QHYCCD miniCAM8 Mono Camera

Sony IMX585: 8MP Resolution and 2.9µm Pixels

At the core of the miniCAM8 is the Sony IMX585, a back-illuminated monochrome sensor with a 3856 x 2180 pixel array. The 2.9 µm pixels give fine sampling, and the 12.85 mm diagonal suits smaller galaxies, planetary nebulae and the planets.

As a back-illuminated (BSI) sensor, the IMX585's wiring layer is positioned behind the photosensitive area, which prevents obstruction of incoming light. Peak Quantum Efficiency (QE) is 92%. The IMX585 is a Sony Starvis II sensor with high sensitivity and HDR, and near-infrared sensitivity about 1.7 times that of the IMX485.

Built-In 8-Position Filter Wheel with 3nm or 7nm Options

The miniCAM8 eliminates the need for an external filter wheel by integrating an 8-position carousel directly into the camera body. This keeps the imaging train short and compact. The wheel holds custom 19 x 12 x 1.1 mm filters, and this package includes a complete set for full-color and narrowband imaging.

Depending on the bundle, you receive a full suite of seven filters to populate the wheel. Both bundles include LRGB filters for broadband color imaging. The key difference lies in the narrowband filters for capturing specific emission lines from nebulae.

• DeepSky Combo: Includes LRGB filters plus a 7nm SHO filter set (Hydrogen-alpha, Oxygen-III, and Sulphur-II).
• Deep Sky Combo EVO: Includes LRGB filters plus a 3nm SHO filter set. The narrower 3nm bandpass passes less background light around each emission line.

15.5 Stops and 0.76e- Read Noise with Linearity HDR Mode

While the IMX585 sensor has a native 12-bit ADC, QHYCCD implements a Linearity HDR Mode that merges high and low gain exposures to produce a 16-bit data output. Dynamic range reaches up to 46,300:1 (93 dB, 15.5 stops) in this mode. In this mode, the read noise is just 1.0e- with a full well capacity of 46 ke-.

For planetary or other high-frame-rate applications, the standard mode delivers an even lower minimum read noise of 0.76e- and a larger full well of 54 ke-. The miniCAM8 is a zero amplifier glow camera.

-45°C TEC Cooling with Integrated Dew Heater

The miniCAM8 features a regulated two-stage thermoelectric cooling (TEC) system capable of reducing the sensor temperature to 45°C below ambient. Regulated cooling keeps thermal noise low in long deep-sky exposures and lets you match dark frames to a set temperature.

To combat condensation during cooling, QHYCCD has implemented a comprehensive anti-dew system. An electric dew heater is built into the optical window to prevent frost or dew from forming on the exterior glass. Inside, QHYCCD now ships the camera with drying tablets pre-placed in the chamber, and a drying port on the side of the front end accepts a drying tube if moisture ever fogs the sensor glass (turn off cooling first).

41.5 FPS Capture with a 512MB DDR3 Buffer

For planetary imaging, the miniCAM8 uses its USB 3.0 interface to deliver a maximum frame rate of 41.5 FPS at full 3856 x 2180 resolution in 8-bit mode. When capturing the higher dynamic range of 16-bit data, the rate is a stable 23.5 FPS. These rates support "lucky imaging" of the planets.

To prevent dropped frames during high-speed capture, the camera is equipped with a 512 MB DDR3 image buffer. This onboard memory holds frames while the computer is busy.

17.5mm Back Focus and 480g Compact Body

The miniCAM8 has a 17.5 mm back focus. The camera includes both 1.25-inch and 2-inch nosepieces for direct connection to a focuser, and its front threads also support C-mount lenses with a thread length under 3.5mm.

Weighing only 480 g, the camera is light. For guiding, a dedicated QHYCCD Off-Axis Guider (sold separately) is available for the miniCAM8, which uses a large 14x10mm prism to maximize light to the guide camera while maintaining a standard 55mm back focus for common correctors.

92% Peak QE: IMX585 vs. IMX571 Performance

The miniCAM8 has a peak Quantum Efficiency of 92%, and measured QE at the main astronomical lines has been published.

In QHYCCD's comparison with the IMX571 (which QHYCCD treats as representative of mainstream cooled cameras), the IMX585 curve is higher at these wavelengths.

• OIII (500nm): The miniCAM8 achieves 91.2% QE.
• H-alpha (656nm): With 80.9% QE in this critical band.
• SII (672nm): At 78.7% QE.