The ZWO ASI 174 MM monochrome cameras are optimized for high-end planetary photography, but are also surprisingly good for deep sky photography. Its large 1936x1216 pixel sensor and 12-bit output, as well as its particularly high frame rate, are the first things that attract attention. With the right software, it can also be used as a driving camera.
The small pixel size guarantees the capture of fine details, while the 12-bit output allows the recording of 4096 colour shades (compared to 8-bit, i.e. "only" 256 shades per colour channel, on most cameras). The large sensor is also useful for capturing sun and moon images. Built-in ST-4 autoguider port also makes these devices great for use as a guide camera.
The package includes a UV/IR block filter to filter out UV/IR light rays that are out of focus by the lenses. The camera has a T2 thread, but can be inserted into any 1.25" focuser using the 1.25" adapter included in the package. A small but useful feature of the camera is that it can be easily mounted directly on a photo tripod.
The cameras have a USB 3.0 connection, but can also be used with a USB 2.0 connection, albeit at a slower speed.
For image capture, there is a range of free software available to download from the internet, and we particularly recommend SharpCap and FireCapture.
