ZWO ASI174MM USB3.0 Monochrome Astronomy Camera
The ZWO ASI174MM is a high-resolution monochrome astronomy camera built around the large-format Sony IMX174 CMOS sensor. With its 2.3-megapixel resolution and impressive sensor size, it stands out among planetary and lunar cameras by offering a noticeably wider field of view than most competitors in its class. Whether you are planning to capture fine planetary detail, wide lunar overviews, or even venture into deep-sky imaging, the ASI174MM delivers consistent and reliable results.
Versatile astrophotography in a compact body
One of the main strengths of the ASI174MM is its versatility. The camera handles a wide range of astrophotography applications with equal confidence:
- Planetary imaging - the high frame rate of up to 128 FPS at full resolution allows you to capture thousands of frames for lucky imaging stacking, revealing surface details on planets with exceptional sharpness.
- Lunar photography - the large sensor area makes it possible to photograph extensive lunar regions in a single frame, creating detailed panoramic views of the Moon's surface.
- Solar photography - suitable for solar work when used with appropriate solar filters, capturing granulation, sunspots and prominences with high clarity.
- Deep-sky imaging - while the ASI174MM is not a cooled camera, the IMX174 sensor features low read noise and good dark current performance, making short-exposure deep-sky work entirely feasible.
- Autoguiding - the camera works excellently as a guide camera, providing reliable star detection even through shorter focal length guide scopes.
The camera ships with an AR (anti-reflection) protective window, which preserves full sensitivity across the visible and near-infrared spectrum. If you wish to block infrared light - for example during planetary or solar work - a separate IR-cut filter is required and can be easily added using the standard filter thread.
Sony IMX174 sensor - designed for demanding applications
The Sony IMX174LLJ / IMX174LQJ sensor at the core of the ASI174MM was originally developed for machine vision and scientific imaging, which means it was engineered for reliability and performance rather than consumer-grade compromises. The 5.86 µm pixel size strikes a good balance between sensitivity and resolution, collecting sufficient light for shorter exposures while maintaining the detail needed for high-resolution planetary work. The 12-bit ADC output captures a wide dynamic range, preserving subtle tonal gradations across bright and shadow areas simultaneously.
USB 3.0 connection for high-speed data transfer
The ASI174MM connects via USB 3.0, enabling the full 128 FPS frame rate at maximum resolution without bottlenecks. A USB 2.0 connection is also supported, though significantly reduced frame rates apply. For planetary imaging sessions where volume of captured frames is critical, a USB 3.0 port is strongly recommended. The camera is compatible with all major astrophotography software packages including SharpCap, FireCapture, Sequence Generator Pro and others.
System requirements
The camera requires USB 3.0 support from both the hardware and the operating system. Supported platforms include Windows 8 and later, Mac OS X 10.8 and later, and Linux with kernel 2.6.31 or newer.
Technical specifications
| Sensor |
1/1.2" Sony CMOS IMX174LLJ / IMX174LQJ |
| Resolution |
2.3 MP - 1936 x 1216 pixels |
| Pixel size |
5.86 µm |
| Sensor size |
11.34 mm x 7.13 mm |
| Max. frame rate |
128 FPS at full resolution (USB 3.0) |
| Exposure range |
32 µs - 1000 s |
| ADC output |
12-bit |
| ROI (Region of Interest) |
Supported |
| Interface |
USB 3.0 / USB 2.0 (USB 3.0 strongly recommended) |
| Adapters included |
2" / 1.25" / M42x0.75 |
| T2 thread to sensor distance |
17.5 mm |
| Dimensions |
62 mm (diameter) x 41 mm |
| Weight |
140 g |
| Operating temperature |
-5 °C to 45 °C |
| Storage temperature |
-20 °C to 60 °C |
| Operating humidity |
20% - 80% RH |
| Storage humidity |
20% - 95% RH |
