ZWO ASI 294 MM Mono Camera

By popular demand, we now provide the ASI294MM, the monochrome version of the ASI294MC. Some of the highlights include:

• Back-illuminated sensor - Improved sensitivity and reduced noise.

• 4/3" format with 4.64 um pixel size - Ideal for many types of telescopes.

• 14-bit ADC - Providing a high dynamic range.

• An impressive 66ke- full well capacity.

• High-resolution 4144*2822 - With Bin1 mode, the camera can operate at a resolution of 8288*5644 and 2.3 um pixel size.

On top of this, not only does it have a very high QE value with a peak of around 90%, but it also features ultra-low read noise of 1.2e. If you are looking for a small-format monochrome camera for planetary imaging, you cannot go wrong with the ASI294MM.

Sensor length * width: 19.1*13.0mm. Diagonal: 23mm.

The 66387e full well capacity of the ASI294MM is near the top of all ASI planetary cameras. It ensures a very high dynamic range of up to 13 stops, which significantly reduces the problem of overexposed images and also helps to collect richer color information.

When the gain value is set to 120, the HCG (High Conversion Gain) mode is activated. I won't say it's magic... but we like to think it's pretty close. With HCG mode activated, read noise is greatly reduced and the dynamic range is essentially unchanged.

Yet another advantage of the ASI294MM is that the pixel size is switchable: the default setting is Bin2, but you can switch to Bin1 at any time in your astrophotography software. This changes the pixel size to 2.3 um and increases the resolution to 8288x5644. This is what we call "unlocked Bin1 mode." The ability to unlock bin1-mode has been a popular request from our customers. Naturally, we listened to you and worked quickly to make it possible.

Remember that using bin1-mode reduces the full well capacity compared to the standard bin2-mode.

Unlocked Bin1: 12bit ADC, 2.3um pixel size, 47 megapixels, 8288*5644 resolution, 14k full well capacity.

Bin2 (default mode): 14bit ADC, 4.6um pixel size, 11.7 megapixel resolution, 4144*2822 resolution, 66k full well capacity.

You can learn more about the differences between unlocked Bin1 and Bin2 modes by comparing the performance charts.

If the sampling precision you get with the 2.3 um pixel size falls within a reasonable range, the unlocked Bin1 mode helps you get more detail on objects. In any case, you lose dynamic range and ADC bit depth. Also, the image files you get in Bin1 could be about 4 times larger than in Bin2.

So, in the end, the unlocked Bin1 mode is a double-edged sword; you can choose to use it or not depending on the specific conditions during your imaging sessions.

The latest BSI (back-illuminated) mono camera from ZWO, the ASI294MM, has very high QE performance, not only superior to its color version, but also to the ASI1600MM. The peak QE value is estimated to be around 90%.

USB 3.0 Port: provides 5Gb bandwidth to let the ASI294MM run at 19fps (12bit, high-speed mode) or 16.3 fps (14bit, normal mode) at full resolution (11.7Mega, Bin2).

ST4 Port: can be used to connect with the auto-guide port of the mount for guiding.

Key Features

ZWO quality for a reliable and fulfilling observation experience.

• Diameter (mm): 62
• Sensor type: CMOS Chip (Sony IMX492)
• Chip dimensions (mm): 19.3 x 13
• Megapixels: 11.7
• Pixel size: 4.63
• Photo resolution: 4144 x 2822

Main Technical Specifications