ToupTek SkyEye26AM Plus: APS-C-sized cooled monochrome camera

The ToupTek SkyEye26AM Plus is a cooled monochrome astronomical camera designed for deep-sky photography. It combines a 26-megapixel Sony IMX571 APS-C sensor with electronics designed for long exposures. It allows you to capture nebulae, galaxies, and star fields using an optical setup tailored to the sensor’s format.

The 6,224 × 4,168-pixel sensor uses 3.76 µm photosites. The manufacturer reports a quantum efficiency greater than 91 %, a minimum readout noise of 0.77 e⁻, and a well capacity of up to 51 ke⁻. These values correspond to the conditions and operating modes documented by ToupTek; they do not necessarily describe a single setting that combines all maximum performance values.

Two-stage thermoelectric cooling can achieve a temperature difference of 43 °C below ambient temperature. Cooling is used to minimize thermal noise during extended acquisitions. The result depends on environmental conditions and camera operation. Heating of the optical window accounts for ambient temperature and humidity to minimize condensation during sessions.

The 512 MB DDR3 buffer supports image transfer via USB 3.0. The built-in hub features four USB 2.0 ports and one USB 3.0 port for connecting accessories such as a filter wheel, a guide camera, or a focus motor. This integration allows connections to be grouped near the optical path rather than creating multiple separate connections to the computer.

This monochrome version does not include a Bayer filter array. It is designed specifically for LRGB filter acquisitions and narrow-band Hα, OIII, and SII images. Creating a composite image requires combining the images from the different channels. The choice of wheel, filters, and adapters depends on the optical system used; these components are not automatically included in this product listing.

ToupTek describes this camera's circuitry as free of amp-glow. This characteristic refers to stray light generated by the electronics and does not eliminate the need to perform a calibration appropriate for the acquisition conditions.

Technical specifications