Boost your astrophotography game with the Altair GPCAM3 178M3 Mono CMOS Camera with USB3. Capture stunning images of the cosmos with this high-performance camera designed specifically for astrophotography enthusiasts. With its USB3 connectivity, you can transfer data quickly and efficiently, ensuring you don't miss any precious moments in the night sky. The 178M3 Mono CMOS sensor delivers exceptional sensitivity and resolution, allowing you to capture fine details and produce breathtaking celestial images. Upgrade your equipment and unlock the full potential of your astrophotography hobby with the Altair GPCAM3 178M3 Mono CMOS Camera with USB3.

The GPCAM178M camera is a great all-rounder with a high pixel density, making it particularly useful for imaging with short focal length telescopes.

Solar Imaging: The small 2.4 m pixel size is well suited to refractors of 80mm or smaller, and the Altair Solar Wedge. Hydrogen alpha imaging with the DayStar Quark on small re-fractors of 80mm or smaller gives impressive results, as does imaging with the Lunt range of solar scopes.

Auto Guiding: The larger sensor area and small pixels allow multi-star auto-guiding with short focal length guide scopes such as Altair MG32, MG50 or MG60. The camera has an ST4 auto-guiding port, and can be used to auto-guide directly with mounts from all the major manufacturers.
Lunar and planetary imaging: Not only is the GPCAM287M ideal for high speed Mono planetary imaging with filters, but also delivers impressive high power lunar imaging results due to the high pixel density and low read noise. The ROI (Region of Interest) feature can be used for even higher frame rates when imaging the planets, sun or moon at high magnification.

Deepsky Imaging and video astronomy (EAA): The GPCAM3 178M is a good option for Electronically Assisted Astronomy high 6.3 Megapixel resolution and sensitivity thanks to Sony STARVIS back-side-illumination (BSI) and Exmor-R technology. Try the Live Stacking features in the free AltairCapture software or SharpCap for impressively detailed real-time views of nebulae and galaxies. Time-lapse all-sky imaging and video is fully supported, and the camera can be used with a DSLR lens to image large areas of sky.

File formats: The camera supports 8bit and 14bit ADC output. The camera can be fully con-trolled in AltairCapture and SharpCap to output uncompressed .AVI and .SER video files for solar system imaging, compressed MP4 files for social media uploads, as well as all common still image formats such as .JPEG .PNG (12bit) .TIFF (12bit) .BMP, and .FITS (12bit) for deepsky imaging. 

SPECIAL OFFER! FREE 1 YEAR SharpCap PRO License with all Altair GPCAM3 Cameras! Click here for more SC PRO feature info. Just download the latest SharpCap, connect your camera, register when the screen pops up and sign up for your free license.  Sharpcap PRO has the amazingly accurate guidescope polar alignment routine, focus assistance, live flat field subtraction and many more great features to make deepsky, EAA or solar system imag-ing that much easier. Download SharpCap now to take advantage of this special offer. 

Support & warranty: Altair delivers proper on-shore English-speaking UK/EU support with a 2 year manufacturer warranty against defects in materials and workmanship. New users should definitely visit the Altair Astro Support website or www.altairastro.help or the Altair Astro Facebook Group where you can get answers to technical questions, as well as sharing tips and techniques, to get the best out of your camera. The AltairCapture software interface supports most European languages including English, German, French, Italian, Spanish, Japanese, Korean, Polish.

Specifications

USB Interface: USB 3.0 and USB2.0 supported.
Colour/Mono: Mono/ Colour
Sensor: SONY IMX178 sensor with STARVIS and Exmor R Technology and a sensitivity of 2000 mV or more per 1µm²
Resolution: 6 Megapixel, 3040x2048px
Pixel Size: 2.4 m
Sensor Size: 7.37 x 4.92mm
Sensor Diagonal : 6.21 mm
Optical Window: AR-coated 350-1050nm transmission wavelength
Shutter: Rolling shutter
Read Noise: 0.9-2.2e-
QE Approx.: Not published by sensor manufacturer.
Full Well Capacity: 15,000 electrons (e-)
ACD: 8 / 14 bit
Dynamic Range: 66db
SNR Maximum:  38db
Cooling: Air Passive Cooled
Exposure duration shortest/longest: 0.244 ms (0.000244 secs) / 5 secs (Video Mode)
0.244 ms (0.000244 secs) / 1000 secs (16.66mins) (Trigger Mode)
Max Frame Rate:
Approx. Max frame rates* (assuming computer Bus operating at full bandwidth):
8bit mode:
3040x2048 59FPS
640x480 220FPS ROI
320x240 303FPS ROI
14bit mode: Approx. 50% of above
* Based on average user reports. May be revised as we get more data. The shorter the expo-sure duration, the faster the frame rate. An expensive PC does not guarantee a fast frame rate because PC bus and main board architecture vary. 12bit mode:
ST4 Guide Port: Yes
Region Of Interest ROI: Yes

What's in the Box?

Camera body with dual USB3.0/2.0 socket and ST4 guide port.
1.5m High-speed USB3.0 cable.
1.5m ST4 guide cable.
1.25 inch x nosepiece with female 1.25" filter thread on the front.
(Optional 2" OD Nosepiece with dual 2 and 1.25" filter threads is available, code GPCAM-2IN)
CS-Mount insert (12.5mm back-focus) is pre-installed on camera. (Optional 5mm extension adapter is available for C-Mount lenses requiring 17.5mm back-focus.)
Removable Clear blocking filter with AR anti-reflection coatings. (Removable for sensor cleaning).
Plastic dust cap 1.25".
Silicon dust trapping dust cap for dark frames.
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.altairastro.help (opens new window).

Other Specs

Camera Body Format and compatibility:
Camera body is shaped like a 1.25 telescope eyepiece and will replace an eyepiece in stand-ard 1.25 accessory ports common on almost all telescopes.
Passive Cooling: CNC machined aluminium casing with external Heat-sink contacting rear of sensor.
Camera body overall length: 73 mm
Weight grams: 70 g (camera net weight) 
Sensor to flange distance and lens compatibility:
Front cover glass mount is removable for cleaning and can be swapped with either a clear or UV/IR block glass as required.

CS/C-mount lens compatibility: Camera has a C-Mount female threaded front with 12.5mm sensor-to-flange spacing allowing use of CS Lenses. For C-Mount lenses, an optional 5mm extension is required, producing the required 17.5mm sensor-to-flange spacing.
Astro filter thread adaptor: Included, 1.25" OD and 2 OD (optional), Female thread
Sensor surface distance from flat end of CS-mount adaptor: 12.5 mm
Sensor surface distance from flat end of 1.25" / M42 Astro adaptor: 37 mm
Power consumption: 
                  0.3 W (standby)
                  0.97w (running)
Max operating temp: 50 °C
Lowest operating temp: -10 °C 
Max operating humidity: 80 % RH
Power source in Volts: 5V DC (via USB cable)
Dust caps included:
Protective silicon dust trapping end-cap for camera CS-thread.
Plastic end cap for 1.25" nose-piece. 

Software & OS support:
Instructions & quickstart guide: searchable knowledgebase at www.altairastro.help
Drivers & AltairCapture software download: www.altairastro.help (login required).
Driver support: PHD2, AltairCapture, SharpCap, NINA, APT, FireCapture, other software requires ASCOM driver downloadable at www.altairastro.help (login required).
SharpCap PRO Free License: https://www.sharpcap.co.uk/altair 
AltairCapture OS support: Win 8/10.

Recommended PC hardware: 2014 or later manufacture date, Intel i3 or i5 (or equivalent) 8GB RAM. Intel USB Host Controller 1.0 or later preferable. A PC with separate graphics card will deliver better display quality.
Dual USB Port: USB 3.0 and USB2.0 are both supported (USB2.0 gives lower frame rates).
ST4 Port & Cable: Standard ST4 Opto-Isolated, 1.5m cable, iOptron, Celestron, Skywatcher.