Celestron Origin 678C Camera

Reveal stunning detail in your deep-sky astrophotography with the Origin 678C—Celestron’s next-generation camera for the Origin Intelligent Home Observatory. Featuring Sony’s latest Starvis 2 CMOS technology, this high-performance camera delivers increased resolution and finer detail thanks to its smaller pixel size and enhanced sensitivity.

The Origin 678C Camera replaces the original Origin 178C Camera, giving you an upgrade in image quality. Whether you're imaging galaxies, nebulae, or star clusters, you'll capture more object detail in images that better fill your smartphone or tablet’s display screen.

It’s the perfect way to further enhance your Origin experience—and your astroimaging.

What’s New with the Origin 678C Camera

The Origin 678C Camera brings meaningful enhancements to your astrophotography experience. Here’s what you can expect:

1. Increased resolution
   Although both sensors are the same physical size, the IMX678C uses smaller 2.0 μm² pixels than the 2.4 μm² pixels in the IMX178C. This results in a finer resolution of 1.2 arcseconds per pixel (down from 1.5 arcseconds per pixel), allowing you to resolve more detail and “zoom in” slightly more on celestial objects. This is especially beneficial since most night sky targets are relatively small.
2. Larger file sizes
   Because the IMX678C packs more effective pixels (8.4 MP vs. 6.4 MP), image files will be somewhat larger. As a result, you may notice slightly slower automatic image processing in the app, depending on the performance of your smartphone or tablet.
3. Increased sensitivity
   Despite having smaller pixels, the IMX678C is slightly more sensitive overall than the IMX178C. The improvement is subtle; images won’t appear dramatically brighter.
4. Different ISO response
   ISO values are not directly comparable between the two sensors. The IMX678C's default ISO is 1000, while the IMX178C’s is 200.
5. Different aspect ratio
   The IMX678C uses a 16:9 aspect ratio, compared to the 3:2 ratio of the IMX178C. This means your field of view will appear more rectangular, ideal for framing larger regions of the sky and perfectly matched to the landscape orientation of most smartphone and tablet displays—making it easier to compose, view, and share your images.

Quick and Simple Installation

Upgrading to the Origin 678C Camera is fast and hassle-free. Designed to integrate seamlessly with your Origin system, the camera installs without any complicated tools or processes. Simply remove the existing camera, attach the Origin 678C using the included adapter and retaining ring, and plug it in.

After you install the new camera, we’ll walk you through capturing new calibration frames. Dark frames reduce sensor noise, while flat frames correct for illumination variations across the image. The Origin app makes this process simple and intuitive—and you can follow along with our video, too.

For the easiest and most consistent results, we recommend the PrimaLuceLab GIOTTO for Celestron Origin— a flat-field generator custom-designed for Origin that works with the same smartphone you use to control Origin. Whether you use GIOTTO or the evening sky (i.e., “sky flats”), capturing new flat frames ensures your upgraded system is optimized and ready to deliver stunning, high-contrast astrophotography from your very next session.

Second Life for Your Origin-178C Camera

Upgrading to the Origin 678C doesn’t mean your original camera has to sit on the sidelines. The Origin-178C is a powerful tool, and now it’s free to be used with other telescopes you may own. With its standard M42 T-thread connection, it mounts easily to most optical systems and makes a great planetary or lunar imaging camera. In minutes, your 178C will be ready for a whole new role in your astrophotography toolbox.