cameracomparison · 2-way
QHYCCD QHY5L-II-M vs QHYCCD QHY183C

QHYCCD
QHY5L-II-M
A strong fit for photographers stepping into astro pairing with longer focal lengths where framing is tight.

QHYCCD
QHY183C
A strong fit for dedicated deep-sky imagers pairing with longer focal lengths where framing is tight.
Key differences
-62% larger sensor
Larger pixels (3.75µm vs 2.4µm)
-94% more resolution
Uncooled
Mono vs color
Specifications
| Specification | QHYCCD QHY5L-II-M | QHYCCD QHY183C |
|---|---|---|
| Sensor | ||
| Type | guide-camera | dedicated |
| Sensor | Aptina AR0130 | Sony IMX183 |
| Sensor tech | CMOS | CMOS |
| Format | 1/3" | 1" |
| Sensor size | 4.8×3.6mm | 13.2×8.8mm |
| Diagonal | 6.0mm | 15.9mm |
| Pixel size | 3.75µm | 2.40µm |
| Resolution | 1280×960 | 5544×3684 |
| Megapixels | 1.2MP | 20.4MP |
| Color | No | Yes |
| Cooling | ||
| Cooled | No | Yes |
| Performance | ||
| Full well | 13000e⁻ | 15000e⁻ |
| Peak QE | 80% | 84% |
Advantages of QHYCCD QHY5L-II-M
- Larger pixels — better low-light per-pixel sensitivity
- Mono sensor — ideal for narrowband and LRGB
Advantages of QHYCCD QHY183C
- Larger sensor (15.9mm vs 6mm diagonal) — wider field
- Finer sampling at 2.4µm pixels
- Higher resolution (20.4MP vs 1.23MP)
- Regulated cooling for long exposures
- One-shot color — simpler workflow
Best for — QHYCCD QHY5L-II-M
- Longer focal lengths — tighter framing on small targets
- Well-sampled deep-sky at medium focal lengths
- Narrowband and LRGB workflows
Best for — QHYCCD QHY183C
- Longer focal lengths — tighter framing on small targets
- Planetary and lunar high-resolution imaging
- Long-exposure deep-sky under any sky
- One-shot color — quick results, less processing
QHYCCD QHY5L-II-M — typical FOV & scale
- On 250mm refractor (wide)FOV: 1.10° × 0.83°Scale: 3.09"/px
- On 800mm SCT reducerFOV: 0.34° × 0.26°Scale: 0.97"/px
- On 2000mm SCT nativeFOV: 0.14° × 0.10°Scale: 0.39"/px
QHYCCD QHY183C — typical FOV & scale
- On 250mm refractor (wide)FOV: 3.03° × 2.02°Scale: 1.98"/px
- On 800mm SCT reducerFOV: 0.95° × 0.63°Scale: 0.62"/px
- On 2000mm SCT nativeFOV: 0.38° × 0.25°Scale: 0.25"/px
QHYCCD QHY5L-II-M — recommended user
A strong fit for photographers stepping into astro pairing with longer focal lengths where framing is tight.
QHYCCD QHY183C — recommended user
A strong fit for dedicated deep-sky imagers pairing with longer focal lengths where framing is tight.