Monochrome

5 products

1. 

   Apollo-M MAX USB3.0 Mono Camera (IMX432) M [PL-APOLLO-MMAX]

   $662.14 CAD $882.85 CAD

   On sale

   Player One:

   • Sensor：IMX432
   • Format：1.1 inch
   • Resolution：1608×1104
   • Pixels：1.7 MP
   • FPS：98 FPS
   • Mono Camera
   • ADC：12bit
   • Port：USB3.0 & ST4

   Focus on Solar imaging!
   Apollo series is the world’s first camera line designed specifically for solar photography, named after Apollo.

   The Apollo series features Sony sensors with global shutters and a focus onProduct Description
   Apollo-M MAX is a solar camera developed by Player One Astronomy, which adopts the Sony IMX432 1.1” format monochrome sensor. The 9um pixel size accommodates a well depth of 100ke with a total of 1.7MP  (the resolution is 1608*1104), and the diagonal is 17.5mm. monochrome sensors.
   Pregius Technology

   IMX432 sensor is based on Pregius 3rd Generation. But IMX432 is quite different. According to the introduction of technical documents, pixel size of 3rd Gen usually is 4.5um, and full well is 25Ke. But this sensor has 9um pixel, and of course the full well up to 4x (100Ke).

   IMX432 has 1.1″ format, it is pretty big, almost twice of IMX174 chip.

   Pixel size
   9um pixel size is 1.5 times bigger than IMX174 camera, which means it can works at longer focal ratio, such as SCT + Daystar filter(with 4.2X) .
   Full Well

   100Ke full well, is 3 times bigger than IMX174. This feature will bring some new possibility in imaging. What we can imagine is HDR the Sun and prominence, or maybe the bright and dark side of the Moon.

   HCG and Noise
   HCG mode will automatic open when Gain >145, readout noise will drop to 4.6e. And dynamic range will rise to 12 drops again.

   At 380 gain, readout noise of IMX432 is 2.6e, it is lower than IMX174. And full well will still bigger than IMX174.

   Highlights
    
   No banding
   Row noise problem is a big trouble in solar imaging. When we use IMX174 or IMX178 cameras, bandings occurs sometimes. Although we can fix this problem in post-processing, but it still does nagitive affect on the details.

   The biggest surprise in testing Apollo-M  MAX is, we found that images of IMX432 are so smooth, no annoying horizontal banding. So that, we can focus on capture details in any focal ratio, in any way ( full disk mosaic or ROI ) , never need to worry about banding issue in post-processing.

   Cutting-edge Design
   The planetary cameras developed by Player One Astronomy uses a scientific and technological regular hexagon to construct the main body line, supplemented by round chamfers to achieve both rigidity and flexibility. The positive orange, which is imply solar, is matched with the low-key and steady black, and the super-fine frosting process on the entire surface makes the camera look luxurious and cool, highlighting the style of high-end players, can’t take my eyes off 😀

   Sensor Tilt Plate
   When taking solar photograph with prominence telescope, the Newton ring is annoying. Smoother solar image without Newton ring could be taken by adjusting the focal plate. Get a much smaller field curvature of the telescope.

   
   The built-in high-density sponge shading pad can block the light from the side slits without any side leakage.

    256M DDR3 Cache
   Player One Astronomy cameras are the first one who adpots the DDR3 cache in all planetary cameras in the world! It helps stabilize and secure data transmission, it effectively avoids frame dropping and greatly reduces readnoise.

   With the DDR3 cache, the camera does not have high demands on computing needs any longer, it will still has excellent performance even if it is connected to a USB 2.0 port.

   DPS technology
   The planetary cameras from Player One Astronomy have DPS (Dead Pixel Suppression) technology. The DPS is anaylse many dark frames to find out thoes fixed abnormal pixel and record the map in camera memory. In imaging, each exposure frames, thoes position of dead pixels will be given a median value according to the active pixels around that abnormal pixel.
   Overvoltage and overcurrent protection mechanism
   Player One cameras produced by the number one player ensures the safety of your camera and other equipment through overvoltage and overcurrent protection mechanisms.

   Data Port
   When the camera is connected to the USB3.0 interface and full-resolution preview is used, it can reach 98FPS both in 12bit (RAW16) and 10bit(RAW8) mode. When recording images, since the actual writing speed will be affected by the writing speed of the hard disk itself, when the hard disk writing speed is slow, the recording may not reach the theoretical speed. It is recommended that you use a high-quality solid state drive to record data to give full play to the performance of the camera.

   Use the ST4 guide cable to connect the camera and the AUTO GUIDE port of the equatorial mount to do guiding.

   HCG  Mode
   The Apollo-M MAX camera has a unique HCG mode, which will automatically turn on when the camera gain setting is >145. The HCG mode can greatly reduce the readout noise and retain the same high dynamic range as the low gain.

   Out of Stock
2. 

   Ceres-M USB3.0 Mono Camera (AR0130) [PL-CERES-M]

   $200.50 CAD $267.33 CAD

   4 in stock On sale

   Back Order / Waiting List

   Player One:

   Ceres-M USB3.0 Mono Camera (AR0130)Player One Astronomy guiding camera series, AKA Dwarf Planet Series, is design for guiding and imaging. This series including 3 sub-series, Ceres, Sedna and Xena.
   Ceres-M is a guiding camera developed by Player One Astronomy, which adopts the Aptina AR0130 1/3” format sensor. The 3.75um pixel size accommodates a well depth of 18ke with a total of 1.2MP  (the resolution is 1280*960), and the diagonal is 6mm.

   Highlights
   Dwarf planet series integrated USB3.0 data port(500Mb/s), which can provide over 10 times speed than USB2.0 device(60Mb/s). Whatever you wants to do guiding or imaging, this camera series can handle it very well.

   Dwarf planet camera diameter is 1.25″, it can slide in 1.25″ holder of guiding scope, makes the whole setup shorter.With a 5-100MM CS lens attached on the camera, it also can be used as a guider or finder.
   The naming of Player One guiding cameras is interesting. Guiding camera is smaller than planetary camera, that’s why we choose dwarf planets to name it.

   The size of each dwarf planet to a certain extent represents the size of camera sensors. We will name Ceres with a 1/3″ sensor camera, and for Xena, we will name it with a 1/1.2 inch sensor camera. All names will be engraved on the housing of the cameras.

   Drivers and softwares download: https://player-one-astronomy.com/service/software/

   Manuals download: https://player-one-astronomy.com/service/manuals/

   Cutting-edge Design
   The guiding cameras developed by Player One Astronomy uses technological regular hexagon to construct the main body line.
   DPS technology
   The guiding cameras from Player One Astronomy have DPS (Dead Pixel Suppression) technology, dead pixels (including both hot pixels and cold pixels) of the image are swept away. DPS function is turned on during your whole imaging session, no need to worry about it !Overvoltage and overcurrent protection mechanism
   Player One cameras produced by the number one player ensures the safety of your camera and other equipment through overvoltage and overcurrent protection mechanisms.

   Data Port
   When the camera is connected to the USB3.0 interface and full-resolution preview is used, it can reach 65 FPS in RAW8 mode (10bit ADC). When recording images, since the actual writing speed will be affected by the writing speed of the hard disk itself, when the hard disk writing speed is slow, the recording may not reach the theoretical speed. It is recommended that you use a high-quality solid state drive to record data to give full play to the performance of the camera.

   Use the ST4 guide cable to connect the camera and the AUTO GUIDE port of the equatorial mount to do guiding.
   Readout Noise
   Regarding readout noise, we solemnly promise that all values are obtained from actual tests.  And for users, you could use Sharpcap 4 for testing. SC4 has a function called Sensor Analysis, provide a very simple way to test readout noise.

   We wrote a tutorial on our website: https://player-one-astronomy.com/service/manuals/

   After many rigorous readout noise tests, the Ceres-M camera can reach a low readout noise of 3.6e at a gain of 200.

   If you are interested in readout noise testing, you may try it yourself, which is very simple.

     Add to cart
3. 

   Mars-M USB3.0 Mono Camera (IMX290) [PL-MARS-M]

   $277.44 CAD $369.92 CAD

   1 in stock On sale

   Back Order / Waiting List

   Player One: Mars-M USB3.0 Mono Camera (IMX290)
   Mars-M is a monochrome planetary camera developed by Player One Astronomy, which adopts the Sony IMX290 1/2.8″ CMOS , with a 1944 x 1096 array of 2.9um pixels and the diagonal is 6.46 mm.
   The naming of Player One Astronomy cameras is unique. For example, we name the planetary cameras after planets (They are Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus and Neptune, Earth is not included). The size of each planet to a certain extent, represents the size of camera sensors. We name Saturn with a 1-inch sensor camera, and for Mars, we name it with  a ½.8 inch senor camera. All camera names will be engraved on the housing of the cameras.

   Drivers and softwares download: http://player-one-astronomy.com/service/software/

   Manuals download: http://player-one-astronomy.com/service/manuals/
   Highlights
   Mars-M is an monochrome camera with higher sensitivity than color cameras, you can get brighter image when you do planetary imaging.  In additional, the monochrome camera can get a sharper image because it does not need de-Bayer transformation. It is suitable for close-ups of the moon and sunspots.
   With Player One Filter Wheel (coming soon), you can use the Mars-M camera to do LRGB , NIR imaging etc. 
   Connecting the Mars-M camera to a telescope with an 1.25″ T-Mount, or adding a Barlow lens between the camera and a telescope to extend the focal length for more details.
   With a CS lens attached on the Mars-M camera,it can be used as an all-day camera or meteor monitoring camera, monochrome camera has better performance than color camera!
   Cutting-edge Design
   The planetary cameras developed by Player One Astronomy uses a scientific and technological regular hexagon to construct the main body line, supplemented by round chamfers to achieve both rigidity and flexibility. The positive red, which is like a summer fire, is matched with the low-key and steady black, and the super-fine frosting process on the entire surface makes the camera look luxurious and cool, highlighting the style of high-end players, can’t take my eyes off ; D
   Sensor Tilt Plate
   When taking solar photograph with prominence telescope, the Newton ring is annoying. Smoother solar image without Newton ring could be taken by adjusting the focal plate. Besides, when you use a planetary camera for deep-sky lucky imaging, if you find the surrounding stars are not perfect, you can adjust the sensor tilt plate to obtain a flatter image field. get a much smaller field curvature of the telescope.
   The built-in high-density sponge shading pad can block the light from the side slits without any side leakage.

   256M DDR3 Cache
   Player One Astronomy cameras are the first one who adpots the DDR3 cache in all planetary cameras in the world! It helps stabilize and secure data transmission, it effectively avoids frame dropping and greatly reduces readnoise.

   With the DDR3 cache, the Mars-M camera does not have high demands on computing needs any longer, it will still has excellent performance even if it is connected to a USB 2.0 port.
   DPS technology
   The planetary cameras from Player One Astronomy have DPS (Dead Pixel Suppression) technology, dead pixels (including both hot pixels and cold pixels) of the image are swept away. DPS function is turned on during your whole imaging session, no need to worry about it !

   Overvoltage and overcurrent protection mechanism
   Player One cameras produced by the number one player ensures the safety of your camera and other equipment through overvoltage and overcurrent protection mechanisms.

    USB3.0 Port and ST4 Port
   When the camera is connected to the USB3.0 interface and full-resolution preview is used, it can reach 136 FPS in RAW8 mode (10bit ADC), and the frame rate in RAW16 mode (12bit ADC) is 64 frames per second. When recording images, since the actual writing speed will be affected by the writing speed of the hard disk itself, when the hard disk writing speed is slow, the recording may not reach the theoretical speed. It is recommended that you use a high-quality solid state drive to record data to give full play to the performance of the camera.
   Use the ST4 guide cable to connect the camera and the AUTO GUIDE port of the equatorial mount to do guiding.
   Readout Noise
   Regarding readout noise, we solemnly promise that all values are obtained from actual tests.  And for users, you could use Sharpcap 3.3 for testing. SC3.3 has a function called Sensor Analysis, provide a very simple way to test readout noise.

   We wrote a tutorial on our website: http://player-one-astronomy.com/service/manuals/

   After many rigorous readout noise tests, the Mars-C camera can reach a low readout noise of 0.73e at a gain of 350 and around 0.7e at a gain of 400.

   If you are interested in readout noise testing, you may try it yourself, which is very simple.

   HCG Mode
   The Mars-M camera has a unique HCG mode, which will automatically turn on when the camera gain setting is ≥60. The HCG mode can greatly reduce the readout noise and retain the same high dynamic range as the low gain.

   QE Curve
   The peak value of QE of Mars-M camera is about 80%, and it has very strong ultraviolet and infrared sensitivity. The actual QE value can be estimated by multiplying the ordinate of the official relative QE graph (below) by 80%.

     Add to cart
4. 

   Sedna-M USB3.0 Mono Camera (IMX178) [PL-SEDNA-M]

   $277.44 CAD $369.92 CAD

   3 in stock On sale

   Back Order / Waiting List

   Sedna-M is a guiding camera developed by Player One Astronomy, which adopts the Sony IMX178 1/1.8” format sensor. The 2.4um pixel size accommodates a well depth of 15ke with a total of 6.4MP  (the resolution is 3096*2078), and the diagonal is 9mm.

   Highlights
   Dwarf planet series integrated USB3.0 data port(500Mb/s), which can provide over 10 times speed than USB2.0 device(60Mb/s). Whatever you wants to do guiding or imaging, this camera series can handle it very well.

   Dwarf planet camera diameter is 1.25″, it can slide in 1.25″ adapter of guiding scope, makes the whole setup shorter.
   With a 5-100MM CS lens attached on the camera, it also can be used as a guider or finder.

   Features:

   The naming of Player One guiding cameras is interesting. Guiding camera is smaller than planetary camera, that’s why we choose dwarf planets to name it.

   The size of each dwarf planet to a certain extent represents the size of camera sensors. We will name Ceres with a 1/3″ sensor camera, and for Xena, we will name it with a 1/1.2 inch sensor camera. All names will be engraved on the housing of the cameras.

   Drivers and softwares download: http://player-one-astronomy.com/service/software/

   Manuals download: http://player-one-astronomy.com/service/manuals/

    Cutting-edge Design
   The guiding cameras developed by Player One Astronomy uses technological regular hexagon to construct the main body line.
   DPS technology
   The guiding cameras from Player One Astronomy have DPS (Dead Pixel Suppression) technology, dead pixels (including both hot pixels and cold pixels) of the image are swept away. DPS function is turned on during your whole imaging session, no need to worry about it !
   Overvoltage and overcurrent protection mechanism
   Player One cameras produced by the number one player ensures the safety of your camera and other equipment through overvoltage and overcurrent protection mechanisms.

   Data Port
   When the camera is connected to the USB3.0 interface and full-resolution preview is used, it can reach 60 FPS in RAW8 mode (10bit ADC). When recording images, since the actual writing speed will be affected by the writing speed of the hard disk itself, when the hard disk writing speed is slow, the recording may not reach the theoretical speed. It is recommended that you use a high-quality solid state drive to record data to give full play to the performance of the camera.

   Use the ST4 guide cable to connect the camera and the AUTO GUIDE port of the equatorial mount to do guiding.
   Readout Noise
   Regarding readout noise, we solemnly promise that all values are obtained from actual tests.  And for users, you could use Sharpcap 4 for testing. SC4 has a function called Sensor Analysis, provide a very simple way to test readout noise.

   We wrote a tutorial on our website: https://player-one-astronomy.com/service/manuals/

   After many rigorous readout noise tests, the Sedna-M camera can reach a low readout noise of 1.34e at a gain of 350.

   If you are interested in readout noise testing, you may try it yourself, which is very simple.
   HCG  Mode
   The Sedna-M camera has a unique HCG mode, which will automatically turn on when the camera gain setting is >30. The HCG mode can greatly reduce the readout noise and retain the same high dynamic range as the low gain.

     Add to cart
5. 

   ZEUS 455M PRO (IMX455) USB3.0 Mono Cooled Camera [PL-ZEUS455M-PRO]

   $5,154.68 CAD $5,425.98 CAD

   On sale

   Player One:

   ZEUS 455M PRO (IMX455) USB3.0 Mono Cooled Camera
   Features:
   DSO cooled camera line is the most advanced product line in Player One history. We start the project from 2021, through a lot of modify and rebuild we made this final version. It brings our newest technology and design to everyone, we are very proud to introduce this camera line.
   Product Description

    New Cutting-edge Design
   Polygon like regular hexagon is very Player One, the DSO cooled cameras we want to make it more beautiful and practical. After a lot of trying,  we fix the final style, which uses a scientific and technological octagon to construct the main body line and 4 sides are cambered surface, supplemented by round chamfers to achieve both rigidity and flexibility. The front piece is round to avoid diffraction on RASA. The positive red, which is like a summer fire, is matched with the low-key and steady black, and the super-fine frosting process on the entire surface makes the camera look luxurious and cool, and keep Player One style.

   ZEUS 455M Pro cooled camera is developed by Player One Astronomy, it’s design for advanced DSO imaging. it adopts Sony Industrial grade IMX455ALK-K full-frame format monochrome sensor. The 3.76um pixel size accommodates a well depth of 71.6Ke with a total of 61MP  (the resolution is 9576*6388), and the diagonal is 44.3mm.

   Rear Adjustment 4 Point Sensor Tilt Plate
   When taking deepsky objects, using sensor tilt plate can get a much smaller field curvature of the telescope. We adopts rear Adjustment and 4 point tilt plate, it has a lot advantages in usage.
   4 Point adjustment is easier to know which corner is needed to adjust. The built-in high-density sponge shading pad can block the light from the side slits without any side leakage.

   For understand 4 point adjustment method, we made a example for users:
   Deep Cooling
   Player One cooled camera series use 2 Stage TEC Cooling unit, after improved the structure design to reject the heat back to camera chamber, Zeus Camera Delta-T can reach about 35℃.

   512MB DDR3 Cache
   As an improvement, DDR3 cache in cooled cameras are increased to 512MB. It helps stabilize and secure data transmission, it effectively avoid.
   STARVIS Technology
   ZEUS 455M Pro cooled camera based on Sony STARVIS technology, it is back-illuminated pixel technology used in CMOS image sensors.
   Full-Frame Format
   ZEUS 455M Pro cooled camera has full-frame format (36mm*24mm), it is very suitable for professional DSO imaging.
   Native 16bit ADC
   IMX455 has native 16-bit on-chip ADC. Native 16bit ADC (65536 levels) provide higher sample resolution than 12bit (4096 levels) or 14bit (16384 levels). When we do non-linear transformation, 16bit data can endure very strong transform and also could bring much better light and dark transition, furthermore 16bit can make the color more vivid.

   Non-Amp-Glow
   ZEUS 455M Pro cooled camera is a Non-Amp-Glow camera too!
   Non-Amp-Glow can give us very clean background, much easier to get high quaility images.

   Type-C Data port and Power port
   Back piece of cooled camera has 2 Type-C data port and 12V DC 5.5×2.1mm power port.
   Main data port support USB3.0 protocol, the camera can run 6.5fps under RAW8 mode. Type-C port is easier to plug in when assemble the imaging equipment in night.

   When recording images, since the actual writing speed will be affected by the writing speed of the hard disk itself, when the hard disk writing speed is slow, the recording may not reach the theoretical speed. It is recommended that you use a high-quality solid state drive to record data to give full play to the performance of the camera.

   The camera has 12V DC5.5*2.1mm port to provide enough power to TEC cooling system. If you don’t need to power up cooling, only need to connect the main Type-C port, the camera will works as a uncooled camera.
   Cooling System and Anti-Dew Heater
   In ASCOM window, we provide 3 adjustable parameters: Target temperature, Fan Speed and Anti-Dew power.

   Standard Delta-T: 35℃ (±2℃) , when ambient temp 30℃, fan speed 100%, dew heater 10%.

   Recommend Delta-T settings: 30℃ below ambient, fan speed 70%, dew heater 10%, power consumption 40- 60%.

   The rotation speed of cooling fan is also adjustable, the default value is 70% speed.

   Dew problem is the biggest enemy in astro imaging, the camera integrated anti-dew heater in front of the camera. The heat power is adjustable.
   Overvoltage and overcurrent protection mechanism
   Player One cameras produced by us ensures the safety of your camera and other equipment through overvoltage and overcurrent protection mechanisms.

   Performance
    
   Dual Sampling Mode
   ZEUS series has dual sampling mode. Normal mode and Low Noise mode, they has different advantages in imaging.
   1. Normal mode has faster FPS, it is more suitable for planetary imaging.

   2. Low Noise mode (LRN) mode has lower readout noise and higher dynamic range. it is more suitable for DSO imaging.

   At gain=0, the camera has 14.2 stops dynamic range and 71.6Ke full well capacity, readout noise is 4.2e.

   HCG open at gain=125, the camera has 13.5 stops dynamic range and 16.7Ke full well, readout noise drop to only 1.5e.

   Frame rate
   ZEUS 455M Pro cooled camera can run 6.5FPS under RAW8 mode, 3.2FPS under RAW16 mode.

    Extended Full well
   ZEUS 455M Pro cooled camera has 71.6Ke full well.
   Readout Noise
   Regarding readout noise, we solemnly promise that all values are obtained from actual tests.  And for users, you could use Sharpcap 4 for testing. SC4 has a function called Sensor Analysis, provide a very simple way to test readout noise.

   We wrote a tutorial on our website: https://player-one-astronomy.com/service/manuals/

   If you are interested in readout noise testing, you may try it yourself, which is very simple.

   Dark Current
   The dark current is only 0.00014 e/s/pix at -20℃, and 0.00154e/s/pix at 0℃. In entire curve, dark current is almost like a straght a line, which can prove that ZEUS camera has very good quality.

   Out of Stock