QHYCCD QHY600M PH Photographic Version 60MP Full Frame Monochrome CMOS Telescope Astrophotography Cameras

Please see the Specifications tab for a comparison of the 3 QHY600M models available.

The QHY600M ends the days of non-16bit CMOS cameras and it ends the days non-full frame (and larger) monochrome CMOS cameras.

The QHY600M uses the latest SONY back-illuminated sensor, the IMX455, a full frame (35mm format) sensor with 3.76um pixels and native 16-bit A/D. This sensor is available in both monochrome and color versions. The sensor size is 36mm x 24mm. Ultra low dark noise.  The round design and imaging chip is an excellent match for RASA systems.

The QHY600M is cooled CMOS camera with native 16-bit A/D on-chip. The output is real 16-bits with 65536 levels. Compared to 12-bit and 14-bit A/D, a 16-bit A/D yields higher sample resolution and the system gain will be less than 1e-/ADU with no sample error noise and very low read noise.

One benefit of the back-illuminated CMOS structure is improved full well capacity. This is particularly helpful for sensors with small pixels. Even with unbinned, 3.76um pixels, the QHY600M has a full well capacity of 49ke-. When binned 2x2 to 7.5um the full well is 196ke- and when binned 3x3 to 11um the full well is 441ke-.

The QHY600M has only 1.0 electron of read noise at high gain and 4 FPS high readout speed. One electron of read noise means the camera can achieve a SNR>3 at only 4 to 6 photons. This is perfect performance when conditions are photon limited, i.e., short exposures, narrow band imaging, etc., making this large area sensor ideal for sky surveys and time domain astronomy.

Features

• USB 3.0, GigeE Hardware Included
• 2 Stage Regulated TE Cooling Delta -40C
• 128 MB DDR Frame Buffer
• ST-4 Compatible Guide Port
• Filter Wheel Port
• Anti-Noise Technology
• Anti-AMP Glow Technology
• Anti-Dew Technology

These additional features include a heated optical window to prevent external dew, a desiccant plug socket to help maintain a frost-free CMOS chamber, a 128MB frame buffer, a filter wheel port, and in the case of the QHY174M-GPS (Selected by the NASA New Horizon Team), an optional GPS timing module for highly accurate time stamping on individual frames.  Dual-stage TE cooling reduces the sensor temperature to -40C or more below ambient and temperature regulation maintains a constant temperature set point.  Due to the efficient TE cooling, single exposure times up to 30 minutes are possible on most models, making them suitable for deep space imaging of dim objects as well as brighter objects and planets. 

All of the Small COLDMOS cameras use Sony Exmor CMOS sensors.  Two models, the QHY178 and QHY290, use Sony STARVIS Exmor R back-illuminated sensors.  STARVIS is Sony's designation for sensors capable of recording under starlight.  These sensors have improved sensitivity and noise reduction - the key factors to enhancing image quality, while radically realigning their fundamental pixel structure from front-illumination to back-illumination. It retains the advantages of CMOS image sensors such as low power consumption and high-speed operation while dramatically improving sensitivity.  With a conventional front-illumination structure, the metal wiring and transistors on the surface of the silicon substrate that form the sensor's light-sensitive area (photo-diode) impede photon gathering carried out by the on-chip lens, and this has also been an important issue in the miniaturization of pixels and widening optical angle response.

Specifications