QHY268C
QHY's take on the class-favourite APS-C sensor: a cooled 26-megapixel one-shot-colour camera with a true 16-bit readout and short back focus, a direct alternative to the most popular deep-sky camera.
Built for deep sky, the large APS-C sensor frames nebulae and galaxies with resolution to spare. Overkill for high-resolution planetary work.
Lowest in 90 days
Price tracked by PolarisObserved 28 timesTracking since Mar 2026
Same camera. Different telescope. A completely different photograph.
A camera has no field of view of its own, the telescope in front of it decides everything. Pick a target and watch the same 26-megapixel frame become three different images.
What it's best at — and the trade-offs.
The numbers, in plain English.
What it shines on.
Everything you'd actually buy.
How it scores, and why.
Reference-grade APS-C sensor, deep regulated cooling and very low read noise. Scores just behind the category leader mainly on ecosystem familiarity, not performance.
Polaris weighs how well the camera does the job it was designed for — image quality, sensitivity, versatility and value — never list price or brand.
An honest fit check.
Full specifications.
The IMX571 is the sensor that defined the modern APS-C colour camera, and QHY pairs it with a genuine 16-bit ADC and a short back focus that eases spacing on fast optics. If you prefer the QHY ecosystem, you give up nothing on sensor quality.
For a different goal, start here.
ZWO ASI2600MC Pro
The same IMX571 sensor in the most widely supported ecosystem
ZWO ASI533MC Pro
A square 1-inch sensor with no amp glow if you want an easier first camera
QHY600 Photographic Color
A 61MP full-frame sensor for the widest field and highest resolution