Manufacturer: QHY
Price $2399 (bundles are a bit more)
The QHY 268M 26 MP is a monochrome astrophotography camera that features a 26-megapixel back-illuminated Sony IMX571 sensor. Because of the back illumination, the quantum efficiency is very high and the dark noise is very low. The sensor also has a large full well capacity of 51ke- (at native 3.76um pixel size), which allows for long exposure imaging with a correspondingly low chance of pixel saturation.
The QHY 268M camera has a native 16-bit ADC, which provides excellent image quality with smooth gradients and high dynamic range. The read noise and the thermal noise are very low. This makes the QHY 268M a solid choice for imaging faint objects that require long exposure time to capture the greatest detail and to improve the signal-to-noise ratio.
The camera has a USB 3.0 interface and a 2GB DDR3 image buffer and USB 3.0 interface, which allows for fast image transfer and smooth live view. It also has a number of other features, including a built-in GPS module, a trigger input/output, and a choice of cooling options.
Overall, the QHY 268M is a great choice for hobbyists who are looking for a high-performance camera with excellent image quality. It is a versatile camera that can be used for small objects like planets or mid-size nebulae or galaxies.
Here are some of the pros and cons of the QHY 268M:
Pros:
- Excellent image quality
- Very Low noise
- Large 51ke- Full Well at 3.76um (binning makes it even higher)
- Native 16-bit, 65536 Levels
- USB 3.0 interface
- 2GB DDR3 image buffer
- Large 26 MP sensor
- Supports both M54 and M48 thread adapters
- Integrated dew heater
- Monochrome camera takes full advantage of the sensor resolution
- Short back-focus 12.5mm
Cons:
- Expensive
- Small pixels translate smaller than full-frame sensor size
- Some users have noted driver issues with N.I.N.A software
Conclusion:
This is an excellent camera. Its high sensitivity and low noise make it superior to similar cameras in this price range. QHY is well-known in the astrophotography community for producing excellent cameras. If you don’t need a full-frame sensor camera, the QHY 268M is a good choice. If you want to take full advantage of its capabilities, you need to use a color filter wheel and several filters to create a color palette. Vendors often include a filter wheel and other accessories in a bundle that includes a filter wheel and off-axis-guider.
Verdict: 5/5 stars