Hey what's up everyone, Rafal here with OPT and in this video we're going to be
going over the ZWO ASI 174 and all the reasons why you may want one. The 174
is definitely one of the best cameras on the market when it comes to lunar,
solar and planetary photography and it's time to explain why. But first as always if you guys
are enjoying these videos and don't want to miss out on all the astro news, gear reviews and OPT
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And with all that out of the way let's dive into this amazing camera. So this is the ZWO ASI 174.
This camera comes in two different versions - the standard version and the mini version. Now the
standard and the mini version are both monochrome cameras so you are going to need filters when
using them. The biggest difference between the standard and the mini is that the standard
has a USB 3.0 port which enables you to transfer data much faster on your computer. This comes
in handy when you're doing lucky imaging and taking a high frame rate video of your targets.
the ASI 174 can take up to 164 frames per second at a full 1936x1216 resolution
or you can set the camera to use only a fraction of the sensor to
capture your image at a whopping 397 frames per second at 640x480.
At that point you're taking such a high frame rate that you're going to be creating a lot of
data that needs to be saved in a short amount of time, hence the USB 3.0 port. Now the mini version
does not have a USB 3.0 port, so the takeaway here is that if you are wanting to use this camera as
an imaging camera and as a guide camera, then we recommend you go with the standard version but if
you just want to use it as a guide camera then the mini is the way to go now. Like I mentioned
earlier, since both versions of this camera only come in monochrome you're going to want to get
yourself a filter wheel and some filters if you want a full color image of the moon or planets.
Alright let's talk some camera specs. Due to this being a planetary camera it's got a smaller
than average sensor like Mack mentioned in the understanding camera specs video,
a big sensor on a planetary camera is just not necessary. You'll end up
getting a ton of information of stuff that you don't need like the blackness of space.
A smaller sensor gives you a faster frame rate due to the smaller resolution
and smaller files. If you guys want to see Matt go into more details and other camera specs
check out the full video right up here.
You do get a pretty impressive 12-bit 2.3 megapixel camera with a nice
big 5.86 micron pixel size. The 174 does have a 77 quantum efficiency which is higher
than the majority of planetary cameras. This camera also has a low read noise and a good
size full well depth giving you really good noise control and dynamic range.
Now whether you get the standard or the mini, both are amazing as guide
cameras. With its big pixels and 70 quantum efficiency it makes the Sony IMX 174 sensor
extra sensitive to light, making it perfect for picking up those faint stars.
Now you can totally use this camera for deep space imaging if you want to and it'll do the job
but if you want our opinion for that, we would recommend a few other cameras
with a much bigger resolution, cooling and overall built for deep space. You can see our
top camera picks for galaxy and nebulae by clicking on the video right up here.
When you get your ASI 174, it will come with a one and quarter inch thread,
an ST4 cable, a USB cable. Depending on which one you get, whether it's the mini or the standard,
a lens cap and a quick guide.
And with all that said and done that about wraps it up for this video. Like I said, everyone
the AWOASI 174 is an incredible piece of gear, whether it is a guide camera or an imaging camera.
If you guys found this video helpful, go ahead and just completely obliterate
that subscribe button. Dig through the rubble, find the notification bell and ring it because
we have videos coming out every week and we want you guys to be the best astronomers you can be!
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Last but not least if you have any questions, concerns or suggestions on
what topics we should cover next, leave them in the comments below because Mack
reads every single one of them isn't that right Mack? <>
Thanks again for watching everyone, my name is Rafal with OPT and we'll see
you in the next video. Clear skies! <>