The ToupTek G3CMOS08300KPA (known by us as an G3C585C) incorporates the 8.3 megapixel Sony IMX585 CMOS sensor. This is a colour camera which is especially suited to short exposure planetary or deep sky astrophotography.

The IMX585 sensor in the G3C585C is a 1/1.2″ (11.1 x 6.3mm) sensor with 2.9µm pixels. With an example focal length of 1000mm, the field of view will be 38.3 by 21.5 arcminutes, at a resolution of 0.60 arcseconds per pixel.

The G3C585C has a hybrid passive cooling system that is boosted with a USB powered fan. The internal design of the camera draws heat quickly away from the sensor to the heat sink, where it is dissipated under the influence of the fan. This system prevents heat build-up over short to medium exposure times, which makes the camera especially suited to planetary astrophotography. Avoiding heat build-up decreases image noise, and will therefore enhance the signal to noise ratio.

The camera communicates with the computer using a USB3.0 cable (included with the camera). The camera has a native driver, and an ASCOM driver is also included. This means that all popular image acquisition software may be used with the camera. In addition to this, the camera comes with an advanced video and image processing application ToupSky.

Because the G3C585C also works well as an autoguiding camera, an ST-4 port and cable are provided, which allows ST-4 guiding.

The Sony IMX585 CMOS sensor incorporated in the G3C585C produces zero amp glow. Combined with dithering, this means that dark frames may not be required.