This little camera has quickly become my all-in-one solution for astrophotography, and I can’t wait to share with you all the reasons why I love it. From its compact yet high-performing design to its impressive features, there’s a lot to cover. Let’s dive in!
Key Features
Integrated Cooling System
One of the standout features of the MiniCAM 8 is its integrated cooling system. It uses a dual-stage TE cooling system, which is highly efficient. The cooling system can go -45 degrees Celsius below ambient, reducing thermal noise and allowing for long exposure times without compromising image quality. I’ve been using this camera for a while now, and the cooling system has been flawless.
Sensor Details
The MiniCAM 8 is equipped with a highly sensitive Sony IMX585 CMOS sensor. This sensor is renowned in the astrophotography community for its excellent performance, especially in the near-infrared spectrum. It boasts a peak quantum efficiency of 92%, ensuring that even faint celestial objects are captured with great detail and clarity. The sensor’s full well capacity is 54 ke-, providing a good dynamic range, and it has very low readout noise at just 0.76 e-. The pixel size of 2.9 µm strikes a good balance between resolution and sensitivity, capturing fine details beautifully.
Built-In Filter Wheel
Another fantastic feature of this camera is its built-in 8-position filter wheel. This all-in-one solution means you don’t need to purchase filter wheels and filters separately. The filter wheel includes Luminance, Red, Green, Blue filters, as well as HA, SIII, and OIII filters. Although you need to assemble the filter wheel yourself, it can be easily controlled with software like NINA. The precision of the filter wheel ensures that each filter is perfectly aligned with the sensor, maintaining image quality and avoiding artifacts.
Connectivity and Software
The MiniCAM 8 uses fast USB 3.0 for connectivity, and all necessary drivers are available on the QHY website. While the drivers are currently in beta mode, they work well with major software like N.I.N.A. The camera requires a 12V DC power supply and consumes approximately 24W.
Build Quality and Ergonomics
Weighing around 480 grams, the MiniCAM 8 is reasonably lightweight, making it easy to balance on a mount. The build quality is robust, with high-quality materials that can withstand outdoor use and varying environmental conditions. The camera also features anti-dew technology to prevent condensation on the sensor and optical window.
Price and Value
I purchased the MiniCAM 8 from CyclopsOptics for about $834. Considering the value you get from this camera, including the filter wheel and filters, it’s a great deal. Here’s an image I recently took with it:
Areas for Improvement
While I love this camera, there are a few areas that could be improved. The software is still in development, and the cooling system can be overly aggressive when first plugged in. Additionally, you’re limited to the filter wheel and filters provided by QHY, which may not be compatible with filters you already own. If the filter wheel fails, the camera could become unusable.
Conclusion
Overall, the QHY MiniCAM 8 Mono camera is a fantastic all-in-one solution for astrophotography. Its compact design, excellent image quality, and built-in features make it a great choice for both beginners and experienced astrophotographers. I look forward to capturing more stunning images with it!
If you have any questions, please feel free to write them below, and I’ll get back to you.
