ZWO ASI 294 MC Pro Color Camera
Technical sheet for the ZWO ASI294MC Pro cooled color camera: description, specifications and highlights for deep-sky astrophotography.
Description
The ASI294MC Pro is a cooled color CMOS camera from ZWO built around the Sony IMX294CJK sensor, a back-illuminated 4/3" sensor with 11.7 MP and 4.63 µm pixels. Its large full-well capacity (63,700 e⁻), very low read noise (1.2 e⁻ in HCG mode), and 13-stop dynamic range make it a particularly versatile sensor for deep-sky astrophotography, whether with short or long exposures.
Its two-stage thermoelectric cooling lowers the sensor temperature by up to 35°C below ambient, which strongly reduces thermal noise and keeps noise levels consistent from one session to the next — a real advantage over an uncooled camera such as the ASI183MC.
Technical specifications
| Specification | Value |
|---|---|
| Sensor | Sony IMX294CJK, back-illuminated color CMOS, 4/3" |
| Resolution | 11.7 MP (4144 × 2822) |
| Pixel size | 4.63 µm |
| Quantum efficiency (QE) | > 75% peak |
| Full well capacity | 63,700 e⁻ |
| Read noise | 1.2 e⁻ (HCG mode) to 7.3 e⁻ (gain 0) |
| Dynamic range | 13 stops |
| ADC | 14-bit |
| Bayer pattern | RGGB |
| Shutter | Rolling shutter |
| Exposure range | 32 µs — 2000 s |
| Frame rate (full resolution) | Up to 19 fps |
| Buffer memory | 256 MB DDR3 |
| Cooling | 2-stage TEC, up to -35°C below ambient |
| Connectivity | USB 3.0 / USB 2.0, ST4 guide port |
| Included adapters | 2", M42×0.75 thread |
| Operating temperature | -5°C to 45°C |
| Dimensions | Ø 78 mm |
| Weight | 410 g |
Values from manufacturer specifications, to be confirmed/refined with use.
Official product page: ZWO ASI294 Pro Series
Highlights
- Very versatile sensor (large full well, low read noise, wide dynamic range) suited to many deep-sky targets.
- Two-stage active cooling: more repeatable sessions, less dependent on ambient temperature.
- Built-in ST4 port for autoguiding without extra hardware.
- Onboard memory buffer (256 MB) that limits dropped frames during USB traffic spikes.
Coming up
This sheet will be updated with real-world cooling delta achieved in practice, gain settings used per target, and a comparison with the uncooled ASI183MC.