QHY miniCAM8 monochrome camera bundle

Versatile, novice-friendly and well-priced – but loose connections let it down

- WORDS: IVANA PERANIC

QHY's miniCAM8 has got to be one of the most interesting recent releases on the astrophotography market: a petite, all-in-one imaging solution at an attractive price point.

QHY has added a dual-stage thermoelectric cooling fan to Sony's extremely popular IMX585 sensor, plus a suite of well-considered accessories, including an integrated eight-position filter wheel with complete LRGB and Ha, SII and OIII narrowband filter set, cables and adaptors. We anticipate this package could encourage newcomers to our wonderful hobby, as the filters make the camera suitable for a wide range of targets, including nebulae, galaxies and planets.

The bundle arrived in a compact box and included everything needed to dive straight into imaging. The customised set of seven filters comes in a separate blister pouch, which had to be carefully opened and filters inserted into the carousel using the provided tools, before sealing the camera housing. A video tutorial and pictorial guide are provided, but individual filter labels would make first-time setup far less confusing.