Discover unparalleled astrophotography with the Altair Hypercam 294C PRO Camera featuring a powerful 4GB DDR3 Buffer. Capture breathtaking celestial wonders in stunning detail and clarity. Unleash your creativity with this cutting-edge camera, designed for astronomers and astrophotography enthusiasts seeking the ultimate imaging experience. Elevate your stargazing adventures with the Altair Hypercam 294C PRO, your gateway to the cosmos.

The fan-cooled Hypercam 294C Colour camera is the preferred alternative to a DSLR for astro-imaging and microscopy imaging.

Hypercam delivers higher sensitivity (including Hydrogen Alpha and NIR light), a better form factor, easier telescope or microscope compatibility, freedom from shutter vibration, cooling, and more accurate control over core camera functions.

The 11.6mp Sony IMX294 is a 4/3rds sensor (23.2mm diagonal) capable of 14bit depth images. Ratings include Back Side Illuminated (BSI), STARVIS and EXMOR-R, making it ideal for low light imaging applications such as astronomy and high resolution microscopy. The Hypercam features fan cooling with 4GB DDR3 RAM and amp glow reduction for easier image capture and processing.

Due to it's low read noise and high sensitivity, the Hypercam 294C is suitable for both deep-sky and solar system imaging, as well as depth of field frame stacking and low light averaging in microscopy applications.

The Hypercam PRO Version has the following features:

• Amp glow reduction to negligible levels.
• TRUE scientific RAW mode in 8bit or 14bit depth for unaltered ADC signal.
• Temperature sensor, with real-time data for easier processing and calibration.
• ROI (Region of Interest) for cropped high speed solar, lunar and planetary imaging or video.
• Binning is fully supported to maximise signal and maintain frame rates in extreme low light situations.
• SPECIAL OFFER! FREE 1 YEAR SharpCap PRO License! Includes ultra-accurate polar alignment assist, deepsky CMOS exposure time optimisation assist, live stacking for EAA/Video astronomy, live darkframe and flat frame subtration. Click here for more SC PRO features. Just download the latest SharpCap, connect your camera, register when the screen pops up and sign up for your free license.  Download SharpCap 3.0+ now to take advantage of this special offer.

Hypercam is easier to use than a DSLR with no modifications needed and no "red blocking filter". Hypercam is much easier to use and focus than a DSLR, thanks to the live preview mode which shows uncompressed video at full resolution on a PC screen. You can see a tiny star-point or microscopic feature clearly, because there is no video compression like with a DSLR video stream. There are no clumsy power connectors which drop out easily, no firmware to fight with your capture software, no mirror to lock up, and a "true" uncompressed RAW mode output. You get the exact ADC signal without alterations.

Low read noise. The Sony IMX294 CMOS sensor has very low read noise at approx. 2e, wide dynamic range, and high sensitivity. The IMX294 ExmorR rated Back Illuminated Sensor has high-sensitivty, low dark current, no smear, and excellent anti-blooming charateristics. BSI technology moves the sensor circuitry behind the pixel, so unlike conventional sensors the light path is not blocked, resulting in higher quantum efficiency than a CCD sensor. 
 
HGC mode: HGC is can be switched on in the AltairCapture software, allowing read noise to stay below 2e but preserving dynamic range of 13 stops. We recommend HGC is ALWAYS switched on at gain setting 4.5 in AltairCapture which is equivalent to 450 in SharpCap PRO. SharpCap PRO automatically switches the camera to HGC mode when  Gain of 450 is selected.
 
Recommended Telescopes for the Hypercam 294C: With a pixel size of 4.63 microns, and an active imaging area of 17.47x12.86mm, the Hypercam 294C performs extremely well with telescopes of around 750mm imaging focal length or more. It will tend to undersample at shorter focal lengths (therefore the Hypercam 183C series cameras are suggested for shorter focal lengths). In particular the Hypercam 294C is recommended for Altair Wave Series 115mm, 130mm and 152mm refractors, 200mm and larger Newtonians, and Schmidt Cassagrains (SCTs) such as the Meade and Celestron ranges, Celestron Hyperstar and RASA scopes. Basically telescopes with a larger spot size are more suitable for the 294C sensor pixel size. 

Low read noise BSI sensor. The Sony IMX294 CMOS sensor is ExmorR rated, and Back Illuminated (BSI). BSI technology moves the sensor circuitry behind the pixel, so unlike conventional sensors the light path is not blocked, resulting in higher quantum efficiency than a traditional CCD sensor. Read noise is low, and there is no smear or blooming on bright stars.

Try deep-sky "lucky" imaging. The low read noise lets you stack shorter exposures to take advantage of the low read noise, reducing atmospheric aberration, mount tracking errors and wind vibration. The more frames you stack, the smoother the image becomes, and the higher the cumulative dynamic range. In this way, long cumulative exposure times of many hours can be achieved with modest equipment. The result is a smoother, sharper image with more detail.

Video Astronomy/EAA Friendly. The Hypercam 294C camera is not only desirable for Deepsky Imaging - it's also great for Video Astronomy or "EAA" Electronically Assisted Astronomy. The resolution, high sensitivity, and amp glow reduction technology are well suited to this task. What's more, you can use the Live Stacking features in the AltairCapture software or SharpCap PRO. All-sky time-lapse imaging or video is easy with a DSLR lens and optional Hypercam Lens Adapters (product code: CLA-EOS or CLA-NIKON). For critical applications like Fluorescence microscopy, simply use the binning feature to increase signal to noise ratio, and live stacking to reveal even more detail, reducing photobleaching time.

Specifications

AA294CPRO: SONY Exmor R BSI IMX294 Color CMOS sensor
Sensor Physical Size: 4/3" diagonal (23.1mm) 16.05mm x 12.61mm
Exposure duration shortest/longest: 0.1 ms (0.00014 secs) / 5 secs (Video Mode)
0.1 ms (0.0001 secs) / 1000 secs (Trigger Mode)
Bit depth: 8bit & 14bit mode switchable
Pixel size microns: 4.63 x 4.63 um
Resolution in pixels: 4128x2808 (11.6mp)
Recording System: Still Picture and Video
Region of Interest (ROI) support: Available
Approx. Max frame rates (assuming computer Bus operating at full bandwidth)*:
4128x2808  35FPS
4096x2160  39FPS
2048x1080  71FPS
1360x720   97FPS
640x480 ROI 63FPS
320x240 ROI 63FPS
14bit mode:
Approx. 50% of above FPS.*
* Based on average testing. May be revised as we get more data. The shorter the exposure duration, the faster the frame rate.
An expensive PC does not guarantee a fast frame rate because PC bus and main board architecture vary.
 
Sensor QE / Quantum Efficiency: Approx. 75%
Readout: Progressive Scan
Shutter: Electronic Rolling Shutter

What's in the box?

Camera body with internal cooling fan, heat-sink, and front female M42x0.75mm T-Thread interface (12.5mm backfocus).
1.8m High-speed USB3.0 cable.
2" OD Nosepiece with standard 2" M48x0.75mm filter thread on the front. (code ALTAIRH-2IN).
Built-in UV-IR Blocking Filter, AR coatings. (Removable for sensor cleaning).
Plastic screw-on dust cap.
Note: This camera does not come with software in the box. To operate the camera you will need to download the latest camera drivers at www.altaircameras.com (opens new window)