QHY168C - COOLED CMOS Camera - QHYCCD Astronomical Cameras

QHY168C
16 Megapixel APS-C Format Cooled CMOS Color Camera

High Performance

The QHY168C uses an APS-C format, 16 Megapixel, 14-bit CMOS sensor, the Sony IMX071. This sensor is also used in the Nikon D5100 camera. It has 3.2e- read noise at lowest gain and 2.3e- read noise at unity gain (system gain = 1e/ADU). The QHY168C also has a nice dynamic range close to 14 stops.

True RAW Image Output

While the QHY168C has the same CMOS sensor as the D5100, unlike the consumer camera the QHY168C offers True RAW Image output. In the DSLR implementation there is a RAW image output, but typically it is not completely RAW. Some evidence of noise reduction and hot pixel removal is still visible on close inspection. However, the QHY168C offers TRUE RAW IMAGE OUTPUT and produces an image comprised of the original signal only, thereby maintaining the maximum flexibility for post-acquisition astronomical image processing programs.

Unique Thermal Noise Reduction Technology

In addition to efficient 2-stage thermoelectric cooling, QHYCCD employs a unique thermal noise control technology to reduce CMOS sensor noise to a very low value without affecting the integrity of the raw image. This proprietary technology can be found to improve noise performance across the whole 165/168/247/367 product line, producing much better noise reduction than any competing camera model.

Zero Amplifier Glow

QHY168C has zero amplifier glow no matter how long the exposure time.

QHY168C DARK FRAME TEST 0-300sec

QHY168C DARK FRAME TEST 2000sec@-10C

128MB DDRII Image Buffer

QHY367C has 128MB DDRII image buffer to cache the image and avoid the risk of a frame loss. The image data is stored in the DDR immediately after acquisition and then transferred to computer from the memory buffer. This avoids problems of a busy USB port when there are other peripherals using the same port as the camera.

Anti-Dew Technology

QHYCCD has more than 10 years of experience designing cooled cameras. The QHY168C receives the benefit of that decade of design work by featuring full anti-dew technology for both CCD sensor cover glass and the sensor chamber optical window. The QHY168C has an electric heating board for the chamber window to 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.

AR+AR Optical Window

In order to avoid halos around bright stars the QHY168C has a AR+AR coated optical window rather than the common IR cut window for Single-Shot Color cameras. This permits full access to the red wavelength of H-alpha and SII without attenuation by the window coating. For RGB color balance, without passing the near IR wavelengths above 700nm, a separate removable 2-inch UV/IR filter with the desirable passband characteristics is placed in a custom filter holder in front of the camera.

* Each camera is carefully calibrated at the factory with a high-precision axis measurement device. Orthogonal placement of the sensor is guaranteed to be flat to the image plane to better than +/-20um across the sensor from edge to edge, so there is no need to adjust for camera tilt absent mechanical errors elsewhere in the image train.

QHY168C COLDMOS CAMERA SPECIFICATION
Model	QHY168C
COMS Sensor	SONY IMX071 APS-C CMOS
Pixel Size	4.8um*4.8um
AR Coating On Sensor	No. Clear Glass
Effective Pixel Area	4952*3288
Effective Pixels	16 mega
Effective Image Area	23.76mm*15.78mm
Fullwell	46ke-
AD Sample Depth	14bit (output as 16bit and 8bit)
Sensor Size	APS-C Format
Full Frame Rate and ROI Frame Rate	10FPS@Full Reslution 15FPS@40962160 4K video 30FPS@19201080 HD 32FPS@1024 line 42FPS@768 line 54FPS@600 line 130FPS@240 line
Readout Noise	3.2e-@Lowest Gain 2.3e-@High Analog Gain
Dark Current
Exposure Time Range	30us-3600sec
Anti-Glow Control	Yes , Zero Glow
Shutter Type	Electric Rolling Shutter
Computer Interface	USB3.0
Built-in Image Buffer	128MByte DDR2 memory
Cooling System	Dual Stage TEC cooler（-35C below ambient）
Anti-Dew Heater	Yes
Telescope Interface	M54/0.75 female thread on the fast installer/center adjust ring
Optic Window Type	AR+AR High Quality Multi-Layer Anti-Reflection Coating (For color camera user need to add a UV/IR filter in the light path)
Back Focal Length	18mm±0.5 (For detail please look at the "QHY168C connection combination table" in the bottom of this page)
Weigth	700g
Reference Price	USD1499

Mechanical Configurations with the QHY168C

You can combine the QHY168C with different OTA/Camera lens with the standard or optional QHYCCD accessories. Use the following table to calculate the back focus of accessory and the total for a system.

In order to minimize halos around bright stars, the QHY168C comes with an AR+AR coated optical window. For color balance, you need to install a 2-inch UV/IR filter (Luminance filter) in front of the camera to cut off the IR light. Normally the 2-inch filter can be install on the M48 thread of the 2-inch T-ring. However, in the event you do not use the 2-inch T-ring, QHYCCD has an optional 2-inch filter holder with M54 female threads that will allow you to connect other items in the optical train such as a flat-field corrector, etc.

QHY168C Connection Combination Table Part - 1
Camera body only	Camera connected with M54/0.75 female adapter	Camera connected with 2 inch to T adapter	Camera connected with QHYOAG-M and 2inch Tring	Camera with 2inch filter holder for flat field corrector solution	Camera connected with QHYOAG-M,2inch filter holder and flat field corrector soluiton
100099 （18±0.5）	100099 （18±0.5）	100099 （18±0.5）	100099 （18±0.5）	100099 （18±0.5）	100099 （18±0.5）
	020002（6）	020002（6）	020002（6）	020002（6）	020002（6）
		020028（2.5）	020087 * (0.5~13.5)	020076（7）*	020087 * (0.5~13.5)
			010094 (10)	020077（6.5）	010094 (10)
			020079(3)		020079(3)
			020028（2.5）		020076（7）*
					020077（6.5）

In Standard Package	In Standard Package	In Standard Package	Need to order Optional Part	Need to order Optional Part	Need to order Optional Part
		2 inch infrared filter can be installed on the 2 inch to T adapter (M48 thread)	* This part can either be used or not used ** 2 inch infrared filter can be installed on the 2 inch to T adapter (M48 thread)	2 inch infrared filter can be installed on the position marked with *	* This part can either be used or not used ** 2 inch infrared filter can be installed on the position marked
		Assembly Diagram	Assembly Diagram	Assembly Diagram	Assembly Diagram

The values in the brackets are the increment in the back focal length. Add these values together to get the total back focal length. The six-figure numbers are the unique serial numbers for QHYCCD accessories. You can find details for these parts here: Mechanical Part Order List

QHY168C Connection Combination Table Part - 2
Camera CANON LENS	Camera NIKON LENS
100099 （18±0.5）	100099 （18±0.5）
020002（6）	020002（6）
020055（2.5）*	020055（2.5）*
020087 * (0.5~13.5)	020087 * (0.5~13.5)
020070（4）	020070（4）
020071（10）	020073（10）
020084(Triptor adapter)	020084(Triptor adapter)

Need to order Optional Part	Need to order Optional Part
* The two inch infrared filter can be installed on the position	* The two inch infrared filter can be installed on the position
Assembly Diagram	Assembly Diagram

The values in the brackets are the increment in the back focal length. Add these values together to get the total back focal length. The six-figure numbers are the unique serial numbers for QHYCCD accessories. You can find details for these parts here: Mechanical Part Order List

QHY168C Beta Testing Images
M60 Capture by Mauro Narduzzi and Process by Roberto Colombari with Vixen R200SS with Corrector PH F/3.8.

NGC4592 Blue Horse Head Nebula

Captured by Frank Zoltowski, Tebbutt Observatory, Edgewood, New Mexico, United States
Larger Image Download

NGC4565

NGC4565 Captured by F¡§|nyes L¡§?r¡§¡énd. APOD images. See his small review of QHY168C here.