Svbony SV605CC OSC Camera for Deep Space Astrophotography IMX533 - F9198K

I'm building the best AllSky camera system I can afford. Writing my own software in Windows C++ to run live motion detection with network streaming and cataloguing for my satellite and UAP spotting adventures.

I was a little hesitant to order a SVBony605CC; during my research I read some astro photographers noticed horizontal banding, perhaps due to digital noise getting into sensors ADC. It seems this was a problem on early hardware releases of the 605cc, the problem has been fixed in newer releases. You can tell if a camera is the newer fixed release because there is a (B) in the serial number.

Anywat I took a punt and ordered an SVBony605cc and saved quite a few coins over the alternative ZWO ASI533MC. The slight gamble paid off, a few days after ordering a perfectly packed box arrived on my step. I opened it to find a serial (B) model, I presume all in stock at the moment and going forward will be (B) models. Straight away I checked it out with sharpcap, really nice... no amp glow, no banding, superflat dark frame on long exposures with max gain. enough photons even get through the thick black silicon lens cover for the sensor to perceive, this thing can SEE!

I really like the Sony IMX533 sensor, it has a square aspect ratio full 1-inch diagonal, in reality 0.63inch diagonal, I reluctantly conform to the madness of calling 0.63 == 1.00. Anyway the square aspect makes it perfect for my AllSky cam build and the performance of the sensor is great with some usefuleness even down in IR regions. In Bortle 2 sky cranking gain to 500 with a 5 sec exposure each frame is thick with stars and the Aurora often dances vividly to the north. It captures many things that cant be seen with fully night adjusted eyes.

For those interested, I coupled a 4mm prime lens (7Artisans) with this camera which has a 210 deg FOV, the full image circle just spills over the sensors edge but a full 180 deg FOV just fits in the sensor. I made a lens shroud painted internally mat black to crop 210 down to 180 deg and get a perfect sharp image circle on the sensor. The whole setup with LiFePo4 12V-12Ah cell, miniPC and 7inch touchscreen lives in a little pelican case, giving 6+ hours record time per charge. I love it and use it to document as many clear night astro sessions as possible. At the moment I'm working on the software to alert us in the field to moving things so we can get eyes on.

It's all turned out better than I hoped for and I will be buying some different cams from Telescopes Canada again. Clear skies all!