Description
The QHY miniCAM8M Deep Sky Combo EVO is a compact, cooled monochrome astrophotography camera bundle featuring an 8-megapixel Sony IMX585 sensor and an upgraded 7-filter set with LRGB and ultra-narrow 3nm SHO filters.
At just over 4 inches in diameter and a few inches thick (IMX585), the new miniCAM8 is a compact, high-resolution, high-performance, cooled imaging system capable of exceptional, high-quality deep space images as well as high-quality, high-resolution planetary images.
So often, compactness in astro-imaging is achieved at the expense of some other critical feature found in multi-component cooled systems, such as sensor quality, thermoelectric cooling, etc. Such is not the case with the new miniCAM8. Based on Sony’s IMX585 8 MP sensor, the miniCAM8 includes full TE cooling capable of reaching a delta of -45°C from ambient along with a built-in 8-position filter wheel for complete LRGB and narrowband imaging.
High Near-Infrared Sensitivity
The IMX585 is a Sony Starvis II processor that enables high sensitivity and high dynamic range (HDR). It also improves sensitivity in the near-infrared range by approximately 1.7 times* compared to the IMX485. The new camera, miniCAM8, has a maximum quantum efficiency of 60% in the near-infrared band and 92% in the visible wavelength band.
*This data is officially provided by Sony: https://www.sony-semicon.com/cn/news/2021/2021062901.html
BSI
One benefit of the back-illuminated CMOS structure is improved full-well capacity. This is particularly helpful for sensors with small pixels. In a typical front-illuminated sensor, photons from the target entering the photosensitive layer of the sensor must first pass through the metal wiring that is embedded just above the photosensitive layer. The wiring structure reflects some of the photons and reduces the efficiency of the sensor.
In the back-illuminated sensor, the light is allowed to enter the photosensitive surface from the reverse side. In this case, the sensor’s embedded wiring structure is below the photosensitive layer. As a result, more incoming photons strike the photosensitive layer, and more electrons are generated and captured in the pixel well. This ratio of photon to electron production is called quantum efficiency. The higher the quantum efficiency, the more efficient the sensor is at converting photons to electrons, and hence the more sensitive the sensor is to capturing an image of something dim.
Zero Amplify Glow
miniCAM8 is also a zero-amplifier glow camera.
Anti-Dew Technology
Based on almost 20 years of cooled camera design experience, the QHY cooled camera has implemented the full dew-control solutions. The optic window has a built-in dew heater, and the chamber is protected from internal humidity condensation. An electric heating board for the chamber window can prevent the formation of dew, and the sensor itself is kept dry with our silicon gel tube socket design for control of humidity within the sensor chamber.
Cooling
In addition to dual-stage TE cooling, QHYCCD implements proprietary technology in hardware to control the dark current noise.
The native ADC of the IMX585 sensor is 12-bit. Compared to 16-bit, the 12-bit depth offers fewer bits, resulting in a relatively narrower dynamic range, which may lead to issues such as insufficient color gradation and potential information loss. During the product development of miniCAM8, QHYCCD merged high and low gain to extend the data to 16-bit. However, since this 16-bit depth is not native, a sudden shift in linearity might occur, affecting the smooth transition in images. To address this, QHYCCD developed the “Linearity HDR” mode, which uses an algorithm-based approach to correct image linearity through software, ensuring smoother transitions and richer color representation.
In the “Linearity HDR” mode, the full well is 46 ke⁻, while the read noise is only 1.0e⁻; the dynamic range reaches up to 46,300:1, equivalent to 93 dB or 15.5 stops.
- miniCAM8M Deep Sky EVO Filter Set:
This set includes 7 filters: LRGB and 3 nm SHO.
Compared with the original Deep Sky Filter Set, the EVO version features upgraded optical-coating technology and narrower bandpasses for the narrowband filters. The filters have an OD value of 5.
| Model | miniCAM8 |
| CMOS Sensor | Sony IMX585 |
| Mono/Color | Both available. |
| BSI/FSI | BSI |
| Sensor Size | 1/1.2 inch |
| Pixel Size | 2.9μm*2.9μm |
| Total Pixel Area | 3856*2180 |
| Effective Pixels | 8 MP |
| Full Well Capacity | 54ke-
Linearity HDR Mode: 46 ke⁻ |
| Readout Noise | 0.76 – 7.8 e⁻
Linearity HDR Mode: 1.0e⁻ |
| Peak QE | M: 92%
C: R: 82%; G: 87%; B: 75% |
| Dynamic Range | Linearity HDR mode: The dynamic range reaches up to 46,300:1, equivalent to 93 dB or 15.5 stops. |
| A/D | Dual 12-bit (output as 16-bit) |
| Full Frame Rates | Full Resolution: 41.5 FPS @ 8 bit, 41.5FPS@8bit，23.5FPS @16bit |
| ROI Frame Rates | Full Resolution: 1080 lines, 82 FPS @ 8 bit, 47 FPS @ 16 bit; 640 lines, 177 FPS @ 8 bit, 105 FPS @ 16 bit |
| Exposure Time Range | 11 μs-900 sec |
| Shutter Type | Electronic Rolling Shutter |
| Built-in Image Buffer | 512MB DDR3 |
| Computer Interface | USB3.0 |
| Telescope Interface | 1.25- and 2-inch C-mount lenses (the C-mount lens thread must be less than 3.5mm) |
| Optic Window Type | AR+AR |
| Filter Wheel | Built-in 8-Position Carousel |
| Back Focal Length | 17.5mm |
| Cooling System | Dual-Stage TEC Cooler:
Long exposures (> 1 second) typically -45℃ below ambient |
| Weight | 480g |
The peak quantum efficiency of the miniCAM8M reaches 91.2% in the OIII band, 80.9% in the Ha band, 78.7% in the SII band, and 40.1% in the methane band.
The peak quantum efficiency of the miniCAM8C: R channel: 82%; G channel: 87%; B channel: 75%.
Note: As part of the structural upgrade of the miniCAM8M, the drying system has been redesigned. The drying tube previously included in the accessory kit will be replaced with drying tablets, which will be pre-placed inside the camera before shipping. The upgraded version will be shipped starting October 15, 2025.
Reviews
There are no reviews yet!