The Moravian Instruments C1-1500 Monochrome CMOS can be used for both guiding and imaging. The latest firmware allows for frame rates of up to 120FPS from the C1-1500 so this is also a particularly useful solar system imaging camera.
Its sensor is ideal for imaging the Moon, planets and bright deep-sky objects or use as a guide camera. The C1 series CMOS cameras were designed to be small, lightweight imagers for Moon and planets and for automatic telescope guiding. With proper image calibration, C1 cameras provide surprisingly good results for entry-level deep-sky imaging. The CMOS sensors used have response to light that is linear up to very close to the saturation point, so, C1 cameras can be used for scientific applications like variable star research
C1 cameras are capable of very short exposures. The shortest exposure time is 125 μs (1/8000 of second). This is also the step, by which the exposure time is expressed. So, the second shortest exposure is 250 μs etc. Long exposure timing is controlled by the host PC and there is no upper limit on exposure time. In reality the longest exposures are limited by saturation of the sensor either by incoming light of by dark current (see the following sub-chapter). The sensor response to light is perfectly linear. This means the camera can be used also for entry-level research projects, like for instance photometry or brighter variable stars etc.
Sensor Cooling Dark current is an inherent feature of all silicone circuits. It is called “dark”, because it is generated regardless if the sensor is exposed to light or not. Dark current, injected into individual pixels, appear in images as noise. The longer exposure, the greater amount of noise is present in every image. As it is generated by random movement of particles, it depends on the temperature exponentially (this is why the noise generated by dark current is also denoted “thermal noise”). Typically, lowering the sensor temperature by 6 or 7 °C halves the dark current. While the C1-1500 is not equipped with active thermo-electric (Peltier) cooling, it is still equipped with a small fan, exchanging the air inside the camera body. So, although the C1-1500 cannot be cooled below the ambient temperature, its temperature is kept as close to environment as possible. Compared to closed designs, the sensor temperature in the C1-1500 camera can be up to 10°C lower and the resulting dark current may be less than half. The cooling air intake is on the left side of the camera, while the output vents are on the opposite side. The fan operation can be controlled from the software. Moravian's SIPS software directly offers a slider control for the fan in the “Cooling” tab of the main camera control tool window. Camera drivers for other software must rely on driver configuration dialog box to control fan. With the fan off, sensor temperature quickly rises more than 10 °C above ambient. Turning the fan on lowers the temperature by 5 °C or more.
This compact and robust camera head measures only 57 × 57 × 48 mm not including the CS-mount lens adapter. With a standard CS-mount adapter, camera depth increases to 54.4 mm. The C1 camera Back Focal Distance is 12.5 mm, which makes it compatible with a vast number CS-mount compatible CCTV lenses. If a C-mount lens has to be used (with 17.5 mm Back Focal Distance), a simple 5 mm thick adapter ring can be used.
It is also possible to use the C1 with Nikon and Canon DSLR lenses through the use of C Mount adapters.
The head is CNC-machined from high-quality aluminum and black anodized. The head itself contains USB-B 3.0 (device) connector and standard 6-pin “autoguider” connector.
Developed and manufactured in Europe to highest standards.
Sensor: Sony IMX273 Monochrome CMOS
Resolution: 1456 x 1088 pixels
Pixel Size: 3.45 x 3.45 µm
Imaging Area: 5.02 x 3.75 mm
Diagonal size: 6.27mm
Interface: USB 3.0
Download time: appr. 0.05s with USB3.0
Cooling: passive fan cooling
Head dimensions 57 mm × 57 mm × 54.4 mm (including lens adapter)
Back focal distance 12.5 mm (CS-mount compatible)
Camera head weight 215 g
Telescope/lens adapter C-to-1.25” barrel adapter, compatible with standard 1.25” eyepieces, is included into camera package.
So, the C1 camera can be easily mounted into virtually every astronomical telescope instead of an eyepiece.
Note: If the C1 camera should be used with OAG for cooled Cx or Gx cameras, a short 10 mm C-to-1.25” barrel adapter has to be used. This adapter, shipped with the respective Moravian OAG, is fully compatible with C1 camera.
Tripod and metric threads. The C1 camera bottom contains standard 1/4" (tripod) thread and 4 metric M3 threaded holes.
