Skip to content
IMPORTANT: Our store is located in Canada. All orders that include products manufactured outside of Canada or USA will be subject to tariffs and duties, regardless of the order value. US customers are responsible for all applicable duties and tariffs, and those will be billed by the carrier, except for the Lacerta upgrade kit, for which we collect them at checkout.
IMPORTANT: Our store is located in Canada. All orders that include products manufactured outside of Canada or USA will be subject to tariffs and duties, regardless of the order value. US customers are responsible for all applicable duties and tariffs, and those will be billed by the carrier, except for the Lacerta upgrade kit, for which we collect them at checkout.
QHYCCD QHY5III678M Mono

QHYCCD QHY5III678M Mono

by QHYCCD
SKU QHY-110134
$356.46 - $356.46
$356.46
$356.46 - $356.46
$356.46
Price Match Policy!
  • 8.4 Megapixel Sony IMX678 BSI Sensor
  • 2.0µm Pixel Size
  • 43 FPS at 8-bit Full Resolution
  • 512MB DDR3 Image Buffer
  • Standard ST-4 Guide Port
Backordered
Request Stock Alert
Availability Info
FREE Shipping in CONUS
Framing Simulator Preview
Framing Simulator Instant FOV Preview

Preview your camera's FOV

Simulate the exact field of view of the QHYCCD QHY5III678M Mono with your specific telescope.

Launch Imaging Assistant
  • Description
  • FAQ
  • Specifications
  • In the Box
  • Downloads
  • Warranty

  • QHYCCD QHY5III678M Mono Planetary & Guiding Camera

    The QHYCCD QHY5III678M combines Sony's 8.4 Megapixel IMX678 back-illuminated sensor with a deep 512MB DDR3 buffer to deliver high-resolution planetary images at up to 43 FPS. Its 2.0µm pixels are ideal for sampling celestial targets with a wide range of telescopes, while its extremely low 0.57e- read noise ensures faint details are captured cleanly. With exceptional sensitivity in the near-infrared spectrum and an included IR850nm filter, this camera is built for advanced techniques like methane band imaging of gas giants.

    Sony IMX678 BSI Sensor: 8.4 MP and High Near-Infrared Sensitivity

    At the core of the QHY5III678M is an 8.4 MP Sony IMX678 sensor, offering a 3856x2180 resolution for capturing wide lunar landscapes or fine details on Jupiter's cloud bands. The back-illuminated (BSI) architecture and small 2.0µm pixels maximize quantum efficiency for bright, high-contrast images. This sensor exhibits remarkable sensitivity into the near-infrared, a key advantage for cutting through atmospheric turbulence and isolating specific spectral features with the included IR850nm pass filter.

    • Low Read Noise: With a minimum read noise of just 0.57e-, the camera preserves faint signal, critical for low-contrast planetary features and for its secondary role as a sensitive guide camera.
    • 12-bit ADC: The 12-bit A/D converter provides excellent dynamic range, capturing subtle brightness variations from the sunlit limb of a planet to its terminator without clipping highlights or crushing shadows.
    • Full Well Capacity: A 9ke- full well capacity helps prevent pixel saturation on bright targets like Jupiter or Mars, allowing for longer exposures when needed for specific filter bandpasses.

    43 FPS Planetary Capture with a 512MB DDR3 Buffer

    For planetary imaging, capturing a high volume of frames in a short time is essential to "freeze" moments of steady seeing. The QHY5III678M streams its full 8.4 MP resolution at 43 FPS in 8-bit mode or 22 FPS in 16-bit mode. To ensure this data stream is stable and free of dropped frames, QHY has equipped the camera with a substantial 512MB DDR3 image buffer—a significant advantage over cameras that rely solely on the speed of the USB bus.

    • High ROI Frame Rates: By selecting a Region of Interest (ROI), frame rates increase dramatically, reaching 85 FPS for a 1080-line window, ideal for keeping a planet centered in the frame while maximizing capture speed.
    • USB 3.0 Type-C Interface: A modern and reliable USB Type-C port provides the high bandwidth necessary for these frame rates, ensuring a stable connection to your acquisition computer.

    A 90g Platform with ST-4 and C-Mount Versatility

    Engineered as both a primary planetary imager and a high-performance autoguider, the QHY5III678M weighs only 90g, minimizing its impact on telescope balance. It includes a standard ST-4 port for direct connection to nearly any equatorial mount. The camera's front interface provides multiple mounting options, including a 1.25-inch nosepiece for standard focusers and both C-mount and CS-mount threads for use with lenses or specialized optical systems.

    • Dual Back Focus: The camera presents two native back focus distances, 17mm and 8mm. This flexibility is critical for achieving focus with different accessories like off-axis guiders, filter wheels, or C/CS-mount lenses which have strict spacing requirements.
    • AR Coated Window: The monochrome version features a high-transmission anti-reflection coated optical window, maximizing light throughput across the visual and near-infrared spectrum.

    QHY5III678M vs. QHY5III178M: Key Sensor and Buffer Upgrades

    The QHY5III678M is a direct successor to the popular QHY5III178M, offering significant improvements in resolution and data handling. While the 178M was a capable performer, the 678M's larger sensor and buffer make it a more powerful tool for modern planetary imaging.

    • Resolution: The QHY5III678M provides a major resolution increase to 8.4 MP, up from the 6.1 MP of the 178M. This allows for larger, more detailed captures of the Moon and Sun.
    • Pixel Size: The 678M uses smaller 2.0µm pixels compared to the 178M's 2.4µm pixels. This can provide better image sampling (resolution per arcsecond) on telescopes with shorter focal lengths without needing a Barlow lens.
    • Image Buffer: The most critical upgrade is the buffer size. The QHY5III678M features a 512MB DDR3 buffer, four times larger than the 128MB buffer in the 178M, ensuring much more reliable, drop-free video capture at high frame rates.

  • What makes the QHY5III678M a good choice for near-infrared imaging?

    The QHY5III678M uses Sony's IMX678 sensor, which has exceptionally high quantum efficiency in the near-infrared (NIR) spectrum, particularly around the 850nm wavelength. This makes it highly effective for techniques like methane band imaging of Jupiter and Saturn, or for using an IR-pass filter to cut through atmospheric turbulence for sharper lunar and planetary detail. The camera includes an IR850nm filter to get you started with these techniques immediately.

    What is the purpose of the 512MB DDR3 buffer in the QHY5III678M?

    The 512MB DDR3 buffer acts as a temporary high-speed memory cache for image frames before they are sent to the computer via USB. This is crucial for high-speed planetary imaging because it prevents data loss (dropped frames) if the host computer's USB bus is temporarily busy. A large buffer ensures a smooth, stable video stream, which is essential for lucky imaging software like AutoStakkert!.

    Can the QHY5III678M be used for deep-sky imaging?

    While the QHY5III678M has very low read noise, it is primarily designed for planetary, lunar, and solar imaging. It is an uncooled camera, so long exposures (typically over 30 seconds) will show significant thermal noise. It is best suited for "lucky imaging" of brighter deep-sky objects like planetary nebulae or globular clusters using thousands of very short exposures, but a dedicated, cooled astronomy camera is a better choice for faint galaxies and nebulae.

    How will the QHY5III678M's 2.0µm pixels perform on Jupiter with an 8-inch f/10 SCT?

    An 8" f/10 SCT has a focal length of roughly 2000mm. With the QHY5III678M's 2.0µm pixels, this combination yields an image scale of 0.21 arcseconds per pixel. This is an excellent sampling rate for high-resolution planetary imaging, falling well within the ideal range for capturing fine detail on Jupiter under good seeing conditions. You would likely not need a Barlow lens, allowing for a brighter image and faster frame rates.

    Is the QHY5III678M a good choice for methane band imaging of Saturn?

    Yes, it's an excellent choice. Methane band filters transmit light around 890nm, a wavelength where the IMX678 sensor retains very high sensitivity. Combined with its low read noise (0.57e-), the QHY5III678M can capture a strong signal through this dark filter, making it ideal for highlighting the atmospheric features of Saturn and Jupiter that are prominent in this part of the spectrum.

    What do the 8mm and 17mm back focus options on the QHY5III678M allow me to do?

    The dual back focus options provide flexibility for connecting different accessories. The shorter 8mm back focus is ideal for C-mount and CS-mount lenses, which require the sensor to be very close to the lens threads. The longer 17mm back focus is better suited for standard astronomy configurations, providing the correct spacing when using the 1.25" nosepiece with filter wheels, off-axis guiders, or Barlow lenses.

  • Image Sensor Sony IMX678 BSI CMOS
    Sensor Size 1/1.8-inch
    Mono/Color Monochrome
    Effective Pixels 8.4 Megapixels (3856 x 2180)
    Pixel Size 2.0µm x 2.0µm
    Full Well Capacity 9,000e-
    Read Noise 0.57e- to 3.3e-
    A/D Converter 12-bit (output as 16-bit and 8-bit)
    Image Buffer 512MB DDR3 Memory
    Max Frame Rate (Full) 43 FPS @ 8-bit, 22 FPS @ 16-bit
    ROI Frame Rate (1080 lines) 85 FPS @ 8-bit, 43.5 FPS @ 16-bit
    ROI Frame Rate (640 lines) 140 FPS @ 8-bit, 71 FPS @ 16-bit
    Exposure Time Range 11µs - 900s
    Shutter Type Electronic Rolling Shutter
    Computer Interface USB 3.0 Type-C
    Guide Port ST-4
    Telescope Interface 1.25-inch, CS-Mount, C-Mount
    Back Focal Length 17mm or 8mm
    Optical Window AR Anti-reflection Glass
    Included Filter IR850nm Pass Filter
    Weight 90g

    • QHY5III678M Camera Body

      × 1

  • QHYCCD Warranty