VITAL STATS
Price £3,850
Sensor Sony IMX455, full-frame CMOS
Resolution 61MP, 9,568 x 6,380
Exposure range 0.1 milliseconds to 3,600 seconds
Accessories 12V power supply, M54 nosepiece, M48 adaptor ring
Size 102mm x 91mm Weight 710g
Supplier Altair Astro
Tel 01263 731505
www.altair astro.com
Software
AltairCapture software is included with the camera. It allows full control of all the camera settings - including heating and cooling, 'HCG' (High Conversion Gain), 'LCG' (Low Conversion Gain) and 'Ultra Low Read Noise' modes, region of interest imaging and real-time live focusing - all in a simple-to-learn, intuitive interface that keeps any distracting complications to a minimum.
The Hypercam AA61CFX is a full-frame, one-shot colour astronomy camera with 16-bit capability. Designed for serious astrophotography and dedicated enthusiasts, the AA61CFX represents a significant investment. Matching its high-end capabilities to the rest of an imaging setup is a crucial exercise, as this camera will quickly reveal any shortcomings in the equipment it's used with. For our tests we selected a high-grade mount on a permanent pier and a 150mm apochromatic telescope, which provided a large enough colour-corrected, flat imaging field.
Accommodating the large sensor at the heart of the AA61CFX requires a stocky camera body, which is the familiar barrel-shape design. The front of the camera comes with an M54 x 0.75mm female thread, which gives plenty of unobstructed room around the edge of the sensor. Being a one-shot colour camera there is no need for additional filters, as the sensor's optical window has built-in ultraviolet and infrared blocking, but additional specific band filters can be used if they are large enough for the sensor.
This story is from the April 2022 edition of BBC Sky at Night Magazine.
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This story is from the April 2022 edition of BBC Sky at Night Magazine.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
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