ZWO ASI678MC Color Planetary Camera

Fine 2µm pixels for sharp planets at f/8 to f/10

The ZWO ASI678MC is a color planetary camera built on Sony's 8.3-megapixel IMX678 STARVIS 2 sensor. It records fast video that stacking software turns into sharp images of Jupiter, Saturn, Mars, the Moon and the Sun. It replaces the ASI178MC with smaller 2µm pixels, more resolution, lower read noise and no amp glow. It slides into any 1.25-inch focuser with the included nosepiece, threads onto M42 adapters, runs from one USB cable and weighs 126g (4.4oz).

Key specs: Sony IMX678 STARVIS 2 color sensor, 1/1.8" (7.7 × 4.3mm) · 8.3MP (3840 × 2160) · 2µm pixels · read noise 0.6e⁻ at high gain · 11.27ke⁻ full well · 83% peak QE · 47.5 fps at full resolution · zero amp glow · USB 3.0 with 256MB buffer · 126g

What you can capture

• Planets: Jupiter's belts, festoons and Great Red Spot, Saturn's rings and Cassini Division, and surface markings on Mars near opposition. On an 8-inch SCT (2032mm) the field is about 13′ × 7.3′ at 0.2 arc-seconds per pixel.
• The Moon: crater fields and rilles in high resolution. On a 400mm refractor the field is about 1.1° × 0.62°, enough for the whole Moon.
• The Sun: sunspots and granulation with a white-light solar filter, or prominences through a hydrogen-alpha solar telescope.
• Near-infrared views: with an 850nm IR-pass filter, Jupiter and Saturn steady up noticeably in turbulent air.
• Bright deep-sky objects: live-stacked views of the Orion Nebula, the Ring Nebula and globular clusters.

How it works

Plug the camera into a laptop's USB 3.0 port with the included 2m cable, put it in your focuser with the 1.25" nosepiece, and record short video clips in free software such as FireCapture, SharpCap or ZWO's ASIStudio. AutoStakkert! then keeps the sharpest frames and stacks them. No separate power supply is needed.

With 2µm pixels, aim for a focal ratio of about f/8 to f/10 in visible light. That's an 8-inch SCT at its native f/10, or an f/5 Newtonian with a 2x Barlow. The camera has High Conversion Gain (HCG) mode, which switches on automatically at gain 182 and keeps read noise low while holding close to 11 stops of dynamic range. The sensor sits 12.5mm behind the front of the camera, and the ST4 port lets it double as a guide camera.

What to add for the best results

• ZWO IR cut filter (1.25"): the window passes near-infrared, so add an IR cut filter for natural color and sharper focus, especially on refractors.
• A Barlow for shorter telescopes: the Celestron 2x X-Cel LX Barlow takes an f/5 Newtonian or refractor to about f/10. An SCT at f/10 doesn't need one.
• ZWO Atmospheric Dispersion Corrector: removes the color fringing on planets low in the sky.
• A solar filter (required for the Sun): a full-aperture white-light filter such as the EclipSmart filter for 8" SCTs.
• A tracking mount: any GoTo mount that keeps the planet centered while you record.

ASI678MC vs. ASI678MM vs. ASI585MC vs. ASI715MC

See all ZWO planetary and all-sky cameras.

What's in the box

• ASI678MC camera
• Front cover
• Small wide-angle lens (threads onto the camera front)
• 1.25" nosepiece
• USB 3.0 cable (2m)
• ST4 guide cable
• Quick guide

Filters, Barlows and the telescope are sold separately.

ZWO ASI678MC FAQ

Is the ASI678MC good for beginners?

Yes. It's powered by USB, fits any 1.25" focuser and is color, so there's no filter wheel. Start with the Moon, then move to Jupiter and Saturn.

Which camera is best for Jupiter and Saturn on my telescope?

Match the pixel size to your focal ratio. On an 8-inch SCT at f/10, the ASI678MC is a natural fit with no Barlow. With a 2.9µm camera like the ASI585MC you'd want about f/12 to f/15. On a short refractor without a Barlow, the ASI715MC's 1.45µm pixels give a larger planet image.

ASI678MC or ASI678MM?

Same sensor. The color MC captures a full-color image in one video, which is simpler. The ASI678MM needs filters for color but is the better choice for IR-pass and methane-band imaging and for hydrogen-alpha solar work.

ASI678MC or ASI585MC?

The ASI585MC has a much larger sensor and deeper full well, so it's the better all-rounder for the Moon and Sun. The ASI678MC's smaller pixels reach full resolution at f/8 to f/10 with less magnification, which suits SCTs at their native focal length.

Can I image the Sun with it?

Yes, but only with proper solar filtering on the telescope: a full-aperture white-light filter or a dedicated hydrogen-alpha solar telescope. Never point a telescope at the Sun without one.

Does it work as a guide camera?

Yes. It has an ST4 port and guides over USB with PHD2, though most people use a dedicated guide camera so this one stays free for imaging.

Specifications