ZWO ASI678MC Planetary Camera



Clear in Low Light
With its back-illuminated sensor architecture and advanced pixel design, the camera maintains exceptionally low readout noise and delivers outstanding sensitivity. Even in dim conditions, it captures remarkably sharp and clean images of celestial targets.
STARVIS 2
The ASI678MC serves as an upgraded successor to the ASI178MC. It uses Sony’s latest IMX678 sensor featuring enhanced STARVIS 2 technology. Compared with the ASI178MC, this model offers zero amp glow, reduced read noise, and improved sensitivity. Dark current noise is significantly lower, and near-infrared performance is notably enhanced.
USB 3.0 & 256MB DDR3 Memory
A USB 3.0 interface and built-in 256MB DDR3 buffer work together to ensure smooth and reliable data transfer. During long-exposure imaging, this setup prevents dropped frames and substantially minimizes glow artifacts caused by slow readout speeds.
Upgraded Model
ASI678MC is an improved version of ASI178MC. It delivers lower read noise, reduced dark current, and completely eliminates amp glow.
No Amp Glow
The ASI678MC produces zero amp glow regardless of exposure length or gain setting. This advantage is implemented at the hardware level and does not rely on software correction.
HGC Mode
The camera includes a High Conversion Gain (HCG) mode that significantly reduces readout noise at high gain values. This enables the camera to retain high dynamic range comparable to that at low gain. When gain reaches 182, HCG activates automatically. Readout noise drops to 0.8e, while the dynamic range remains close to 12-bit.
Quantum Efficiency
QE curve performance and readout noise levels play crucial roles in determining overall camera quality. High quantum efficiency combined with low readout noise results in improved signal-to-noise ratio.
Dark Current Noise
Compared with the ASI178, the ASI678MC shows much lower dark current noise and delivers cleaner, smoother dark frames, leading to improved signal-to-noise performance.
TECHNICAL SPECIFICATION
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Sensor
1/1.8" CMOS Sony IMX678AAQR1-C
Resolution
8.29 MP (3840 × 2160)
Sensor Dimensions
7.68 mm × 4.32 mm
Full Well Capacity
11.27 Ke⁻
Shutter Type
Rolling Shutter
Exposure Range
32 μs ~ 2000 s
Back Focus Length
12.5 mm
Interface
USB 3.0 / USB 2.0 Type-B
Protect Window
φ21-1.1 AR
Working Temperature
–5℃ ~ 50℃
Storage Temperature
–10℃ ~ 60℃
Working Relative Humidity
0–80%
Software & OS Compatibility
Supported OS
Windows 7 / 8 / 10 (32 & 64 bit)
Linux
Mac


