The ToupTek ATR 533M monochrome cooled camera can be considered an alternative to the popular ZWO ASI 533MM PRO monochrome camera, as both are built around the same Sony sensor and therefore offer virtually identical capabilities. Its integrated, efficient Peltier cooler can cool the sensor, which heats up during longer exposures, to up to 45 °C below ambient temperature, minimising image noise. To complement its high cooling capacity, the camera also features an integrated dew heater.
The 9-megapixel (3008 x 3008) Sony IMX533 sensor is one of the company's most sensitive sensors. Its square format is highly useful for solar and lunar imaging, while also providing greater freedom when composing deep-sky images.
With many cameras, longer exposures often resulted in "glow", which could only be corrected during post-processing. The ToupTek ATR 533M monochrome cooled camera enables long-exposure imaging with low noise levels while eliminating the amp glow effect associated with higher gain settings. Its internal 512 MB DDR3 memory buffer makes a major contribution to this performance and ensures stable data transfer.
The ToupTek ATR 533M monochrome cooled camera's sensor, with its 16 mm image circle, is also suitable for wide-field deep-sky imaging. Its 3.76 μm pixel size makes it an ideal choice even for short focal-length, fast focal ratio optics. It is also ideal for deep-sky imaging thanks to its very high (QE >90%) sensitivity. As the camera does not feature an integrated UV/IR filter, it remains sensitive in these wavelength ranges as well.
In addition to still images, it can also record video when used as a planetary camera. At its maximum 3008 x 3000 resolution, videos can be recorded at 20 fps (frames per second). At the lower 1488 x 1500 resolution, speeds of up to 62 fps are available, which is exceptionally high at this resolution. The rear of the camera features one USB 3.0 port, two USB 2.0 ports, and a 12 V DC socket. A row of status LEDs provides information about operation.
A wide range of free image capture software can be downloaded online. For Windows, we particularly recommend SharpCap and FireCapture, although the camera also works excellently with the manufacturer's own ToupSky software. The popular PHD2 software also supports the camera, while the ASCOM driver provides even broader compatibility. The camera can be used with Windows, Linux, and Macintosh operating systems.
Package contents:
- ToupTek ATR 533M monochrome cooled camera
- Mains power supply + cable
- 12.5 mm T2 adapter
- 16.5 mm T2 extension adapter
- 21 mm T2 extension adapter
- M48-T2 adapter
- USB 3.0 cable (1.5 m)
