DISCOVER NEW HORIZONS
Telescope: Planewave CDK 14 with Televue 0.8x reducer
Exposure: L:R:G:B 60:32:30:30 x 600 s
Hα:OIII 123:118 x 600 s
Location: Gemsbock Observatory, Rooisand Desert Ranch, Namibia
QHY530Pro II is a scientific planetary camera developed by QHYCCD specifically for planetary research projects, amateur astronomers, and professional users with high-end requirements for planetary photography. It features the Sony IMX530 sensor with 24.55 Megapixels, utilizes a global shutter, and is equipped with various interfaces and professional features such as real-time adjustable ROI.
Unlike the rolling shutter technology used in most CMOS cameras, a global shutter guarantees that the exposure time for the whole image area is uniform, beginning and ending at exactly the same time. This type of shutter is ideal for high precision applications. For high speed moving object and the atmospheric agitation the global shutter can generate undistorted imaging and realizes high picture quality.
One benefit of the back-illuminated CMOS structure is improved sensitivity. 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.
Unlike Most CMOS cameras, the camera supports charge-domain binning (FD Binning), which is the true hardware pixel binning similar to CCD cameras.
In the past, only CCD sensors were capable of hardware binning. Most CMOS cameras used digital binning, which relied on algorithms for binning. The disadvantage of this binning method (using 2*2 binning as an example) is that while the signal is amplified by 4 times, it also introduces twice the amount of noise, resulting in only a doubling of the signal-to-noise ratio, and then frame rate can not be improved. In contrast, hardware binning does not amplify additional noise, resulting in a direct 4-fold improvement in the signal-to-noise ratio. What’s more, the frame rate can increase a lot even the ROI function is not activited.
The “Floating ROI” feature is currently in experimental status.
The QHY530 Pro II supports the floating ROI algorithm. When tracking fast-moving celestial objects such as asteroids, satellites, or space stations, the QHY530 Pro II can automatically detect the moving targets and adjust the ROI region in real-time to achieve tracking and stabilization effects.
The 2*10Gigabit Fiber Optic Interface (to be used with QHYCCD fiber optic capture card) meets the high-intensity data transmission requirements of professional fields such as professional observatories. It has the following advantages over the USB 3.0 interface:
Higher data rates
Using two 10G fiber optics, it can achieve a speed of 1.6GB/s (12.8Gbps), while the standard USB 3.0 has a theoretical maxium rate of 625MB/s (5Gbps), with an actual maximum transfer rate of 350MB/s.
Longer transmission distance
Fiber optic transmission can cover distances hundreds of times longer than USB 3.0. Standard USB 3.0 can only transmit up to 3 to 5 meters, and even with an active powered USB cable, it can reach up to 10 to 15 meters. In contrast, QHYCCD’s standard fiber optic module can achieve a transmission distance of up to 300 meters, and when paired with long-distance transmission optical modules, it can cover distances of several tens of kilometers.
Stable transmission without electromagnetic interference
USB 3.0 transmission can be susceptible to external electromagnetic interference, static electricity, leakage, and other factors, leading to data packet corruption, image loss, or camera control issues. Optical communication is not affected by electromagnetic interference.
This product supports a 6-pin GPIO interface, which can be defined for different modes. QHYCCD can customize it according to the user’s requirements, and users can also reprogram the FPGA to meet more complex needs.
Supports the professional Camera Link interface (exclusive to Pro II products)
The Camera Link interface is a more suitable choice if your use case involves shorter transmission distances in industrial or laboratory areas. The Camera Link interface is specifically designed for high-speed and high-resolution cameras, offering fast data transmission speeds. It is well-suited for working under conditions where there is a large amount of image data and high bandwidth requirements.
| Model | QHY530 Pro II |
| Image Sensor | Sony IMX530 |
| Sensor Type | Mono Only |
| FSI/BSI | BSI |
| Pixel Size | 2.74μm*2.74μm |
| Effective Pixels | 24.55 Megapixels |
| Effective Image Area | 14.6mm*12.6mm (1/1.1 inch) |
| Effective Pixel Area | 5328*4608 |
| Total Pixel Area | 5328*4608 |
| A/D | 12-bit A/D |
| Full Well Capacity (1×1, 2×2, 3×3)
|
9.7ke- |
| Read Noise | 1.1e- to 2.1e- |
| Dark Current | 0.001e-/pixel/sec @-20℃ |
| Exposure Time Range | 15μs – 300sec |
| Shutter Type | Electronic Global Shutter |
| Computer Interface | 1*USB3.0 Interface
2*10Gigabit Fiber Interfaces 2*CameraLink Interfaces |
| Filter Wheel Interface
|
4PIN QHYCCD CFW Port |
| Trigger Port | TBD |
| Full Frame Rates | USB3.0:
Normal Mode 15FPS@8bit, 7FPS@16bit
2×2 FD Binning 61FPS@8BIT 30FPS@16BIT
PCIE Mode： Normal Mode 20.5FPS@8bit, 9.5FPS@16bit
2×2 FD Binning 75FPS@8BIT 34FPS@16BIT
Camera Link: 26.2FPS@8bit 13FPS@16bit |
| ROI Frame Rates
|
USB3.0:
2048lines, 32FPS@8bit, 16FPS@16bit 1080lines, 55FPS@8bit, 28FPS@16bit 480lines, 92FPS@8bit, 53FPS@16bit
2×2 FD Binning Mode: 2048lines, 61FPS@8bit, 30FPS@16bit 1080lines, 93FPS@8bit, 56FPS@16bit 480lines, 178FPS@8bit, 106FPS@16bit
PCIE Mode: 2048lines, 93FPS@8bit, 63FPS@16bit 1080lines, 133FPS@8bit, 130FPS@16bit
Camera Link 2×2 FD Binning Mode: TBD |
| Built-in Image Buffer | 2GB DDR3 Memory Buffer |
| Air Cooling System | Dual Stage TEC cooler:
-35℃ below ambient, test temperature +20℃, exposure >1s) |
| Liquid Cooling | |
| Recommended Flow Rates | |
| Anti-Dew Heater | Available |
| Humidity Sensor | Available |
| Firmware/FPGA remote Upgrade | Available via Camera USB port |
| Optic Window Type | AR+AR High Quality Multi-Layer Anti-Reflection Coating |
| Back Focal Length | 17.5mm |
| Adapters | Support 2-inch, M54, M48, Nikon/Canon DSLR Lens, etc. (Combined with adapters )
|
| Weight | 950g |
| Power | 50W/100%
22W/50% 15W/0% |
(provided by Sony)
For non-astronomy purposes, we recommend choosing SharpCap as your camera control software. SharpCap is a compact yet powerful software with a clean interface. It allows you to freely set most camera parameters, and the new SharpCap 4.0 version includes Chinese language support (localized by QHYCCD). The software is free to use, but you can upgrade to the pro version for a fee.
You can visit the SharpCap official website at: http://www.sharpcap.co.uk/
You can choose either the 32-bit or 64-bit version for installation, but we recommend using the 64-bit version. Additionally, we suggest installing SharpCap in the “Program Files” or “Program Files (x86)” directory on your C drive for easier recognition and automatic SDK installation by the system.
After successfully downloading and installing SharpCap, you will also need to download the ALLinOne Pack. Install the driver and the SDK in the software’s root directory to ensure camera control.
The camera requires an input voltage between 11V and 13.8V. If the input voltage is too low the camera will stop functioning or it may reboot when the TEC power percent is high, causing a drain on the power. Therefore, please make sure the input voltage arrived to the camera is adequate. 12V is the best but please note that a 12V cable that is very long or a cable with small conductor wire may exhibit enough resistance to cause a voltage drop between the power supply and the camera. The formular is: V(drop) = I * R (cable). It is advised that a very long 12V power cable not be used. It is better to place the 12V AC adapter closer to the camera.
First connect the 12V power supply, then connect the camera to your computer via the USB3.0 cable. Make sure the camera is plugged in before connecting the camera to the computer, otherwise the camera will not be recognized. When you connect the camera for the first time, the system discovers the new device and looks for drivers for it. You can skip the online search step by clicking “Skip obtaining the driver software from Windows Update” and the computer will automatically find the driver locally and install it. If we take the 5IIISeries driver as an example (shown below), after the driver software is successfully installed, you will see QHY5IIISeries_IO in the device manager.
Please note that the input voltage cannot be lower than 11.5v, otherwise the device will be unable to work normally.
All-in-one Pack supports most QHYCCD models only except PoleMaster and several discontinued CCD cameras.
Download Page: https://www.qhyccd.com/download/
Video Tutorial: https://www.youtube.com/embed/mZDxIK0GZRc?start=1
Before using software, make sure you have connected the cooling camera to the 12V power supply and connected it to the computer with a USB3.0 data cable. If it’s an uncooled camera, 12V power is not needed. We recommend 64-bit Software, like SharpCAP x64 , N.I.N.A x64. etc., especially when you’re using 16bit cameras.
NINA supports direct connection via the QHY plugin as well as connection through the ASCOM driver. The following instructions assume a direct connection using the QHY plugin.
Set the Target temperature.
Set exposure time and start the shooting.
The instructions below are based on SharpCap 3.1
Click Camera in the menu bar and select your camera.
If the software and drivers mentioned above have been installed correctly, the image will appear automatically. And the frame rate can also be seen in the lower-left corner of the software window, as shown below.
Capture Profiles
Preset management.
After SharpCap is restarted, the default settings are restored. If you frequently use one or more specific parameter configurations, you can adjust the parameters as needed and then click Save to store them as a preset. The preset can be directly recalled the next time you open the software.
Exposure
Sets the exposure duration. When LX Mode is enabled, the single-frame exposure time can be extended to longer values.
Gain
Equivalent to the ISO setting on a standard digital camera. Higher gain values result in higher sensitivity.
Frame Rate Limit
Limits the maximum frame rate. By default, no limit is applied. Users can set the limit manually if needed.
Offset
Adjusts the bias level. Even when the camera is completely covered, the image may not appear perfectly black. By adjusting the offset value, a more optimal dark frame can be achieved. The Histogram can be used to verify the adjustment.
USB Traffic
Controls the data transfer speed (frame rate). When set to 0, the camera operates at its maximum frame rate.
Enable Broadcast Mode
Enables the broadcast driver. For detailed usage instructions, please refer to the documentation available on the download page.
Read Mode
Some camera models support high-gain and low-gain readout modes.
Color Space
Select the output format.
Raw8 / Raw16 are 8-bit or 16-bit formats. Images and videos saved in Raw8 or Raw16 format will be monochrome, even when using a color sensor. Color information must be restored through debayering during post-processing.
RGB24 is a non-RAW format that outputs color images directly, but requires more storage space.
Capture Area
Select the resolution used for image capture.
Binning
Enable pixel binning for image capture.
Output Format
Select the output file format.
Debayer Preview
When this function is enabled, the live preview will be displayed in color even if a RAW format is selected. Please note that the saved images will still be monochrome.
Gamma, Brightness, Contrast
Under normal operating conditions, we recommend leaving these settings unchanged.
White Balance (R/G/B)
This function is used for white balance calibration on color cameras. For detailed calibration instructions, please refer to the corresponding section on the color camera page.
This function is not required for monochrome cameras.
Histogram
The histogram is an important image reference tool. It can be used to check whether the white balance is set correctly, whether the offset value is appropriate, and whether the image is overexposed.
Its operating principle is the same as that of the histogram used in standard DSLR cameras.
Thermal Controls
After the cooled camera is connected to a 12 V power supply, the temperature control circuit will be activated. You can control the CMOS sensor temperature by adjusting the settings shown below.
There are two main methods for temperature control:
Adjusting the cooler power
Setting a target temperature
If you wish to control the CMOS temperature by setting a target temperature, first click “Auto”, and then use the slider to set the desired target temperature.
Scope Control: for filter wheel control
Select the corresponding filter wheel slot to control the rotation.
Note: The software must be started after the filter wheel has completed its rotation and returned to the home position; otherwise, the position will not be displayed correctly.
QHY devices can operate with many software applications that support the ASCOM platform. MAXIM DL is used as an example below.
First, make sure that both the ASCOM platform and the QHY ASCOM driver have been successfully installed. Launch MAXIM DL and follow the instructions shown in the figure below to complete the setup.
Click “Connect”
Set the cooling temperature.
EZCAP_QT is software developed by QHYCCD. For QHYCCD cameras, it provides basic image capture functions.
Install the EZCAP_QT software and connect the camera to your computer using a USB 3.0 cable. Launch EZCAP_QT, then click “Connect” under Menu → Camera.
If the camera is successfully connected, the EZCAP_QT title bar will display the camera firmware version and camera ID, as shown in the figure below.
In Camera Setup, click Temp Control to set the CMOS sensor temperature.
You can enable Auto to define a target temperature. For example, here we set the target temperature to –10 °C. The CMOS sensor temperature will quickly drop to the target value, typically within 2–3 minutes.
To disable cooling, select Stop. If you prefer to control the cooling power without setting a target temperature, you can manually set the cooling power as a percentage.
In EZCAP_QT, there is an Image Task Planner for sequence imaging.
Check Use to enable the task.
Set the following parameters:
Bin
ExpTime – exposure time
Repeat – number of frames
CFW – filter wheel position
Gain – gain value for the sequence
Click Folder to set the save path. (It is recommended to avoid special characters in the path and use English letters.)
Click Start to begin the sequence capture, and Force Stop to close the current task.
Please note that you may need to prepare desiccants yourself, because for most countries and regions desiccants are prohibited by air transport. Since QHY always deliver your goods by air, sorry that we can’t provide desiccants for you directly.
Under the vacuum pump, the gas inside the sensor chamber is drawn out through one drying interface, enters the drying tube, and then undergoes filtration. It is then reintroduced into the camera through the other drying interface, circulating back and forth for drying.
Note:1.Do not reverse the order of the intake and exhaust ports
2.Before circulating drying, it is necessary to turn off the refrigerator, and then turn on circulating drying after the temperature returns to normal temperature. Only by following this step can the water vapor in the sealed chamber be effectively removed. If the cooler is turned on, the cooler inside the camera will absorb water vapor, causing more water vapor to condense inside the camera instead of being absorbed by the desiccant.
If you find dust on the CMOS sensor, you can first unscrew the front plate of the cam and then clean the CMOS sensor with a cleaning kit for SLR camera sensors. Because the CMOS sensor has an AR (or AR/IR) coating, you need to be careful when cleaning. This coating can scratch easily so you should not use excessive force when cleaning dust from its surface.
All QHY cooling cameras have built-in heating plates to prevent fogging. However, If the ambient humidity is very high, the optical window of the CMOS chamber may have condensation issues. Then try the following:
1. Avoid directing the camera towards the ground. The density of cold air is greater than of hot air. If the camera is facing down, cold air will be more accessible to the glass, causing it to cool down and fog.
2. Slightly increase the temperature of the CMOS sensor .
3. Check if the heating plate is normally working. If the heating plate is not working, the glass will be very easy to fog, the temperature of the heating plate can reach 65-70 °C in the environment of 25 °C. If it does not reach this, the heating plate may be damaged. Please contact us for maintenance.
Please avoid thermal shock during use. Thermal shock refers to the internal stress that the TE cooler has to withstand due to the thermal expansion and contraction when the temperature of the TEC suddenly rises or falls. Thermal shock may shorten the life of the TEC or even damage it.
Therefore, when you start using the TEC to adjust the CMOS temperature, you should gradually increase the TEC power rather than turning the TEC to maximum power. If the power of the TEC is high before disconnecting the power supply, you should also gradually reduce the power of the TEC and then disconnect the power supply.
1. Prepare a computer that supports the PCIE interface. When purchasing the computer, please confirm with the seller whether it supports PCIE*8 or higher interfaces. Take out the QHYCCD Fiber PCIE Grabber card and its accessories, as follows:
2. Open the computer case and install the red PCIE Grabber card. (Please note: 1. The PCIE capture card supports PCIE 2.0, 2. Interfaces below PCIE*8 may affect the image frame rate.)
3. After the installation of the PCIE Grabber card is complete, restore the computer case panel. The installation should look like the following image:
4. To download and install the PCIE Grabber card driver, please log in to the QHY official website at https://www.qhyccd.com/file/repository/publish/pcie/PCIE-Driver-Sign-20-09-27.zip
Insert the PCIE Grabber card into slots 1 and 2 of your computer. Connect the camera’s optical port to the fiber module.
5. Connect the PCIE Graber card to the camera using a fiber optic cable. Please note that the sequence of the fiber optic cable interfaces should be as follows:
6. After confirming the connection sequence, power on the camera. (Note: Please use the official QHY-provided 12V6A power adapter.)
7. Start the software and select the QHY camera option in the software. Then, connect to the camera.
