ZWO ASI 174MM MINI

The ZWO ASI 174MM MINI monochrome camera is a powerhouse for astrophotography, offering unmatched performance for capturing intricate details of planets, the Moon, and the Sun. Engineered with advanced features and robust design, it has become a favourite among seasoned astrophotographers and hobbyists alike.

Key Features of the ZWO ASI 174MM MINI

• High-Resolution Imaging: Features a large 1/1.2" Sony IMX174 monochrome sensor with a resolution of 1936x1216 pixels, delivering sharp and detailed captures.
• Global Shutter Technology: Eliminates motion artifacts, ensuring crisp imaging even during fast planetary movements.
• Large Pixel Size: With 5.86μm pixels, the ZWO ASI174MM is optimized for high sensitivity and low noise, perfect for low-light conditions.
• High Frame Rate: Capture at up to 128 FPS, allowing for smooth and detailed imaging of fast-moving celestial objects.
• Advanced Cooling: Equipped with passive cooling for stable performance during long exposure sessions.

Specifications

Why Choose the ZWO ASI 174MM MINI?

The ZWO ASI 174MM MINI stands out for its precision and reliability. Its large full-well capacity (32Ke-) ensures excellent dynamic range, while its low read noise and 12-bit ADC provide exceptional image quality. Perfect for planetary, lunar, and solar imaging, this camera excels at capturing dynamic celestial phenomena.

ZWO ASI 174MM MINI Applications

• Planetary Imaging: Achieve stunningly detailed images of Jupiter, Saturn, and Mars with the camera's high frame rates and sensitivity.
• Lunar and Solar Imaging: Capture the intricate craters of the Moon or the Sun's surface details with high-resolution and low-noise imaging.
• Deep-Sky Object Imaging: The ZWO ASI174MM is also suitable for small deep-sky targets, making it a versatile tool for astrophotographers.

ZWO ASI 174MM MINI Enhanced User Experience

The ZWO ASI174MM is compatible with popular astrophotography software like FireCapture, SharpCap, and ASIStudio. Its USB 3.0 interface ensures fast data transfer, while the addition of ROI (Region of Interest) mode allows users to optimize frame rates for specific imaging areas.

Order Your ZWO ASI 174MM MINI Today

Take your astrophotography to new heights with the ZWO ASI 174MM MINI. Whether you’re capturing the fine details of a lunar crater or exploring planetary surfaces, this camera delivers unparalleled performance and reliability.

ZWO ASI 174MM MINI Astrophotography Performance

ZWO ASI 174MM MINI camera offers you very good performance for planetary imaging as well as for guiding. Low read noise, high dynamic range, AR protective window and much more are just some of the key characteristics that set it apart from the competition.

High QE

Regarding the absolute QE Curve, we estimate the Peak Value is about 77%.

174Mini vs. 174MM

Compared with the ASI174MM camera, the new 174-Mini has a sleeker design, less weight, and it can reach focus at the same position as an eyepiece.

ZWO ASI 174MM MINI USB2.0Port & ST4 Port

USB 2.0 Port: Mini camera has one USB2.0 type-C port. Type-C port is very popular in mobile phones, as it doesn’t matter which way you connect it (unlike for example type-A or type-B)

#USB-C to USB-A cable is required.

ST4 Port: The camera can be connected directly to the auto-guider port of the mount.

Connecting Drawing

1. M28.5-CS adapter
2. CS-C adapter
3. 1.25″ extender
4. 1.25″ filter

ZWO ASI 174MM MINI Mechanical Drawing

ZWO ASI 174MM MINI What is in the box?

ASI mini camera box includes all necessary cables, adapters, and manual.

ZWO ASI 174MM MINI Drivers and Software:

 ZWO ASI 174MM MINI

Our website is always updated with the most recent camera drivers as well as software for DSO and planetary imaging. Please make sure the most recent driver and software has been installed before you start shooting:

ASI120, ASI174 and ASI290 mini camera have very beautiful outlooks, small size, lighter weight, this is not a big deal.

We should consider much more…

How to choose a good guide camera?

Many people might mention the size, ability to fit with different types of equipment (guide scopes, OAG etc.), stability and ease-of-use.

We agree. That is why our cameras in the “mini”-series all fulfil these, what we think are, basic characteristics of a good guide camera.

But what are truly the most important traits. Let’s face it, when you set up your equipment for a night of imaging, you just want things to work and to see that smooth graph on your guiding software before you start your imaging sequence. In order to do that, there are some things to consider (apart from the points mentioned above):

• Sensitivity,
• Precise guiding,
• Big FOV.

ZWO ASI 174MM MINI High Sensitivity

Sensitivity is the first thing we considered. This is of course a crucial ability when looking for a star to guide on. So, from the beginning, we were set on using monochrome sensors to design our guide cameras. Because monochrome sensors have much higher sensitivity than their colour counterpart. Luckily the ASI120MM Mini, ASI290MM Mini and ASI174MM Mini all have very high QE peak value – about 80%, which can detect more stars in view and shorten the exposure time in guiding.

Each of the cameras have their own strength and depending on what you value in a guide camera, one might be better for you than the others.

Entry Level

ZWO ASI 174MM MINI is designed for newcomers, it is more affordable than ASI290MM Mini and ASI174MM Mini. You can easily get the well-sampled stars with the help of ZWO ASI 174MM MINI It’s light, compact and robust. If you are still wondering about which one you should choose as your first guide camera, the ZWO ASI 174MM MINI is a very good choice. 

ZWO ASI 174MM MINI Precise Guiding

ZWO ASI 174MM MINI is designed for precise guiding. The 2.9um pixel size gives you a higher arcsec/pixel than the ASI224 or ASI120 camera. This means that, in the same guide scope, the ASI290MM Mini can detect movement of stars to a higher degree than the other cameras. ASI290MM Mini will improve your guiding precision with around 30% compared to the ZWO ASI 174MM MINI.

ZWO ASI 174MM MINI Big FOV

ASI174MM Mini is designed for large field-of-view guiding. This is very useful when looking for a star to guide on, using an OAG. When you use an OAG-guider with a Ritchey-Chretien or Schmit-Cassegrain telescope, the hardest part is to find a suitable guide star. ASI174MM Mini has a larger1/1.2″ sensor which means your FoV is 4 times than that of the ZWO ASI 174MM MINI.

Smiling Face

If you squint your eyes, the back of the ASI mini-camera looks like a smiling face (albeit you have to squint quite hard).  On the back you will find a type-C USB port, which is widely used in mobile phones. The ST4-port is used for auto-guiding on mounts. So if you are having one of those observing nights when Murphy’s law is by your side, at least you’ll have an excellent guide camera (that smiles at you).

Focus like a eyepiece

ASI mini camera can focus at the same position as an eyepiece. This means that you can focus with an eyepiece, and then directly insert the ASI mini camera into 1.25″ holder – focus done!

Work with OAG

The Mini-camera series are well suited for OAG use: They have a much bigger focus range than normal ASI cameras. No more worrying about your guide camera and main camera not being able to find focus at the same time.

Work with CS adapter and CS lens

Work with 1.25″ extender