniCAM8-OAG)

The QHYCCD miniCAM8-OAG integrates a large 14x10mm prism to maximize light collection for your guide camera, for higher guiding precision. It connects to your telescope's corrector or flattener via a standard M48 thread and is engineered to maintain the common 55mm back focal distance when paired with a miniCAM8 camera. A standard 1.25-inch interface accepts most common guide cameras.

A Large 14x10mm Prism for Brighter Guide Stars

The core of the miniCAM8-OAG is its oversized 14x10mm prism. The oversized prism maximizes the light reaching your guide camera, which helps the guiding software lock onto stars and guide more precisely.

M48 Threads and 55mm Back Focus for System Compatibility

Engineered for seamless integration, the miniCAM8-OAG has a standard M48 telescope interface, for flatteners, reducers and correctors with M48 output. When attached to a QHYCCD miniCAM8 camera, the entire assembly maintains a 55mm back focal distance, the spacing many flatteners and reducers are designed for.

The Advantage of Off-Axis Guiding with the miniCAM8

An off-axis guider eliminates the primary source of tracking errors in long-exposure astrophotography: differential flexure. Unlike a separate guidescope, the miniCAM8-OAG uses the same light path as your main imaging camera, so a mechanical shift affects both cameras the same way and the guide camera sees the movement your imaging camera sees.
What do I need to use the QHYCCD miniCAM8-OAG?

The miniCAM8-OAG is designed as a complete system with the QHYCCD miniCAM8 camera. In addition, you will need a separate guide camera that has a standard 1.25-inch nosepiece to insert into the guider's port.

Why is the 14x10mm prism on the miniCAM8-OAG a key feature?

The large 14x10mm prism gathers significantly more light than smaller prisms found in many other OAGs. This helps you find usable guide stars in star-poor regions of the sky. The miniCAM8's filters sit in its built-in wheel behind the OAG, so the guide camera receives unfiltered light.

How does the miniCAM8-OAG help when imaging a faint target like the Pelican Nebula (IC 5070) with a long focal length SCT?

With a long focal length telescope like an SCT, even tiny mechanical shifts (differential flexure) between a separate guidescope and the main telescope can cause elongated stars. The miniCAM8-OAG avoids this by using the main telescope's optics for guiding, so the guide camera and imaging camera see the same movement during the long exposures faint targets like IC 5070 need.

I have a corrector that requires exactly 55mm of back focus. Will the QHYCCD miniCAM8-OAG work?

Yes. The miniCAM8-OAG is specifically designed so that when it is attached to a QHYCCD miniCAM8 camera, the assembly keeps a 55mm back focal distance, so it matches correctors designed for 55mm.
Designed For QHYCCD miniCAM8 cameras

Prism Size 14 x 10mm

Telescope Interface M48

Back Focal Distance 55mm (camera plus OAG)

Guide Camera Interface 1.25 inch
- miniCAM8-OAG
  
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QHYCCD 2-Year Warranty

QHYCCD miniCAM8 Off-Axis Guider (miniCAM8-OAG)

Will it guide your telescope?