Moravian Instruments C3-61000 CMOS camera full frame sensor Sony IMX455

Moravian Instruments C3-61000 CMOS camera full frame sensor Sony IMX455

CMOS sensor 9600 x 6388 pixels, ("consumer grade" intended for operation time max. 300 hours per year), USB 3.0 interface

C3 cameras employ the latest generation of Sony IMX CMOS sensors, offering exceptional quantum efficiency thanks to back-illuminated design and very low dark current. Despite relatively small pixels, full-well capacity exceeding 50 ke-. Combined with full 16 bit digitization and perfectly linear response to light make these cameras suitable for both aesthetic astro-photography as well as astronomical research. Sensor formats from APS to photographic full-frame (24 × 36 mm) ensure wide field of view and optimally utilize capabilities of the optical systems most commonly used by amateur astronomers.

Mechanical design of the C3 series of astronomical CMOS cameras inherits from earlier CCD-based G3 Mark II cameras, which makes the C3 camera line fully compatible with vast range of telescope adapters, off-axis guider adapters, filter wheels, Ethernet adapters, guiding cameras etc.

Rich software and driver support allow usage of C3 camera without a necessity to invest into any 3rd party software package thanks to included free SIPS software package. However, ASCOM (for Windows) and INDI (for Linux) drivers and Linux driver libraries are shipped with the camera, provide the way to integrate C3 camera with broad variety of camera control programs.

The C3 cameras are designed to work in cooperation with a host Personal Computer (PC). As opposite to digital still cameras, which are operated independently on the computer, the scientific cooled cameras usually require computer for operation control, image download, processing and storage etc. To operate the camera, you need a computer which:

• Is compatible with a PC standard and runs modern 32 or 64-bit Windows operating system.
• Is an x86 or ARM based computer and runs 32 or 64-bit Linux operating system.

Remark:

Drivers for 32-bit and 64-bit Linux systems are provided, but the SIPS camera control and image processing software, supplied with the camera, requires Windows operating system.

• Support for x64 based Apple Macintosh computers is also included.

Remark:

Only certain software packages are currently supported on Mac.

C3 cameras are designed to be attached to host PC through very fast USB 3.0 port. While C3 cameras remain compatible with older (and slower) USB 2.0 interface, image download time is significantly longer.

Alternatively, it is possible to use the Moravian Camera Ethernet Adapter device. This device can connect up to four Cx (and CCD based Gx) cameras of any type (not only C3, but also C1, C2 and C4) and offers 1 Gbps and 10/100 Mbps Ethernet interface for direct connection to the host PC. Because the PC then uses TCP/IP protocol to communicate with the cameras, it is possible to insert WiFi adapter or other networking device to the communication path.

Hint:
Please note that the USB standard allows usage of cable no longer than approx. 5 meters and USB 3.0 cables are even shorter to achieve very fast transfer speeds. On the other side, the TCP/IP communication protocol used to connect the camera over the Ethernet adapter is routable, so the distance between camera setup and the host PC is virtually unlimited.

Download speed is naturally significantly slower when camera is attached over Ethernet adapter, especially when compared with direct USB 3 connection.

The C3 cameras need an external power supply to operate. It is not possible to run the camera from the power lines provided by the USB cable, which is common for simple imagers. C3 cameras integrate highly efficient CMOS sensor cooling, shutter and possibly filter wheel, so their power requirements significantly exceed USB line power capabilities. On the other side separate power source eliminates problems with voltage drop on long USB cables or with drawing of laptop batteries etc.

Also note the camera must be connected to some optical system (e.g. the telescope) to capture images. The camera is designed for long exposures, necessary to acquire the light from faint objects. If you plan to use the camera with the telescope, make sure the whole telescope/mount setup is capable to track the target object smoothly during long exposures.

Technical Specifications

C3 camera models with consumer-grade sensors include:

C3 camera models with industrial-grade sensors include:

In the Box

Camera head and numerous accessories comprise imaging system, capable to be tailored for many applications.

Components of C3 Camera system include:

1. C3 camera head with Internal Filter Wheel

2. C3 camera head with Internal Filter Wheel and Enhanced Cooling option

3. C3 camera head capable to control External Filter Wheel

4. C3 camera head capable to control External Filter Wheel with Enhanced Cooling option

5. 1.75” dovetail rail for C3 camera head

6. Moravian Camera Ethernet Adapter (x86 CPU)

7. Moravian Camera Ethernet Adapter (ARM CPU)

   Remark:

   The Camera Ethernet Adapter allows connection of up to 4 Cx cameras of any type on the one side and 1 Gbps Ethernet on the other side. This adapter allows access to connected Cx cameras using routable TCP/IP protocol over unlimited distance.

8. 7-positions internal filter wheel for unmounted D36 mm filters

9. 5-positions internal filter wheel for 2”/D50 mm filters

10. 10-positions filter wheel for “S” or “M” housing for unmounted D36 mm filters

11. 7-positions filter wheel for “S” or “M” housing for 2”/D50 mm filters

12. 5-positions filter wheel for “S” or “M” housing for 50 × 50 mm square filters

13. External Filter Wheel “S” size (5, 7 or 10 positions)

14. M42 × 0.75 (T-thread) or M48 × 0.75 threaded “S” size adapters, 55 mm BFD

15. Canon EOS bayonet lens “S” size adapter

16. Nikon bayonet lens “S” size adapter

17. External Filter Wheel “M” size (5, 7 or 10 positions)

18. External Filter Wheel “L” size (7 or 9 positions)

19. 9-positions filter wheel for “L” housing for 2”/D50 mm filters

20. 7-positions filter wheel for “L” housing for 50 × 50 mm square filters

21. C1 auto-guiding camera

    Remark:

    The C1 cameras are completely independent devices with their own USB connection to the host PC. They can be used either on C3 OAG or on standalone guiding telescope.

    The C1 camera can share the Moravian Camera Ethernet Adapter with up to 3 other Cx cameras to be accessed over network.

22. M68 × 1 threaded “L” size adapter, 47.5 mm BFD

23. Canon EOS bayonet lens “L” size adapter

24. Off-Axis Guider with M68 × 1 thread, 61.5 mm BFD