ZWO ASI 294MC-Pro USB 3.0 Cooled Colour Camera
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ZWO ASI 294MC-Pro USB 3.0 Cooled Colour CameraZWO ASI 294MC-Pro USB 3.0 Cooled Colour CameraZWO ASI 294MC-Pro USB 3.0 Cooled Colour Camera

ZWO ASI 294MC-Pro USB 3.0 Cooled Colour Camera

£1,030.00
  (17 Reviews)
✓ 2 year warranty

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2x in stock shipped 1-2 working days

About this product

Model:  zwo_asi294mc-pro
Part Number:  ZWO ASI294MC-P

The first astronomy camera series equipped with SONY's new IMX294CJK sensor.

The ZWO ASI1294MC features Sony's remarkable IMG294CJK 4/3 CMOS sensor with a massive 4144x2822 resolution!  That's over 11 megapixels!

FEATURES

  • Sony IMX294 4/3 CMOS Sensor
  • Extremely low read noise - 1.2e @30db gain
  • 14Bit ADC - provides real 14bit dynamic range
  • Electronic shutter - no issues with vibrations sometimes found in mechanical shutters
  • USB3.0 Port (back compatible with USB2.0) - 16fps@4144×2822
  • AR-coated protective window - all light can pass
  • Compatible with Windows / Mac OS / Linux

IMX294 Sensor

23.2mm diagonal, approximately 11.7 megapixels.

Back-illuminated highly sensitive 4.63μm pixels.

The 'IMX294CJK' is the first image sensor for astronomy cameras to adopt the 4/3 format and achieves the number of pixels required for 4K at 120 frame/s (in ADC 10-bit output mode, ASI294MC can run up to 25fps at 4k format based on USB3.0 bandwidth).   In addition, the large-size pixels achieve SNR1s of 0.14 lx*, which is very close to ZWO's ASI224 (0.13 lx*).

DDR Memory Buffer

ZWO Pro cameras feature a 256MB DDR3 memory buffer to help maintain data transfer stability and reduce amp-glow issues caused by the slower data transfer speed when using a USB 2.0 port. 

All ZWO cameras include a 2-year warranty. 

Camera Field of View Simulator

Astrophotography Performance

Exceptional low-illumination performance of SNR1s: 0.14 lx is achieved using a large-size optical system and by expanding the area per pixel to 4.63 µm.  This makes the IMX294CJK sensor an excellent choice for astrophotography which requires high performance in low light. 

14bit ADC & 13 stops DR

14bit ADC can achieve 13 stops dynamic range, which is even better than ASI1600. 

HCG Mode

HCG mode will be on when the gain is higher than 120 (12db), and read noise will drop below 2e but in the same dynamic range (13 stops).

Full well Capacity

63700e full well is three times greater than the ASI1600’s capacity.  Even bright stars won’t saturate under long exposure.

A higher SNR (signal-to-noise ratio) can be achieved with just one exposure.

Reliable Mechanics

ZWO's ASI294MC Pro has the same mechanics as their highly regarded ASI1600 Pro.  Four screws seal the sensor chamber. 

Even when used in higher humidity, the ASI294MC Pro will work fine without dew problems.

High QE

The IMX294 sensor is a BSI (back-illuminated type) sensor, so it has a very high QE (ZWO measure the QE peak higher than 75%).

Dark Current

The dark current of the ASI294 is slightly higher than the ASI1600, based on ZWO test results.

Dark frame sample @ Highest dynamic range settings, 300s, -10°C, bin1.

ASI294MC Pro Dark Frame

USB Ports

USB 3.0 Port: Provides 5Gb bandwidth, making it possible for the ASI294 Pro to run at 16 fps (14bit, normal mode) or 19 fps (10bit, high-speed mode) at full resolution (11.7Mega).

Recommended cooler power supply: 12V @ 3-5A (or more) DC adapter (2.1×5.5mm, centre pole positive). Also suitable: DC battery with 9-15V.

Using a battery with 9-15V is also suitable for the cooler power supply.

USB 2.0 HUB: Connect with various accessories, such as filter wheel, guide camera and electronic focuser, for easier cable management.  The USB Hub draws power from an external power supply if you have one connected. Two short 0.5m USB 2.0 cables are included. 

Cooling System

The ASI294 Pro has a 2-stage TEC cooling system that enables deep cooling (35°C-40°C below ambient).  The cooler requires an external power supply - which is not included with the camera.

ASI294MC Connection Drawing

  1. M43-T2 adapter (optional)
  2. EOS-T2 adapter (optional)
  3. 2” Filter (optional)
  4. 1.25” T-Mount
  5. 1.25” Filter (optional)
  6. M42-1.25” adapter
  7. T2 extender 11mm

ASI294MC Mechanical Drawing

 

What's in the box

  • ASI294MC-Pro Camera
  • Soft Padded Case
  • T2-1.25" Nosepiece Adapter
  • 1.25" Cap
  • 2-metre USB 3.0 Cable
  • USB 2.0 Short Cable x2
  • T2-1.25" Adapter
  • T2 Extender 21mm
  • T2-M48 16.5mm Extender
  • Spacers x2
  • Quick Start Guide
  • Driver CD

Specifications

Sensor4/3″ SONY IMX294 CMOS
Diagonal23.2mm
Resolution11.7Mega Pixels 4144X2822
Pixel Size4.63µm
Bayer PatternRGGB
ShutterRolling shutter
Exposure Range32µs-2000s
ROISupported
Read Noise1.2e @39db gain
QE peakTBD
Full well63.7ke
ADC14bit
DDRIII Buffer256MB
InterfaceUSB3.0/USB2.0
AdaptorM42X0.75
Protect windowAR window
Dimensions78mm Diameter
Weight410g
Back Focus Distance6.5mm
CoolingRegulated Two Stage TEC
Delta T35°C-40°C below ambient
Camera Power consumption650mA at 5V
Cooler Power consumption12V at 3A Max
Working Temperature-5°C—45°C
Storage Temperature-20°C—60°C
Working Relative Humidity20%—80%
Storage Relative Humidity20%—95%

 

Supported Resolutions:

10Bit ADC

  • 4144×2822 19fps

14bit ADC

  • 4144×2822 16fps

Additional resolutions can be user defined.

Downloads / Manuals

The following manuals and downloads are available for this product:

Software

ZWO Software and Drivers

 

Customer reviews

Average Rating (17 Reviews):  
Write a Review and share your opinions!

Rating (max 5):  
Fantastic first dedicated astro camera
21 January 2024  | 

I have had the 294MC pro for a few months now and have had a few good imaging sessions with it. I had read mixed reviews, some love it, some hate it, and I was a bit anxious about working with it. I should not have been.

The camera is *superb*. I shoot via Sharpcap, stack in DeepSkyStacker and then process in GIMP and Darktable. Once I'd built up a good dark library in Sharpcap, which I subtract live, I see no hint of the amp glow problems some users report. It simply has not troubled me.

Building flats was easy - though you have to be confident to turn the gain right down as you can't shoot very short exposures or you get banding. I shoot 5s flats with the gain down around 50 and it works grand. Combined with darkflats (which Sharpcap builds for me) to calibrate the master flat, I can then import that into DSS and it *just works*.

Word of warning - live view images will look a bit green dominated - I assume this is to do with the RGGB Bayer matrix - but this disappears during stacking if the RGB channels are aligned.

Do plenty of reading before buying - but if you're looking for an entry level cooled camera, this is a strong buy.


Rating (max 5):  
ZOW ASI 294MC-Pro - Old bott still relevant
14 January 2024  | 

I had done some research before buying the ASI294MC Pro. Many advice against it.
Have previosly bought the ASI533MC Pro which I am very pleased with.
Yes, the ASI294MC Pro has amp glow, so I guess I must start taking calibration frames (until now I don't bother).
But the little I have had the chance to use, I find the "lights" just as good or even better than the ASI533.
I am very happy with the service from FLO. Highly reccomended.


Rating (max 5):  
Very pleased with the camera. Just need some clear skies in order to use it.
14 January 2023  | 

My camera arrived very quickly and well packaged. Usual FLO excellent service.
As you might expect I have not had a chance to use the camera yet due to the weather! This camera has been well tried and tested and is the reason I myself purchased it but I will update this review once I get to use it.


Rating (max 5):  
Fantastic purchase
06 January 2022  | 

Finally - the first few hours of clear weather since I purchased this camera. It is fantastically easy to use especially combined with the ASIAIR Plus, though it is worth spending a bit of time on the forums to get the correct gain settings etc. I would highly recommend this; it is my first dedicated AP camera and produced amazing images of M31 for a complete novice in a light-polluted back garden. This is one of several purchases from FLO recently and I have to say that it is truly the best online shopping experience - the staff give good advice and the shipping is second to none with items arriving when you cannot believe that they have even left the warehouse. I cannot recommend FLO and this camera enough.


Rating (max 5):  
WOW!
17 August 2021  | 

I was really apprehensive in making such a large purchase for my hobby that i've been doing for 2 years now, however, I am very glad I took the plunge and bought this excellent camera.
Upgrading from an unmodified, second hand Canon 700D to this was like night and day, don't get me wrong I love my 700D, but the difference in image quality is almost hard to believe without actually seeing it.
I have mine paired up with a 72ED Pro scope and an Astronomik L3 UV/IR filter which helps keep the chromatic aberration of the 72ED's glass well in check.
Using an ASIair, as I have for the past year or so, this camera was literally as simple as plug and play, with limited, easy to understand options in the app and everything working without any issues, it gathers so much light you don't even need to find a bright star to focus, almost any patch of sky will work.
During the summer months cooling has been set to -10c and has never taken more than 5 minutes to reach and has no problem staying there all session long.
I have been taking 4min subs at 120gain -10c and have yet to see ANY noise in my stacked images, I have noticed with those setting that bright stars are starting to become over exposed, which will be easily fixed by taking 2 min exposures instead next time out. At these setting I have also been using 20 darks and 60 bias files to calibrate with and have not seen any hint of amp glow or color blotching or any other artifacts in my stacks or even single frames.
I am absolutely loving this camera and the absolutely huge improvement it has provided over my DSLR.


Rating (max 5):  
Brilliant first dedicated astronomy camera
02 July 2021  | 

I have owned the ZWO294 mc pro for about 3 months now, long enough to do a reasonable review, I think. This is my first dedicated cooled astro cam having used a canon DSLR up to this point. The change is initially quite daunting but after few nights most problems get sorted. The biggest change is not having a nice friendly live view. This is however easily overcome when you get the settings right! Gain350 Bin4. A looped exposure of a quarter of a second gives a very good live view simulation and focusing is easy. With five seconds you can usually see the object you are imaging. Set the gain to 120 and your off. The cooling and warning aids in APT make cool down and warm up simple. The amp glow calibrates out completely and easily. Darks are taken in the daytime as the temperature is fixed by the cooler.
The images produced have exceeded expectations in every way. The 4/3 sensor is a great size, has a pleasing aspect ratio, produces great colour and is very sensitive. The resolution is way more than adequate. Even coming from a full frame sensor, the narrower field has never been a problem and can just represent an opportunity to buy another small scope! The pixel scale is good, and it works well with all three scopes I have used it with. These have focal lengths of 435,700, and 1460mm. The 700mm refractor seems particularly tuned in to this sensor. It also works very well with the L-extreme filter.
Overall, I find it hard to imagine finding a better introduction to dedicated camera astrophotography.


Rating (max 5):  
ZWO ASI294MC PRO CMOS USB3 Colour Camera
15 June 2021  | 

FLO have asked me to review my June 2021 camera purchase but I have only had one brief session under the stars to test it. All seems fine using it with a Skywatcher 200P Newtonian reflector on an HEQ5 mount. I use a Lynx EQDirect connection to my Windows USB2 laptop running AstrophotographyTool and PHD2 guiding. I have been imaging with a modified Canon 450D up to now so it is going to take me quite a while to get used to the 294. For my test I targeted M13 with 180s subs at a gain of 130 and the camera cooled to 0 degC. The result was rather overexposed so maybe 60s or even shorter subs would have worked better. I can’t fault FLO for their service, before submitting my order they responded the same day to my email query regarding spacers needed to get the right back focus for my Baader Coma Corrector (they confirmed all are included with the camera). DHL delivered next day but it was a good job that FLO used a lot of foam and bubble wrap because the camera was fine despite the DHL box being dented, DHL had not given it the best of care.

I think it likely that I will buy from FLO again in the future.

Peter.


Rating (max 5):  
ASI294MC Pro
28 March 2021  | 

I ordered this Friday lunch time, told it would be delivered the following Monday. However it arrived on Saturday at 9am, less than 24hrs, even by FLO's standard that was quick. I set the camera up today and started doing a dark library, from what I can tell at this point the camera performs as expected. Now gotta wait on some clear sky.....


Rating (max 5):  
ZWO ASI 294MC-PRO USB 3.0 Cooled Colour Camera
15 February 2021  | 

I received the camera day after ordering, as usual, great service by FLO.
Setting up and using the camera, APT, and Ascom for controlling everything was a big learning curve which went well the first time and produced a nice first light image.
The second time was more complicated due to my inexperience with using a CCD camera. More research on my part would have been sensible.
The cooling assistance in APT didn't seem to work properly giving me error messages saying the temperature selected cannot be reached...this happened a few times but if I started the cooling again it reached the correct temperature.
I put this down to APT not the camera!
I'm going to enjoy this camera now I'm more familiar with how to control things.


Rating (max 5):  
A big step forward...
08 November 2020  | 

After using a standard Canon 70D DSLR connected to a RedCat51, this camera is a step up. Only had a limited chance to use this - moonlit and a lot of light pollution but even so, the images had more colour, less noise. The camera has all the connections I needed to connect the camera to the scope - no mucking about with purchasing additional adapters.

FLO were at their usual best providing quick responses to my newbie questions.

Very happy (apart from the lack of decent weather!)


Read all 17 customer reviews...

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