An All-Sky Camera for Under €70!

My New All-Sky Camera: A Budget-Friendly Gem!

Following some interesting discussions on a Webastro forum thread, I decided to pull the trigger on a new waterproof dome camera. This one is based on the shiny new Sony IMX225 sensor, destined to replace my aging All-Sky setup. I snagged it from AliExpress for less than €70, and after about a three-week wait, it finally landed on my doorstep.

The little camera has quite a bit of heft to it, feeling incredibly solid and well-built. Cracking it open, I was genuinely impressed by the clean internal layout – honestly, many far pricier models don’t look nearly as tidy inside. It’s truly ready to roll as an All-Sky camera right out of the box, no modifications needed, boasting IP POE, a waterproof design, and even an integrated defrost system. Seriously, the bang for your buck here is just phenomenal!

After using the small utility provided to detect the camera on my network, the configuration phase kicked in. And here’s the kicker: it has to be done via Internet Explorer. This means installing their specific IE extension and wrestling with ActiveX and script security settings. It’s a bit of a shame, really, given how much better Chrome or Firefox usually are for browsing. The configuration options are plentiful, almost to the point of being overwhelming, but with a bit of patience, you can dial it in.

I’ve had it installed for a little while now, and I’m genuinely happy with the results. Even during those rare breaks in the clouds, it does an excellent job of pinpointing planets and stars.

UPDATE 01/02/2020: I’ve since upgraded this All-Sky setup to an ASI120 Mini paired with a Focusafe CS 1.25mm 180° lens. The results? Absolutely stellar!